anyone know what this rx450h will cost?
with gas at under $2/gall. u may need to drive a LOT to make back the extra $$$$$$$$$$.

 

Haven't seen the official price yet, but the price isn't necessarily relevant to the cost of gas savings. There are people, us included, that are interested in hybrid technology for the environmental benefits. Paying a little bit more to help reduce carbon emissions is justifiable to some. This is also why we are looking at the ML or GLK Bluetec's as that diesel technology also is supposed to dramatically reduce emissions (although we are still researching the benefits of both technologies.)

We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world and would like to try to do our small part to keep it that way.

 

looks decent in silver.

pretty good in red too.

dark colors make it look like it has a huge overbite, or no chin. Made worse by not having a distinct front bumper like the current gen rx.

 

Which is the reason why you have an IS-F in your signature?! j/k

 

LMFAO!

Ok, busted....maybe I should have said "because I feel guilty about owning a 416 hp, 5.0 liter V8 beast, we are considering a hybrid or Bluetec diesel to help the environment."

 

The hybrid is really impressive. The RX 350 petrol only leaves me cold. No improvement in MPG or HP.

 

I found these pics on some website:






I gotta say I like it a lot.

 

If these numbers are true than 450h absolutely kills X5 xDrive35d in fuel efficiency. Let's wait for pricing and some performance tests and see if this thing will make X5 diesel totally obsolete in US market.

 

The original RX was about 3700lbs if I recall correctly, the RX400h is about 4200lbs. I find this obscene.

5 more hp, whoopteedoo... Where is the 2GR-FSE direct injection engine?

 

The current RX AWD weighs, 4100 lbs. Which is already pretty heavy IMO.

I wouldn't think the new gen would need to be much heavier. It probably won't have much more safety equipment and ammenities to add weight over the current gen. Not sure what the current h weighs.

 

The Popular Mechanics article says the weight reduction efforts reduced 66 lbs. off the 350 AWD system, and unspecified amounts off the hybrid system. However, the 3RX adds sound/safety insulation, new rear suspension for improved handling, more speakers, 10 airbags, etc.

 

yeah, not sure about the numbers - but in any case, mpg numbers for hybrid are quite nice.

There will be definetly some extra weight no matter what... I wonder how much, as "carry over" RX350 engine with 6AT has 18/23 MPG, which was same number as before... while AWD used to get 17/22... but what version did Popular Mechanics tests? Seems they tested AWD, but we cant be sure...

In any case, 400-500lbs gain, which is 15% extra weight, would have to have some bad influence on mpg numbers... so I am not sure if their info is true, or rather if they are using correct numbers - it could be possible that we are using numbers for base version of old RX350/400h, and they are using numbers for top of the line, or something similar to that... I would expect weight gain of less than 150-200lbs based on mpg...

 

the article says that tested an AWD RX350

 

yeah, but are the numbers from AWD? Or did they quote lowest number they got from Lexus?

If they are from AWD, then i dont see how they could have improved city mpg while having 500lbs heavier vehicle, as 6th gear would do nothing for city.

So there is probably difference in counting weight.

 

I remember when Lexus cared about making lightweight vehicles. Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, Lexus vehicles were either the lightest or with BMW among the lightest in each class.

I mean damn can someone really tell the difference between 19 speakers and 12? Not unless you work for the orchestra!