The is a
luxury
Luxury may refer to:
* Luxury goods, an economic good or service for which demand increases more than proportionally as income rises
*Luxury tax, tax on products not considered essential, such as expensive cars
**Luxury tax (sports), surcharge pu ...
crossover SUV
A crossover, crossover SUV, or crossover utility vehicle (CUV) is a type of automobile with an increased ride height that is built on unibody chassis construction shared with passenger cars, as opposed to traditional sport utility vehicles ( ...
sold since 1998 by
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota. The Lexus brand is marketed in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide and is Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. It has ranked among the 10 largest Japanese ...
, a luxury division of
Toyota
is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...
. Originally released in its home market of Japan in late 1997 as the
Toyota Harrier
The is a five-passenger compact, later mid-size crossover SUV produced by Toyota since December 1997 in Japan, which was once exclusive to ''Toyopet Store'' Japanese dealerships. In export markets, the Harrier was rebadged as the Lexus RX from ...
, export sales began in March 1998 as the Lexus RX.
Considered as the first luxury crossover SUV, four generations of the RX have been produced to date, the first being
compact
Compact as used in politics may refer broadly to a pact or treaty; in more specific cases it may refer to:
* Interstate compact
* Blood compact, an ancient ritual of the Philippines
* Compact government, a type of colonial rule utilized in British ...
in size, and the latter three classified as
mid-size
Mid-size—also known as intermediate—is a vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than compact cars and smaller than full-size cars. "Large family car" is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in ...
. Both
front- and
four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer cas ...
configurations have been used on the RX series, and several
gasoline
Gasoline (; ) or petrol (; ) (see ) is a transparent, petroleum-derived flammable liquid that is used primarily as a fuel in most spark-ignited internal combustion engines (also known as petrol engines). It consists mostly of organi ...
powertrain options, including
V6 engines and
hybrid
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...
systems, have been offered. In the Lexus model lineup, the RX sits below the larger
GX and
LX (marketed as the
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
The is a full-size four-wheel drive vehicle in the Land Cruiser range produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota. The Prado is one of the smaller vehicles in the Land Cruiser range. From 2009, the Prado is based on Toyota's J150 platform. In ...
and the
Toyota Land Cruiser
The (also sometimes spelled as LandCruiser) is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. It is Toyota's longest running series of models. , the sales of the Land Cruiser totalled more than ...
body-on-frame SUVs outside North America), and above the smaller
NX crossover with a lesser displacement inline-four engine. The name "RX" stands for "Radiant Crossover". It has also been labelled as "Recreational Cross Country" in some markets. The RX's current Toyota counterparts are the
Highlander/
Kluger; past counterparts were the Harrier and
Venza.
The first-generation RX 300, fitted with a 3.0-liter
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a six-cylinder piston engine where the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.
The first V6 engines were designed and produced independently by Marmon Motor Car Company, Deutz Gasmotoren Fabr ...
, began sales in 1998. The Japanese market Harrier released in 1997 also offered a 2.2-liter
inline-four
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the e ...
, later uprated to 2.4 liters. The second-generation RX 300 (3.0-liter V6) and RX 330 (3.3-liter V6) models went on sale in 2003, with both variants supplanted by the more powerful RX 350 (3.5-liter V6) in 2006. Like the previous series, a 2.4-liter inline-four engine was sold alongside the 3.0-liter V6 in the Japanese market Harrier. In 2005, a
hybridized gasoline-electric version of the 3.3-liter second-generation model was made available as the RX 400h in export markets and as the Harrier Hybrid in Japan. For the third generation released in 2009, both RX 350 (3.5-liter V6) and RX 450h (3.5-liter V6 hybrid) models were initially offered, with an entry-level RX 270 (2.7-liter inline-four) offered by Lexus in some Asian markets, including in Japan, since 2010. Since the release of the third generation, Japanese sales have occurred under the RX name as opposed to Harrier as had been the case previously. In the fourth generation, a
turbocharged (2.0-liter inline-four) RX 200t/300 model was introduced to replace the previous 2.7-liter unit.
The RX has been assembled at
Toyota Motor Kyushu
Toyota Motor Kyushu (TMK) is a manufacturing subsidiary of Toyota established in 1991 and focused on the production of Lexus cars, engines, and hybrid systems. Its headquarters and single assembly plant are in Miyawaka, Fukuoka. Car production ...
since launch. The RX and RX Hybrid were the first Lexus models to be built outside Japan, with North American market versions produced at the
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) operates automobile manufacturing factories in Ontario, Canada. It is a subsidiary of Toyota Motor North America, itself a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan. The plant assembles compact cro ...
plant in
Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, located at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers. The city had a population of 138,479 as of the 2021 census. Along with Kitchener and Waterloo, Cambridg ...
beginning 2003 (RX) and expanded in 2014 (RX Hybrid).
[Mahler, Jonathan. ''The Lexus Story: The Behind the Scenes Story of the #1 Automotive Luxury Brand in America.'' 2004: DK Melcher Media, NY. ., p. 182] Hybrid transaxles are built at the Kokura plant in
Kitakyushu, Fukuoka
is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of June 1, 2019, Kitakyushu has an estimated population of 940,978, making it the second-largest city in both Fukuoka Prefecture and the island of Kyushu after the city of Fukuoka. It is one of ...
since 2009.
First generation (XU10; 1998)
1998–2000
The idea concept behind the RX—a crossover between a luxury sedan and SUV—started in 1993 when it was hypothesized by TMS (Toyota Motor Sales) and Toyota Motor executives during a luncheon in Nagoya. By 1994, that vehicle was officially proposed by TMS executives at product planning meeting in Toyota City, Japan and put into development. In December 1995, the final design directed under designer Makoto Oshima was approved for production, and prototypes later went into testing in 1996.
