All the new RX400H reviews here!!
02-08-05 | 10:52 AM
#1
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All the new RX400H reviews here!!
Hello everyone,
I bought all the car mags that have previwed/reviewed the RX 400H. I hope to scan later today. The big news is there have been no negatives to report. The press LOVES this car. And they are comparing it to V-8 competition. Here is some big news.
1. Car and Driver got 0-60 in 6.9 second!
2. Fuel economy TWICE the results of V-8 competiton. 30mpg combined
3. Automobile got 0-60 in 7.2 seconds
4. Motor Trend got 0-60 in 7.3 seconds
5. Street Start (5mph-60mph) is 7 seconds flat (the instant torque makes it a rocket)
6. About 4-5k more than a base AWD RX330
7. If the battery goes dead (which is nearly impossible) the detuned 208hp V-6 would power the RX.
8. The production pics resemble the pics in the other sticky. Same wheels, LED lights, circular fogs and additional vent.
9. 1/4 mile in 15.2 seconds
10. They say the SUV is incredibly quiet.
11. Brakes seems to have suffered, as the RX400H weighs over 300lbs more (4580 lbs) than a RX 330.
If you want to buy 1 mag, I suggest Car and Driver, it was a FULL REVIEW, the others were previews.
Also, watch Autoweek on SPEEDVISION, they tested the RX400H (I watched last night) and absolutely love it. No compromises, V-8 performance, V-6/I-4 fuel economy. A no brainer.
Don't forget the 2k tax credit for this vehicle purchase!
Lexus has DONE IT AGAIN!!!
I bought all the car mags that have previwed/reviewed the RX 400H. I hope to scan later today. The big news is there have been no negatives to report. The press LOVES this car. And they are comparing it to V-8 competition. Here is some big news.
1. Car and Driver got 0-60 in 6.9 second!
2. Fuel economy TWICE the results of V-8 competiton. 30mpg combined
3. Automobile got 0-60 in 7.2 seconds
4. Motor Trend got 0-60 in 7.3 seconds
5. Street Start (5mph-60mph) is 7 seconds flat (the instant torque makes it a rocket)
6. About 4-5k more than a base AWD RX330
7. If the battery goes dead (which is nearly impossible) the detuned 208hp V-6 would power the RX.
8. The production pics resemble the pics in the other sticky. Same wheels, LED lights, circular fogs and additional vent.
9. 1/4 mile in 15.2 seconds
10. They say the SUV is incredibly quiet.
11. Brakes seems to have suffered, as the RX400H weighs over 300lbs more (4580 lbs) than a RX 330.
If you want to buy 1 mag, I suggest Car and Driver, it was a FULL REVIEW, the others were previews.
Also, watch Autoweek on SPEEDVISION, they tested the RX400H (I watched last night) and absolutely love it. No compromises, V-8 performance, V-6/I-4 fuel economy. A no brainer.
Don't forget the 2k tax credit for this vehicle purchase!
Lexus has DONE IT AGAIN!!!
02-08-05 | 10:53 AM
#2
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Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by SexySC
February 1, 2005
First Drive:
2006 Lexus RX 400h
Story and photos by Grant Yoxon
Kohala Coast, Hawaii - Hawaii and Canada may have very little in common, especially the weather. But what Hawaii and Canada do share is high gasoline prices.
The average price of gasoline on the Big Island of Hawaii today is US$2.41 a gallon. That's about 80 cents per litre Canadian, and admittedly not a huge price to pay considering the prices we're used to. But Hawaii is the most expensive US state in which to buy gasoline - forty cents a gallon more than New York, the next most expensive state to buy fuel, and 50 cents a gallon more than Alaska.
Hawaii depends almost exclusively on imported diesel fuel to generate electricity and its electricity rates are also among the highest in the US. So naturally, the people of Hawaii are more energy-aware than other US residents. Unlike the other 49 states, diesel-powered vehicles are abundant. In Canada, compacts and sub-compacts are more popular than in the US.
But for most people, whether in Canada or Hawaii, the cost of fuel is just the price one must pay to have the vehicle they feel they need. Research conducted by Lexus has shown that buyers are not prepared to give up performance, safety and comfort and convenience to save fuel, even if they are predisposed to consider an environmentally friendly vehicle.
Gasoline electric hybrids offer greater fuel savings but among luxury car buyers and SUV owners have suffered the same stigma as sub-compacts.
