Lexus RZ 450e luxury EV enters PH market, priced

Lexus has developed their first battery electric vehicle, the RZ 450e, to not only provide zero-emission driving, but also to enhance the driving experience with new technologies.

The car has undergone extensive track testing and refinement in Japan to ensure high-quality handling and responsiveness. The RZ is built on a new electric vehicle platform and features e-Axles, DIRECT4 all-wheel electronic drive torque control, and a powerful lithium-ion battery unit.

The design of the exterior and interior expresses Lexus Omotenashi hospitality and Takumi craftsmanship. The RZ will help Lexus in its progress towards carbon neutrality and a sustainable mobility society.

The Lexus RZ 450e retails at PhP 4,828,000 with only one variant at introduction.

Sleek design and thoughtful construction

The Lexus RZ 450e is a battery electric vehicle (BEV) that has been designed with a seamless and emotional design inspired by the experience of driving a BEV.

The car’s styling is an evolution of Lexus’s “Next Chapter” design, and it has a lower center of gravity and a lower nose profile thanks to the dedicated BEV platform and electric powertrain.

The RZ measures 4,805 mm long, with a 2,850 mm wheelbase and short overhangs, and has a drag coefficient of 0.28 Cd. The car’s aerodynamic measures include a fully covered underfloor, a rear spoiler design, and shutters on the small front grille aperture that close automatically when cooling airflow into the motor compartment isn’t required.

The RX 450e design emphasizes its wide stance, low center of gravity, and “torque-ful” look, and it has an elongated LED light bar across the width of the car that has become a hallmark feature of Lexus design.

To optimize the RZ 450e’s energy efficiency, aerodynamic features were carefully considered during design. The cabin shape was optimized for smooth airflow and passenger comfort, while the belt molding helps regulate airflow and maintain stability.

The rear spoiler was designed to improve handling and stability without adding drag, and the back door was shaped to adjust the angle of airflow from the roof and reduce drag.

The fully covered underfloor and front grille shutters also contribute to reducing drag, with the dimpled surface at the front maintaining stability at high speeds, and fins at the rear directing airflow rearwards from the wheels.

The RZ is available in various exterior finishes, including new Aether Metallic and Sonic Copper. It also features advanced paint technology that results in a deeper, more lustrous finish and stronger light and shade contrasts.

The RZ is also available in a bi-tone design with a contrasting black finish extending from the front of the car to the roof.

The development of the Lexus RZ focused on securing the Lexus Driving Signature and strengthening the car’s core characteristics of confidence, control, and comfort in all driving situations.BEV-specific qualities such as fast response and high precision were maximized by utilizing Lexus’s experience in electrified vehicle technologies. The result is a refined, linear, and reassuring responsiveness that defines the driving character of new Lexus vehicles, even for drivers not used to BEVs.

The car’s development was based on the performance concept of “The Natural” and paid special attention to driver sightline and feedback and precise vehicle posture control.

The body structure of the Lexus RZ 450e is built on a BEV-specific platform, using advanced techniques like laser peening, laser screw welding, and joint reinforcement to provide excellent body rigidity. Structural adhesive, laser screw welding, and short-pitch welding are used extensively to increase jointing area and gain higher rigidity.

 

High-rigidity foam is used in each corner of the back door aperture to strengthen an area susceptible to deformation, and the rear of the car has a double-annular frame to help the car settle after cornering or changing lanes. The front has braces, thicker support pillars for the radiator, suspension tower braces, and front and rear performance dampers, which suppress lateral deformation and enhance rigidity.

The car’s rigid structure contributes to the control and confidence elements of the Lexus Driving Signature, providing straight-line stability and precise handling and steering response for the driver.

All quiet and powerful

The Lexus RZ 450e features a three-part strategy to reduce noise and vibration, including sealing gaps, adding vibration-damping sheets to the roof, and using acoustic glass in doors.

The vehicle has a new version of active sound control and an efficient and compact electric e-Axle that delivers 230 kW maximum output, contributing to the car’s excellent energy efficiency.

The RZ also has DIRECT4 all-wheel drive control, which constantly balances drive torque between front and rear axles and adjusts torque bias in milliseconds.