In Japan, the company was selling the
Toyota Caldina
The is an automobile manufactured by Toyota for the Japanese market from 1992 to 2007. It replaced the Corona and Carina wagons, and was sold at ''Toyota Store'' and ''Toyopet Store'' locations in Japan. While the Caldina has never been official ...
which offered AWD capability and a spacious interior.
![Lexus RX (rear)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Lexus_RX_%28rear%29.jpg)
Prior to the RX public debut, a concept sport utility vehicle, the SLV, previewed the model at the
Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is held annually in February at Chicago's McCormick Place
convention center. It is the largest auto show in North America.
History
Samuel Miles, formerly a promoter of bicycle shows, produced the first "official" Chic ...
on 9 February 1997.
The SLV name stood for ''Sport Luxury Vehicle''. The production-ready concept combined the characteristics of an SUV, wagon, and sedan, and featured high-ground clearance and an elevated seating position. The concept's overall design intent was to be commonly used for suburban driving.
[ At the debut of the concept vehicle, it was reported that the crossover was to be based on the ES 300 sedan, and would go into production with an entry-level price of over US$30,000.][
The RX was built on a unibody chassis.][ Its exterior design was not typical of existing four-door vehicles at its introduction.] Among design features, the vehicle featured front triangular quarter-windows, door-mounted side mirrors, a rear liftgate with top-mounted spoiler, and translucent front and rear light covers with round lenses.[ The exterior color scheme was two-tone, with the bumper and lower body-side cladding a gray color.][ The RX 300 possessed a .][ The first-generation Lexus RX was built in Kyushu, Japan.]
Introduced in Japan in December 1997 along with V6 powered versions, the four-cylinder powered Harrier was available in front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitu ...
(SXU10) and all-wheel drive
An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand.
The most common forms of all-wheel drive are:
;1x1 : All unicycles Reflecting one axle with one w ...
(SXU15) form. The 2.2 L '' 5S-FE'' I4 produced JIS and of torque. Both models were fitted with a 4-speed automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving ...
.[ The Japanese-market Toyota Harrier could be optioned with ]JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States. JBL serves the customer home and professional market. The professional market includes studios, installed/tour/portable sound, cars, music ...
sound system, sport seats, and a leather steering wheel.[ The Harrier found success in the Japanese market, and was also shipped as ]grey import
A parallel import is a non-counterfeit product imported from another country without the permission of the intellectual property owner. Parallel imports are often referred to as grey product and are implicated in issues of international trade, a ...
s to right hand drive markets in Asia and Canada.
The V6-powered model was available in front-wheel drive (MCU10) and all-wheel drive (MCU15) form, which comprised all RX 300 sales in export markets from March 1998 to 2003, and Harrier V6 sales in Japan from 1997 to 2003. The 3.0 L '' 1MZ-FE'' V6 was rated at and .[ The transmission, a 4-speed automatic unit, offered a "Snow" mode which started the vehicle in second gear for better traction in adverse weather conditions.][ For the RX 300, a 240-watt, 7-speaker ]Pioneer
Pioneer commonly refers to a settler who migrates to previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited land.
In the United States pioneer commonly refers to an American pioneer, a person in American history who migrated west to join in settling and de ...
sound system was standard, while a premium Nakamichi
is a Japanese consumer electronics brand that originated in Japan and gained a name from the 1970s onwards for innovative and high quality audio cassette decks. Nakamichi is a subsidiary of Chinese holding company Nimble Holdings.
Nakamich ...
customized sound system was available as an option. Interior features further included Walnut wood trim and an optional in-dash six-CD changer.[ The overall RX 300 concept, which directed SUV qualities to an on-road vehicle, was based on market research which found that merely 7 percent of SUV owners drove off-road.][ The RX 300 interior featured leather trim, two rows of seating, and a rear cargo area which could be concealed beneath a ]tonneau
A tonneau ( or ) is an area of a car or truck open at the top. It can be for passengers or cargo.
A tonneau cover in current automotive terminology is a hard or soft cover that spans the back of a pickup truck to protect the load or to improve ...
cover.[ The center dashboard was dominated by a central liquid crystal display (LCD) multi-information screen for audio, climate, and performance data,][ along with a U-shaped wood trim piece and a pair of air conditioning vents.][ The gear shift was mounted at the base of the center console, thus leaving open space below for additional storage space, legroom, or movement to the passenger-side seat.][ The rear seats could be adjusted forward and back, as well as fold flat for increased cargo room.] Total cargo volume with the seats folded was .[
Safety features included driver and passenger front airbags, front seat-mounted side torso airbags, ]anti-lock brakes
An anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a automobile safety, safety anti-Skid (automobile), skid Brake, braking system used on aircraft and on land motor vehicle, vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. ABS operates by preventing t ...
, side impact door beams, daytime running lights, and five headrests as standard.[ ]Vehicle Stability Control
Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a vehicle's stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction ( skiddi ...
, an electronic stability program, was optional at the RX 300's debut,[ and became standard in 2000.] The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the RX 300 "Good" overall in their frontal offset crash test.
2000–2003
In 2000, the RX 300 was refreshed with revised headlights and tail lights, along with the option of high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps.[ The interior also gained the option of a DVD-based navigation system.][ A burgundy exterior color, Venetian Red Pearl, was only offered on 1999–2000 year models.]
In November 2000, the 2.2-liter '' 5S-FE'' engine in the Harrier was replaced by the 2.4-liter '' 2AZ-FE'' four-cylinder engine, producing JIS and of torque. As before, the engine was offered with either front-wheel drive (ACU10) or all-wheel drive (ACU15) versions.[ A small facelift was also performed on the Harrier. Options included sport-tuned suspension and DVD voice navigation.][
In 2001, a limited edition "Silversport" was offered that included a monochromatic paint scheme in Millennium Silver or Black with an all black interior and perforated leather seats.] Exclusively for 2002, Lexus introduced the limited RX 300 " Coach Edition," featuring perforated leather trim in the interior, honeycomb grille, Coach badging on the exterior and interior, and a set of Coach luggage.
