MOTORING
Lexus RX450H
If you are bored with the current crop of large off-roader type of vehicles then I suggest that you take a look at Lexus’ s new RX range. There is certainly going to be no mistaking the new vehicle from any other currently on the market place. This is the 4th generation of this large luxury SUV from Lexus which to the uninitiated is the up market wing of Toyota, writes Bob Hickman.
The huge radiator grille at the front makes such a strong, bold statement that it will ensure that you will never lose the vehicle and picks it out from the Range Rover, BMW X. Series, and the Audi Q7, which are of course natural competitors for the Lexus.
My friend who has spent many years in the motor trade took one look and described it as being horrible, there doesn’ t appear to be a straight panel anywhere on the vehicle, such are the angles and configurations of the metal work that the RX range certainly do stand out and make a statement. A statement it makes because this is one very, very big large car. If you are in the market place for that type of vehicle then you really do need to have a look because the economics of this ownership with a £ 57,995 price tag, does have the benefit of low benefit in kind should you be a company car driver but also with the hybrid system you can feel a bit of a green issue as well.
The RX range in the RX450 is a full hybrid, there is a possibility to choose between an all-wheel drive or a front wheel drive only within this range, but to me a vehicle of this size and standing really should be a full 4-wheel drive.
The benefits of the 4th incarnation has resulted in a longer wheelbase which has obviously translated in to more cabin space, in addition the RX now has an even higher level of comfort and luxury, if this was not possible before. Lexus has introduced a huge range of safety features to the vehicle, they now have a lot of advanced preventative safety and driver assistance features. Some of these you can switch off and at times you really will want to sit for hours and hours with the handbook to find out just what all the knobs, switches and gadgets do.
My particular hybrid vehicle had a 3.5 litre V-6 petrol engine which produces 259bhp, when you ally this to the electric motor facility it ups the power available to 335bhp. The hybrid system allows whenever the vehicle is being driven for the electric motor to always be operating, however the petrol engine will stop and start at any vehicle speed depending on a variety of conditions to maintain the best possible balance between performance and efficiency.
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