David Brimson, Lexus Canada's public relations and advertising manager says, "They perceive hybrids as under-powered and lacking in performance and luxury amenities."
Time for a reality check. The RX 400h - as well as a number of other hybrids arriving this year and next - is about to change that perception.
The RX 400h has everything a luxury SUV owner would want. Not only is it considerably more fuel efficient than the RX 330 on which it is based, but it is more powerful and every bit as luxurious.
Total system power - the combined power of the 3.3-litre V6 and the hybrid transaxle - is 268 horsepower. Zero to 100 kilometres per hour is estimated to be 7.4 seconds, compared to about 8.0 seconds for the 230 hp RX 330.
On a test track in Hawaii, the RX 400h turned consistent 95 mph quarter mile speeds. The timing lights weren't working that day, but my rudimentary hot rodder math tells me that is about 15 seconds - or pretty quick for a V-6 powered, 1,980 kg (4,365 lb.) vehicle.
RX 400h fuel consumption is estimated to be 9.0 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 7.8 L/100 km on the highway. The RX 330 is rated by Natural Resources Canada at 12.0 L/100 km in the city and 8.6 L/100 km on the highway.
Another comparison: the combined city/highway fuel consumption of the RX 400h - 8.4 L/100 km - is less than the 8.5 L/100 km for the average compact sedan.
With the RX 400h, it is no longer necessary to ignore your social and environmental conscience to drive a luxury sport utility vehicle.
The RX 400h could have been even more fuel efficient, but the hybrid is equipped with 18-inch wheels and beefy P235/55R18 tires, rather than small, low rolling resistance tires. The bigger tires help put the RX 400h's ample power to the ground and maintain the capable look buyers expect in an SUV.
As well, the 3.3-litre engine, which has been specially tuned for the hybrid application, could have been more fuel efficient but at the expense of power. By itself, the 24-valve six-cylinder engine develops 208 hp, about 10% less than the RX 330 due to intake and exhaust changes.
But the hybrid system more than compensates for the lower power from the engine. The Lexus Hybrid Synergy Drive system uses not one but three electric motors - two which work with the engine to provide power to the front wheels and a third which drives the rear wheels.
The system is a "full hybrid," meaning that the RX 400h is capable of operating in separate gasoline or electric modes, as well as one that combines power from both. On take-off, the vehicle is powered exclusively by electrical energy. The engine cuts in seamlessly when more power is required to accelerate. On deceleration or at rest, the engine will shut off, with the vehicle and its accessories running exclusively on power from the battery or the electric motors.
When battery power drops off, the electric motors operate as generators, reversing the flow of energy to recharge the battery pack stored under the rear seat. Energy captured from the brakes also helps charge the battery pack. The RX 400h battery pack consists of 30 nickel metal hydride modules, each with 8 cells. Peak power is 45 watts, 80% more than the battery pack in the current Prius.
Like the RX330, the RX 400h has full-time all-wheel drive, but with a difference. The rear wheels are powered solely by an electric motor and are not connected by a drive shaft or other mechanical means to the engine or front transaxle. The electric all-wheel drive is principally an on-road traction enhancer. It is not intended for off-road ventures. It also allows all four wheels to capture energy through regenerative braking.
The electric all-wheel drive system is managed by a new advanced stability control system which Lexus calls Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management or VDIM. The system is designed to anticipate vehicle stability problems and intervene with braking, throttle control and steering assist to correct the problem. Elements controlled by VDIM include a small army of active safety features - electronic braking control (and the regenerative braking system), anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, traction control, vehicle stability control and interactive steering boost.
We didn't encounter any snow covered roads on the Big Island of Hawaii, but we did spend considerable time on the winding and often rough roads that criss-cross the island. We found that despite pushing the RX 400h hard and even, at one point, catching air over a road mogul, the hybrid SUV remained composed and stable. If VDIM intervened, it was largely transparent. A warning light briefly illuminates on the dash when the system is active.
In fact, in day to day driving there is nothing to really differentiate the RX 400h from the RX 330. The hybrid's continuously variable transmission provides more linear acceleration than a conventional transmission and largely masks the enhanced performance of the RX 400h.
VDIM is a significant advancement in active safety technology. But the technological innovation doesn't stop there. The RX 400h is the first Lexus to come equipped with electronically controlled brakes and electric power steering. The latter is not "steer by wire," rather an electronic controller boosts steering based on speed and input from the VDIM. There is no power steering fluid.
