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Lexus RX 350

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The Lexus RX 350 is a crossover SUV manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation. It is based heavily on the Toyota Camry platform which it shares with the Toyota Highlander. The RX 350 was introduced in 1997 as the Toyota Harrier in Japan and as the RX 300 at the North American International Auto Show. It quickly gained popularity and became Lexus's best-selling model, as it was amongst the first in the crossover SUV car market genre and serves as a model for following designs.

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2007 Lexus RX 350

Recent Changes

For 2007, the RX has a mid-cycle refresh consisting of a new 2GR-FE 3.5-liter V6 instead of the older 3MZ-FE 3.3-liter V6 engine, changing the vehicle's name from RX 330 to RX 350. The RX 350 will also feature an updated DVD navigation system with better graphics, voice controlled destination inputs, and a new device called "bread crumbs". Bread crumbs will enable drivers to retrace their steps.


Styles and Major Options


Pricing

2007 RX 350 All Wheel Drive: MSRP $39,495

2007 RX 350 Front Wheel Drive: MSRP $38,095

2006 RX 400h All Wheel Drive: MSRP $46,755

2006 RX 400h Front Wheel Drive: MSRP $45,355


Gas Mileage

According to FuelEconomy.gov, the 2007 RX 350 Front Wheel Drive averages 20 MPG City/ 25 MPG Hwy. The 2007 RX 350 All Wheel Drive averages 19 MPG City/ 24 MPG Hwy.

Visitors to GreenHybrid.com, averaged about 25 MPG with their RX 400h in the Real Hybrid Mileage Database.


Reliablity


Safety


Photos

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2007 Lexus RX 350 Interior Cabin
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2007 Lexus RX 350 Dashboard

Colors

The 2007 RX 350 and 2006 RX 400h are available in the following colors:

Neptune Blue Mica

Flint Mica

Savannah Metallic

Bamboo Pearl

Crystal White

Millenium Silver Metallic

Black Onyx


The 2007 RX 350 is also available in these colors (The RX 400h is not):

Black Forest Pearl

Breakwater Blue Metallic


Main Competitors

Acura: MDX

BMW: X3/ X5

Hummer: H3

Infiniti: FX35/ FX45

Land Rover: LR3

Mercedes Benz: ML350/ ML500

Volvo: XC90


Hybrid Models

The Lexus RX 400h is an automobile assembled by Toyota Motor Corp. under the Lexus brand name using Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. It is called the Toyota Harrier Hybrid in Japan. After first being introduced in January 2004 at the North American International Auto Show, it would become the world's second mass-produced hybrid SUV, after the Ford Escape Hybrid. In November 2004, Toyota announced the American launch of hybrid Lexus/Toyota SUV will be delayed to the 2006 model year, with European and Asian launches during 2006. The Toyota version of the same car debuted in Japan on March 22, 2005, the same day as the Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

Toyota will price the RX 400h/Harrier Hybrid at a substantial premium over the non-hybrid [[[RX 350|RX300/RX330/Harrier]]. The list price in Japan ranges from 4.095 million Yen to 4.62 million Yen. In US, it will be priced at $49,185, which is a $5,600 premium over a similarly-equipped RX 350.

The gasoline-powered part of the engine system is a 3.3 L 3MZ-FE V6, very similar to the one found in the RX 350. It produced, in the case of the Harrier Hybrid, 211 hp JIS (155 kW) and 288 Nm (212 ft·lbf). The petrol engine is aided by a maximum of two additional electric motors, one driving the front wheels, producing 167 hp JIS (123 kW) and 333 Nm (245 ft·lbf) and connected to the CVT gearbox, and the other driving the rear wheels, producing 68 hp JIS (50 kW) and 130 Nm (95 ft·lbf). The whole system, called Hybrid Synergy Drive, produces a maximum of 272 hp JIS (200 kW). Under normal driving conditions, only the front motor and petrol engine will be used. The rear motor will only be used under full-throttle acceleration or when the front wheels lose traction. The petrol engine will switch off automatically and the car will be electrically driven when either stationary, decelerating, or being driven at a slow speed. A Ni-MH battery is responsible for powering the motors, and it is charged during deceleration.

The assistance of the electric motor increases the vehicle's performance; the [[[RX 350|400h/Harrier Hybrid]] can reach 60 mph (97 km/h) in less than 8 s, quicker than the petrol-only RX. Despite the increased performance, the [[[RX 350|RX 400h/Harrier Hybrid]] consumes roughly the same amount of petrol as a compact four-cylinder saloon and it qualifies as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) in America. Under the Japanese "10.15 mode" fuel consumption standard, the [[[RX 350|Harrier Hybrid]] can run 17.8 km per litre of fuel (compared with the standard coil-sprung V6 3.0 L Harrier, which returned 9.4 km/L). In Japan, it qualifies as a "4-star" LEV-car, where it produces 75% fewer emissions than the standard specified in Heisei 17 (i.e. year 2005).


Unique Attributes


Resale Values

As mentioned in the October 2005 issue of SmartMoney, the resale value of the Lexus RX remains to be high due to Lexus's "reputation for reliablity".


Criticisms


Design Quirks and Oddities


Second Generation: (2004-present)


First Generation: (1998-2003)


Worldwide

For European and Asian markets, the second generation RX was launched in early 2003, where it continues to be a RX 300 and is made in Japan. Mechanical specification is more or less identical to the 3.0 L V6 Harrier, with only the four wheel drive version available. Once again, air-suspension and Mark Levinson audio can be specified.

The Harrier Hybrid went on sale in Japan on March 2005, and the hybrid Lexus RX 400h went on sale during the 2006 model year in North America. Europe and Asia will also receive the Hybrid RX during 2006.





Awards

The RX 300 was MotorTrend magazine's Sport Utility of the Year for 1999.

Winner Australia's Best Luxury Four Wheel Drive in 2004 - Lexus RX 330


External Links

Official Lexus Website