CARS OF THE WORLD

Lexus RX 2023.

The Japanese have presented the new Lexus RX 2023: the fifth generation of the crossover.

Lexus has officially unveiled the new (fifth) generation RX crossover. Visually the model remains recognizable.

It still draws attention with boomerang-shaped headlights, familiar sill line and «soaring» roof.

At the same time the car has got a frameless grille and a little different plastic on the sides with smoother chamfering.

Its taillights are now united with a luminous bridge. The base has 19-inch wheels, but you can order 21-inch wheels.

The interior of the model is made in the new style «Tazuna» (from Japanese it’s translated as «bridle»). Earlier the latter has already tried on the «younger» Lexus NX.

Within its framework Japanese tried to arrange management of all functions of the automobile around the driver intuitively.

Thus, with the change of generations crossover was left without touchpad on the center console, but finally got a touch screen multimedia system, which is now located closer to the driver.

Screen complex Lexus Link Pro can be 9.8 or 14.0 inches, although the predecessor had a maximum of 12.3″.

The multimedia itself is supposedly 3.6 times faster than its predecessor. Plus it boasts voice control, advanced online functionality and remote access from a smartphone.

The Japanese all-terrain vehicle also gets a non-fixed gearbox joystick and contoured backlighting (a choice of 64 colors).

For an additional charge, you can order a rear-view mirror with a screen to display the rear-view picture. The car is also equipped with electric locks e-Latch (as in the new NX).

To unlock them from the inside, you just need to click on the handle, and the electronics can not let the passenger leave the cabin.

This can happen when danger is detected. For example, if the sensors notice a car approaching from the neighboring lane.

Unlike its predecessor, the Lexus RX 2023 is built on a modular platform GA-K (a variation of TNGA architecture), therefore instead of MacPherson struts on the rear axle it already uses multilever.

The crossover retained the transverse arrangement of the engine and the main front-wheel drive, while its center of gravity became 15 mm lower, which, according to the developers, allowed achieving a more driving character.

The proportion of high-strength steels in the design became higher, so the rigidity of the body also increased. At the same time the model is 90 kg lighter: its fenders and hood are now made of aluminum.

As for dimensions, the new RX has a wheelbase of 2 850 mm (+ 60), and this increase was achieved by shifting the rear axle closer to the rear.

The length of the crossover has not changed — 4 890 mm. The car became a little wider — 1,920 mm (+ 25), and slightly lower — 1,695 mm (- 10).

With the change of generations the model has increased the volume of the trunk, because it is the main increase in wheelbase (50 mm).

Unfortunately, the Japanese did not name the exact figures, but noted that the loading height of the compartment became 30 mm lower, and the rear seat can be folded in the proportion 40:20:40.

The power pack lineup now consists only of four-cylinder engines, but Japanese have refused V6.

The model has only one purely petrol version — with a 2.4-liter turbo engine with 279 hp (430 Nm), although for some markets it will be downgraded to 249 powers.

The unit works in conjunction with an eight-speed automatic. Drive can be front or all-wheel drive, and the 4WD version can accelerate from zero to a hundred in 7.1 seconds.

It is 1.1 seconds faster than the previous petrol V6 version with 299 horsepower (370 Nm).

The lineup of hybrids is opened by RX 350h version, which has 2,5-liter atmospheric engine, electric motor, modest nickel-metal-hybrid battery and electromechanical variator. The peak output of such a unit is 245 hp (316 Nm).

For extra charge, you can order the optional all-wheel drive E-Four, which implies the installation of an additional electric motor on the rear axle.

In this case, acceleration from 0-100 km/h is possible for 8.0 seconds. Also a rechargeable hybrid RX 450h+ has appeared in the range for the first time.

It has almost the same installation as the 350h, but the system E-Four is in base already.

Electric motors are more powerful here, and traction battery is already lithium-ion with 18,1 kWh capacity that thus can be charged from an outlet.

Peak output of the unit is 306 horsepower. It takes 7.0 seconds to accelerate from 0-100 km/h. In pure electric mode, it can travel up to 65 km, reaching speeds of 135 km/h.

Well and the flagship of the family is the RX 500h F Sport Performance. This «hot» hybrid has a 2,4-liter turbo engine and a six-speed automatic, between which the electric motor is integrated.

Appearance of the new Lexus RX on the market is expected in the autumn of the twenty-second, and sales of the petrol and initial hybrid version will begin first. But the rechargeable hybrids will have to wait a few more months. No information about prices for cars is available yet.