Awards won by the first-generation Lexus RX include most appealing luxury SUV by J.D. Power and Associates
J.D. Power is an American consumer research, data, and analytics firm based in Troy, Michigan. The company was founded in 1968 by James David Power III. It conducts surveys of customer satisfaction, product quality, and buyer behavior for the au ...
in 1998, ''Motor Trend
''MotorTrend'' is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year, also in 1949.
Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles published ''MotorTrend'' until 1998, when it was sold to ...
'' Sport/Utility of the Year for 1999, ''Money'' magazine's Best Deal on the Road in the SUV class in 1999, and Kelley Blue Book's Best to Hold Value Award in 1999, 2000, and 2001.
The RX 300 sold over 370,000 units in its five years on the market. It was successful in terms of sales, and became the best-selling Lexus model shortly after its introduction. Its popularity contributed to the growth of the premium crossover SUV market, with several rival makes launching competing models in response to the RX 300.[
]
Second generation (XU30; 2003)
2003–2007
In 1998, development began on the XU30 platform under chief engineer Yukihiro Okane. Design work was started under Makoto Oshima and would continue into 2000 when a concept design by Hiroshi Sukuki was approved. By early 2001, the final production design was green-lighted by the executive board, with the first prototypes being tested in 2002. Design patents were filed on 1 April 2002 under No. 794 at the Japanese Patent Office and on 21 April 2003 at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The XU30 was previewed in January 2003 at the North American International Auto Show. Featuring a sleeker body style than its predecessor, the XU30 claimed to have a and new LED tailamps. From the inside, the RX 330 interior featured genuine Golden Bird's Eye Maple or Walnut wood trim, a sliding multi-level center storage console, dual-zone climate control, and power tilt/telescopic steering column. Available options included a 210-watt, 11-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system, DVD-based navigation system with backup camera
A backup camera (also called a reversing camera or rear-view camera) is a special type of video camera that is produced specifically for the purpose of being attached to the rear of a vehicle to aid in backing up and to alleviate the rear blind s ...
, rear seat DVD player with wireless headphones, panoramic three panel moonroof, and heated seats.
All RX models came standard with eight airbags, including dual front airbags, front row side torso airbags, side curtain airbag
An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate extremely quickly, then quickly deflate during a collision. It consists of the airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor. Th ...
s, a driver's knee airbag
An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate extremely quickly, then quickly deflate during a collision. It consists of the airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor. Th ...
; Vehicle Stability Control
Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a vehicle's stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction ( skiddi ...
(VDIM
Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) is an integrated vehicle handling and software control system developed by Toyota. It involves an omnibus computer linkage of traction control, electronic stability control, electronic steering, and ...
on RX 400h) and a tire-pressure monitoring system
A tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) monitors the air pressure inside the pneumatic tires on vehicles.
A TPMS reports real-time tire-pressure information to the driver, using either a gauge, a pictogram display, or a simple low-pressure wa ...
were standard. An Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) with HID headlamps and a backup camera (w/navigation system) were optional. In Japan, the Toyota Harrier was the first worldwide production car with optional radar
Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, we ...
-assisted Pre-Collision System (PCS) (Forward collision warning only, no autonomous braking). front and side view monitoring and cornering assist monitor with treat monitor. The Lexus RX received a "Good" overall rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a U.S. nonprofit organization funded by auto insurance companies, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle traffic collisio ...
frontal crash test. U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA ) is an agency of the U.S. federal government, part of the Department of Transportation. It describes its mission as "Save lives, prevent injuries, reduce vehicle-related crashes" rel ...
(NHTSA) crash test results in 2004 rated the RX 330 the maximum five stars in the Frontal Driver, Frontal Passenger, Side Driver, and Side Rear Passenger categories, and four of five stars in the Rollover category.
In February 2003, the second-generation Toyota Harrier (codename ACU30 and MCU30 for the front-wheel drive models, and ACU35 and MCU35 for the all-wheel drive models) was launched in Japan. The Harrier was fitted either a 2.4 L I4 or 3.0 L V6 with or without all-wheel drive, and a new 5-speed automatic transmission with +/- shift along with available "AIRS" air-suspension on the 3.0 L V6 models. The new RX launched for European and Asian markets in early 2003, where it was sold as the RX 300 (MCU30/MCU35) and made in Japan. Asian markets included Singapore, where it succeeded the previously sold Harrier, South Korea, and Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
. The RX 300 featured a 3.0 L V6, with only the all-wheel drive version available, and air-suspension could be specified.
In North America, the RX 330 series began sales in March 2003 for the 2004 model year. Here, the car was badged RX 330 denoting its larger 3.3-liter V6. The RX 330 (MCU33/MCU38) was powered by a 3.3-liter ULEV certified '' 3MZ-FE'' V6, rated at SAE and linked to a 5-speed automatic and was offered in either front or all-wheel drive. New technology features included Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) with swivel headlights, height-adjustable air suspension
Air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension powered by an electric or engine-driven air pump or compressor. This compressor pumps the air into a flexible bellows, usually made from textile-reinforced rubber. Unlike hydropneumatic suspension, ...
on the all-wheel drive models, Dynamic Laser Cruise Control system, and rain-sensing
A rain sensor or ''rain switch'' is a switching device activated
by rainfall. There are two main applications for rain sensors. The first is a water conservation device connected to an automatic irrigation system that causes the system to shut do ...
wipers. All North American models were initially built in Japan until September 2003 when production of the RX 330 began in Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, located at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers. The city had a population of 138,479 as of the 2021 census. Along with Kitchener and Waterloo, Cambridg ...
, Canada.[ For each year of the second and third generation RX, a small number of non-hybrid RXs were assembled in Japan.
Lexus debuted the RX 400h (MHU38) at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, with plans to launch the vehicle in the U.S. market. The equivalent Harrier Hybrid debuted in Japan on 22 March 2005, the same day as the Toyota Highlander ]Hybrid
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...