In addition to the measures mentioned to reduce noise and vibration, the Lexus RZ 450e also features an active sound control system that enhances the driving experience.

The system uses a microphone to detect engine and road noise, then creates an opposing sound wave that cancels out the unwanted noise, resulting in a quieter cabin. This technology is particularly useful in electric vehicles, where the lack of engine noise can make external sounds more noticeable.

The system is adjustable, allowing drivers to choose between three levels of noise cancellation, or turn it off completely if they prefer to hear the natural sounds of the road.

Battery electric powertrain

Lexus has designed a compact, high-voltage system circuit in which a transaxle and inverter are contained within the e-Axle units.

An Energy Storage Unit (ESU) integrates the charging, power supply, and power distribution functions. Permanent magnet motors have a high-power density and 17,000 rpm rotation speed. The inverter achieves high volumetric efficiency while allowing for high current output.

Its compact size allows it to be integrated into the transaxle. The motors are located on a symmetrical three-point aluminum mounting system that contributes to comfort, handling, stability, and quiet performance.

The RZ uses grille shutters in front of the radiator to reduce air resistance and increase cooling performance when needed.

The battery stack in the Lexus RZ is positioned beneath the cabin floor, forming part of the vehicle’s structure, contributing to its rigidity and low center of gravity.

The battery has a gross capacity of 71.4 kWh and comprises 96 cells, with Lexus guaranteeing that the battery will retain at least 70% of its capacity after 10 years.

The car’s range varies depending on the size of the wheels, with most variants achieving approximately 395 km on 20-inch wheels.

Efficient cooling is important for battery performance and durability, with the RZ using a long-life, high-resistance LLC coolant and a battery heater that can be activated when charging in colder temperatures.

The RZ has an 11 kW on-board charger, and DC fast charging can recharge 80% of the battery in about 30 minutes.

The Lexus RZ electric vehicle provides strong acceleration and speed controllability with a slip suppression function. It offers four-level deceleration, acceleration sound control, selectable drive modes, and a Range mode that maximizes driving range.

The vehicle also features an AHB-G braking system and Vehicle Braking Posture Control, as well as a suspension system designed to contribute towards the Lexus Driving Signature and provide a comfortable ride.

Inside the cabin

Lexus’ RZ model features a Tazuna driver’s cockpit, which is designed to allow the driver to control the vehicle with minimal hand and eye movements.

The cabin is bright and spacious, with an open feel, and features a 14-inch center multimedia display, meters, multi-information display, and head-up display. The controls and information sources are arranged for easy reach, operation, and reading, keeping the driver’s attention on the road ahead.

The interior has three color combinations and a slim center console with a storage box. The cabin atmosphere is enhanced by an ambient lighting system with a spectrum of 64 colors, and the seats are designed with comfortable support for long journeys.

The RZ also offers sustainable Ultrasuede upholstery made from bio- and recycled materials.

The Lexus RZ’s instrument display presents a personalized Omotenashi welcome to the driver, including customizable meters and a heads-up display.

The Tazuna cockpit concept ensures that important driving controls are easily accessible, while less important ones are accessed using the central touchscreen. The RZ also features a rotary shift selector and a heat-shielding, dimmable panoramic roof that reduces the need for air conditioning and saves weight, contributing to the car’s energy efficiency and driving range.

The RZ has a new air conditioning system that uses a heat pump to warm the cabin efficiently in cold weather and reduces the vehicle’s power consumption

It has a compact size, freeing up more legroom for the front seat passenger. The Lexus Climate Concierge coordinates the air conditioning, seat heaters, heated steering wheel, and radiant heaters to adjust the cabin temperature efficiently and quickly.

Nanoe X technology maintains cabin air quality by emitting microscopic water particles containing hydroxy radicals, which inhibit viruses, bacteria, pollen, and other allergens. The new radiant heaters are positioned at knee-level in front of the driver and front passenger and use infrared radiation to heat solid objects directly in front of them, using around 8% less energy.

They operate silently and with no air draught and have an automatic safeguard that reduces the panel temperature to 43˚C if anyone comes into contact with them.The Lexus RZ features a new Pure Stage sound tuning technology developed by premium audio partner Mark Levinson.