Other neat technology includes electric air conditioning - climate control is operative even if the engine is not - and an optional new enhanced navigation system that is equipped with voice recognition and "bluetooth" phone capability.
One knock against Prius is that it is instantly recognizable as a hybrid. Other manufacturers have opted for hybridizing existing models. It may be the future for Lexus too. No one need know you care about the environment. The RX 400h looks much like an RX 330 and a casual glance might miss the RX 400h-specific bumper, grille and fog lamps. The additional opening in the front bumper helps cool the hybrid components. The hybrid also has different LED taillights, which use less power and have a longer life than conventional units. Underbody covers and small front and rear tire fairings help improve aerodynamics. Dimensionally, the RX 400h is 25 mm longer (one inch) and microscopically higher (7 mm) than the RX 330.
Inside, brushed aluminum accents replace the wood accents and a power metre replaces the tachometer, but buyers will find the same level of luxury found in the RX 330. In Canada, the RX 400h will be available equipped only with the premium and ultra premium packages currently available with the RX 330. Briefly, the premium package adds 6-disc in-dash CD player, power rear door and sunroof, and auto leveling and adaptive high intensity discharge headlamps to the base package, while the ultra premium package adds Mark Levinson audio, rear DVD entertainment system and navigation system.
Prices for the RX 330 with these option packages are $55,780 and $63,335 respectively. Prices for the RX 400h are expected to be announced at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto later this month, but buyers can expect a premium over and above these figures for a similarly equipped hybrid RX.
The Lexus RX 400h goes on sale in Canada in March
source HERE
02-08-05 | 11:03 PM
#3
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Posts: n/a
http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=101696
2006 Lexus RX 400h
Green with Luxury: Raising the bar for full hybrids
ROGER HART
Published Date: 2/7/05
2006 LEXUS RX 400h
ON SALE: April 15
BASE PRICE: $41,000 (est.)
POWERTRAIN: 268 hp from 3.3-liter V6/combined motor generators; awd, CVT
CURB WEIGHT: 4365 lbs
0 to 60 mph: 7.3 seconds (mfr.)
Toyota created a gasoline-electric-hybrid consumer monster, and now it’s struggling to feed it.
Since Lexus announced at last year’s Detroit show that a hybrid version of its best-selling RX sport/utility vehicle would be for sale, nearly 10,000 people have plunked down deposits. More than 46,000 others say they’re also interested in the RX 400h.
In the car world, that’s a home run—out of the park.
While the line gets longer to own an RX 400h, building them is taking more time than first thought.
Why: Toyota was taken aback by the popularity of its Prius hybrid and increased production to meet demand. More than a year after launch, supplies are still short for the economy car. Toyota makes most of the hybrid drivetrain parts in-house, so it can’t simply say to a supplier, “Give us more.” To help meet demand, Toyota recently announced it is looking to build hybrids at a U.S. plant to supplement supply from Japan.
“We fully expect the RX 400h to be 25 percent of [U.S.] RX sales,” says Denny Clements, Lexus group vice president and general manager. Lexus sold 106,531 RX 330s in 2004, making it the best-selling Lexus model. Annual production from the RX 400h plant in Japan is about 38,000 vehicles, and as the hybrid sport/ute will be sold worldwide, Clements has been told the United States will get 24,000 vehicles annually. “We know that’s probably not enough to meet demand,” he says.
Originally slated as a 2005 model, the RX 400h’s launch was pushed from fall 2004 to mid-April in an effort to get a sufficient production stockpile, so it will appear as a 2006 model.
“With almost 10,000 already sold, those first few months of vehicles are already spoken for,” Clements says. Lexus started a system where buyers who put money down got vehicle numbers, and they can now track their vehicles through production. Lexus’ financial unit is also allowing buyers to extend current Lexus leases as they await their hybrid RXs.
It will be worth the wait.
You will be able to tell an RX 400h from all other RX models that came before. Its grille, front fascia, headlights, taillights and wheels are new; the hybrid is one inch longer and 0.3 inch taller than the RX 330. What remains the same is its 106.9-inch wheelbase, maximum 3500-pound towing capacity and aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.35. The hybrid weighs 300 pounds more than the RX 330, thanks to batteries and electric motors.
Differences inside include brushed aluminum trim that replaces wood, and a power meter in place of a tachometer. That’s about it.
