FastMotoring Motor News In Speed
Lexus has provided more space, flexibility and convenience for customers of its luxury RX SUV by installing a two-seat third row that expands seating capacity to seven occupants.
The new three-row RX “L” variants have the same premium levels of style, safety, luxury and performance that Lexus customers have come to expect.
An exterior redesign provides excellent head and leg room for the third-row passengers while offering more cargo space behind the third row than competitor vehicles.
Lexus designers extended the body 110mm, raised the roof peak 10mm and adopted a steeper power-operated tailgate.
The third row can accommodate passengers as well as a child seat and there are two cup holders.
When the 50-50 split-fold third row is upright, a segment-leading cargo length of 566mm provides ample space for a large stroller.
At the touch of a button, the third-row seats can fold completely flat, liberating 432 litres of cargo space, measured to the tonneau cover.
For easy third-row access, one-touch levers on both sides of the vehicle are used to fold and slide the second-row seats forward. Slide length for these seats has been extended 45mm forward.
The second row is positioned slightly higher for the third row, creating more foot room for rear passengers.
A new three-zone air-conditioning system provides third-row occupants with dedicated vents and controls.
Curtain-shield airbags have been extended to protect third-row passengers. An additional child-seat anchorage point is also included.
The Lexus Safety System+ is standard, upgraded across the entire RX range to include pedestrian detection as part of the pre-collision system.
Lexus Australia chief executive Scott Thompson said the third-row seats offer the comfort and luxury expected in a large luxury SUV.
“The new RX ‘L’ models will be welcomed by modern families and other customers who require the luxury of space and flexibility provided by seven seats,” Mr Thompson said.
“The option of a third row of seats offers Lexus drivers even greater practicality, convenience and roominess while maintaining the sleek styling and easy manoeuvrability they have always valued,” he said.
Lexus offers RX “L” customers the choice of two powertrains delivering more than 200kW – V6 petrol for the RX 350L and the Lexus Hybrid Drive system in the RX 450hL.
Maximum output is unchanged for the seven-seat hybrid variants with a combined 230kW, delivered to the road through an all-gear electronic CVT with six-step sequential-type shift.
V6 output is reduced slightly to 216kW and 358Nm, due to a packaging requirements resulting in a single rather than dual exhaust system. The engine is mated to a smooth eight-speed sequential-shift intelligent automatic transmission.
Fuel-economy figures are within a few tenths of the five-door models at 6.0 litres/100km for the RX 450hL and 10.2 litres/100 km for the RX 350L.
The hybrid is also equipped with the Lexus E-four intelligent on-demand all-wheel-drive system that incorporates a 50kW electric motor on the rear axle.
The V6 adopts the compact, lightweight Lexus Dynamic Torque Control all-wheel-drive system to control torque distribution automatically between the front and rear axles.
The all-wheel-drive RX seven-seat variants are offered in two equipment grades, Luxury and Sports Luxury, with features almost identical to their five-seat equivalents.
Luxury RX “L” variants are $3,300 above the two-row models. They are equipped with LED headlamps, DRLs and front fog lamps as well as an 8-inch audio display screen, satellite navigation, 12 speakers, 20-inch alloy wheels with black centre caps, smart entry and start, roof rails and rear privacy glass.
Front seats are heated and ventilated with 10-way power adjustment and driver’s seat memory. Leather-accented upholstery covers the first two rows of seats while the third row offers a durable synthetic covering to support regular folding of the seats.
An optional enhancement pack adds a colour head-up display, moon roof and smart key card for AUD3,500.
These three items are also part of the Sports Luxury grade that is priced with a premium of just over AUD1,600. A moon roof replaces the panoramic roof fitted to five-door variants and the second-row seats are manual instead of power-operated.
The top grade also has adaptive variable suspension, 14-way power adjustment for the front seats, a 15-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, 12.3-inch display screen and panoramic view monitor.
Other components of the LSS+ are all-speed radar active cruise control, lane keeping assist and automatic high beam (adaptive high beam on Sports Luxury).
All other RX safety features are carried across, including 10 airbags, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, reversing camera, hill-start assist control and tyre-pressure warning system.
LEXUS RX “L” PRICES
350L Luxury – AUD84,700
450hL Luxury – AUD93,440
350L Sports Luxury – AUD101,500
450hL Sport Luxury – AUD110,240
Options:
Enhancement pack (Luxury) – AUD3,500
Premium paint (all variants) – AUD1,500
