As per Lexus SA, the all-new, redesigned, 5th-generation Lexus RX is finally on the cards for the South African market.
A brief RX history lesson
The RX has been a bestseller in the Lexus arsenal, and 3.5-million units have been sold across the globe since its worldwide release in 1998.
"In 2005, the RX 400h heralded the world's first luxury hybrid car, with a revolutionary powertrain that combined a V6 petrol engine with a potent electric motor, a technological breakthrough that served as a launchpad for the entire Lexus hybrid line-up. Praised by customers for its comfort, refinement and quality, in 2016 the RX was the first Lexus model to receive Lexus Safety System+ technology. In 2019, RX showcased the world's first BladeScanTM Adaptive High-beam System, a technology which uses a rotating blade-shaped mirror for enhanced illumination from LED headlights." - Lexus SA
Related: Everything you need to know about the Lexus RX (2021)
Itching to know more about the upcoming Lexus RX? Here's what we know so far...
1. It's built on the GA-K platform
This platform also underpins the NX but has a different setup. Lexus says the rear has been completely redesigned to extend the wheelbase but to also incorporate added suspension braces and cross members for increased rigidity, enhancing the suspension as well as cabin comfort for all occupants.
2. It is sleeker, sexier, and has shed a few pounds
This new platform has allowed the RX to get rid of 90 kilograms and also lower the overall height of the RX which also resulted in a slightly lower centre of gravity - this translates to better handling! To save even more weight, the new RX makes use of 2GPa high-tensile steel for the centre pillars, and aluminium for the wings and bonnet, while the rocker reinforcement is composed of 1180 MPa steel and the roof of 1470 MPa steel.
The RX's groundbreaking new look forms a part of the brand's new 'Next Chapter' design language. "This includes a new 'spindle body' that was achieved by integrating the spindle concept into the entire front of the vehicle", says Lexus.
3. It has a new suspension
The new multi-link rear suspension setup enhances lateral stability and is capable of handling more torque, while also reducing NVH levels (noise vibration and harshness) inside the cabin.
4. It sports new and enhanced turbocharged engines as well as a plug-in hybrid
The current local line-up (introduced in 2019) comprises the naturally aspirated 350 EX, the larger 350L EX and the 350 F-Sport as well as the 450h SE. The new engine and model line-up for SA is still to be confirmed. In overseas markets, the RX 450h+ is now a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle.
- "Expected to be the best-selling RX model in Western and Central Europe, the RX 450h+ features a four-cylinder 2.5-litre hybrid engine and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with 18.1 kWh. An additional rear electric motor enables full-time all-wheel drive. The new RX 450h is expected to deliver 0-100 km/h acceleration in around 7 seconds. Overall, it offers roughly the same output as the outgoing RX 450h, but with more torque and faster acceleration. It will also boast significantly lower fuel consumption and emissions", according to Lexus.
- The new RX 350h model is a self-charging hybrid powered by a 2.5-litre petrol drivetrain, capable of 0-100 km/h in only 8 seconds.
- The RX 350, currently only available in Eastern Europe, is powered by a 2.4-litre turbocharged engine with 430Nm of torque, and is mated to Lexus's Direct Shift 8-speed automatic gearbox with shorter ratios. (Hopefully, we will be getting this forced-induction unit in SA when the new model launches in 2023.)
5. The interior is more minimalistic
Not only does the cabin look cleaner, slicker and uncluttered, it's also designed to be a fully immersive experience for the driver.
"To make the cabin more driver-centred, Lexus developed the Tazuna cockpit concept. Taking its name from the Japanese word for 'reins of a horse', Tazuna focuses on direct yet intuitive control. In the cockpit, information sources like the multimedia screen, multi-information display, single-dial meter, centralised gauges and head-up display are grouped so their content can be read with minimal eye and head movement." - Lexus SA
"A powerful blend of Tazuna cockpit design and luxury SUV spaciousness, with materials like high-quality leathers and Takumi-crafted suede embossed with the Lexus 'L', is exactly the kind of bespoke look we aimed for when designing this new interior," explains RX Interior Designer Jota Kusakari.
Source: Lexus
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