Where Toyota chose purpose-built, low-rolling-resistance tires for Prius to improve fuel mileage, the 235/55VR-18 M+S Michelins on the RX 400h are the same as those on the RX 330.
“No question that a low-rolling-resistance tire would have increased fuel mileage,” said Dave Hermance, executive engineer for environmental engineering at Toyota’s technical center. “But we did not want to compromise the ride and handling, so we went with a standard tire.”
Fuel mileage is still a selling point, especially for a sport/ute: The RX 400h gets roughly 33 percent better mileage than the RX 330. The city fuel mileage rating gets a 67 percent boost over the gas-only counterpart.
As for ride quality, we could not tell the difference between the hybrid and non-hybrid variants during our test drives on relatively smooth pavement, though the hybrid does seem quiet*er. Lexus vehicles are known for their bank-vault silence, and when you have the gasoline engine shutting off at stops and at low speeds, it almost whispers. It’s so quiet you can hear the fans cooling the sealed nickel metal-hydride battery pack that sits beneath the rear seat. The resulting noise is no more than that of cooling fans on a computer.
The 3.3-liter V6 makes a little noise of its own, producing 208 hp at 5600 rpm and 212 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm. This is the same engine as in the RX 330, but detuned about 10 percent from the 230 hp and 242 lb-ft it makes in that vehicle. But helping out the RX 400h are three motor generators with their own drive*line functions: two drive motors and generators, and a motor with the generator driven by the gas engine charging either the battery pack or powering the other two electric motors, depending upon what is needed. Regenera-tive braking turns the electric motors into generators, replenishing the batteries. Managing the entire system is a fourth-generation electronic control unit.
Power from the gas engine and the front electric-drive motor is sent to the wheels via a planetary gear-type CVT. One electric motor, known as MG1, acts as the gas-engine starter and controls the transaxle speed through a planetary gear set using no clutches or viscous couplings. The system ensures a smooth transition in the drive*line. To further reduce drag on the gas engine, the RX 400h uses an electric air conditioning compressor as well as an electric power steering unit. No serpentine belts are underhood.
Electric motors also play a part in the vehicle’s all-wheel-drive system. A 50-kW electric motor makes 68 hp and 96 lb-ft in the rear to provide extra power and torque on demand. The system varies torque distribution between the front and rear axles, depending on road conditions.
During low-speed and some stop-and-go conditions, it runs solely on electric power for longer times than we have experienced in other hybrids. Step on the accelerator, and a 167-hp electric-drive motor kicks in first, delivering its 247 lb-ft of peak torque from 0 to 1500 rpm. The high-torque electric motors make the hybrid a half-second quicker off the line, Lexus says, with 0 to 60 mph coming in 7.3 seconds compared to 7.8 seconds for the RX 330. Fuel consumption is EPA-rated at 30 mpg city/26 highway for the hybrid; the RX 330 is rated at 18 mpg city/24 highway.
Don’t be surprised to see Toyota market the RX 400h for its greenness and for its performance. Even for a midsize sport/ute, being quick and efficient are good bragging rights.
2006 Lexus RX 400h
Green with Luxury: Raising the bar for full hybrids
ROGER HART
Published Date: 2/7/05
2006 LEXUS RX 400h
ON SALE: April 15
BASE PRICE: $41,000 (est.)
POWERTRAIN: 268 hp from 3.3-liter V6/combined motor generators; awd, CVT
CURB WEIGHT: 4365 lbs
0 to 60 mph: 7.3 seconds (mfr.)
Toyota created a gasoline-electric-hybrid consumer monster, and now it’s struggling to feed it.
Since Lexus announced at last year’s Detroit show that a hybrid version of its best-selling RX sport/utility vehicle would be for sale, nearly 10,000 people have plunked down deposits. More than 46,000 others say they’re also interested in the RX 400h.
In the car world, that’s a home run—out of the park.
While the line gets longer to own an RX 400h, building them is taking more time than first thought.
Why: Toyota was taken aback by the popularity of its Prius hybrid and increased production to meet demand. More than a year after launch, supplies are still short for the economy car. Toyota makes most of the hybrid drivetrain parts in-house, so it can’t simply say to a supplier, “Give us more.” To help meet demand, Toyota recently announced it is looking to build hybrids at a U.S. plant to supplement supply from Japan.