. Hybrid production began in March 2005 at Toyota Motor Kyushu. The Lexus RX 400h made its U.S. sales debut in mid-2005, with over 9,000 pre-orders at launch. The RX 400h's arrival in the U.S. had been delayed by several months; Lexus had announced in November 2004 that the American launch of the hybrid Lexus SUV would occur for the 2006 model year. The RX 400h became the first production premium hybrid vehicle when it went on sale in 2005.
Compared to the Lexus RX 330 and RX 350, the RX 400h featured a different front grille and round fog lights, and also differently styled LED taillights in place of the conventional LED ones on the RX 330/RX 350. Different exterior colors were offered. In 2007, Hybrid badging was added to the rear side doors. The RX 400h interior featured a hybrid information display on the navigation screen showing electrical motor, gasoline engine, and regenerative braking activation in real time.[ Some RX 400h models without navigation screens displayed the information on a small monochrome display on the instrument panel. When launched in 2005, the RX 400h came exclusively with brushed aluminum interior accents, in place of the wood trim offered in the standard RX. This changed in 2006, when the RX 400h became available with Bird's Eye Maple wood trim.
Since its launch, the ]all-wheel drive
An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand.
The most common forms of all-wheel drive are:
;1x1 : All unicycles Reflecting one axle with one w ...
RX 400h/Harrier Hybrid was sold at a substantial premium over the non-hybrid RX 300/RX 330/RX 350/Harrier. In the U.S., the initial base price was , which was a premium over a similarly equipped RX 330/RX 350.[ A front-wheel drive version of the RX 400h debuted in 2006, with a base ]MSRP
The list price, also known as the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP), or the recommended retail price (RRP), or the suggested retail price (SRP) of a product is the price at which its manufacturer notionally recommends that a retailer ...
approximately less than the all-wheel drive RX hybrid. For 2007, along with the reduction of the federal hybrid tax credit for its hybrids, Lexus lowered the base price of the RX 400h to and for the respective all-wheel and front-wheel drive versions. The list price in Japan for the Harrier Hybrid ranged from to . Based on the 2010 Lexus RX redesign, there was no RX 400h for the 2009 model year. However, the RX 400h did receive a facelift for the 2008 model year, featuring a blue Lexus badge and a rear spoiler that matches the body color.
The gasoline-powered part of the RX 400h engine system was a 3.3-liter '' 3MZ-FE'' V6, very similar to the one found in the RX 330. It produced and . The gasoline engine was aided by a maximum of two additional electric motors, one driving the front wheels, producing and and connected to the CVT gearbox,[ and the other driving the rear wheels, producing and .][ The whole system, called Lexus Hybrid Drive (also Hybrid Synergy Drive), produced a maximum of .][ With Lexus Hybrid Drive, under normal driving conditions, only the front motor and gasoline engine were used. The rear motor was only used under full-throttle acceleration or when the front wheels lost traction.][ An Ni-MH battery was responsible for powering the motors,][ and charged by generators during deceleration or sharp cornering.][ Standard features included an Electronically Controlled Brake and Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management stability control system.
The RX 400h gasoline engine switched off automatically and the car ran completely on electricity when either stationary, decelerating, or being driven at slow speeds—less than .][ Not only did the hybrid drive in the RX 400h improve fuel economy, but with the assistance of the electric motor, the RX 400h could reach in 7.3 seconds,][ quicker than the gasoline-only RX. Despite the increased performance, the RX 400h/Harrier Hybrid consumed roughly the same amount of gasoline as a compact four-cylinder sedan and it qualified as a ]Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
Super ultra-low emissions vehicle (SULEV) is a U.S. classification for passenger vehicle emissions. The classification is based on producing 90% fewer emissions than the average gasoline-powered vehicle. The SULEV standard is stricter than the stan ...
(SULEV) in the US. Passing power at lower and mid engine rpm's was noticeably improved due to the electric motor. The water pump for the gasoline engine is driven by the camshaft belt. To improve efficiency, and because the gasoline engine shuts down during electric-only operation, the alternator, power steering pump, and air conditioner compressor are beltless; rather than being tied to engine output,[ these components are powered by electric motors via the battery instead.][
The RX 400h served as the launch vehicle of the Lexus hybrid lineup, which later expanded to include hybrid versions of other Lexus vehicles, including the ]GS 450h
The is an executive car sold by Lexus, the premium division of Toyota. The same car had been launched in 1991 as the Toyota Aristo in Japan. For non-Japanese markets, it was released as the Lexus GS in February 1993. It continued using the Toyo ...
and LS 600h/LS 600h L, and in 2009, the first ever designated-hybrid (no gasoline model available) Lexus, the HS 250h.
In January 2005, Lexus introduced the RX 330 "Thundercloud Edition" for the U.S. market, featuring a chrome horizontal-slatted grille, unique 5-spoke 18" alloy wheels, black Bird's Eye Maple wood trim, Thundercloud badges and carpeted floor mats, and two special exterior colors (Thundercloud Metallic and Thundercloud Flint Mica). Production was limited to 6,500 units.
In 2006 for the 2007 model year, the RX received a mid-cycle refresh consisting of a new 3.5-liter '' 2GR-FE'' V6 replacing the 3.3-liter '' 3MZ-FE'' V6 engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy.
Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power ...
on non-hybrid models, updating the vehicle's name from RX 330 to RX 350, with new model codes GSU30 and GSU35. The RX 350 also featured an updated, Lexus Generation V DVD navigation system with improved graphics, voice controlled destination inputs, and a new feature called "bread crumbs." Bread crumbs will enable drivers to retrace their steps. The new navigation system also featured voice dial systems and the ability to enter destinations by voice address while driving.
2007–2008
In 2007 for the 2008 model year, the RX received a revised grille, chrome door handles, available new seven-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels with a liquid graphite finish, and Brandy Wine Mica or Desert Sage Metallic were new exterior choices. Black Bird's Eye Maple wood with gray interior was a new interior option for that year.
