Lexus RX plug-in hybrid confirmed for Oz

A plug-in hybrid version of the 2023 Lexus RX will soon join the new large luxury SUV range being launched now in Australia.

However, don’t hold your breath for a replacement for the longer Lexus RX L seven-seater.

Instead, the fifth-generation Lexus RX will remain strictly a five-seat SUV, potentially opening the way for the Australian release of the next-generation Toyota Prado-based Lexus GX by late 2024.

Lexus Australia couldn’t include the RX 450h+ PHEV as part of its launch range because supply preference was given to markets with mandated emissions limits.

Lexus Australia chief executive John Pappas said much was still to be sorted out when it came to the RX PHEV, including arrival timing, variant numbers and pricing.

However, he suggested it would slot in as second most expensive model in the range below the $126,000 RX 500h flagship and above the most expensive RX 350h, the $111,900 Sports Luxury AWD.

“We haven’t confirmed timing as yet so I would be lying if I said yes [the RX PHEV was coming in 2023],” he said.

“We are definitely getting it. We want to get it as soon as possible. But we want to make sure we can satisfy actual volume as well.

“We haven’t clarified whether we are getting multiple grades because we know we are not getting it at launch.

“There is still some discussion to happen in terms of what grades we are going to get.”

The RX PHEV uses the same powertrain set-up as the NX 450h+ PHEV that went on sale in Australia in February 2022 and now has a waiting list stretching out toward two years.

It combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with front and rear e-motors to produce a total output of 227kW. An 18.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack supports an electric-only range of up to 65km.

While it’s good news on the RX PHEV, Pappas was definite there was no prospect of an RX L replacement.

“On RX, we have decided to configure the vehicle and package the vehicle not on seven-seat configuration and we don’t expect that to change in this point in time.

“But we will be broadening our line-up to look at how we look after seven-seat configuration regarding customer requirements.”

The replacement for the RX L in the USA is expected to be a new model called the TX, which has yet to be officially revealed.

But Pappas made it clear the TX was not a prospect for Australia.

“As far as I am concerned that car is only being built as left-hand drive vehicle and that is not in our plans at the moment because it’s not even in right-hand drive production.

“That is not in the plan.”

In addition to the RX, Lexus Australia has confirmed it will launch the new RZ 450e battery-electric SUV in May and the upgraded UX 300e small electric SUV mid-year as it seeks to break through the 10,000 sales barrier for the first time since it launched in Australia in 1990.

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