Lexus Has Taught Its Electric Crossover To Growl And Mimic Gear Shifts

• 14.11.2026, 11:11

Buyers want the same driving experience as they would get from a conventional car.

The Japanese automaker Lexus has equipped its RZ electric crossover with a new system that simulates the sound of an internal combustion engine and the sensation of shifting gears. The Interactive Manual Drive Engine Sound feature will be available in the updated RZ550e and is designed to make driving the electric vehicle more engaging and similar to driving a car with a traditional engine, according to Autoblog (translation by Charter97.org).

This innovation complements the existing Interactive Manual Drive system. It allows the driver to shift virtual gears using paddle shifters, even though the electric vehicle does not have a conventional manual transmission. Now, a synthesized engine sound has been added to the simulated gear shifts, which changes depending on the driving mode.

The updated RZ will first debut in Lexus’s home market—Japan. The changes will also affect the car’s exterior: the fin-shaped antenna on the roof will be painted black. Inside, a digital rearview mirror will become standard equipment, and the RZ500e and RZ450e models will offer a new L-Tex trim in a gray color scheme.

Engineers have also retuned the Direct4 all-wheel-drive system, improved steering feel, and enhanced ride smoothness.

Despite a rather modest sales start, the RZ has become Lexus’s fastest-growing model in the U.S. In the first half of 2026, deliveries of the crossover to the U.S. market increased by more than 106% compared to the same period last year.

At the same time, the simulated engine sound can be seen as Lexus’s attempt to bring back to electric vehicles the driving experience typically associated with gasoline-powered cars.