Exterior Dimensions
Note: All specs are for both 4x4 and 4x2 unless otherwise indicated
 
Wheelbase                                106.9 in.
 
Overall Length                           186.2 in.
 
Overall Width                            72.6 in.
 
Overall Height (unloaded)                66.1 in.
 
Tread Width - Front                      62.0 in.
- Rear                                   61.2 in.
 
Ground Clearance - Coil suspension       7.48 in. (4x4) 7.09 in. (4x2)
 
Air suspension
- (4x4)   Normal: 7.1 in.  High: 8.3 in.  Low: 6.5 in.  Access: 5.9 in.
- (4x2)   Normal: 6.9 in.  High: 8.1 in.  Low: 6.3 in.  Access: 5.9 in.

Approach Angle (4x4) - Coil suspension   29 deg.
- Air suspension Normal:                 28.7 deg. High: 30.5 deg.
 
Departure Angle (4x4) - Coil suspension  23.5 deg.
- Air suspension Normal:                 22.5 deg. High: 24.4
 
Breakover Angle (4x4) - Coil suspension  16.1 deg.
- Air suspension Normal:                 15.2 deg. High: 18.0 deg.
 

Interior Dimensions  

Seating Capacity 5
 
Headroom - Front                39.3 in.
- Rear                          38.6 in.
 
Legroom - Front                 42.5 in.
- Rear                          36.4 in.
 
Shoulder Room - Front           58.9 in.
- Rear                          58.5 in.
 
Hip Room - Front                55.6 in.
- Rear                          55.1 in.
 
Total Interior Volume           140.8 cu. ft.
 
Cargo Volume - Rear seats up    38.3 cu. ft.
- Rear seats folded down        84.7 cu. ft.
 

Weights and Capacities

Curb Weight                     4,065 lbs. (4x4)        3,860 (4x2)
 
GVWR                            5,245 lbs. (4x4 and 4x2)
 
Weight Distribution Front/Rear  56.8% / 43.2% (4x4)     57.5% / 42.5% (4x2)
 
Max Towing Capacity             3,500 lbs. with optional towing pkg. 
                                (2,000 lbs. without)
 
Fuel Capacity                    19.2 gal.
 

Engine
 
Type, Materials                 V6, aluminum block and heads
 
Designation                     3MZ-FE
 
Valvetrain                      DOHC 24 valve with VVT-i
 
Displacement                    3.3 liter
 
Bore x Stroke                   3.62 in. x 3.27 in.
 
Compression Ratio               10.8:1
 
Horsepower (SAE)                230 @ 5,600 rpm
 
Torque                          242 lb.-ft. @ 3,600 rpm
 
Maximum Engine Speed (redline)  5,900 RPM
 
Fuel System                     Multi-Point Injection (MPI)
 
Fuel Requirement                87 octane unleaded (91 octane recommended)
 
Emission Certification          ULEV (50 State)
 

Drivetrain

Layout                  Front engine, full-time four wheel drive (4x4), 
                        or front engine, front wheel drive (4x2)
 
Transmission Type       5-speed automatic, electronically controlled (ECT) 
                        with snow mode (Multi-mode sequential A/T is available)
 
Designation             U151F (4x4)            U151E (4x2)
 
Gear Ratios 
1st                     4.235
2nd                     2.360
3rd                     1.517
4th                     1.047
5th                     0.756
Reverse                 3.378
 
Differential Ratio      3.478:1


Chassis and Body
 
Body / Frame                     Unitized steel
 
Suspension - Front               McPherson strut, coil springs
- Rear                           Dual link strut, coil springs
- Optional (front and rear)      Adjustable height air suspension
 
Steering - Type                  Rack and pinion, power assist
- Overall Ratio                  16.0
- Turns, Lock to Lock            3.0
- Turning Circle (curb to curb)  37.4 feet
 
Brakes - Front - type / diameter Disc / 12.6 in.
- Rear - type / diameter         Disc / 11.3 in.
 