The 10-speaker system provides high-quality sound reproduction with a Harman discrete amplifier capable of playing high-resolution sound sources. The speakers are optimally positioned around the cabin, including a 22.4 cm sub-woofer installed in the back door for heavy bass sound reproduction.

The standard audio package is a premium 10-speaker system, with a 20 cm sub-woofer housed in the back door.

Smart, connected, and safe

The RZ features the new Lexus Link multimedia platform, with cloud-based navigation that provides real-time traffic updates, an improved voice recognition function that can detect commands even with background noise, and a new “Hey Lexus” on-board assistant.

 

Smartphone integration is enabled via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the system can be updated over the air using the vehicle’s DCM. The 14-inch touchscreen offers access to information, entertainment, navigation, air conditioning, and vehicle settings, with physical buttons for frequent functions.

The “Hey Lexus” assistant can be used for multimedia commands and to adjust some vehicle functions.

The Lexus RZ has three USB ports on the center console – one for multimedia connection and two for device charging. Additionally, two charging ports are available on the rear console, and the Luxury grade features an AC power outlet.

For safety, this BEV comes with the latest generation Lexus Safety System which includes advanced technologies to help detect hazards, provide driver warnings, and assist in steering, braking, and acceleration when required.

Lexus will also be providing over-the-air (OTA) updates to its system to keep it running smoothly.

 

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Final Fantasy VII vs Final Fantasy VII Remake: What has changed?

05/20/2020

About a month ago, I finished Final Fantasy VII Remake. And after doing so, I suddenly felt the urge to play the original game to simply compare both and see the updates done to the game first-hand. After all, I was just ten years old when I played the original version on the first PlayStation.

I’ve listed down four main points to discuss the differences I saw from both games and how these updates affected the game’s entirety. If you have finished playing the remake but wasn’t able to get your hands on the original game, this article is for you.

And with that, it goes without saying that there are spoilers ahead! Let’s begin.

Old vs new FF7 graphics

Yes, we’ll start by comparing the graphics of a 1997 game to its 2020 version. Of course, the remake’s graphics are a lot better, more detailed, and downright immersive. Although, you have to put into perspective the time and era when the original Final Fantasy VII came out.

It might be easy to forget but the original FF7 was actually ahead of its time when you talk about graphics. It’s actually the first game from the Final Fantasy franchise to leave the 8- and 16-bit rendering in favor of all the 3D rendering capabilities that Sony’s first PlayStation boasted back then.

Its game developer (Square Soft then, Square Enix now) was also one of the pioneers of putting pre-rendered background and inserting in-game playable characters in it. During its time, pre-rendered graphics in games was particularly new so seeing it together with its cut-scenes was such a treat for the eyes.

Although with all those, it still doesn’t compare to the level of detail found on the remake. The original game’s pre-rendered background of the city of Midgar and the slum areas of Sector Seven is so simple that it doesn’t really offer the level of immersive experience done on the remake.

A good example was when Shinra blew one of the plates of Midgar. The plate came crashing down on Sector Seven slums killing thousands of people. This particular scene is very powerful in the remake. But playing it on the original version, I wasn’t as affected since the tragedy didn’t look too real. With the new game, you can really relate to the emotions of Tifa and Barret seeing the devastation of Sector Seven — you see their comrades die and thousands of inhabitants get crushed so it gives you that feeling of empathy that the original game, for me, fell short of doing.

However, since the original FF7 gave us blocky bodies with pixelized faces, the characters’ emotions were conveyed in a different but effective way. Through exaggerated movements, each character was able to express their current emotions. Barret would always be shaking his fists when talking, for example, to emphasize his usual aggression. In short, the game developers really did their best to convey these emotions and they were successful in doing so.

Even the details found in the environment are so realistic that it sort of adds a different layer of gameplay for some parts. For example, when your group was escaping Midgar after the bombing of one of its reactors, you can really see a part of the city damaged with the residents around you wounded, worried, and panicking. It feels kind of real at some point that it makes you think twice if what you did was the right thing to do.

Now with these improved details, the developers can effectively make you experience what they want you to experience and every character’s emotions are now very relatable.

