RX Lexus unveils the third generation RX350 and RX450h

[sako97]

Lexus dropped the third-generation RX on the world today here at the LA Auto Show. As before, the RX luxury crossover comes in two forms, the standard issue RX350 and the hybrid RX450h. The 3.5L RX350 gets a power bump to 275 hp while the hybrid engine grows from 3.3L up to 3.5L and 295 total horsepower. Lexus has improved the inverter that converts between DC power from the battery to AC for the motor, making the whole hybrid drivetrain more efficient. The RX450h gets a unique grill and badging to set it slightly apart from the new RX350, while both models get plenty of new gizmos and gadgets including an upgraded navigation and telematics system. For instance, a new controller for the nav system that Toyota calls Remote Touch provides customizable haptic feedback as you use it. A larger brighter OLED display screen also offers an improved angle of vision and a heads up display is available for the first time. The design is an obvious evolution of the previous RX, but now features a more broad-shouldered look just like the Toyota Highlander with which it shares its platform.








I still think its ugly.

 

[sako97]

Didn't Lexus think their touchscreen Sat. Nav. was revolutionary.

 

[Monster]

The car looks ok from some angles, but nothing really interesting. I suppose they tried to mix the styling of a normal wagon back end a low coupe roof shape. It works when the car is viewed from the side, but it loooks odd from all other angles.

I will give them credit for trying some new interior design them, but it ended up looking cheap, messy and not very coherant.

 

[Merc1]

The interior is all over the place.

M

 

[chonkoa]

That controller was what I was actually thinking of a year back. That makes it a lot easier navigating through menu- it is almost like a mouse.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

I'm sure Lexus put a lot of market research to find out what women really want in a big SUV, especially in terms of looks. The new RX seems to be a tad sportier with the sleeker roofline, and the sporty flame surfacing between and around the wheel arches, ..while at the same time keeping some very smooth and soft curves.... and at the same time still being large in size (goodness know why women love SUVs??).

The curvy interior again I'm sure would have been shown before a female panel of judges to see if it appeals to them.


The woman's SUV just got more..... well, woman-ish.

-

P.S: This isn't a criticism of Lexus. They know their target market well and they've created a vehicle that will visually appeal to them. Kudos to them eventhough I don't really like it and would definitely go for an X5 if I were in the market for such a car.

 

[Merc1]

Yep, exactly. A little excerpt from Car and Driver on the new RX:

Unlike most of its competitors, the Lexus RX is still based on a front-wheel-drive platform, which gives it a distinctive weight advantage. The sleek new RX is neither designed to hustle on the track like a BMW X6, nor is it made for serious off-roading like, say, a VW Touareg. It is designed to pass the clinics, achieve high consumer ratings, and transport you from A to B in peace and quiet. We expect it to pass the test.




This is exactly why this new RX will be the sales darling of the SUV market next spring.


M

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

That's not L-Finesse.

That's L-F*****UP.

 

[Giannis]

This is the definition of a design mess

 

[bmer]

Now it's even more a crossover than an SUV. Nevertheless there is still something wrong with the stance/profile. The Hybrid model definitely has better-looking front lights.
With the interior they tried too hard to be stylish/trendy and ended up with a mess. The weird asymmetry makes it seem very unbalanced and not thoroughly planned.

However it is strong in the qualities that matter for the clientele.

 

[Amo]

Yeh, cant believe they got rid of the touchscreen. That thing was excellent.

I was thinking of defending this car... but no... its just plain ugly.

 

[PHYBENZ]

The interior is horrid... The design, the materials... wow what a step back for them... I never liked this car, but this version is just plain ugly. impressively ugly for that matter both inside and out.

 

[Merc1]

That controller was what I was actually thinking of a year back. That makes it a lot easier navigating through menu- it is almost like a mouse.

From Motor Trend:

- I have the seen the future and it is the Remote Touch interface found in the all new Lexus RX SUV. Apparently Toyota's luxury brand is doing away with the touch screens it uses in all of its cars to control features like navigation and stereo in favor of this superslick system. Instead of the combination of a rotating knob and buttons favored by competitors including BMW, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Acura, and Infiniti, Lexus has opted for what can only be described as a flatted, pad-like joystick. But it's like no joystick you've ever used.

First of all, the part your fingertips touch is a flat pillow of leather. It tips and tilts in all directions, moving a cursor on a screen above. The big difference though, is that when the cursor moves over different positions on the screen, like buttons, there is feedback felt through the pad. The industry term for this is "haptic (touch) feedback" and it is very slick indeed. It is weird at first, feeling the cursor move and stick over a button, but it quickly becomes second nature. Also interesting is that the pad/joystick only moves the cursor -- you can't press down on it to click the button you're on. Instead, there is a button positioned on both sides (under the thumb of both the driver's right and passenger's left hand) for clicking on any of the buttons.

Why do this? Because it gives Lexus designers more flexibility as to where they can position the nav/audio screen, and also helps improves safety. With the Remote Touch controller under your fingertips returning haptic feedback, your eyes don't need to be glued to screen all the time. We'll have more info to come when we actually drive the new Lexus RX SUVs featuring this futuristic system, but from what we've seen/felt so far -- it looks pretty good.


LA (Auto Show) Confidential | Car News Blog at Motor Trend

M

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

From Motor Trend:

- I have the seen the future and it is the Remote Touch interface found in the all new Lexus RX SUV. Apparently Toyota's luxury brand is doing away with the touch screens it uses in all of its cars to control features like navigation and stereo in favor of this superslick system. Instead of the combination of a rotating knob and buttons favored by competitors including BMW, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Acura, and Infiniti, Lexus has opted for what can only be described as a flatted, pad-like joystick. But it's like no joystick you've ever used.

First of all, the part your fingertips touch is a flat pillow of leather. It tips and tilts in all directions, moving a cursor on a screen above. The big difference though, is that when the cursor moves over different positions on the screen, like buttons, there is feedback felt through the pad. The industry term for this is "haptic (touch) feedback" and it is very slick indeed. It is weird at first, feeling the cursor move and stick over a button, but it quickly becomes second nature. Also interesting is that the pad/joystick only moves the cursor -- you can't press down on it to click the button you're on. Instead, there is a button positioned on both sides (under the thumb of both the driver's right and passenger's left hand) for clicking on any of the buttons.

Why do this? Because it gives Lexus designers more flexibility as to where they can position the nav/audio screen, and also helps improves safety. With the Remote Touch controller under your fingertips returning haptic feedback, your eyes don't need to be glued to screen all the time. We'll have more info to come when we actually drive the new Lexus RX SUVs featuring this futuristic system, but from what we've seen/felt so far -- it looks pretty good.


LA (Auto Show) Confidential | Car News Blog at Motor Trend

M

Interesting. Should work well.

I think I can tolerate the interior design. But the materials always have a distinctly 'Japanese car' or 'Toyota' feel, that doesn't cut it against the Germans. This looks like more of the same.

The exterior looks like the bastard child of a Kluger and old RX330. But as others have said, it's target Audience will gobble it up.

 

[Centurion]

I love the sound of it too. There will soon be videos on edmunds or motor trend to see it in action.