“We fully expect the RX 400h to be 25 percent of [U.S.] RX sales,” says Denny Clements, Lexus group vice president and general manager. Lexus sold 106,531 RX 330s in 2004, making it the best-selling Lexus model. Annual production from the RX 400h plant in Japan is about 38,000 vehicles, and as the hybrid sport/ute will be sold worldwide, Clements has been told the United States will get 24,000 vehicles annually. “We know that’s probably not enough to meet demand,” he says.
Originally slated as a 2005 model, the RX 400h’s launch was pushed from fall 2004 to mid-April in an effort to get a sufficient production stockpile, so it will appear as a 2006 model.
“With almost 10,000 already sold, those first few months of vehicles are already spoken for,” Clements says. Lexus started a system where buyers who put money down got vehicle numbers, and they can now track their vehicles through production. Lexus’ financial unit is also allowing buyers to extend current Lexus leases as they await their hybrid RXs.
It will be worth the wait.
You will be able to tell an RX 400h from all other RX models that came before. Its grille, front fascia, headlights, taillights and wheels are new; the hybrid is one inch longer and 0.3 inch taller than the RX 330. What remains the same is its 106.9-inch wheelbase, maximum 3500-pound towing capacity and aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.35. The hybrid weighs 300 pounds more than the RX 330, thanks to batteries and electric motors.
Differences inside include brushed aluminum trim that replaces wood, and a power meter in place of a tachometer. That’s about it.
Where Toyota chose purpose-built, low-rolling-resistance tires for Prius to improve fuel mileage, the 235/55VR-18 M+S Michelins on the RX 400h are the same as those on the RX 330.
“No question that a low-rolling-resistance tire would have increased fuel mileage,” said Dave Hermance, executive engineer for environmental engineering at Toyota’s technical center. “But we did not want to compromise the ride and handling, so we went with a standard tire.”
Fuel mileage is still a selling point, especially for a sport/ute: The RX 400h gets roughly 33 percent better mileage than the RX 330. The city fuel mileage rating gets a 67 percent boost over the gas-only counterpart.
As for ride quality, we could not tell the difference between the hybrid and non-hybrid variants during our test drives on relatively smooth pavement, though the hybrid does seem quiet*er. Lexus vehicles are known for their bank-vault silence, and when you have the gasoline engine shutting off at stops and at low speeds, it almost whispers. It’s so quiet you can hear the fans cooling the sealed nickel metal-hydride battery pack that sits beneath the rear seat. The resulting noise is no more than that of cooling fans on a computer.
The 3.3-liter V6 makes a little noise of its own, producing 208 hp at 5600 rpm and 212 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm. This is the same engine as in the RX 330, but detuned about 10 percent from the 230 hp and 242 lb-ft it makes in that vehicle. But helping out the RX 400h are three motor generators with their own drive*line functions: two drive motors and generators, and a motor with the generator driven by the gas engine charging either the battery pack or powering the other two electric motors, depending upon what is needed. Regenera-tive braking turns the electric motors into generators, replenishing the batteries. Managing the entire system is a fourth-generation electronic control unit.
Power from the gas engine and the front electric-drive motor is sent to the wheels via a planetary gear-type CVT. One electric motor, known as MG1, acts as the gas-engine starter and controls the transaxle speed through a planetary gear set using no clutches or viscous couplings. The system ensures a smooth transition in the drive*line. To further reduce drag on the gas engine, the RX 400h uses an electric air conditioning compressor as well as an electric power steering unit. No serpentine belts are underhood.
Electric motors also play a part in the vehicle’s all-wheel-drive system. A 50-kW electric motor makes 68 hp and 96 lb-ft in the rear to provide extra power and torque on demand. The system varies torque distribution between the front and rear axles, depending on road conditions.
During low-speed and some stop-and-go conditions, it runs solely on electric power for longer times than we have experienced in other hybrids. Step on the accelerator, and a 167-hp electric-drive motor kicks in first, delivering its 247 lb-ft of peak torque from 0 to 1500 rpm. The high-torque electric motors make the hybrid a half-second quicker off the line, Lexus says, with 0 to 60 mph coming in 7.3 seconds compared to 7.8 seconds for the RX 330. Fuel consumption is EPA-rated at 30 mpg city/26 highway for the hybrid; the RX 330 is rated at 18 mpg city/24 highway.
Don’t be surprised to see Toyota market the RX 400h for its greenness and for its performance. Even for a midsize sport/ute, being quick and efficient are good bragging rights.
