Category Archives: Luxury

electric, Executive, Lexus, Luxury, Motoring

Sleek RZ embraces latest hi-tech

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Lexus RZ 450e

By Bill McCarthy

Lexus has taken seriously the introduction of its stylish and bespoke electric SUV. Of course you would expect this from this arm of one of the world’s leading motor producers. The company says it embraces the potential of new technologies to deliver driving pressure.

At nearly £70k for this range-topping model, you would hope so.

In the past, Lexus models often had a more staid look about them, but that has changed dramatically, with a range of state-of-the-art design.

From its striking looks to its cutting-edge technology, the RZ is a luxury high-performance model, with  a comprehensive list of equipment, a statement vehicle for those looking for a premium SU and available in three versions – Premium Pack, Premium Plus Pack and Takumi.

It is the first Lexus to include new e-Axles and Direct4 all-wheel electronic drive torque control to improve handling and responsiveness, while a 74kW lithium-ion battery unit is fully integrated into the chassis beneath the cabin floor, to deliver extra stability

Not only that, it has a presence that is hard to ignore. Sitting between the MX and larger RX, it copies some of the design features, including the elegant, slippery sculpted profile, the familiar, but bolder spindle design on the front grille and trapezoidal headlamps and a heat-shielding panoramic roof.

In addition, it features a powered boot lid, rear privacy glass and 20-inch alloy wheels and to the rear split roof spoiler and the now Lexus signature LED light bar across the width of the car.

Power is delivered from the powerful battery to a 310bhp electric motor and a seamless one step transmission. It is rapid, as are most electric vehicles, hitting the benchmark 60mph in a smidge over 5 seconds. 

The high level torque provides overtaking grunt in all circumstances.


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It is a brilliant motorway cruiser and with the ever-increasing growth of charging stations, anxiety range is becoming less and less of a problem when undertaking longer journeys. Even so, the claimed range of 252 miles was nearer 220 during the test drive.

Handling is responsive and adaptive suspension provides independent damping control at each wheel, giving a more comfortable ride on uneven surfaces, higher damping force when turning, and flat ride stability.

 For tricky conditions, Direct4 drive is a system constantly and seamlessly distributes the drive torque between the front and rear axles via the driving data being collected through ECU sensors to ensure intuitive operation.

It is a fun drive, particularly on twisting country lanes, where the grip is good. It is equally at home in and around town, potholes included.

The interior is light and airy with plush upholstery, thick carpets, and a high-end soft touch finish to the dash and doors. The central 14-inch touchscreen controls navigation, infotainment, via a 

Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound system and smartphone connectivity and remote services accessed via the latest Lexus Link Pro multimedia system with “always connected” services. 

This allows remote locking and unlocking of the car and can activate the air conditioning system to warm or cool the cabin prior to starting a journey. It also features multi information display relaying real time info to the driver which is customisable and a head-up display It also houses navigation and infotainment.

Legroom is good, although the almost coupe like shape restricts headroom a little to the rear. Seats and firm and comfortable and the cabin feels a comfortable place to be.

In practical terms, the battery placement doesn’t compromise the stowage area and with all seats in place, the area provides 522 litres of space. This increases to an impressive maximum (to the ceiling) of 1,451 litres, when the rear seats are down, In addition there is a further 58 litres of space beneath the deck board.

For safety there is a full range of airbags, a 360-degree camera, parking sensor and  systems such a pre-collision system, dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert and lane tracing assist and lane change assist

Factfile

Lexus RZ 450e – Premium Plus Pack

Price: £68,500

Mechanical: 309bhp/230kW electric motor and  driving all wheels via E-CVT automatic transmission

0-60mph: 5.3 secs

Top speed: 99mph

Range (WLTP): 252 miles

Insurance group: 44E

C02 emissions: 0g/km

Bik rating: 2%

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000miles

Executive saloon, GENESIS, Luxury

Genesis a luxury beginning

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Genesis GV80

By Bill McCarthy

No-one really has heard of Genesis, well not many people anwyay, unless it’s referring to the Bible or Star Trek, but the company describes itself as an exciting disrupter in the premium segment.

Like other brands, Korean giant Hyundai has developed its own luxury brand with Genesis, designed to make an impact in the executive sector.

How do they do that? One way is to make this particular model look like a Bentley Bentayga, with its muscular stance, huge grille and the ‘similar’ winged badge the similarity is obvious.

That really is where the comparison ends, unless you want to throw around £100k to make up the price difference, and the hand-crafted excellence of the Bentley.

That’s not to say this is not a fine car, but it is aimed more at the executive end of the market, dominated by German brands, and offers something a bit left field. There are a number of SUV and saloon models, with both petrol and diesel power units and all-electric models imminent.

At more than £59k for this model, this is no bargain-basement brand and offers eye-catching styling, interior luxury and a raft of high-end technological goodies and a permanent four-wheel drive to give it a unique flavour. All models also come with a five-year warranty.

 It also features artificial intelligence that learns about the driver and builds on existing state-of-the-art advanced autonomous driver assistance systems (ADAS),

Some of the goodies could seem a little gimmicky, like the two main binnacle dials turning into cameras to show the road when the indicator is activated or the winged-style logo fading from view when the ignition is switched off, but otherwise, they are practical and enhance the driving experience.

It is a big car and in typical SUV style, sits high off the ground, with a muscular profile and featuring stylish alloy wheels and distinctive light clusters. 

The interior matches anything in its segment with a raft of leather, aluminium with thin air vents that run across the passenger compartment, ambient lighting and high-quality materials.

Prominent are the 14.5-inch HD infotainment screen and 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster with 3D display, which are the brains of the car controlling connectivity, infotainment and navigation functions, while the Genesis Connect system offers live updates and smartphone integration 

The centre console houses the slightly fiddly circular controller which allows selection of the same functions as the touchscreen,  while the glass-topped rotary gear selector, mimics the Jaguar XF.

Inside there is plenty of space with excellent head and legroom, while a power-folding third-row seating is optional as is the huge panoramic roof. The powered and heated and cooled front seats feature top-grade Nappa leather and incorporate a massage function.  

The new 278PS 3.0-litre diesel on this model delivers plenty of pace and reasonable economy for such a big car.

The six-cylinder layout is both exceptionally smooth and quiet in operation, and shifts this 2.5-tonne beast to 60mph in just 7.5 seconds. Gear changes via the eight-speed auto box are smooth, slick and barely perceptible. It also offers three drive modes for extra economy, or to sharpen up performance.

The ride and handling are excellent, leaning into corners with little wallow, while the brand’s ride preview technology and electronically controlled suspension soak up the worst of the potholes.

Safety kit is impressive with blind spot monitoring, evasive steering assist, smart cruise control, lane following assist, driver attention warning, forward collision alert with pedestrian and cyclist detection, plus advanced airbag technology. There are 10 airbags with front centre airbags that are deployed if there is a side impact and these prevent the front occupants colliding with each other.

The boot is huge, particularly in five-seater mode with the powered boot lid opening up a 735 litres of space, which expands to a huge 2,152 litres with the seats folded while the usual array of cubby holes, bins and holders are arranged throughout the cabin.

Factfile

GENESIS GV80 Luxury line D AWD 

Price: £59,700

Mechanical: 278ps, 2996cc, six-cylinder, diesel engine driving all four wheels via 8-speed automatic transmission

Max Speed: 143mph

0-62mph: 7.7 seconds

Combined MPG: 26

Insurance Group: 48

C02 emissions: 229g/km

Warranty: 5yrs/62,000 miles