2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport debuts in Malaysia – 2.4T AWD hybrid, 371 PS and 550 Nm, priced from RM499k

2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport debuts in Malaysia – 2.4T AWD hybrid, 371 PS and 550 Nm, priced from RM499k

Following the launch of the fifth-generation Lexus RX here in May with the debut of the RX 350 Luxury, Lexus Malaysia has announced the introduction of a second variant of the SUV for the local market, with the 2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport officially joining the model line-up. Order taking for the variant, which is priced from RM498,888 (on-the-road, without insurance) starts from today.

Exterior-wise, the hybrid retains the general visual format as seen on the petrol variant, but adds on a sportier presentation courtesy of an F Sport package. It gets a new front bumper with larger corner intakes than that seen on the RX 350’s unit as well as a gloss black, criss-cross mesh pattern spindle grille.

The rear also gets a different bumper design, which drops the silver insert on the lower section for two large faux outlets at the edges, dressed with covers featuring the same pattern as the front grille.

2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport debuts in Malaysia – 2.4T AWD hybrid, 371 PS and 550 Nm, priced from RM499k

Like the RX 350, the wheels on this one are 21-inch light alloy units, but feature a different styling and a matte black finish, and they are wrapped with 235/50 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tyres that have been specifically developed for the car. Six-piston caliper front brakes and F Sport badging complete the exterior differences.

Inside, changes from the RX 350 are led by Dark Spin Aluminium ornamentation trim elements, unique to the model, as well as full leather upholstery compared to the semi-aniline units on the petrol-only variant. The seat sides on the hybrid are also dressed in Ultrasuede accent material, which is made from plant-derived raw materials.

Also making its way on is a Mark Levinson surround sound system, which features a 21-speaker and subwoofer driver array. Additionally, the RX 500 h F Sport – which omits the Performance suffix in its designation here – comes equipped with sports aluminium pedals and Active Sound Control, which generates driving sounds inside the cabin in accordance with the driving situation.

Otherwise, what’s on the RX 350 is to be found here, including a high-definition 14-inch infotainment touchscreen with support for voice recognition commands, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto connectivity. Other displays found inside the cabin include a digital instrument cluster – complete with an exclusive racing-style read-out – as well as a head-up display.

The kit list also includes an e-Latch electronic door release, three-zone climate control with rear vents, powered front seats with memory function, powered 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats, all-seat ventilation/heating and a powered tailgate with hands-free access. As for USB connections, front occupants get four ports (three Type-C and one Type-A) as well as Qi wireless charging, while rear occupants get two Type-C USB ports, located at the rear of the centre console.

Under the hood, the RX 500h F Sport has the same T24A-FTS 2.4 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine as seen on the RX 350 Luxury, but the mill works as part of a parallel hybrid system together with an integrated front motor and power control unit.

2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport debuts in Malaysia – 2.4T AWD hybrid, 371 PS and 550 Nm, priced from RM499k

The 85 hp/292 Nm front electric motor is positioned between the engine and the transmission (which has a clutch on both sides), enabling flexibility in power delivery and the ability for the vehicle to run in all-electric EV mode, with the hybrid control system automatically switching between parallel and EV modes depending on the situation.

Meanwhile, the rear wheels are driven by a 102 hp/169 Nm eAxle, which integrates a high output electric motor, inverter and reduction gearbox. Power delivery to each wheel is controlled by the automaker’s Direct4 intelligent all-wheel drive system. Both front and rear electric motors are juiced by a low-resistance, 288 volt nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack installed beneath the vehicle’s rear seat.

On its own, the petrol engine puts out 275 PS (or 270 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 460 Nm from 2,000 to 3,000 rpm, and a six-speed automatic transmission transfers that power on to the road when the car isn’t running on pure electric mode. With everything at full pelt, the combined system output is 371 PS (366 hp) and 550 Nm of torque, good enough to give the RX 500h a 0 to 100 km/h time of 6.2 seconds.

The RX 500h F Sport is also equipped with a Dynamic Rear Steering (DRS) system, where the rear wheels steer up to 4° either way depending on the speed of the vehicle. At higher speeds, the rears adjust in phase with the front wheels to offer stability, while at slower speeds, they oppose the direction to make for easier turning into corners and in tight spaces.

As for active safety, the car gets the full Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+) suite, which consists of Pre-Collision System (PCS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) with stop and go function as well as Curve Speed Reduction, Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Adaptive High-beam System (AHS) with BladeScan and Road Sign Assist (RSA). There’s also a Blind Spot Monitor with Safe Exit Assist, Rear Traffic Cross Alert (RTCA) and a panoramic view monitor with 3D imagery.

Like the RX 350 Luxury, the RX 500h F Sport is fully imported (CBU) from Japan and is available with four exterior colour choices, these being White Nova Glass, Sonic Iridium, Graphite Black Glass Flake and Sonic Copper, the last three common with that available for the RX 350 here.

The RX 500h F Sport comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, while the hybrid battery pack gets an eight-year unlimited mileage warranty, extendable by an additional two years to 10 years as a cost-added option.

