Lexus RX 450h: What To Expect

Yes, it really is coming!

The Internet, right now, is buzzing with news about Lexus’ forthcoming foray into the Indian market. Rumours about the Japanese automaker’s introduction in India had been doing the rounds since the last couple of years, but it is finally happening now. For the uninitiated, Lexus is the luxury wing of Toyota and is a relatively young automaker. In fact, Lexus celebrated its 25th anniversary two years ago. We expect Toyota to introduce the luxury brand in India in 2017, perhaps in the first quarter, and it will have separate showrooms.  

The RX 450h

The RX 450h will be one of the key offerings that Lexus has planned for its campaign in India. The RX has already been spied in the country and is likely to come as a CBU (completely built unit) via Japan along with other products, at least initially.

Let us give you a quick brief about the RX, which is in its fourth generation and made its global debut at the 2015 New York Motor Show. In India, Lexus is probably betting big on its highest-selling model globally – the RX – which accounts for almost 40 per cent of Lexus’ total sales. The global sales of the SUV have crossed 2.1 million units since the first-generation debuted in March 1998. 

Globally, the current RX comes in three variants – RX 350, RX 450h and RX 200t – and Lexus is likely to offer the RX 450h in India. The RX 450h (in which ‘h’ stands for hybrid) SUV will take on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5, BMW X3 and the Volvo XC60. Notably, it will be the only hybrid SUV in its segment. We expect it to be priced higher than its rivals since it will be a CBU import. Here’s what the SUV has to offer internationally – the feature list is likely to remain unchanged in India.    

Design 

The Lexus RX is based on the automaker’s latest – L-finesse – design language and it looks crisp and futuristic. The front profile is dominated by Lexus’ gigantic ‘spindle’ grille. It features triple L-shaped LED headlamps, along with LED fog lamps and LED daytime running lights. 

On the sides, the RX features blacked-out C-pillars, which provide the illusion of a floating roofline. The roofline is very coupe-ish, with a sharply raked rear windscreen. The RX 450h internationally comes with an option of 18- or 20-inch alloys, and it is likely to get the 18-inch option in India (235/65 R18). At the rear, it comes with L-shaped wraparound tail lamps, mimicking the ones at the front. 

As is the case with the exterior, the interior of the RX comes with a sharp and youthful-looking dashboard with an asymmetric layout. A large-screen infotainment system sits on top of the dash. The cabin feels roomier with a large retractable panoramic moonroof.  

Mechanicals

The Lexus RX 450h is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, which is coupled with three electric motors. The combined output of the petro-electric amalgamation is 308PS and it offers an AWD (all-wheel drive) drivetrain. There is no mechanical connection between the two axles – there are just wires!  

Engine 

It comes with a 3.5-litre Atkinson-cycle V6 petrol motor, which puts out 259PS @ 6,000rpm of max power and 335Nm @ 4,800rpm of peak torque. 

Electric Motors

At the front, the RX 450h comes with two electric motors. One of the motors is used as a generator, engine starter, and to carry out the function of transmission ratio control. The second motor drives the front wheels (along with the engine) and puts out a healthy 165PS of max power. 

The third motor is placed on the rear axle and drives the rear wheels. The max power rating of this motor is 67PS. The motors driving the wheels offer regenerative braking and draw power from a sealed Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery back (37 kW). 

Features

As for the infotainment system, the Lexus RX 450h features a gigantic 12.3-inch monitor, which is placed horizontally atop the centre stack. It displays full-screen  maps along with other essentials such as climate control, audio and driver’s MID info. Besides this, an eight-inch monitor comes standard in the Lexus 450h with a twelve-speaker set-up. Both the systems feature navigation and offer a remote touch navigation controller for all the operations since the screens are not touch-based. The optional rear-seat entertainment system includes 11.6-inch dual screens fixed to the back of the front headrests.

The safety equipment on board includes dual-stage driver and front-passenger airbags along with side-curtain and knee (for driver and front-passenger) airbags. Additionally, it comes with Lexus Safety System+, which includes features such as pre-collision system (PCS), lane departure alert (LDA) and automatic high beam (AHB). Other available features that could help the driver include adaptive high-beam system (AHS), panoramic view monitor (PVM) and blind spot monitor (BSM) with rear cross traffic alert (RCTA), among others.