Sydney preview for Lexus RX

Lexus will introduce the conventional RX 350 in March of next year, with the hybrid variant, the RX 450h, to follow in the latter half of 2009. The importer expects that owners of the current model will find the new car rides better and provides significantly improved rear-seat accommodation.

"The all-new RX debuts a range of innovations to simplify the driver's and passenger's interaction with the vehicle, and improve safety," said John Roca, Chief Executive for Lexus Australia.

"Whether it is the Lexus Remote Touch system, or the all-new hybrid driveline, the next-generation RX leads the luxury SUV market on innovation, efficiency, comfort and safety."

The new model boasts different suspension, larger dimensions, a six-speed automatic transmission, electrically-assisted steering and an Atkinson-cycle naturally-aspirated V6 engine (in the case of the RX 450h hybrid) for improved efficiency.

On top of those features, Lexus has packed the new car with high-end gadgets such as side-looking and reversing cameras, improved ergonomics for the multi-media information and entertainment system, a revised head-up display available on some variants and LRT (Lexus Remote Touch) navigation system with single-point controller.

For the Sydney preview, the Carsales Network sampled LRT -- without actually driving anywhere. On first impressions, the system is highly intuitive and Lexus has steered clear of the pitfalls associated with such systems by limiting the 'drill-down' menus to no more than three levels, providing an ergonomic mouse-like controller that emulates the mouse of a desktop PC and building into the system a 'haptic' (Greek for 'touch') tactile feature that works like electronic Braille.

A servo within the knob of the controller provides feedback when the cursor on screen passes over a menu item on screen, reducing the driver's need to take eyes off the road to run the system. Lexus also offers the driver the option of an alphabetical or QWERTY keyboard layout for the satnav destination selection mode. The display in the centre fascia is easy to read from the driver's seat and appears to be recessed enough to avoid sunglare obscuring the information. In all, the system is impressively easy to use.

From a safety standpoint, the new RX range will come equipped with VDIM (Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management), which along with the PCS (Pre-Collision System), anticipates accidents or loss of grip. The vehicle is equipped with ten airbags, including knee airbags for both driver and front-seat passenger.

Powered by its 204kW petrol V6, the RX 350 drives to all four wheels through a new six-speed automatic transmission, in lieu of the five-speed box fitted to the previous model.

Although we won't see the hybrid variant until well into the new year, the RX 450h is already being promoted for its combined power output (petrol and electric drive units) of 200kW -- an improvement of 20kW over the current model RX 400h.

Where the RX 450h relies on a rear-mounted electric motor to supply torque to the rear wheels (and regenerate power for the battery under braking), the RX 350 features a conventional all-wheel drive system with the petrol engine supplying torque to all four wheels. Both vehicles are fitted with a double-wishbone IRS system, which Lexus claims frees up bootspace to the tune of 22 litres and facilitates easier loading.

Despite the new model's more assertive appearance, Lexus has recorded an improved drag coefficient of 0.32Cd for the car. Styling is in the 'L-Finesse' mould, as seen already in the IS and GS models.

The cars on display in Sydney (an RX 350 in a metallic grey and the last-minute arrival, an RX 450h in white) were pre-production vehicles and Lexus staff warned that they weren't necessarily indicative of the specification we will see in Australia, but we presume that most of the less expensive features will carry through to Australian-delivered vehicles. These would include such things as the two rear-seat release levers in the luggage compartment, allowing the split-fold rear seat to fold forward for the loading of longer objects. Lexus advise that most cars shipped here will come with a space-saver spare wheel, but buyers will be offered the option of a full-size spare, which reduces the luggage capacity by about 13 per cent.

Lexus Australia is still to finalise the local specification -- and even what levels of trim will be offered to buyers -- but the company has already settled on 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, with the option of 19-inch alloys for both the conventional model and the hybrid.

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