2002 Lexus Rx300 Base Sport Utility 4-door 3.0l Very Low Mileage on 2040-cars

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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:

Toyota and Lexus show off advanced safety research vehicle [w/video]

While Google and Audi explore the possibilities of autonomous vehicles, Toyota and its Lexus division are studying the intermediate step of vehicles equipped with a deep suite of technology that help drivers make the best decisions. Introduced at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the Lexus advanced safety research vehicle is an LS sedan fitted with three high-def color cameras to detect objects up to almost 500 feet away, 360-degree Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) lasers that can detect objects up to 220 feet away, three radar units to keep track of other vehicles at intersections, a precision odometer on the rear wheel, GPS that estimates orientation and an accelerometer.
Currently testing at a purpose-built 8.6 acre urban testing ground at the Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Susono, Japan the Toyota research vehicle is being used to study how to make better drivers, as well as figuring out how to reduce crashes as the industry's journey through passive and active safety systems progresses. In the event of a crash, new rescue systems are also being tested.
Further investment is being put into the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) that would use shortwave signals to harness information from the car and from other vehicles on the road, as well as roadside infrastructure and even pedestrians. Toyota reasons it could then build a picture of interactions and, for instance, alert the driver to a potential collision at a blind intersection.

2016 Lexus GS F revealed ahead of Detroit debut

The last time we heard about Lexus' new Detroit Auto Show-bound performance car debut, all signs pointed to GS F. Now, the cat's out of the bag, and we've got the first official images and details of the Japanese automaker's latest performance sedan, and honestly, it's exactly what you'd expect – though that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Power comes from the automaker's 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 – the same eight-pot that powers the RC F – good for 467 horsepower at 7,100 rpm and 389 pound-feet of torque that comes on strong between 4,800 and 5,600 rpm. That force is sent to the rear wheels via Lexus' eight-speed automatic transmission. In order to make this F a significantly better-handling vehicle than the standard GS, Lexus is fitting its Torque Vectoring Differential from the RC F, which uses three modes – Standard, Slalom, and Track – to alter torque delivery to better suit different driving dynamics. Lexus has released a few preliminary specifications about the GS F, so we know the sedan tips the scales at 4,034 pounds and will ride on 19-inch wheels with 255/35-series tires up front, and 275/35 rubber out back. This all sounds pretty good, but we can't help feel a wee bit disappointed, especially considering the numbers being thrown down by competitors like the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, not to mention the new 640-hp, 200-mph Cadillac CTS-V that'll also debut at next week's Detroit show. Still, if the Lexus RC F is any indication of the brand's future performance offerings, we don't doubt the GS F will, at the very least, be a super fun car to toss around. Stay tuned for the GS F's official unveiling, next week.