02-12-05 | 07:08 AM
#4
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 2
From: NV
Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX
http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=101696
Fuel consumption is EPA-rated at 30 mpg city/26 highway for the hybrid; the RX 330 is rated at 18 mpg city/24 highway.
Fuel consumption is EPA-rated at 30 mpg city/26 highway for the hybrid; the RX 330 is rated at 18 mpg city/24 highway.
02-12-05 | 11:10 AM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by parula
I guess that puts to rest the speculation of the mid-high 30's for fuel mileage, still you havce to love it! Sounds like a great car.
02-16-05 | 04:45 AM
#6
Driver
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 173
Likes: 2
From: California
As Most of us here have seen and heard about the RX400h mostly in still picture, photograph and even read a lot about it too. How about see it in action, here's a website with video clips of the RX400h.
http://www.lexus.com/assets/magazine/q105/index.html
http://www.lexus.com/assets/magazine/q105/index.html
02-23-05 | 03:27 PM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by cbest1465
I had signed up for the Lexus Hybird Newsletter. Here's the latest issue (Winter 2005, vol 5) The price has finally been set. I thought the Nav would be an option, however the way I am reading it, sounds as if it is standard. Doesn't have the word "available" in front of it.
Many of you have been with us from the beginning, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the world's first luxury hybrid. The good news is that the wait is almost over. And the very good news is that as a sign of our appreciation for your patience, you are among the first group of people to receive official information about the revolutionary Lexus RX 400h.
To begin, we thought we'd give you the two most highly anticipated numbers. Arriving in Lexus showrooms on April 15, 2005, the RX 400h will be priced at $48,535 MSRP [1].
Perhaps one of the most stunning attributes of the RX 400h is its impressive performance. Combining the power output from its electric drive motors and the 3.3-liter V6 engine, gives you brisk acceleration from 0 to 60 in 7.3 seconds [2], outperforming many of its V8-equipped competitors.
Even with its enhanced performance, the RX 400h still gives you the optimal mileage and low emissions that you expect from a hybrid. The estimated combined fuel-economy rating of 28 mpg [3] equals the average for compact sedans. And its estimated EPA city fuel-economy rating is even better. At 30 mpg, the RX 400h's city mileage more than doubles those of many V8-equipped luxury SUVs.
The RX 400h features an AWD system that utilizes a separate electric drive motor at the rear. Not only does it provide extra torque on demand, the intelligent system actually helps to manage front and rear torque distribution according to traction conditions.
It's only fitting that the next generation of luxury SUVs would feature the all-new Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) [4] system. Rather than reacting to vehicle wheel slippage, VDIM's advance sensors allow it to anticipate such conditions. As soon as any slippage or loss of traction is detected, it applies the Electronically Controlled Braking (ECB) system and controls the Electronic Throttle Control System with intelligence (ETCS-i) to help maintain the correct course.
As you can see, with the innovative RX 400h we didn't just go out of our way to create the new benchmark of luxury SUVs. We also set out to make April 15, 2005, one of the most inspiring dates in hybrid vehicle history.
Comfort and Luxury
- Brushed-aluminum accents
- Voice-activated DVD navigation system [5]
- Automatic dual-zone climate control with smog-sensing air filtration
- 10-way adjustable driver's power seat with memory function
- Power rear door with remote keyless entry
- Available Mark Levinson [6] audio system with 11 speakers and in-dash,
six-disc CD auto-changer
- Available DVD Rear-Seat Entertainment System (RSES) with remote
control, wireless headphones and seven-inch LCD
- 38 cu ft [7] of rear cargo capacity; 84 cu ft [7] with rear seats
folded down
- Illuminated entry system
Safety
- Front dual-stage airbags Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) [8],
driver's-knee airbag, front seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain
airbags
- Welded-steel unibody frame, side-impact door beams and impact-
dissipating front and rear crumple zones
- Rollover sensor
- Backup camera [9]
- Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)
- High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps
- Rain-sensing wipers
Warranty
- 48-month/50,000-mile basic limited warranty with Roadside Assistance for
48 months/unlimited miles
- Powertrain and restraint system coverage is provided for 72 months/70,000
miles
- Corrosion perforation protection is covered for 72 months, regardless of
mileage
- The hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery control
module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for
96 months/100,000 miles
Many of you have been with us from the beginning, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the world's first luxury hybrid. The good news is that the wait is almost over. And the very good news is that as a sign of our appreciation for your patience, you are among the first group of people to receive official information about the revolutionary Lexus RX 400h.
