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2023 Lexus RX loses the V6, picks up more hybrids

The overhaul of the Lexus SUV line-up continues this year with the 2023 Lexus RX. This new version of the luxury brand's mainstay is fully redesigned, and gets a roster of new engines, including the RX's first plug-in hybrid. The SUV is now based on the TNGA-K platform, which also underpins the smaller Lexus NX and the Toyota RAV4, among many others. It and other unnamed tweaks have made it so that the new RX is as much as 198 pounds lighter than the outgoing model. And with the platform change comes the abandonment of V6s. The base RX 350 will come with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder making 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. It can be had with front- or all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It will get the RX 350 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds with front drive and 7.2 seconds with all-wheel drive. Fuel economy is rated at 24 mpg. The RX 350h gets a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid mated to a CVT, plus a rear electric motor for all-wheel drive. It gets to 60 in 7.4 seconds and returns 33 mpg. The RX 450h+ will be the line's first plug-in hybrid. But Lexus hasn't disclosed any details about the powertrain. It's possible it could be the 302-horsepower hybrid unit from the NX 450h+. Rounding out the line-up is the RX 500h F Sport Performance. It combines the turbo four-cylinder with an electric motor, six-speed automatic and a rear electric motor. This gives the SUV 367 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The 0 to 60 run happens in 5.9 seconds and fuel ceconomy comes in at 26 mpg. Lexus also fits this model with six-piston brake calipers, unique styling, paddle shifters and other interior accents. Of course, all new RX models have notably different styling from its predecessor. The proportions are tweaked thanks to the 2.36-inch longer wheelbase, and a shorter rear overhang by the same distance. The overall size is basically the same, but the whole SUV has a more cab-rearward appearance. The front grille is a new take on the trademark Lexus design that features a more solid upper section. More body color cladding also makes an appearance. The interior follows in the footsteps of the NX with a better integrated touchscreen infotainment system. It also features the same upgraded infotainment system that is a massive improvement over old Lexus systems. At least two sizes are available for the screen, the larger being 14 inches.

2023 Japan Mobility Show Mega Photo Gallery: All the highlights and reveals from Tokyo

The 2023 Japan Mobility Show managed to serve up a surprise heap of exciting and futuristic designs and production reveals. Our staff was on the ground in Tokyo for this year's show, where we captured not just all of the latest automotive trends, but some genuinely weird and fascinating stuff.  Browse: Some Delightful Oddities of the 2023 Japan Mobility Show But on to the cars. This year's show featured introductions from Daihatsu, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota. Some are weird; some are wild; most are probably destined to change significantly before production or merely fade into the void with the rest of the industry's vaporware, but if even a few of these make it to showrooms, we'll consider it a win. Scroll on down for our live galleries of each of the show's major debuts (and cars we're only now seeing in person for the first time). Enjoy!   BMW X2 and iX2 BMW X2 View 6 Photos   Daihatsu me:MO Concept Daihatsu me:MO concept View 14 Photos   Daihatsu Vision Copen Concept Daihatsu Vision Copen View 7 Photos   Daihatsu Osanpo Concept Daihatsu Osanpo View 6 Photos   Daihatsu Uniform Concept Daihatsu Uniform concept View 6 Photos   Honda Prelude Concept Honda Prelude concept View 5 Photos   Honda Sustania-C and Pocket Concepts Honda Sustania-C and Pocket Concept View 8 Photos   Honda CI-MEV Concept Honda CI-MEV View 3 Photos   Infiniti Vision Qe Concept Infiniti Qe concept View 14 Photos   Lexus LF-ZC Lexus LF-ZC View 8 Photos   Lexus LF-ZL Lexus LF-ZL View 10 Photos   Mazda Iconic SP Mazda Iconic SP concept View 8 Photos   Mitsubishi D:X Concept Mitsubishi D:X Concept View 8 Photos   Nissan Hyper Force Concept Nissan Hyper Force concept View 11 Photos   Nissan Hyper Tourer Concept Nissan Hyper Tourer concept View 6 Photos   Nissan Hyper Punk Concept IMG_6533 copy View 8 Photos   Subaru Sport Mobility Concept Subaru Sport Mobility Concept View 7 Photos   Suzuki Swift Suzuki Swift View 5 Photos   Suzuki eWX Suzuki eWX Concept View 3 Photos   Suzuki eVX Suzuki eVX concept View 4 Photos   Toyota Land Cruiser Se Concept Toyota Land Cruiser Se concept View 4 Photos   Toyota FT-3e Concept Toyota FT-3e View 6 Photos   Toyota FT-Se Concept Toyota FT-Se View 7 Photos     Tokyo Motor Show Honda Infiniti Lexus Mazda Mitsubishi Nissan Subaru Suzuki Toyota

Lexus takes aim at electric vehicles, again

Lexus is once again taking aim at plug-in vehicles by emphasizing the perceived challenges of recharging batteries, rather than simply filling up with gas or hydrogen. Only this time, Toyota's luxury division appears to be zigging while everyone else is zagging. Of course, the nameplate can use all the help it can get when it comes to hybrid sales. First highlighted by Green Car Reports, Lexus has added a banner to the website of its hybrid vehicles that says "Always Charged. Always Ready." That's a not-so-veiled shot at plug-in vehicles, a sector where Toyota has minimal exposure. Lexus also notes of its hybrid vehicles that there's "nothing to plug in." Of course, there may be sour grapes at play. Through September, sales of its five hybrid models in the US dropped 17 percent from a year earlier to about 21,500 units, and September was particularly tough as hybrid sales plunged 34 percent to almost 1,800 units. Even so, the third quarter likely represented a record when it came to plug-in vehicle sales. We say "likely" because Tesla doesn't break out its US sales, and not all automakers disclose sales of their plug-ins. We calculate that sales for the quarter were at about 36,000 vehicles, up 38 percent from a year earlier. For now, Lexus doesn't sell a fuel-cell model, though it may sell a fuel-cell version of the Lexus LS full-size sedan. Toyota, of course, offers the Mirai, which has moved about 710 units this year. Lexus has gone down this proverbial road before. In 2014, the brand unveiled a similar campaign that highlighted how long it took to recharge EVs, and was ultimately taken to task by electric-vehicle advocates Plug-In America. Lexus apologized for offending anyone and said it'd review content related to hybrid advertising. Doesn't seem like an apology is in order this time out, but that doesn't mean that it's a good strategy. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Lexus LC 500h View 40 Photos News Source: Green Car Reports Green Marketing/Advertising Recalls Lexus Toyota Hybrid