Lexus RX

Expanded electrified line-up brings Lexus RX into the spotlight

Lexus has taken the wraps off the all-new RX, a model that leverages the company’s electrified strategy and its more than 15 years’ experience in electrified vehicle technology. Its development was part of a multi-tech approach that pushed the boundaries of what is possible in self-charging hybrid performance and plug-in hybrid power and efficiency.

The new RX 500h is also Lexus’s first turbocharged hybrid, developed to provide high-end electrified performance, and that’s what really makes it a game-changer.

Using a completely new hybrid architecture comprising a 2.4-litre turbo engine and six-speed automatic transmission, it delivers 366bhp. The front electric motor is positioned between the combustion engine and the transmission (which has a clutch on both sides), enabling great flexibility in power delivery.

There is also an 80kW e-Axle, a compact, modular package housing a motor, gearing and an ECU, located between the rear wheels. Its compact dimensions help secure more space in the cabin and load compartment.

Power delivery is controlled by DIRECT4, an exclusive new Lexus drive-force technology which recently debuted on the RZ 450e. This intelligent system constantly balances the power and torque between the front and rear axles in any driving situation, automatically and seamlessly shifting the drive force between the two axles in milliseconds – more precisely than any mechanical system could.

DIRECT4 communicates a better feel between the road and steering wheel and delivers improved handling stability and driving dynamics at high speed. Importantly for the RX 500h, it also enhances ride comfort with instant torque that helps control body movement.

In line with the model’s high performance, the front brakes have opposed callipers. Dynamic Rear Steering (DRS) determines the optimum steering angle for the rear wheels.

RX 450h+: the first plug-in hybrid electric RX

• 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid electric powertrain • Output: 302bhp/306 DIN hp/225kW • 0-62mph: 7.0s • CO2: 24-26g/km • Fuel consumption: 235.4-256.8mpg

Lexus drew on its electrification expertise to produce the RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid, which it believes will be a logical step-up for many of its current RX 450h customers.

Expected to be the best-selling RX model in the UK, it features a four-cylinder 2.5-litre hybrid engine and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with 18.1 kWh capacity. An additional rear electric motor enables full-time all-wheel drive.

The plug-in system produces 302bhp and is expected to deliver 0-62mph acceleration in around seven seconds.

Overall, it offers roughly the same output as the outgoing RX 450h, but with more torque and faster acceleration. With more of the power coming from the electric motors, driving feels effortless yet refined. It will also give significantly lower fuel consumption and emissions.

Lexus’s target CO2 emissions (WLTP combined cycle) are than 26g/km with fuel economy of less than 235.4mpg.

The battery’s size and capacity and Lexus’s electrification know-how combine to deliver an EV driving range of around 40 miles (target figure, pending homologation) and enable all-electric driving at speeds up to 84mph. Crucially, high efficiency is maintained when the battery charge is depleted, as the vehicle then switches seamlessly to its self-charging hybrid system.

RX 350h: efficient fourth generation selfcharging hybrid

• 2.5-litre self-charging hybrid electric powertrain • Output: 242bhp/245 DIN hp/180kW • 0-62mph: 8.0s • CO2: 143-150g/km • Fuel consumption: 41.1-42.2mpg • Performance data provisional/tentative pending homologation

The new RX 350h is characterised by the improved smoothness and efficiency of its fourth generation self-charging hybrid electric system.

This 2.5-litre petrol drivetrain provides 242b hp and 0-62mph acceleration in 8.0 seconds, performance comparable with the current RX 450h, while at the same time producing lower emissions. It will be a strong alternative to competitors with small-displacement engines and ideal for customers who prioritise comfort and efficiency.