In February 2008 for the 2009 model year, Lexus added a new Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach is an unincorporated community on the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey County, California. The small coastal residential community of mostly single-family homes is also notable as a resort destination, and the home of the golf course ...
Edition, limited to 6000 units, with a base MSRP of – . These limited production models have "Pebble Beach" badges on front fenders and embroidered front floor mats, were available in Black Onyx and Truffle Mica color, and came equipped with limited-edition 18-inch alloy wheels, a color-keyed rear spoiler, and a chrome-finished grille. Buyers also received a choice of custom amenities designed to complement the Pebble Beach lifestyle. Production ended in December 2008.
The RX 330 was named most appealing luxury SUV by J.D. Power and Associates
J.D. Power is an American consumer research, data, and analytics firm based in Troy, Michigan. The company was founded in 1968 by James David Power III. It conducts surveys of customer satisfaction, product quality, and buyer behavior for the au ...
in 2004. It was also the Best Overall Value in the SUV market over in 2003, 2004, and 2005 according to ''Intellichoice''. The Lexus RX 400h was one of only four SUVs to achieve recognition on J.D. Power and Associates
J.D. Power is an American consumer research, data, and analytics firm based in Troy, Michigan. The company was founded in 1968 by James David Power III. It conducts surveys of customer satisfaction, product quality, and buyer behavior for the au ...
' 2006 Automotive Environmental Index of the top 30 most environmentally friendly vehicles. J.D. Power also awarded the RX 400h the top spot for entry-luxury SUVs in its 2005 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study on owners' attitudes towards new vehicle designs. At the 2005 GreenFleet Awards in the United Kingdom, recognizing environmentally friendly transportation, Lexus was recognized for introducing the RX 400h with the 4x4 Manufacturer of the Year title. The RX 400h was named SUV of Texas at the 2005 Texas Truck Rodeo awards, and was awarded recognition as a CNET editor's choice vehicle in 2005.
Third generation (AL10; 2008)
2008–2012
Development of the third-generation RX began in 2004. Chief engineer Takayuki Katsuda headed development, with design being conducted from 2005. In late 2006, design work by Masanari Sakae was chosen, with the final designs that were presented as 1:1 scale models being green-lighted for production in the first half of 2007. On 9 October 2007, design patents were filed at the Japanese Patent Office (7 April 2008 in the U.S.) for both a conceptual variant and two production variants (RX and RX 450h). The first North American pre-production prototypes were sent to Cambridge, Canada in early 2008 for testing prior to the first RX 350 rolling off the production line on 28 November 2008. A hybrid concept vehicle, the LF-Xh, previewed the third-generation RX's design direction at international auto shows a year prior to the production model's debut. The LF-Xh, which stands for ''Lexus Future-Crossover(X) hybrid'', was first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. The LF-Xh featured a V6 engine with electric motors, LED headlights and taillights, and a concept interior.
Lexus debuted the third-generation RX on 19 November 2008. The AL10 series is built in Japan and Canada, with North American models primarily built in Cambridge, Ontario
Cambridge is a city in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, located at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers. The city had a population of 138,479 as of the 2021 census. Along with Kitchener and Waterloo, Cambridg ...
, Canada. American RX 350 sales began in February 2009 as a 2010 model. For 2009, the front-wheel drive RX 350 starts at US$36,800 while the all-wheel drive version starts at US$38,200. EPA-estimated fuel economy is improved at city/highway/combined 18/25/21 mpg for the FWD RX 350 and 18/24/20 mpg for the AWD model. The RX 350 (GGL10/GGL15) features a revised 3.5-liter '' 2GR-FE'' V6 engine producing with a wider power curve, it remains ULEV-II certified and now uses a six-speed automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving ...
with sequential shift.[
The third-generation RX's new transmission can lock-up its torque converter from 2nd through 6th gears to improve fuel economy. By dropping the center locking differential, a new Active Torque Control all-wheel drive system diverts anywhere from 50% or up to 100% power to the front wheels for reduced drivetrain associated efficiency losses which in turn increases fuel efficiency. An Electric Power Steering (EPS) system replaces the previous belt-driven hydraulic pump. A ]double wishbone
A double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design for automobiles using two (occasionally parallel) wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckl ...
rear suspension setup replaces the previous MacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of automotive suspension system that uses the top of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in the front suspension of modern vehicles, and is named for American automotive engineer Ear ...
design for improved handling and greater cargo space, while an optional Sports Package adds a performance-tuned suspension.[
The AL10 RX's new exterior styling adopts the L-finesse design language, and outer features include a rear spoiler which hides the rear window wiper and radio antenna creating a less cluttered appearance. The ]drag coefficient
In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient (commonly denoted as: c_\mathrm, c_x or c_) is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment, such as air or water. It is used in the drag e ...
on the latest RX 350 has been reduced to .[ Exterior dimensions are increased, with cargo room increased by five percent over the prior generation.][ For the interior, major standard features include ]SmartAccess
A smart key is an electronic access and authorization system that is available either as standard equipment, or as an option in several car designs. It was first developed by Siemens in 1995 and introduced by Mercedes-Benz under the name "Keyless ...
, a keyless entry
A remote keyless system (RKS), also known as keyless entry or remote central locking, is an electronic lock that controls access to a building or vehicle by using an electronic remote control (activated by a handheld device or automatically b ...
and start system, electrochromic heated side mirrors, UV reducing exterior glass, Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs). In the most widely used mode, transmission power is limi ...
, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power 10-way driver and passenger seats, sliding and reclining rear seats and a power rear hatch. The instrument cluster's multi-function display uses an organic light-emitting diode (OLED
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED or organic LED), also known as organic electroluminescent (organic EL) diode, is a light-emitting diode (LED) in which the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film of organic compound that emits light i ...
) display instead of a thin film transistor (TFT-LCD
A thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display (TFT LCD) is a variant of a liquid-crystal display that uses thin-film-transistor technology to improve image qualities such as addressability and contrast. A TFT LCD is an active matrix LCD, in con ...