CHECK OUT: Final Fantasy VII Remake Review (spoiler-free)

Designing the new characters

The character design of the original Final Fantasy VII has a very cartoony feel to it. When going around the city, characters look so blocky and short that it reminded me of those Gundam BB models. However, the quality and design of the characters slightly change when they are in battle or when there are cut scenes. Instead of seeing small, chibi characters, there’s a bit more detail to them but still has that cartoony look.

Going to the remake’s character design, they are still heavily based on the original, but some of the differences now are seen on the character’s bodies and facial features. They are now correctly proportioned and look almost real. Small details make an appearance, too. For example, Barret’s shades and dog tags are now plainly seen all the time which adds to his personality.

I can go on and on explaining all the small details of each character and how they were improved, but the point remains that the characters retain all their signature items from the original game while adding to them. The same goes for the character design of the bad guys — from the Shinra soldiers, giant sewer monsters, to the famous Hell House.

CHECK OUT: 5 Reasons why you should be gaming during quarantine

Tweaked gameplay

If you’ve been a fan of the game since its original release, you’ll know that Final Fantasy VII (like most Final Fantasy games) had a turn-based combat style. There’s a bar that fills up so you can launch an attack or perform other commands. The approach of FF7 Remake actually takes every gameplay element of the original game but puts every battle in real-time so that players are more involved.

The combat mechanics of the remake still requires a strategy on how you approach every enemy in battle and you can’t mash the buttons or hack-and-slash your way to victory.

The newer release replaced the time meter to a new ATB bar that sort of serves the same purpose. Although, instead of your character just waiting to attack, you can now attack and dodge attacks that contribute to filling up your ATB meter. When your ATB meter is filled you can command or activate your character’s signature moves, magic, items, and occasionally summons. By doing this, the game sort of retains the classic turn-based combat but with a fresh twist.

One of the new changes made is the stagger meter. Whenever you attack an enemy, it fills up its stagger meter. This is one of the key mechanics of the combat system of the remake that got updated and players can greatly take advantage of it.

Additionally, all the main character combat mechanics are pretty much the same as the original except for Aerith. Cloud and Tifa focus on close-quarters combat while Barret and Aerith focus more on ranged attacks.

One disappointment I came across was when I ran into Red XIII — one of the main characters from the original game. I was surprised that you couldn’t control him during battles and just functions as a guest fighter that attacks the enemies. I hope he becomes a controllable character in the next sequel. Nevertheless, the gameplay overall was surprisingly better than what I imagined before playing the remake. All these mechanics combined make a great modern RPG.

A shift in storyline

The story of the original Final Fantasy VII was one of the reasons why the game was so iconic — from the characters’ own backstories to the entirety of its world, the game’s lore, and down to the evil group Shinra. As a gamer and avid fan, all these elements fit together perfectly and make the story so inviting. Even the main characters are so alluring with how all their paths become intertwined and altogether produce a great story.

The beginning of the remake starts off relativity the same as the original. We all see Aerith walking in the infamous alley, we see the city of Midgar, and we also see the grand train entrance of Avalanche members and Cloud’s iconic front flip before the gameplay begins.

The differences apart from the quality of graphics are some subtle changes that make more sense for certain scenarios. For example, when Aerith was introduced, there are now more things happening before the entire city was revealed and the main title appears. Rather than just walking away, she first turns her attention to the alleyway seemingly sensing danger before she gets up to walk. While walking, Aerith still keeps her attention on the alleyway until she bumps a random person and drops some of her flowers on the street. She picks them up one by one before she looks away and the camera pulls out to reveal the city.

Small changes like those add more intensity to the scene and overall enforces what mood it wants you to feel.

But the bigger change in the remake’s story comes after the first mission. In the original game, when Cloud meets up with Aerith after bombing the reactor, they simply separate ways. As for the remake, Aerith comes across with these floating, hooded spirits that the game calls Whispers and they appear in certain points as you progress the story. We’ll discuss them more shortly.

After the escape sequence during the first mission, the remake did everything the same as the original. Avalanche members waited for Cloud on the train until he appears and they make their way to Seventh Heaven —  their organization’s home base. For the original game, Cloud goes with Avalance members down the secret lift disguising as a pinball machine. As for the remake, however, Cloud just waited for Tifa and Barret to finish their meeting while staying at the bar. This just makes sense since he’s just a freshly hired mercenary and not an Avalanche member.