Anti-Lock Braking System         4 channel, 4 sensor
 
Wheel Size / Type                17 x 6.5 JJ / Alum. Alloy 
                                 (Optional 18 x 7 JJ)
 
Tire Size / Type                 225/65R17 SR rated M+S 
                                 (Opt. 235/55HR18 M+S)
 
Tire Brands                      Goodyear, Michelin
 


Performance
  
60 MPH Acceleration              7.8 sec. (4x4)        7.7 sec. (4x2)
 
1/4 mile Acceleration            16.0 sec. (4x4)       15.8 sec (4x2)
 
Top Track Speed                  112 mph (Electronically limited)
 
EPA Estimated Fuel Consumption   (City / Freeway 18 / 24 MPG (4x4) 20 / 26 (4x2)
 
Coefficient of Drag              (Cd) 0.35

Lexus Premium Audio (standard)               Mark Levinson Audio (optional) 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AM/FM cassette with RDS                      AM/FM cassette with RDS 
 
Single-disc (opt. six-disc)                  Six-disc, single-feed 
in-dash CD player                            in-dash CD auto-changer
 
Eight speakers                               11 speakers 
 
Sound positioning system optimizes speaker   Sound positioning system optimizes speaker 
usage depending on occupant location         usage depending on occupant location

Short pole antenna, FM diversity antenna     Short pole antenna, FM diversity antenna
 
                                             240W @ 0.01% THD

    A new standard in luxury sport utility vehicles

    DETROIT, Jan. 5 /CNW/ - Lexus today unveiled the all-new 2004 RX 330, the
second generation of its ground-breaking mid-sized luxury sport utility
vehicle, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Fully
redesigned, more powerful and even better equipped than the best-selling Lexus
RX 300 it replaces, the striking RX 330 sets a new standard in its class for
comfort, performance, safety and luxury.
    The 2004 RX 330, which will be built at both Toyota's Kyushu plant in
Japan and at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) in Cambridge, Ontario,
is designed and manufactured to provide the best ride quality of any luxury
SUV on the market. The RX 330 also delivers all-weather driving fun and
confidence with a combination of full-time four-wheel drive and advanced
traction and stability control technology.
    "We're proud to have been given the mandate to produce the first Lexus
outside of Japan," said TMMC President, Ray Tanguay. "Highest quality, new
technology, close attention to detail - that's what the new RX 330 demands and
that's what our Canadian team members will deliver."
    "Lexus is the North American leader in luxury SUVs because we proved it
was possible to create an SUV with the ride quality and luxury that made Lexus
sedans famous," added Larry Hutchinson, National Manager of Lexus in Canada.
"The new RX 330 sets yet another benchmark, creating an entirely new set of
expectations for a luxury SUV."
    The elegant new exterior design is the most noticeable difference.
Tapered headlamps, streamlined hood and fenders, more muscular body lines, and
a unique tail lamp and rear tailgate arrangement set this new Lexus apart from
any other SUV in the segment. The new design also minimizes wind noise that
plagues many, less aerodynamic SUVs. In fact, powertrain, wind and road noise
have been reduced to levels similar to those of the Lexus ES 300 sedan.

    All-Weather Power and Confidence

    Under a sleek hood is an equally new 3.3-litre V6 engine that produces
230 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 242 lb/ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. Variable
Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) and a new electronic drive-by-wire
throttle help the all-new engine achieve Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV)
status.
    The V6 is mated to a new 5-speed electronic transmission and, like its
predecessor, uses a centre differential to split engine power evenly between
the front and rear wheels. The full-time four-wheel drive system is lighter
than before and equipped with a complement of standard traction and stability
control systems including Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), full-time Traction
Control (TRAC) and advanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC).
    Power-assisted disc brakes are enhanced with Electronic Brake Force
Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist which applies additional brake pressure in
emergency braking situations to achieve the shortest possible stopping
distance.

