2001 Lexus Rx300 All-wheel-drive Awd Suv 3.0 Liter 6 Cylinder (no Reserve!!) Nr on 2040-cars

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More 2022 Lexus NX teaser photos show the SUV moving upscale

Lexus has released two additional teasers for its soon-to-debut NX, this time on Twitter. Emphasizing its Japanese roots — the first image was shot in front of Mt. Fuji — one image shows the silhouette of the NX against an Edo-era-style temple. Despite the dark profile, however, we do get a few more clues as to what the luxury crossover will look like. The second-generation NX largely keeps the same shape as the outgoing model, but the A-pillar looks a bit more sharply raked. The hood also appears to have a raised center area towards the nose, indicating a more prominent grille. A third image shows the car in (or Photoshopped in) a more tropical setting. It depicts a jutting jawline that is only available if you order the NX's F Sport package. However, those would typically be accompanied by a small F Sport logo on the fender, which this car lacks. So perhaps all models will now have more upscale-looking front fascia (or F Sport models won't have that fender badge). One major improvement are the wheels. The teasers show elegant, thin-spoked rollers befitting of a Lexus, rather than some of the cheap-looking alloys from the current generation that would look just as at home on a Toyota or Subaru. Typically, wheels of this ilk would only be available on a higher-spec RX and pricier Lexus vehicles. Though these likely come with a higher trim level, it's at least nice to know a classier option will be available. Overall it's still not much to go on. But combined with the redesigned rear shown in a previous teaser and the expected technological improvements inside, it should move the NX line into more deluxe territory. Lexus will debut the next-generation NX online on June 11. The streaming event will take place on the Lexus website starting at 11 a.m. Eastern time, 8 a.m. Pacific.  

Lexus recalls 4,200 NX crossovers due to missing welds

Lexus is recalling about 4,200 units of the 2022 NX due to missing spot-welds. Announced in April 2022, the campaign includes the NX250, the NX350, the NX350h, and the NX450h+, and the Japanese company has asked its dealers to stop selling the vehicles in their inventory. Documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explain that some spot-welds might have been missed during the production process. They're located around the mounting areas for the front shock absorbers. Leaving out these welds can cause some of the other welds and the surrounding panels to weaken or crack over time, which could in turn make it possible for the front shock absorbers to separate from their mounting area. This would increase the risk of a crash by causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The recall includes 4,215 examples of the NX, though Lexus estimates that fewer than 1% of those are missing welds. It will begin notifying owners of potentially affected vehicles by mail on June 6, 2022. They'll be asked to take their NX to an authorized dealer so that a mechanic can check for missing welds. Lexus is still developing a solution to the problem. In the meantime, it has asked its dealers to stop selling the NXs potentially affected by the recall that are still in inventories across the nation, though as of writing only 12 units have been identified. Weld-related recalls are mercifully rare but not unheard of. In 2019, Subaru recalled 2,107 new Outback and Legacy models due to faulty welds below the cowl panel, and 293 units of the Ascent were recalled in 2018 because they were missing a series of spot welds on the B-pillar. At the time, the company explained that the 293 crossovers without the proper welds would be destroyed and replaced. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Toyota Camry, Lexus RX to get aluminum parts

Ah, aluminum. The lightweight, strong material has long held a following within the premium ranks, but as Ford prepares to launch an aluminum F-150, the material is gaining acceptance among more mainstream automakers. Toyota is one such brand, with a new report indicating that the Japanese giant will add aluminum bits and bobs to some of its upcoming vehicles.
These won't be full, aluminum-intensive treatments like the F-150, however. Automotive News reports that an aluminum hood and liftgate will be coming to the 2016 Lexus RX, and following that, the Camry will get a bonnet built from Element 13 for model year 2018.
As AN points out, Toyota is no stranger to aluminum, using it in Japanese-built models like the Prius and Scion FR-S. The RX and Camry, though, will mark the first time the company's North American factories will use the material, and they'll do so on a significantly larger scale, owing to the higher volumes that the Camry and RX represent.