{"id":23517,"date":"2022-06-01T00:03:56","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T04:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=23517"},"modified":"2022-06-01T00:03:56","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T04:03:56","slug":"1136032_2023-lexus-rx-plug-in-hybrid-direct4-redesign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=23517","title":{"rendered":"2023 Lexus RX: Plug-in hybrid, Direct4 performance-hybrid version in redesigned lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lexus has revealed that hybrid technology will play a wider role in the fifth-generation version of its Lexus RX crossover, due to reach U.S. dealerships by the end of 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/strong>That means a new RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid will be joining the lineup, with details to be shared \u201cat a later time,\u201d according to Lexus.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Meanwhile, the luxury brand has shared details about the rest of the lineup, and it appears that means the gasoline V-6 that\u2019s been a staple in the luxury crossover\u2019s lineup from the start will be dumped. Instead, the lineup now includes three powertrains: a gasoline 2.4-liter inline-4, making 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque in the RX 350; a hybrid system with a 2.5-liter inline-4 making a combined 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque; and a 2.4-liter \u201cTurbo Hybrid\u201d system making a combined 367 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque in the RX 500h F Sport Performance.<\/p>\n

\"2023<\/p>\n

2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The three models are expected to return EPA combined figures of 24, 33, and 26 mpg, respectively, with 0-60 mph times of 7.2, 7.4, and 5.9 seconds. All three versions offer all-wheel drive, although the base non-hybrid model can also be had in front-wheel-drive form.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/strong>The RX 350 has an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the F Sport Performance gets a 6-speed automatic transmission as part of \u201ca new hybrid electric system for the Lexus brand\u201d\u2014including a high-output rear motor, inverter, and reduction gearbox.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Lexus<\/p>\n

Lexus DIRECT4 all-wheel drive system e-axle<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Although that sounds much like what Toyota designed for the RAV4 Prime, it really is different. It employs a version of what Lexus calls Direct4<\/a>, which directly connects a high-torque electric motor both to the front and rear wheels, bringing the instantaneous response of the motor system combined with the backing of the gasoline engine.<\/p>\n

Additionally, Lexus says that the RX 500h will come with six-piston brake calipers and a more cohesive F Sport design package, including a mesh grille, 21-inch aluminum wheels, aluminum pedals, and a leather-trimmed interior.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\"2023<\/p>\n

2023 Lexus RX<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"2023<\/p>\n

2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"2023<\/p>\n

2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Inside, the new RX models get 14.0-inch touchscreen interface, an available head-up display, a panorama glass roof, and an electronic latching system for the doors that interfaces with safety systems.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/strong>The RX family gets a new multi-link rear suspension, and these models have been designed on a \u201cnew\u201d global platform it\u2019s terming GA-K that Lexus says yields more leg room. The new model rides on a 2.4-inch longer wheelbase and has a 2.4-inch shorter rear overhang, with very little difference in overall dimensions for the new model. Rear load height is lower, adding to cargo functionality.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"2023<\/p>\n

2023 Lexus RX<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Lexus already has one other plug-in hybrid model: the 2022 NX 450h+<\/a>, which essentially harnesses a version of the system that made its debut in the Toyota RAV4 Prime<\/a>. The NX 450h+ doesn\u2019t perform as well or return the electric miles or mpg of its Toyota cousin. But with the company\u2019s recognition that Lexus electrified models<\/a> should perform better for the more expensive, upscale brand, we\u2019ll see what a plug-in RX means sometime soon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lexus has revealed that hybrid technology will play a wider role in the fifth-generation version of its Lexus RX crossover, due to reach U.S. dealerships by the end of 2022.\u00a0 That means a new RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid will be joining the lineup, with details to be shared \u201cat a later time,\u201d according to Lexus.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23518,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-cars"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23517","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23517"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23517\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23518"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}