The iconic crossover comes with three electrified powertrains: RX 500h turbo hybrid, RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid and RX 350h hybrid
The past two years have been pivotal for Lexus. Two weeks ago, they presented the 100% electric model on which they will base their offensive to be a zero-emission brand by 2030. Now it’s the turn of their flagship, the D-segment SUV from the Japanese premium brand: the RX.
In length, it has remained exactly the same as the fourth generation, which it replaces, 4.89 meters. However, the new GA-K platform allows it to extend the wheelbase by 60mm, decrease the width by 25mm and the height by 10mm, giving it more interior space and a muscular look.
But where the new construction really stands out is its mechanical qualities, as they allow for greater rigidity and the presence of a new multiple common suspension system that provides greater driving comfort, one of the compelling features for Lexus.
The new RX is in many ways a pioneer for the brand. One such example is the high-performance 500h version, a conventional hybrid that for the first time moves away from the continuously variable changes that are ubiquitous in the rest of Lexus SUVs.
Now the sportier variant has a six-speed automatic transmission that has been taken over from other sportier models. The system as a whole delivers up to 371 hp – it is also the first RX to combine a hybrid system with a turbo engine – and can reach 100 km/h in six seconds.
At the top of the range you will also find the new Direct4 all-wheel drive system – this makes the power delivery more homogeneous and improves the comfort of the occupants –, dynamic suspension, brakes of 400 mm and directional rear wheels of up to 4º . These will turn in the opposite direction when the speed is below 50 km/h to facilitate maneuvers.
Despite the arrival of this sportier model, the majority of registrations will be focused on the 450h+, another plug-in hybrid that delivers 306 hp according to WLTP approval and a consumption of 1.2 liters per 100 km. According to the brand, this variant will take up 60% of deliveries.
Finally, in the lowest spectrum of engines is the 350h, another conventional 250-horsepower hybrid. Lexus estimates that this version accounts for 10% of registrations. For the European market, where Spain ranks third behind Poland and the United Kingdom, 12,300 units are planned for 2023, the year when the first RXs from Japan will arrive.
For Lexus Europe president Spiros Fotinos, the new RX, along with the RZ, represents “a step in the right direction towards the future of the brand”.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
