Toyota-owned luxury automaker Lexus has lifted the lid on its latest electric car – and it takes a very particular design cue from the Tesla Model S Plaid.
While boasting some admittedly impressive performance credentials (which we'll detail below), the Lexus RZ 450e also offers the most maligned of interior features: a steering yolk.
Criticized for their lack of circular grip and tricky manoeuvrability in low speed urban driving environments, steering yokes are more commonly found in aircraft – though it is, at least, only an optional extra in the RZ 450e.
Wheel grips aside, however, and Lexus' latest electrical offering is an imposing beast. Sure, it looks fairly similar to many of the brand’s combustion engine offerings – as well as its closely-related Subaru sibling, the Solterra – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The RZ 450e is sleek, aggressive-looking and still distinct enough to stand alongside its German-made electric counterparts (it puts the monstrous BMW XM to shame, at least).
Under the hood – or rather, in the floor of the car itself – drivers will get a 71.4kWh lithium ion battery (the same as used in the Toyota bZ4X) providing, Lexus says, more than 250 miles of range. The company hasn't shared the EV's charging speeds just yet, though we'd expect the RZ 450e to come equipped, like its Japanese siblings, with 150kW charging capabilities.
Lexus' latest will also launch with the brand's 'Direct4' four-wheel-drive powertrain, offering drivers two electric motors providing a combined 308bhp and 321lb ft of torque.
Those performance credentials, the company says, will see the RZ 450e capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in just 5.6 seconds – which is faster than the Audi Q4 E-tron 50 Quattro.
Inside the cabin, the RZ 450e packs all of the technological trimmings we've come to expect from high-end EVs of late, including a slick 14-inch touchscreen.
Features like a dimmable panoramic roof and radiant heaters will also come as standard, while the car is equipped with Lexus' Safe Exit Assist system, which prevents doors from opening into the path of vehicles and cyclists approaching from the rear.
There's been no word on the launch price of the Lexus RZ 450e just yet, but we'd wager a figure in excess of $80,000 / £60,000 / AU$110,000, given the price of its combustion engine predecessor, the Lexus RX.
That's not small change, by any means, but the RZ 450e will still inevitably undercut the price of premium electric offerings from the likes of Tesla, Mercedes and BMW. On paper, then, it's definitely worth considering – just don't opt for the steering yolk.
What is F1 Sprint?
F1 Sprint is back for the second year in a row, and while many of us may be somewhat sceptical – F1 is a sport steeped in history and tradition, after all – it certainly wasn't an absolute disaster last year. For those not in the know, though, F1 Sprint could come across as a rather confusing prospect.
As the first change to the qualifying process since 2016’s short-lived and widely disliked Elimination Qualifying, F1 Sprint does seem to have its fans. But to decide which side of the fence you are, you're going to have to first fully understand what it is.
So, if you’re not yet well-versed in this F1 update, here we’ll be explaining exactly what F1 Sprint is, who gets Pole Position, how it differs from the system we’re used to, and how to watch an F1 live stream to catch F1 Sprint on the day.
What is F1 Sprint?
Regular qualification for a Grand Prix works on a knockout basis over three rounds, all held on a Saturday.
All drivers take part in the first session, and the slowest five take places 16-20 on the final grid. The remaining 15 drivers take part in the second session, with grid spots 11-15 again taken by the slowest five. The last session sees the fastest 10 drivers compete for Pole Position, and the subsequent grid spots 2-10.
When Sprint Qualifying is on the cards, regular qualifying will still be held – although it will be moved back to Friday (in the place of Practice 2) and will determine the starting grid for F1 Sprint which takes place on the Saturday, in the place of regular quals.
F1 Sprint will take place over a single session. All drivers will race for 100km around the circuit in question, and their finishing positions in this shorter race will determine their spot on the final grid. The short length is intended to provide a flat-out, exciting race for both drivers and spectators, in which teams won’t have to contend with pit stops for fuel or tyres.
How has F1 Sprint changed from last year?
The general format of F1 Sprint has stayed much the same, but there are a few tweaks to make the races more impactful and competitive.