    Luxurious, Comfortable, Convenient

    Inside, outstanding Lexus packaging optimizes comfort and utility for
five passengers. An extraordinary range of standard luxury features includes
leather interior; heated power front seats with two driver memory settings;
dual zone, automatic climate control with air filter; anti-theft system with
engine immobilizer, integrated garage door opener; and sliding centre console,
to name a few. The new RX 330 is also slightly wider and has a wheelbase that
is approximately 100 mm (4 inches) longer, providing more interior space.
    In addition, RX 330 offers some of the most sophisticated optional
equipment available in any kind of luxury vehicle, SUV or sedan. These
include:

    - An air suspension system with automatic levelling and four selectable
      height settings to provide the optimum ride height for a variety of
      conditions. "Normal" mode automatically lowers the RX 330 slightly at
      highway speeds to improve handling and ride comfort. "Low" mode reduces
      the ride height even further to enhance response. "High" mode increases
      ground clearance when driving over rough surfaces at low speeds, and
      "Access" mode provides the lowest setting for easier entries, exits and
      loading.
    - Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) for better illumination in turns
      and curves. A central controller calculates the optimum lighting
      direction based on vehicle speed and steering angle and swivels the
      headlights independently, allowing the driver approaching a curve in
      the road ahead to see further before entering it.
    - A power rear tailgate, controlled from the standard keyless remote
      entry system. An automatically-retracting tonneau cover adds even more
      security and convenience.
    - A large multi-panel tilt and slide moonroof
    - A 240-watt Mark Levinson sound system with 11 speakers and in-dash 6-CD
      changer.
    - A factory-installed DVD rear-seat entertainment system with a
      high-resolution screen that lowers from the headliner. The package
      includes a remote control and two wireless headphones. Rear seat
      passengers can listen to a different audio source than those in the
      front when using the wireless headphones.
    - A DVD-based Lexus Navigation System with voice recognition and a
      rear-facing back-up camera. The back-up camera is mounted near the top
      of the license plate surround and automatically projects an image of
      what is behind the vehicle onto the navigation screen when the vehicle
      is in reverse gear.

    The Highest Levels of Occupant Protection

    The new high-strength cabin design and comprehensive new supplemental
restraint system are designed to provide an increased level of crash energy
management that protects occupants better than ever before. Structurally the
new RX 330 is designed to maintain cabin integrity in the event of front, rear
or side impacts.
    The supplemental restraint system includes multi-stage airbags for the
driver and front passenger, a new knee airbag for the driver and a new type of
large side airbag in the front seats that specifically protects the torso,
abdomen and pelvis. Side curtain airbags are designed to help offer additional
crash protection for both front and rear seat occupants. The front airbags
deploy according to inputs that include crash severity, passenger weight and
the position of the driver's seat on the track.

    Built to World-Class Standards - In Canada

    When production starts in September 2003, the 2004 RX 330 will be the
first Lexus built outside of Japan. Toyota's award-winning Cambridge assembly
plant is slated to build about 60,000 RX 330s a year.
    To prepare for Lexus production in Canada, TMMC is undergoing a $650
million renovation including new welding and paint facilities exclusively for
Lexus. The new paint shop is designed with the environment in mind. It
features water-borne cartridge paint technology, its own climate control
system, glass walls and zero-dust, high efficiency ovens.
    The Lexus RX has consistently been judged the highest-quality vehicle in
its segment and TMMC is well prepared to uphold that standard of excellence.
Since the Canadian facility opened 12 years ago it has earned seven J.D. Power
and Associates awards for Plant Quality - including four Gold Plant awards.
    RX 330 is covered by an industry-leading warranty, covering the entire
vehicle for 48 months/80,000 kilometres. Powertrain components are covered for
72 months/110,000 kilometres, and corrosion perforation is warranted for 72
months with unlimited distance.
    The 48-month Lexus roadside assistance program provides travel planning
as well as the extra security and confidence of a dedicated toll-free
telephone number and emergency service or towing 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year.