Lexus has unveiled the new Lexus RX range at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show today. The RX will be offered with a two-model range, the RX350 with a regular 3.5 litre V6 engine and the RX450h also with a 3.5 litre V6, but running on the Atkinson cycle together with a hybrid electric system. In the UK, the RX will be offered exclusively as a hybrid.
The RX350’s 3.5 litre V6 engine puts out 275 horsepower, mated to a 6-speed transmission. Both front wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions are available, with the latter using an Active Torque Control AWD system that varies torque distribution according to driving conditions. Both this model and the hybrid version uses a new double-wishbone rear suspension for better control.
While current Lexus cars use a simple touch screen interface to access its in-car entertainment and navigation systems, with the new RX, Lexus now has its own iDrive/MMI-like system.
It uses a “Remote Touch” controller that’s supposed to be as natural to the driver’s hand as a computer’s mouse. Let’s see if the Japanese get it better than the Germans. The system also uses HDD-based storage.
The hybrid RX450h’s 3.5 litre Atkinson cycle engine together with its hybrid electric drive system has a combined output of 295 horsepower. To differentiate it from the regular combustion engine-only RX350, it has its own front grille and bumper design, hybrid badging, blue-trimmed Lexus logos, an optional 19 inch wheel design that’s exclusive to the RX450h, blue-tinted headlamps and taillamps and optional LED headlamps.
The RX450h’s Lexus Hybrid Drive system has two new features – the first is an exhaust gas heat recovery system that reduces the time it takes for the engine to warm up. As only a sufficiently warmed up engine can do automatic stop and go smoothly, this reduces the time it takes for the start-stop feature to be activated. The second feature is a cooled exhaust recirculation system which reduces pumping losses, helping improve power and fuel economy.
Unlike the RX350’s mechanical all-wheel drive, the RX450h’s Lexus Hybrid Drive can allows it to function as an all-wheel drive via an electric motor powering the rear wheels. The rear motor also functions as a brake energy recovery device, which means brake energy recovery can be performed on all four wheels.
Lexus Malaysia Sdn Bhd has been known to bring in new Lexus products rather quickly into the market (partly thanks to the ease of bringing in a CBU model), and looking at how the second generation RX has been spoiled by all the grey market RX and Toyota Harriers running around being sold at a much cheaper price, you can expect the new RX to make a Malaysian debut very soon next year.
Look for a hi-res gallery of the new RX after the jump.
PHOTO GALLERY: Third Generation Lexus RX450h and RX350
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo
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Is it the same platform as previous generation?
Oh God, not another SUV.
KIREI!!….
sure see alot on the roads. parallel import, local distribute.
wonder if it’s as gas guzzling as the previous version.
I think the current one still looks better. The new RX looks abit off?
super interior…boring and safe exterior design…looks like thhose old toyota design rather than lexus
“blue-tinted headlamps and taillamps and optional LED headlamps”
this hybrid vehicle guarantee failed JPJ inspection.
new Harrier ???
Looks like a walrus
http://www.discoverlife.org/IM/I_DL/0009/320/Odobenus_rosmarus,_Walrus,I_DL971.jpg
it looks a lot better than the japan brochure
I quite like the RX …
and it’s a HYBRID !! So it can save the polar caps ..
Yippe !!!
It seems Lexus copy the iDrive system from BMW …
Just that they replace the BMW knob with something like a mouse ..
WELL INDEED ……
I agreed with “e-nabilll”, apparently the RX350 goes backwards.. old toyota design,
Nothing impress in the interior, bored dashboard….
Mazda CX9 and CX7 got a better looks exteriorly..
oh ma gad!
speechless…utterly speechless
it’s very hard to replicate the success of the previous model….just like nissan did wit Murano..they just destroy the work of art.. maybe they tryin so much…i bet the next few yrs it gonna be Mazda years..as CX9..CX7….Mazda6..now Mazda3……
lambov12 said,
November 21, 2008 @ 9:20 am
I quite like the RX …
and it’s a HYBRID !! So it can save the polar caps ..
Yippe !!!
It seems Lexus copy the iDrive system from BMW …
Just that they replace the BMW knob with something like a mouse ..
——————————-
people are going to get irritated when they realise they can;t move the mouse
ya, very soon, thousands of this new Lexus/Toyota will be cruising around Tmn Melawati… LOL~
The front look near similar current Camry in Australia, Ugly…
at least this time the design is looking better and much more similar to the IS250. Only problem is that the big american 3 are suffering right now becasue of too much SUV, toyota are quite bold to come out with this model. Only Honda managed a 1% increase in sales in US recently while other car makers have negative sales.
But then again, this is for a niche market
so who will be bringing in this car, LEXUS or the grey importers, i hope the grey importers get the ap’s , they sell it cheaper, stupid lexus only bring in the 3.5 version and so expensive
nt great at all…ugly n new murano is better look than this…
look bit better than the previous model that look old design.
the line are more young.. and the meter are great.. but steering so ugly. haiz.
hai.. hybrid model seem so nice.. but sure super expensive one laaa.
get a LS460 lagi shock.. kakaka.
i thought the new murano is bad, but the new harrier is worse and boring. I used harrier for quite some time, the fuel consumption is quite bad though. But i missed its smooth drive.
Looks mundane.
Oh no..
Not that much better looking than the outgoing RX…
wheres the audi 15 when we need it
suitable drive style for old man, but youngman? the car interior n dashboard more it feel, but exterior lost than before….
like nice but not suitable for youngman, really………….!