2008 Lexus Ls600h L Sedan Rear Entertainment Heated/cooled Seats Fully Loaded! on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Google Test Car Crash Footage | Autoblog Minute

Recently surfaced footage from Valley Transportation Authority in California gives us a fresh perspective on the February crash between a city bus and a Google self-driving car. Google Lexus Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video viral video google car lexus rx 450h

Lexus RX450h+ mysterious patent filing hints at plug-in hybrid

Lexus entered the hybrid segment before a vast majority of its rivals, but it has timidly stayed away from the plug-in hybrid arena. Trademark documents filed in Europe suggest that's going to change sooner rather than later. Toyota's luxury division asked the European Union Intellectual Property Office to protect the RX450h+ nameplate, and it was granted the trademark in October 2020. It noted the name will be used on "automobiles and structural parts thereof," meaning it's likely going to be a nameplate. It's a familiar one, but the plus makes a big difference. Lexus already sells a car named RX450h; it's a hybrid version of the fourth-generation RX crossover, which is its best-selling model by a significant margin. Unverified reports claim the plus after the h will denote a plug-in hybrid model that will be powered by an evolution of the gasoline-electric powertrain found in the Toyota RAV4 Prime. It will put at least 300 horsepower under the driver's right foot, and it should be capable of driving on electricity alone for approximately 40 miles, a figure which will put it near the top of its class. It'll be reasonably quick, too. Rumors are a dime a dozen in the automotive industry, and a trademark filing should never be mistaken for a promise to release the model it details, but this report is more credible than most. Lexus has previously confirmed it will release its first plug-in hybrid model in the early 2020s after shunning the technology for years, and putting the powertrain in the RX makes sense. It sells well (about 111,000 units found a home in the United States in 2019), and it's a relatively big model so it's reasonably easy to equip with a battery pack. It's worth mentioning that the smaller NX should receive the same powertrain and a similar name in the not-too-distant future, too. Lexus hasn't commented on the trademark filing, and it hasn't publicly announced plans to release a plug-in hybrid variant of the RX (pictured) or of the NX. If the report is accurate, the crossover will likely make its public debut in the coming months. Whether it will be sold in the United States remains to be seen, however. Related Video:

2022 Lexus NX gets new chassis, engines and even a PHEV

The Lexus NX is one of the more recent additions to the Lexus lineup, having made its debut for the 2015 model year. In that time, it's only received a couple of facelifts. Now, the small crossover is getting its first full redesign in the form of the 2022 Lexus NX. And while it may look evolutionary, it offers a load of new and welcome features. The new NX is now built on the TNGA-K platform, which also underpins the Toyota RAV4 and Camry and the Lexus ES among other small to midsize models. Lexus says it's structurally more rigid and offers a lower center of gravity. Fitted to this platform is a plethora of powertrains. The NX 250 gets a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It's available with front- or all-wheel drive. The NX 350h hybrid gets the same engine but with a couple of electric motors. That gives it all-wheel drive as well as 239 horsepower. The regular NX 350 gets a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder making 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, plus all-wheel drive. Topping the range is the NX 450h+ with the RAV4 Prime's 2.5-liter four-cylinder and larger electric motors making 302 horsepower. It's also only available with all-wheel drive and has a 36-mile electric range. The non-hybrid powertrains now come with an eight-speed automatic, but the hybrids continue to use CVTs. All of these new mechanical updates fit under a fresh but familiar-looking shell. It's short and taut with many curves and creases, but it's generally smoothed and softened compared to the previous model. The most distinct change is at the rear where the NX adopts a full-width taillight like the IS and UX. It also features the brand's name spelled out in letters just below the taillight. The inside is more significantly updated, and the focal point is undoubtedly the new infotainment system. The old touchpad and mouse designs are dead, and the NX will be the first to use this new touchscreen system. It was developed by a division at Toyota's North American headquarters, and seems much more intuitive, though we'll have to reserve final judgment until we try it ourselves. It uses either a 9.8-inch screen or optional 14-inch unit. The latter incorporates dedicated touch buttons for comfort controls and physical temperature dials blended into it. The smaller screen uses all physical controls for comfort functions. Both have a physical volume knob, too.