) display. New cabin technologies include VoiceBox Technologies conversational speech voice recognition system, the first of its kind in the U.S., which can recognize general speech commands. The new hard disk drive
A hard disk drive (HDD), hard disk, hard drive, or fixed disk is an electro-mechanical data storage device that stores and retrieves digital data using magnetic storage with one or more rigid rapidly rotating platters coated with magne ...
HDD-based navigation system no longer uses a touchscreen, instead replacing it with Lexus' Remote Touch controller, similar in function to a computer mouse, with haptic feedback. Optional accessory features include XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio (XM) was one of the three satellite radio ( SDARS) and online radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Holdings. It provided pay-for-service radio, analogous to subscription cable television. Its se ...
, a 15-speaker 330-watt Mark Levinson Surround Sound audio system, a dual-screen Rear Seat Entertainment System (RSES), 19-inch wheels, heated and ventilated front seats, power front seat cushion extender, perforated and semi-aniline leather
Aniline leather is a type of leather dyed exclusively with soluble dyes. The dye colours the leather without producing the uniform surface of a topcoat paint or insoluble pigmented sealant. The resulting product retains the hide's natural surface. ...
seats, a smog sensor for the HVAC system, power folding side view mirrors, and navigation system. With XM subscription the navigation adds real-time NavTraffic and NavWeather updates.
The third-generation RX comes standard with a twin-chamber front passenger airbags, side torso airbags for the front row, side curtain airbags for front and rear rows, and knee airbags for the front row. Active headrests become standard to help reduce whiplash injuries. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Hill Assist Control (HAC) which helps prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards on inclines are standard while a more advanced Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system is optional. VDIM is designed to be more subtle and less intrusive in performance than VSC alone, VDIM can also engage prior to an actual skid taking place acting as a preventative measure. The Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) remains optional, while a new bi-xenon optional Intelligent Highbeam
A headlamp is a lamp (electrical component), lamp attached to the front of a vehicle to illuminate the road ahead. Headlamps are also often called headlights, but in the most precise usage (language), usage, ''headlamp'' is the term for the ...
feature is added, this system can dim the high-beams automatically whenever traffic is detected. Other optional safety features include a Pre-Collision System (PCS) and a Head-up Display
A head-up display, or heads-up display, also known as a HUD (), is any transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints. The origin of the name stems from a pilot being able to view informa ...
(HUD) which helps the driver keep attention on the road ahead by displaying navigation, speed, and audio information on the windshield; the HUD uses high-intensity LEDs displaying high contrast white figures on the windshield allowing it to be read in direct sunlight.[ The optional navigation system offers a ]backup camera
A backup camera (also called a reversing camera or rear-view camera) is a special type of video camera that is produced specifically for the purpose of being attached to the rear of a vehicle to aid in backing up and to alleviate the rear blind s ...
and a Wide-View Side Monitor utilizes a camera on the passenger side view mirror to help eliminate blind spots on the passenger side at low speeds, this system does not include the 180° wide-angle front camera found in the LX 570. To further help improve visibility, water-repellent glass is used on the front doors.
Introduced in 2009 as a 2010 model year vehicle, the RX 450h (GLV10/GLV15) premiered alongside its non-hybrid counterpart, the RX 350. Manufacturer's specifications indicated largely identical outward dimensions for the RX 450h with the RX 350. The RX 450h was scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. in mid to late 2009,[ with sales introductions for the RX 450h in Asia (including Japan) and Europe in the same year. The RX 450h features an upgraded 3.5 L '' 2GR-FXE'' V6 engine (shared with the RX 350) which produces at 6000 rpm,][ along with a new inverter which boosts total horsepower to (with the electric motors providing an added ).][ The new inverter is 8 kg lighter, and more efficient. Up to three electric motors are used in the hybrid system, including two dual motors for the forward wheels (123 kW output), and a third for the rear wheels on the AWD model (50 kW; engages when slippage is detected or the throttle pressed firmly).][ The RX 450h's V6 engine now runs on the ]Atkinson cycle
The Atkinson-cycle engine is a type of internal combustion engine invented by James Atkinson in 1882. The Atkinson cycle is designed to provide efficiency at the expense of power density.
A variation of this approach is used in some modern auto ...
for added efficiency.[ Compared to the prior ]Otto cycle
An Otto cycle is an idealized thermodynamic cycle that describes the functioning of a typical spark ignition piston engine. It is the thermodynamic cycle most commonly found in automobile engines.
The Otto cycle is a description of what hap ...
system, the Atkinson cycle has a lower compression ratio, along with higher expansion ratio The expansion ratio of a liquefied and cryogenic substance is the volume of a given amount of that substance in liquid form compared to the volume of the same amount of substance in gaseous form, at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure. ...
inside engine cylinders. This system uses less energy to form fuel-air mixtures, and releases more energy.[ A lighter, more free-flowing oil (0W-20) is also used, reducing friction energy loss and oil pump power requirements.][ Two additional systems are added to the RX 450h's Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain, an ]exhaust heat recovery system
An exhaust heat recovery system turns waste heat energy in exhaust gases into electric energy for batteries or mechanical energy reintroduced on the crankshaft. The technology is of increasing interest as car and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers co ...
to reduce engine warm-up periods (optimizing engine start-stop times, particularly in cold conditions), and a cooled exhaust gas-recirculation system to reduce fuel pumping loss.[ The electric motors use the first automotive application of liquid cooling on both sides of the high-current transistors, allowing greater contribution from the electric motors versus the gasoline engine.][
Fuel efficiency for the RX 450h, according to EPA testing, is increased by twenty percent over the previous RX 400h. Initial manufacturer data pointed to an increase of at least eight percent over the prior model.][ In the U.S., the RX 450h is certified with a 2009 EPA fuel economy rating of 32 mpg city, 28 highway for the FWD model, and 30 mpg city, 28 highway for the AWD model.] This 30 mpg combined rating compares with the 20 mpg combined rating of the non-hybrid RX model.[ The powertrain is linked to an instrument panel Eco light indicator, which enables drivers to monitor their fuel efficiency as it correlates with accelerator modulation.][
In August 2010, Lexus began offering the RX 270 (AGL10), a front-wheel drive model with a 2.7-liter '' 1AR-FE'' ]inline-four engine
A straight-four engine (also called an inline-four) is a four-cylinder piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft.
