Buyers going green over Lexus
Self-charging hybrid Lexus vehicles have been outselling conventional petrol-only options over the past year.
Lexus New Zealand expects this preference for the more environmentally-friendly option to continue gathering pace, especially if the government goes ahead with its proposal to add a levy to high-emission vehicles in 2021.
“RX is the foundation of the Lexus brand and contributes 30 per cent of our total sales in New Zealand,” says Neeraj Lala, Lexus New Zealand general manager. “More than 50 per cent of those RX sales are the self-charging powertrain option.”
The self-charging hybrid option is just one element of the sustainable approach from Lexus. While all Lexus cars and SUVs are luxuriously appointed, Lexus looks to maximise the use of recycled plastics and materials made from sustainably grown plants. For example, the luggage compartment trim in some vehicles is made from recycled plastics and the audio speakers are manufactured from sustainable bamboo.
Fostering this green approach is the new 2020 RX, available this month, which the marque describes as one of the most technologically advanced vehicles in its portfolio.
The model will be available with a self-charging hybrid-electric RX 450h or petrol-only RX 350 powertrain. The five-seat version can be purchased as a standard, F-Sport or Limited grade, while the seven-seat version is only available in the Limited grade.
All RX models are all-wheel-drive and are powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine. The petrol-only RX 350 produces 221kW, while the RX 350L produces 216kW of power. The self-charging hybrid variants RX 450h and RX 450hL have a total power output of 230kW.
Engineers worked on the fourth generation RX to improve its body rigidity, a key contributor to agile handling and driver enjoyment, and made greater use of spot welding and the application of high-strength body adhesives to achieve this. A thicker rear stabiliser bar reduces bodyroll and new friction-controlling shock absorbers help control high frequency vibrations for a smoother ride.
The RX F Sport and Limited grades are equipped with a BladeScan Adaptive Highbeam System, which reduces brightness in specific regions ahead of the car to avoid blinding oncoming drivers and can redirect light towards the side of the road making it easier to see cyclists and pedestrians.
Also new for Lexus, the RX line is the first to receive in-car connected technology applications, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Using voice control, customers can access Apple Siri or Google Assistant via their smartphone. The updated multi-media system, with satellite navigation, uses a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with a touchpad remote-touch interface.
The latest RX also comes with the Lexus Safety System + package, providing advanced safety and accident prevention technologies, and its colours have changed with a new Ice Ecru and Terrane Khaki added for the standard and Limited grades.
The 2020 Lexus RX starts at $97,400.