The biggest change is the fact that the Sprint race is now much more lucrative for drivers in terms of points. Last year, the top 3 drivers were awarded points – 3 for first, 2 for second, 1 for third. Now, though, the top 8 drivers are awarded points, ranging from 8 points for first to 1 point for eighth.
Who gets Pole Position in F1 Sprint?
Last year, the winner of Qualifying started first for F1 Sprint, and the winner of F1 Sprint started on Pole Position in the GP.
Now, due to fan reaction to the title of 'Pole Position' being given to a driver who hadn't performed the single fastest lap around the circuit, arguably devaluing the term, during an F1 Sprint week a driver can hold Pole Position and not start the GP proper at the very front of the grid.
Qualifying in first position will see a driver awarded Pole Position, and they will also start first in F1 Sprint. However, if another driver wins F1 Sprint, they will start P1 on the grid on Sunday, but the winner of Qualifying will retain 'Pole Position'.
Where is F1 Sprint Qualifying being held in 2022?
This year, F1 Sprint will be held at Imola, for the Emilia-Romagna GP, at the Red Bull Ring, for the Austrian GP, and at Sau Paulo's Autódromo José Carlos Pace, for the Brazilian GP.
F1 Sprint has never been held at either Imola or Red Bull Ring, but returns for a second time to Brazil.
How to watch Sprint Qualifying
To watch the second ever run of F1 Sprint Qualifying, you’ll need to get yourself a live stream. To find out global viewing options, we highly recommend checking out our how to watch the Italian Grand Prx article, which outlines global viewing options.
If you’re outside your home country when the Grand Prix is held, you may find that you can’t access your regular streaming service you use to watch the F1. However, there’s a neat trick to get around this – using a VPN .
All you need to do is sign up to a quality VPN – our first choice is ExpressVPN – and then change your location to back home. So, for example, if you’re currently in the US and want to catch the coverage on Sky Sports, all you need to do is select a UK server on the VPN, head over to the website, and start watching.
Fortnite leak hints at Uncharted film crossover
Fortnite's next crossover could be with the upcoming Uncharted film, according to recent leaks.
Dataminers have uncovered details about a Fortnite event coming later this month, which seems to suggest that a collaboration with the Uncharted movie is on the cards.
The Egyptian Fortnite leaker account on Twitter first spotted that the event will feature a new challenge titled "Collect Treasure using an [Uncharted Treasure Map]", HYPEX also tweeted about the leaked Week 11 challenge, going one step further and claiming that the Treasure Chest will drop four legendary weapons, "four good heals", "270 mixed mats", 100 Gold and "so much ammo".
According to HYPEX, the event will go live on February 17 - the day before the Uncharted film releases in the US.
A crossover event would make sense, then, as it would mean the event could run during Uncharted's opening weekend and the following week.
What's more, these dataminers have been accurate in the past, with HYPEX, in particular, having a history of accurately leaking Fortnite details and events before they're announced - such as the Hawkeye crossover .
Analysis: what does it mean for Fortnite?
Fortnite has had collaborations with a number of TV shows and films over the years, most recently we've seen Vi and Jinx from Netflix's Arcane in the popular battle royale, while we've previously seen crossovers with the likes of Marvel's Avengers, NFL, Stranger Things, and John Wick - to name just a few.
So a crossover with the Uncharted film isn't off the table (and looks pretty likely), even if developer Epic Games hasn't confirmed the collaboration.
But how much this potential crossover could affect Fortnite's world remains to be seen. While the leaks seem to suggest players will be tracking down treasure using an Uncharted-inspired treasure map to uncover new (likely Uncharted-themed) weapons and loot, it's unclear whether we'll see Nathan Drake-inspired skins introduced into the game - though we expect this would be likely.
It also remains unclear which version of Uncharted the crossover will be with. With the film releasing just a day after the event is set to go live, our money is on a tie-in with the movie rather than the game series, which means we would see skins inspired by Tom Holland's Nathan Drake, rather than Naughty Dog's.
With the event set to take place later this month, and Epic Games typically making collaboration announcements not long after these types of leaks, we imagine that the developer will announce the crossover imminently.
TRG has contacted Epic Games for comment