The vast majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a straight-four layout (with the ...
, in Japan, China, and Russia. The RX 270 was a new entry-level offering for the RX lineup, produced with a lower base price and fewer emissions.[ It was introduced at the 2010 Moscow Auto Show, and aimed to circumvent the additional taxes applied to automobiles with large ]engine displacement
Engine displacement is the measure of the cylinder volume swept by all of the pistons of a piston engine, excluding the combustion chambers. It is commonly used as an expression of an engine's size, and by extension as a loose indicator of the ...
s and higher emissions; import cars in China over 3.0 L are subject to additional fees.
In July 2010, ''Bloomberg Bloomberg may refer to:
People
* Daniel J. Bloomberg (1905–1984), audio engineer
* Georgina Bloomberg (born 1983), professional equestrian
* Michael Bloomberg (born 1942), American businessman and founder of Bloomberg L.P.; politician and m ...
'' reported that an all-electric Lexus RX had been developed in partnership with Tesla Motors
Tesla, Inc. ( or ) is an American multinational automotive and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Tesla designs and manufactures electric vehicles (electric cars and trucks), battery energy storage from home to grid- ...
. The RX was fitted with a Tesla-designed battery pack, and is to be used as a test mule for electric vehicle development.[
]
2012–2015
A facelift was designed through late 2010 and patented on 7 January 2011 under European design registration number 001845801-0004. The facelift was unveiled at the March 2012 Geneva Motor Show with new wheels, interior colors, new head and tail lamps and new grilles. New LED running lights were introduced as well. The F Sport was introduced, with a honeycomb grille, 8-speed automatic transmission, and a unique sporty interior. In the US, the new model uses the Lexus Enform
is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota. The Lexus brand is marketed in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide and is Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. It has ranked among the 10 largest Japanese ...
telematics system, which includes the Safety Connect
Safety Connect is a subscription-based telematics system introduced by Toyota Motor Corporation in 2009 for its Toyota-branded and Lexus models. The system provides communications, roadside assistance, car safety, remote diagnostics, and other s ...
SOS system and Shazam tagging. Sales began worldwide in April 2012 for the RX 350 and RX 450h, with sales for the F-Sport variants starting in July of the same year.
Several awards won by the third-generation Lexus RX include ''AutoPacific'' Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Luxury Crossover SUV, Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value Award for Luxury Utility Vehicle, and Residual Value Award for Near Luxury SUV from ''Automotive Lease Guide''. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a U.S. nonprofit organization funded by auto insurance companies, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle traffic collisio ...
(IIHS) has awarded the RX 350 its Top Safety Pick accolade. In 2013, J.D. Power and Associates named the RX as the most dependable vehicle in the U.S.; it was the first time a SUV/crossover had ever been listed as such.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA ) is an agency of the U.S. federal government, part of the Department of Transportation. It describes its mission as "Save lives, prevent injuries, reduce vehicle-related crashes" rel ...
(NHTSA) crash test results has given the RX 350 the maximum five star rating in the Frontal Driver, Frontal Passenger, Side Driver, and Side Rear Passenger categories, and four of five stars in the Rollover category at a risk of 16.4%. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a U.S. nonprofit organization funded by auto insurance companies, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle traffic collisio ...
rated the RX 350 a Top Safety Pick given "Good" overall ratings in both frontal offset and side crash tests, the RX also received "Good" ratings in all 14 measured categories. In 2014 (for the 2015 U.S. model year), the North American Lexus RX 350 gains new standard equipment such as the popular display audio package and LED front fog lamps. Navigation equipped models receive an upgraded 19 inch wheel finish as well as an easier to use remote touch controller. The 2015 model year F-Sport models now have the option of a cabernet red interior.
Safety
:1 strength-to-weight ratio: 4.27
Fourth generation (AL20; 2015)
Lexus debuted the fourth-generation RX at the April 2015 New York International Auto Show, including a "floating roof design" and a revised, bolder "Spindle Grille". The RX features a version of the 3.5 L V6 engine that is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The gasoline engine and electric motor RX 450h hybrid reaches a combined power of . Its hybrid system uses a 1.872 kWh nickel-metal-hydride battery. Lexus also offers a model equipped with a four-cylinder gasoline turbocharged ''8AR-FTS'' engine called the RX 200t (renamed to RX 300 for 2018 model year onwards), but this model is not available in North America. The vehicle is larger than the previous generation, with a increase in wheelbase, providing more interior room throughout. To counter issues with the previous version's F-Sport ride quality being too firm, in the pursuit of sporty handling, the new generation features an Adaptive Variable Suspension
TEMS (Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension) is a shock absorber that is electronically controlled ( Continuous Damping Control) based on multiple factors, and was built and exclusively used by Toyota for selected products during the 1980s and 19 ...
(AVS) to adjust ride quality as needed. An active anti-roll bar from the European specification third generation RX was added to the F-Sport package. Twenty-inch alloy wheels are also available, as is a panoramic sunroof. An center console display screen is standard equipment, with an optional 12.3” display.
The release of the RX in the United States was scheduled for November 2015. For the first time in the U.S. market, Lexus released an F Sport version of the RX hybrid, the RX 450h F Sport.
The North American RX models are manufactured in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada and have about 25 percent of their parts coming from Japan. The RX is also manufactured in Toyota's plant in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan for markets outside North America with 64 percent of its parts coming from Japan.
