• Fifth-generation Lexus RX comes with a choice of two electrified powertrains to accelerate the realization of a carbon-neutral society• RX 500h F SPORT Performance grade introduces Lexus’ first-ever turbo Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) • The all-new vehicle combines elegance with a dynamic exterior design and a luxurious and practical interior • Refined cabin experience with advanced features including a new 14-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility • 2023 RX incorporates state-of-the-art technologies including the latest Lexus Safety System+, for greater peace of mind
Dubai, UAE – xx February 2023: Lexus is bringing unparalleled levels of elegance and refinement to the high-end crossover market in the Middle East with the launch of the all-new RX. The fifth-generation RX has been completely reimagined to deliver greater style, comfort, and performance than ever before and comes with a choice of three powertrains, two of which are electrified to contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society.
First launched in 1998, the Lexus RX has created the blueprint for luxury crossover utility vehicles and set the tone in the segment ever since. The 1998 Lexus RX 300 was the world’s first luxury crossover, while the 2006 Lexus RX 400h was the world’s first hybrid electric luxury crossover. The choice of two electrified powertrains comes as part of the ‘Lexus Electrified’ vision announced in 2019, which aims to achieve significant performance improvements through electrification technologies. The company is on track to achieve a full lineup of electrified vehicles in all categories by 2030 and aims to sell 100% BEVs globally by 2035.
Commenting on the launch of the all-new Lexus RX, Koji Sato, President of Lexus International, said: “For the all-new RX, we were determined to keep the Lexus DNA of supreme quality, ride comfort, and refinement and elevate the driving experience to the next level, delivering a unique Lexus driving signature.”
Takaaki Ohno, Chief Engineer in charge of the vehicle’s development, commented: “Since the first-generation RX was born as a luxury crossover, the RX has been loved by many customers around the world. Now in its fifth generation, we embraced change using the RX to bring the joy of exhilarating driving to even more customers as a Lexus global core model. We worked thoroughly on the vehicle’s fundamentals to pursue a new driving experience and design that was both captivating and rooted in functionality. Created without compromise through the combined efforts of development and production, the all-new RX will become a companion that enriches your life. We hope customers in the Middle East will look forward to it.”
Kei Fujita, Chief Representative of Middle East & Central Asia Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “We are pleased to launch the 2023 Lexus RX as the latest step in our drive to create innovative and amazing experiences for owners and passengers in the Middle East by developing vehicles that offer a highly engaging driving experience. With a variety of powertrains now available, the RX will fulfill its mission as a global core model that contributes to the realization of a carbon-neutral society, while fulfilling the diverse needs and lifestyles of a wide range of customers.”
Fujita added: “I would like to thank our customers in the region for continuously inspiring us to push the boundaries of creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation, and look forward to surpassing their expectations of what a crossover utility vehicle can be.”
All fifth-generation RX models deliver the Lexus Driving Signature in their own way, thanks to the outstanding credentials of the platform and the powertrains. Each combines superior comfort with a new level of responsiveness, ensuring the driver is in control at all times and resulting in an immediate feeling of confidence. The all-new RX platform has allowed for a 90 kg drop in the vehicle’s weight and a 10 mm reduction in its overall height, resulting in a 15 mm lower center of gravity. In addition, the wheelbase is extended by 60 mm, while a wider track combines with 21” wheels to give the 2023 RX a confident stance and stronger grip.
The all-new Lexus RX is built on Lexus’ Global Architecture K (GA-K) platform and delivers excellent body rigidity and a low center of gravity, guaranteeing a more rewarding driving experience. The vehicle features new MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a new multi-link suspension system at the rear, contributing to outstanding stability and handling to create exceptional ride comfort.
Complementing the all-new RX’s distinctive design is a thrilling drive personality imbued by three powertrain options. A newly developed inline 4-cylinder, 2.4-liter turbocharged engine that produces 275 hp and 430 nm of torque is mated to a new 8-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission (8AT). Meanwhile, the new hybrid-electric system combines a 2.5-liter petrol engine and electric motor to produce a total of 274 hp, which is mated to an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (E-CVT) to provide a fuel consumption value of 20.7 km/L. A hybrid-electric system pairing a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with an electric motor is also available, which provides a combined power of 366 hp mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission that offers fuel consumption of 15.5 km/L while delivering a new level of driving pleasure.
Lexus has further developed its new ‘Next Chapter’ design language to create a vehicle that is instantly recognizable as an RX, but with a more dynamic, elegant, and confident character. A sleeker silhouette has been developed by extending the bonnet, lengthening the wheelbase by 60 mm, and lowering the roofline by 10 mm to create a coupé-like feel. The triple LED headlights are sleeker, sharper, and more horizontal, and the body and spindle grilles merge at their boundaries to create a seamless expression symbolized by the sense of a solid mass, striving toward a new identity and originality. The wider track (50 mm) gives a bolder stance and road presence, and the introduction of a new Lexus badge on the tailgate adds to the vehicle’s clean and contemporary look, while single-line Lexus signature taillights at the rear underline the vehicle’s iconic shape.
The all-new RX interior features Lexus’ Tazuna concept for the driver’s cockpit, an approach initially revealed in the Lexus LF-30 electrified concept car. Taking its name from a Japanese word describing a rider’s use of the reins to control a horse, Tazuna focuses on delivering direct, intuitive control of the vehicle by following the principle of ‘hands on the wheel, eyes on the road.’ It also raises the quality of the driving experience by making the driver feel confident and in command of their vehicle and surroundings.
The 2023 RX’s spacious interior offers ample luggage space and five newly designed luxury seats with excellent legroom, including an 8-way adjustable powered driver seat. Thanks to an intelligent tailgate design, the luggage compartment is now 50 mm longer and can accommodate bulkier objects, while the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats enable long items such as surfboards to be easily transported. For added convenience, the 2023 Lexus RX comes with a hands-free, electrically powered back door that can be activated by a foot-operated system when the user’s hands or arms are full.
Drivers can also create an oasis with nature-inspired Thematic Ambient Illumination, an optional feature that bathes the RX interior in a choice of 14 themes. Each has been carefully designed to express a full range of emotions and evoke a feeling of comfort, with themes including Rain Forest, Waterfall, and Sunset, and 64 different ambient lighting colors to choose from. Additional features include SmartAccess with a push-button start, a 21-speaker Mark Levinson Clari-Fi 2.0 sound system, and a panoramic roof with movable outer sliding glass for the front section.
The vehicle’s inviting interior provides drivers and passengers with a host of advanced features for a refined cabin experience. These include a new 14-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility, a 7-inch color multi-information display (MID), a color head-up display (HUD), a wireless charging system for smartphones, six USB chargers, and one 12 Volt charger. In addition, the 2023 RX offers the Lexus Climate Concierge system with Triple Zone Independent Temperature Controls, which includes rear vents and control panels for the back seats to ensure the cabin temperature is perfectly adjusted for each occupant. The system uses S-Flow control to recognize which seats are occupied and directs cooling performance based on the setting selected, cabin temperature, outside temperature, and the effect of sunlight coming through the windows.
As with any Lexus vehicle, safety is a top priority for the all-new RX. Drivers can enjoy complete peace of mind, thanks to the Lexus Safety System+, an advanced safety and driver assistance system that includes a Pre-Collision System (PCS) with an expanded detection range for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcycles, together with new features such as Emergency Steering Assist, Acceleration Suppression at Low Speed, and Intersection Collision Avoidance Assistance.