In between main missions, there are also side missions that make you explore the slums and it allows supporting characters to expand on their own backstories so you get to know them better.

final fantasy

After completing the side missions, the story goes back to its original course. Cloud, Barret, and Tifa head out to blow up another reactor on another bombing mission. For this part, everything looks faithful to the original. Even the boss battle with the Air Buster has been kept with the only difference that instead of President Shinra meeting the Avalanche in person, he appears through a projection and reveals that Cloud and his party is being broadcasted live to the people of Midgar to put the blame on them for acts of terrorism. These changes, although little, really give more emphasis and weight to the development of its story.

After which, everything regarding the story feels the same — Cloud meeting Aerith again on the church, Tifa being picked up by Don Corneo, and Cloud cross-dressing to save Tifa. But there are a few changes with Whispers making their entrance once again and protecting Aerith from the Turks. Another thing was that Cloud’s dress was given by the owner of the Honeybee Inn instead of an old man from a clothing shop.

Aside from changes in the story mentioned above, here are the six biggest changes to the story. Some changes I find better, some I didn’t.

  1. Avalanche is now a bigger eco-terrorist group – In the original game, they just consisted of five members — Barret, Tifa, Biggs, Jessie, and Wedge. But in the remake, it’s a much larger organization with different chapters across the world. The organization is very well-equipped, well-coordinated, and you will often see them help Cloud and his friends in a few scenes of the game. They even made the Mayor of Shinra (Domino) as an Avalanche spy which made more sense to explain why he helped Cloud and his friends inside the Shinra building.
  2. They added a story mission – A mission just involving Avalanche’s supporting characters allows players to dive deeper into each of their backgrounds. In this mission, it also reveals the life of people on the top of the plate of Midgar where it’s a lot more comfortable compared to the slums beneath it.
  3. New character – Roche is a new villain introduced in the game. He’s a Shinra soldier and appears in the added story mission.
  4. Whispers/Arbiters of Fate – This is the hooded entity that I mentioned earlier and is one of the biggest changes they made in the story. The story portrays them as entities who ensure everything turns out according to how destiny intended things to be. The Whisper Harbinger is also one of the final bosses you’ll have to face. Nearing the end, Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, Barret, and Red XIII are to battle this to try and change their destiny.
  5. Sephiroth and Jenova – In the original game, Sephiroth was only hinted during one of the scenes in the Shinra building by showing his sword thrusted through the back of the president but never shown until you further progress to the story. But in the remake, he appears and kills the president in person. This changed detail was important for me since they were not only introducing the main villain Sephiroth but reinforcing and establishing that he is the one true villain. He is also the last boss you’ll face on the remake. Furthermore, Jenova (Sephiroth’s ‘mother’) also makes an appearance as one of the final bosses of the game.
  6. Zack Fair is alive – Going back to the original story, Zack and Cloud escaped from Shinra’s mansion and from Professor Hojo where they were being experimented on. Both in the original game and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (Zack’s origin game), it shows Zack saving Cloud and dies while doing so. Cloud wakes up and realizes Zack died then picks up his Buster Sword and says goodbye to his friend. However, in the remake, Zack survives the attack, picks Cloud back up, and continues his journey to Midgar. It appears, for the remake, that all of these are happening in an alternate timeline. This is actually my biggest disappointment when it comes to the story. It doesn’t make sense to me personally because Zack’s death was actually one of the reasons why Cloud wanted to get back at Shinra. It looks to me that Square Enix is trying to create a different world with alternate dimensions that change the story in its entirety.

Final Thoughts

The story of the original has already been regarded as a masterpiece but changing one character’s fate, although explained by the presence of Whispers, is just a disappointment for fans of the franchise — myself included. It’s like the developers are saying that they’re changing the story you love in the sequel and adding more Kingdom Hearts alternate dimension elements to it.

With graphics, gameplay, battle system, and character development, Final Fantasy VII Remake is hands down the better game. I’m just skeptical that Square Enix might screw up the story progression when the second installment comes out.  I’ll still stay optimistic, though, hoping that I’m just overthinking things. I guess we will just have to wait and see for ourselves when the sequel is released.

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