To begin, we thought we'd give you the two most highly anticipated numbers. Arriving in Lexus showrooms on April 15, 2005, the RX 400h will be priced at $48,535 MSRP [1].
Perhaps one of the most stunning attributes of the RX 400h is its impressive performance. Combining the power output from its electric drive motors and the 3.3-liter V6 engine, gives you brisk acceleration from 0 to 60 in 7.3 seconds [2], outperforming many of its V8-equipped competitors.
Even with its enhanced performance, the RX 400h still gives you the optimal mileage and low emissions that you expect from a hybrid. The estimated combined fuel-economy rating of 28 mpg [3] equals the average for compact sedans. And its estimated EPA city fuel-economy rating is even better. At 30 mpg, the RX 400h's city mileage more than doubles those of many V8-equipped luxury SUVs.
The RX 400h features an AWD system that utilizes a separate electric drive motor at the rear. Not only does it provide extra torque on demand, the intelligent system actually helps to manage front and rear torque distribution according to traction conditions.
It's only fitting that the next generation of luxury SUVs would feature the all-new Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) [4] system. Rather than reacting to vehicle wheel slippage, VDIM's advance sensors allow it to anticipate such conditions. As soon as any slippage or loss of traction is detected, it applies the Electronically Controlled Braking (ECB) system and controls the Electronic Throttle Control System with intelligence (ETCS-i) to help maintain the correct course.
As you can see, with the innovative RX 400h we didn't just go out of our way to create the new benchmark of luxury SUVs. We also set out to make April 15, 2005, one of the most inspiring dates in hybrid vehicle history.
Comfort and Luxury
- Brushed-aluminum accents
- Voice-activated DVD navigation system [5]
- Automatic dual-zone climate control with smog-sensing air filtration
- 10-way adjustable driver's power seat with memory function
- Power rear door with remote keyless entry
- Available Mark Levinson [6] audio system with 11 speakers and in-dash,
six-disc CD auto-changer
- Available DVD Rear-Seat Entertainment System (RSES) with remote
control, wireless headphones and seven-inch LCD
- 38 cu ft [7] of rear cargo capacity; 84 cu ft [7] with rear seats
folded down
- Illuminated entry system
Safety
- Front dual-stage airbags Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) [8],
driver's-knee airbag, front seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain
airbags
- Welded-steel unibody frame, side-impact door beams and impact-
dissipating front and rear crumple zones
- Rollover sensor
- Backup camera [9]
- Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)
- High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps
- Rain-sensing wipers
Warranty
- 48-month/50,000-mile basic limited warranty with Roadside Assistance for
48 months/unlimited miles
- Powertrain and restraint system coverage is provided for 72 months/70,000
miles
- Corrosion perforation protection is covered for 72 months, regardless of
mileage
- The hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery control
module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for
96 months/100,000 miles
Pricing now announced!!
Trending Topics
02-24-05 | 11:51 PM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,084
Likes: 0
From: California
Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX
Pricing now announced!!
03-04-05 | 09:00 PM
#10
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
those gauges on every RX are awesome when looking from them from the side, but i wish that t he 400H as well as all other RX's would get that chrome grill like the one on t he thundercloud edition
03-06-05 | 08:07 PM
#11
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 10
From: MD
Pricing different than the RX330 because so much is standard...
Originally Posted by RON430
I was mildly waiting for this as well. With the base pricing now $11K over an RX330 AWD (instead of 4 - 5k) and with RX330's going for 2 to 3 K under sticker even here in silicon valley, it looks like the 400H is going to be in the neighborhood of 15K over an RX330 AWD out the door. Too much to interest me. And it doesn't exactly get me excited to think about a hybrid GS. Pass.
03-23-05 | 05:51 PM
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
03-25-05 | 05:15 AM
#14
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 2
From: NV
Sick, thks nice article, 26/28-30 isn't what I was hoping for - I can get 24-26 highway on a conventional 2003 - but it sounds like a great car and mileage will likely improve with future design and engineering efficiencies.
03-31-05 | 10:53 PM
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by parula
Sick, thks nice article, 26/28-30 isn't what I was hoping for - I can get 24-26 highway on a conventional 2003 - but it sounds like a great car and mileage will likely improve with future design and engineering efficiencies.
April "CAR" has a great 2 page article on the RX 400h on pg 118-119. $8.99 U.S and Euro based, can be found in your local bookstore.