Lexus introduces all-new RX350, RX450h and R200t for 2016

Great news, Cheshire types. The King of luxury crossover SUVs is back. For 2016, Lexus launches the all-new RX line which is the undisputed best-seller of the Lexus range, shifting well over 100,000 units a year (the ES range comes a close second, shifting around 76,000 units a year). The LS may be the top of the range, but there is no denying the importance of the RX: This model alone almost outsells BMW's entire SUV line-up - the X1, X3 and X5 combined. That's how important the RX is. They have to get this right.

First off, the looks. Immediately, there is a family resemblance with the NX. But in my opinion, the RX looks even more breathtaking as it borrows the crisp, edgy and chiselled character of its younger sibling and evolved it, rehashed it, reimagined it with new aesthetic maturity. In doing so, the 2016 Lexus RX should be successful in scoring a hat trick: To retain the admiration of its loyal Lexus fanbase and broaden its appeal to drivers who haven't owned yet a Lexus. This new design language - it will do the trick.

Let's get to the technicality later. First, some pictures of the all-new Lexus RX and we begin with the money shot (please guys, don't drool on my page):

The design stays true to the new Lexus visual language, but you can see they have smoothened out the creases on the sides, which run from the front lights, to the wheel arches and back over the edge to the rear just below the C pillar which tapers off nicely to blend with the rear lights. Good job, Lexus! 

Don't you just love the front snout? As Lexus churns out new models, the spindle grille first seen on the CT200h has grown sharper, deeper, snarlier. This iteration (along with the current IS-F) is to me one of the nicest front ends ever to grace the marque.

But the best part of all is the disappearing C-pillar. The main crumple structure is hidden by careful application of black glass so that the C-pillar tapers off in a bold, angular way - which reduces visual 'bulk.' It's the first disappearing C-pillar from among the breed of large cross over SUVs and I'll bet you other manufacturers are thinking now, "Why didn't we do that?" Next, we step inside... 


And let me say, when I first swung the door, it had a nice, meaty weight to it. It felt truly solid, more so than the doors of the new Mercedes S class and Range Rover. 

First thing that grabbed me was the angularity of the centre air vents. I love its square-ishness, how it right-angles at the end before amalgamating with the climate controls. The next thing you see, is that gorgeous LCD display in the centre. It's 12.3 inches and in Apple-speak, this thing sits smack in the middle of its 11" and 13" Macbook Airs. It's that big. 

Here's a closer look (and note, this picture has not been lengthened):

Don't you just love how they angled the edge on one side? 

Of course you'd expect the interior to be larger than before, and you'd be right. Front and rear legroom are up from 43.1 and 36.8 inches in the previous generation to 44.1 and 38 inches in the new model. Not that it needed that extra space, which was spacious to begin with. But in 2016, when all car manufacturers play trump cards, exact figures and exact dimensions matter.

And to shift you in unrivalled comfort, an 8-speed automatic box gets through the gears almost unnoticed. The previous RX, itself an accomplished smooth cruiser, had a 6-speed transmission. With the extra two gears, you can expect higher levels of refinement and greater fuel efficiency.

Engine-wise, Lexus have produced three variants, although interestingly, due to emission regulations, no particular market will get all three; depending where you are, or whether you are an oil producing or oil importing country, and where your Big Brother stands on the climate change debate, you have variations of just two powerplants.

The first is the RX350 which uses the familiar 3.5-litre V6 with an updated direct fuel injection (although, for some reason, it still remains faithful to Toyota's philosophy of using both direct and port injection). It produce 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, which is a healthy 25 horsepower upgrade from the previous generation RX350. Lexus claims EPA ratings of 19 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway, though, if you have lead feet, take those with a pinch of salt.

The top of the range, RX450h, uses a retuned 3.5-litre V6 coupled with a 67 horsepower electric motor to produce 309 horsepowers. Torque is down to 247 lb-ft, which is plenty enough to shift this 4,222 lb vehicle (and realistically, if you're in the market for a hybrid, chances are your feet will come to rest on the accelerator pedal like a leaf falling to the ground, so you won't be that concerned about torque values. 

But it's the last engine that Lexus truly believes will open the brand to new customers. The problem with Lexus is that they were a tad late to the market with a turbocharged engine. In 2016, they have addressed that issue. The RX200t features a 2.0 litre drivetrain producing 236 horsepowers; if you're familiar with Lexus, you'll know this powerplant replaces the previous generation RX270. 

So who gets what? In the US, you get the RX350 and RX450h, because well, gasoline is cheap there (plus the US hasn't decided yet where it stands on climate change). In the UK (and likely the rest of Europe), where carbon emissions is a crucial factor in Lexus corporate purchases, buyers have a choice between the RX200t and RX450h. The rest of the world, like Asia, the RX200t and R350 are the ones you'll find in the showroom.

Rivals like the Volvo XC90, BMW X5, Audi Q7, Mercedes ML were no doubt spawned and inspired by Lexus, but the RX remains the daddy of them. No doubt they want a piece of the market RX has carved. But to sharpen the point mentioned earlier, the RX outsells every car line except one... the BMW 3 series. 

The all-new 2016 Lexus RX. The daddy; the one to get.

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