GALLERY: Lexus RX 500h F Sport official photos

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • Isaac on Aug 18, 2023 at 9:09 am

    Cheaper to maintain, more reliable and more fun than mercedes

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 45 Thumb down 9
    • caasi on Aug 18, 2023 at 10:29 am

      that’s like comparing a Casio with a Tag

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 28 Thumb down 17
      • 4GR-FSE on Aug 18, 2023 at 1:52 pm

        It is not Casio, it is Grand Seiko.
        I wouldn’t put Merc like Tag. Tag will still work well after years but not Merc..

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 5
    • Azmint on Aug 18, 2023 at 10:57 am

      Exactly bruh no reason not to book this rm499 Lexus.

      my Paklong in Singapore just took delivery of his Lexus RX500h there last week he paid for sgd506k equivalent to RM 1,740,000 JUTA @@ …syukur kjaan Malaysia kete murah-murah

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 11
    • But it’s awd system sucks. Total fail in numerous diagonal tests.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • I wonder why Rx500h is 6 speed while RX350 is 8 speed

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • more gears are meant for fuel efficiency. If a performance oriented car have 8 speed you’d be shifting like fast & furious.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 2
  • Lets see how many salted leeches post comment about overprice Lexus in their Myvi

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 7
    • Holder on Aug 18, 2023 at 10:30 am

      Waiting for mercedes salesmen to talk trash about this car

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 2
      • OneAMG on Aug 18, 2023 at 1:38 pm

        Nope. They don’t give a shoot about your trash comment. Most Mercedes owners have multiple cars of different brands. Something plebeians always forget.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 20
        • Holder on Aug 18, 2023 at 2:39 pm

          Then why mercedes salesmen have been talking crap to other brands since mercedes salesmen are too jealous after seeing every brands.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
          • Modella on Aug 18, 2023 at 2:46 pm

            You don’t mind benz fanboys who have been always denying people’s truth that benz have been trailing behind other brands and also tesla but benz fanboys thinks that benz is already perfect car than the rest

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • ROTI CANAI on Aug 18, 2023 at 10:08 am

    this > tow truck best friend mercedes, bmw, range rover

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 2
  • at a glance, looks just like another BYD suv

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 29
    • Anti CCP on Aug 18, 2023 at 12:01 pm

      Another stupid chinese brand worshipper. Lexus has been using this design for years

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 12
      • Tok Lada Bawang on Aug 18, 2023 at 2:30 pm

        orang kata nampak macam BYD terus dia label CCP entah apa. klu kata nampak macam Proton nanti dia label Taliban pulak.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 3
        • hazri on Aug 18, 2023 at 6:56 pm

          taliban? but proton is geely china, so how look like taliban? or do you mean the owner? last time when i went to pantai timur i saw many x70, x50 and now x90 on the road there. beside mercedes, they love proton.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Peppa on Aug 18, 2023 at 10:57 am

    This thing will look mean as hell in black with red i

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • dugong on Aug 18, 2023 at 11:05 am

    Half a mill……Toyota high on weed. Better buy Tesla Model Y Performance and still have enough money to go holiday with mistress.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 36
    • Tesla Model Y is just aero back and can’t even compare with Lexus RX

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 2
    • Mike Tee on Aug 18, 2023 at 12:19 pm

      I’ll skip the mistress bit. You’d still have change for a Toyota Camry/Fortuner after buying that MYP/MYLR.

      I will also have whatever Lexus is smoking please

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
    • Proton oh Proton on Aug 18, 2023 at 12:27 pm

      Your are right… Toyota should study Tesla cost reduction and produce more realistic price tag.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 12
      • 4GR-FSE on Aug 18, 2023 at 1:56 pm

        Bro… do you even know how the tax and duty work?
        Tesla is cheap in Msia because of zero tax and duty
        While Lexus is imposed with all the tax and import duty.
        Removing all the tax for Lexus can be even cheaper than Tesla. It is about the local taxation.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 2
        • yeah man….shocked that at this day and age still got people dont understand car import duty and taxes. face palm.

          I guess they probably think Japanese cars like Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are expensive cars. these are cheap cars in other countries (except malaysia, frankly)

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
  • Nice

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 3
  • tricycle on Aug 18, 2023 at 12:17 pm

    Nice. Well done Lexus/Toyota.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 4
  • The photo showing the interior really topkek. UMW charging us 1/2mil and still giving that Vios dashcam.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 5
  • anonymous on Aug 18, 2023 at 1:06 pm

    i know that people here hate sunroofs with a passion but this is a car i feel like absolutely needs it because it just doesn’t scream luxurious enough without it. plus, a different color interior would elevate it even more.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 7
  • jinggo on Aug 18, 2023 at 6:29 pm

    still waiting for Rafizi to implement his brilliant formula of reducing car price..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • Cassidy Wang TC on Aug 18, 2023 at 11:41 pm

    Only retard will pay silly money for this, look like many expert comment here.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 24
    • Is there any problems with this car, if you don’t like this car, then you don’t buy. No one will force you

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Sad…u are 1 of the retard that only comment in ur 10 years myvi…pity u

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Lexus have made huge change. One day will buy one of this

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • I wonder how much a GX will cost. That is the one to go for if you got money.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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