Today, my wife took some nice pics of a working Lexus Test Mule...

It was a two car team with Michigan plates driving on the 210 Fwy West in San Dimas heading towards Pasadena..

The lead car was a clearly marked silver Lexus ES330 also with Mich plates.. with a huge antenna on it..
Following very close behind was the very heavily covered test mule..

After some digging around we came to the conclusion that this was most likey a prototype 2009 RX test mule..

She's now skilled to spot things like this on her own...
Usually, when we are driving together and I spot something like this, I'm the one with the camera.

Enjoy her LG Chocolate Pink phone pics...

(we also have a 15 sec video, if someone wants to post that up, let me know)









Joe Z

 

Sweet pics! Please tell the wife "good job!"

Hey, we have the same 2008 ride!!

 

i like it! could be more than a mule though!

was there a cable going into the left rear center cap of the tire?

 

^^ I did!!

Yes - I am loving the 2008!!! Congrats on your new ride as well.



^^ I say its not a finished product... Looking at the exhaust tail pipe shows me a lot...
There is NO cable going into the right rear center cap of the wheel/tire.. (or the left either)

Joe Z

 

i see dual exhuasts! yay

yeh this really tells us nothing though since it looks like the regular RX350...lexus does a great job in keeping everything secret

 

damn if it is a test mule you saw it quick. i need to drive by toyota headquarters more often. it does look like a current gen RX, but then again manufacturers do that stuff to throw people off.

 

Hey Joe Z. Your Mrs did a great job spotting the possible new RX. The rear lights seem to look very similar to the curret model.

 

Excellent job!!!!! GREEN for you! Oooppsss wrong forum!

 

While it is hard to tell because of the black stuff on it what it really looks like it is encouraging that the new RX is on the way ! I cannot wait for I think the current RX overall is a sweet ride, the new one should be even better! I hear April 2008 for release but not sure.

I wonder if the new RX for USA will be built only in Canada or will some still be made in Japan and shipped over?

 

it will most likely be built in Canada...

only the hybrid RX will be built in japan

 

Bravo Zulu for the pictures, great work! If this is only a test mule, and based on the current platform, then why go to all the trouble to install the "camouflage"? Makes me wonder if this may not in fact be an early pre-production model.

 

They should be into their early production model by now.

 

that mule was probably testing engine and perhaps interior appointments. they keep the outer shell to throw us off

 

My "car enthusiasm" has made her more aware of important things like this..

She couldn't get a shot of the front, because the exit ramp was approaching..
But she did say it looked different from the avg. RX350..

They are obviously testing this mule with a different style exhaust system as well.
Which looks very out of place by-the-way...!

Anyone have side or rear shots of the below possible version of the 2009 RX ??

In my opinion it looks pretty close to the camouflaged spy pics..



Joe Z

 

That looks good over all, but I really don't like that front bumper.