Lexus announces that sales of the “RX350″ in Japan started today and that sales of the “RX450h”* are to start in April. Both RX models are the latest versions of the RX, which was previously unavailable in Japan.  Next-generation crossovers that merge the luxurious ride and comfort of a sedan with the functionality of an SUV, they offer, at the highest levels, the environmental and safety performance demanded of 21st-century luxury vehicles.  They are based on the concept of providing the superior excitement and driving comfort characteristic of a Lexus vehicle.

The new arrivals include such features as an advanced hybrid system with a V6 gasoline engine, the E-Four (electric four-wheel drive) system for outstanding driving and environmental performance, as well as a unique “dual-zone cockpit” that allows the driver to concentrate on driving.  Other top-class features create a dynamism that sets the vehicles apart from other SUVs while providing a strong sense of safety and satisfaction.

* The “h” stands for hybrid and the “450″ refers to performance on par with that of a 4.5-liter conventional vehicle. The RX350 combines a V6 3.5-liter engine with a six-speed automatic transmission.  The all-wheel-drive model features an Active Torque Control system that optimizes torque to the front and rear wheels depending on driving conditions, such as vehicle speed and road surface, achieving both excellent fuel efficiency and responsive handling.

Efforts were made to reduce CO2 emissions by improving fuel efficiency.  The RX450h has a fuel efficiency of 16.8 km/l according to the JC08 test cycle of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) and is one of the first vehicles to meet the 2015 Japanese fuel-efficiency standards.  (Under the old 10-15 test cycle, the RX450h has a fuel efficiency of 18.8km/l.  The two-wheel drive RX350 has a fuel economy of 9.7km/l under the 10-15 test cycle.)  All Lexus RX models have emission levels 75% lower than the 2005 standards under the MLIT’s Approval System for Low-emission Vehicles and all vehicles qualify for incentives under the Japanese government’s Green Taxation System.

*TMC’s safety technology and vehicle development aims to provide optimal driving support based on driving conditions, not only by integrating individual safety technologies and systems in the vehicle, but also by adopting an infrastructure-respondent system (infrastructure-to-vehicle) and using information obtained from vehicles other than the driver’s (vehicle-to-vehicle), leading to the realization of a vehicle that does not cause accidents. - autonews24h.com