Lexus has unveiled a facelifted version of the RX SUV. Updates include a minor styling refresh, revised mechanicals and Lexus’s latest suite of safety equipment. The new RX will go on sale in the UK this autumn, in both five and seven-seat body styles.
Exterior styling updates for the facelifted RX include revised front and rear bumpers, new side skirts, a fresh rear diffuser, reworked exhaust tips and a new set of front and rear lamps. Inside, Lexus’s latest RX comes with a redesigned third seating row, which features an additional setting which claims to offers increased leg-room for the rear-most occupants.
Lexus has also improved the RX’s structural rigidity by stitching its body shell together with more spot welds and fitting stiffer anti-roll bars. The RX also comes with new shock absorbers, revised power steering and Active Cornering Assist, all of which the Japanese firm claims will reduce understeer and offer more stable handling characteristics.
Like the outgoing model, the RX will only be available with a 3.5-litre V6 hybrid powertrain, producing 308bhp and 335Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a CVT and an electric all-wheel-drive system, which results in a 0-62 mph time of 7.7 seconds and economy figures of 54.3mpg.
The new RX is the first car in Lexus’s line-up to feature the firm’s new BladeScan Adaptive High-beam LED headlights. The system projects light onto a pair of spinning blade-shaped mirrors, which is then bounced through a lens onto the road. Lexus claims the system offers greater visibility for the driver, without dazzling oncoming road users.
Lexus’s latest flagship SUV also comes with the brand’s latest suite of safety technology, which includes road sign assist, radar-controlled adaptive cruise control and a pre-collision system, which can now detect pedestrians during both day- and night-time.
Connectivity has improved, too, thanks to the introduction of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and voice control, while drivers also benefit from a new smartphone holder and a fresh touchscreen infotainment system.
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