File:Lexus RX 450h F Sport (IV) – Heckansicht, 14. Februar 2016, Düsseldorf.jpg, Lexus RX 450h F Sport
File:2021 Lexus RX 300 Krakow.jpg, Interior
RX L
In November 2017, Lexus announced new three-row seven-passenger models of the RX, the RX 350 L and RX 450h L. They are longer than the two-row model but have the same wheelbase.
File:2018 Lexus RX 350L 3.5L front 3.24.19.jpg, Lexus RX 350 L
File:2018 Lexus RX 350L 3.5L rear 3.24.19.jpg, Rear view
Refresh
The RX and RX L received a facelift in May 2019. The refreshed model is equipped with the newer Lexus Safety System Plus 2.0 suite. For the interior, new touchpad and touchscreen infotainment interfaces were added.
In 2020, for the 2021 model year, both blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert became standard, and wireless smartphone charging became available as an option. Smartphone mirroring systems (both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Android Auto is a mobile app developed by Google to mirror features of an Android device, such as a smartphone, on a car's dashboard information and entertainment head unit.
Once an Android device is paired with the car's head unit, the syst ...
) were also introduced. Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 was also added to the RX for 2020.
In 2021, for the 2022 model year daytime bicyclist detection and low-light pedestrian detection and with Road Sign Assists and Lane Tracing Assist become available.
File:Lexus RX 450h FL IMG 4273.jpg, Lexus RX 450h (facelift)
File:Lexus RX 350 L FL 1X7A0345.jpg, Lexus RX 350 L (facelift)
Fifth generation (ALA10/ALH10; 2022)
The fifth-generation RX was unveiled on 31 May 2022. Built on the GA-K platform, it is available in four models: RX 350, RX 350h, RX 450h+, and RX 500h F Sport Performance. The RX 500h model is equipped with Direct4 all-wheel drive system.
The fifth-generation RX maintains the same overall length as the former model, although the wheelbase has grown to (extended by ) with wider body at (widened by ). The switch to the GA-K platform resulted in a lower weight by , and a lower centre of gravity by as well as wider tracks. Unlike the previous generation, this vehicle comes only a five-passenger seating, no seven-passenger seating with the third row is offered. However, the newer platform, revised dimensions and fitment of suspension components allow for larger interior space.
The front "spindle grille" found in most Lexus model is redesigned into a more three-dimensional mass, evolving into a design element Lexus called as "spindle body". The grille is smaller and less pointed than before. The A-pillars have also been moved back to emphasize the elongated hood.
The front fenders are made of aluminium
Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. I ...
, while the B-pillars are made of 2 GPa
Grading in education is the process of applying standardized measurements for varying levels of achievements in a course. Grades can be assigned as letters (usually A through F), as a range (for example, 1 to 6), as a percentage, or as a numbe ...
class hot-stamped steel, which is claimed as a world first in terms of both safety and weight reduction. The mounting points for the rear suspension and its member mounting points have been highly reinforced using short pitch welding, laser screw welding and structural adhesives, creating a rigid high-torsion rear body frame. For a more linear steering response, highly rigid die-cast aluminium is used for the steering support. Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) is standard on F Sport models.
File:Lexus RX 450h+ "version L" (6LA-AALH16-AWXGB(L)) rear.jpg, Rear view
File:Lexus RX 450h+ PROTOTYPE (AALH16) interior.jpg, Interior
Powertrain
The ffith-generation RX is offered with four-cylinder engines from Toyota's Dynamic Force family, with the 3.5-liter V6 option dropped entirely.
The base RX 350 is equipped with the turbocharged 2.4-liter '' T24A-FTS'' gasoline engine making and , mated to a Direct Shift eight-speed automatic transmission, and available with optional all-wheel drive.
The RX 350h uses the 2.5-liter '' A25A-FXS'' ( and ) gasoline engine with a series
Series may refer to:
People with the name
* Caroline Series (born 1951), English mathematician, daughter of George Series
* George Series (1920–1995), English physicist
Arts, entertainment, and media
Music
* Series, the ordered sets used in ...
-parallel hybrid system linked to a 1.6 kW·h battery and eCVT, with a combined system output of and with optional all-wheel drive (E-Four).
For RX 500h F Sport Performance, it is equipped with the Direct4 all-wheel drive system, which features a rear-mounted electric motor (marketed as eAxle), combined with the ''T24A-FTS'' engine, a parallel hybrid
Hybrid vehicle drivetrains transmit power to the driving wheels for hybrid vehicles. A hybrid vehicle has multiple forms of motive power.
Hybrids come in many configurations. For example, a hybrid may receive its energy by burning gasoline, but sw ...
system and a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine operates the front wheels while the electric motor drives the rear wheels, with a total system output of and of torque.
The range also includes an addition of the RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid, which uses the ''A25A-FXS'' engine, an eCVT, an 18.1 kWh lithium-ion
A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery which uses the reversible reduction of lithium ions to store energy. It is the predominant battery type used in portable consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It also se ...
battery as well as front () and rear electric () motors. The gasoline engine produces and , with a combined system output of . There are four modes available (EV, Auto EV/HV, HV and Self-charging) and all-wheel drive is provided by the rear electric motor that makes up the E-Four system, allowing for front-rear torque distribution between 100:0 and 20:80.
Sales
The success of the Lexus RX has been particularly strong in the United States, where it has been the best-selling luxury SUV since its introduction. As one of the earliest luxury crossovers on the market, the RX has inspired similar competitors from rival marques. The Lexus RX is the top selling Lexus hybrid, with global sales of 335,000 units through March 2016, out of one million Lexus hybrids delivered since 2005.
As of April 2015, Lexus had accumulated more than 2.1 million RX models worldwide. The Lexus RX 400h/RX 450h is the top selling Lexus hybrid
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...
, with global sales of 335,000 units through March 2016, out of one million Lexus hybrids sold worldwide.[
Sales data in United States market for the Lexus RX are as follows, sourced from manufacturer yearly data:
]
References
External links
*
{{Lexus
RX
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Compact sport utility vehicles
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