2023 Lexus RX: The Ultimate Luxury Crossover Experience

Overview of the Lexus RX

The Lexus RX has been one of the UAE’s most-loved offerings from the Japanese brand, and it’s not hard to see why. The crossover provides the perfect blend of luxury and practicality. The RX has been setting records on its way to success:

• The 1998 Lexus RX 300 was the world’s first luxury crossover.
• The 2006 Lexus RX 400h was the world’s first hybrid electric luxury crossover.

2023 Model Enhancements

For the 2023 model, Lexus has refined the RX, building it on the brand’s Global Architecture K (GA-K) platform to enhance body rigidity and lower the center of gravity. Key improvements include:

• The latest RX is 90 Kg lighter than its predecessor.
• It has a 15 mm lower center of gravity.
• Longer wheelbase and 21” wheels.

Ride comfort is enhanced by new MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a multi-link suspension system at the rear.

Powertrain Options

Three powertrains are available for the 2023 Lexus RX:

1. A newly developed inline 4-cylinder, 2.4-liter turbocharged engine.
2. A hybrid setup combining a 2.5-liter petrol engine and an electric motor.
3. The most powerful option: a hybrid-electric system pairing a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with an electric motor producing 366 hp.

Transmission options include:

• 8-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission (8AT).
• Electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (E-CVT).
• 6-speed automatic transmission.

Interior Features

The all-new RX’s interior draws inspiration from the LF-30 electrified concept car’s cabin, utilizing what Lexus calls the Tazuna concept. This design focuses on delivering direct, intuitive control of the vehicle by emphasizing the principle of “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road.”

Major interior features include:

• A new 14-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility.
• A 7-inch color multi-information display (MID).
• A color head-up display (HUD).
• A wireless charging system for smartphones, six USB chargers, and one 12 Volt charger.

Safety Innovations

The RX introduces a world-first safety feature: Safe Exit Assist (SEA), which utilizes an e-latch system combined with a Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) to help prevent accidents. Other notable safety features include:

• Seven SRS airbags.
• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC).
• Traction Control (TRC).
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).
• Parking Assist Monitor (PAM).
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA).
• Active Cornering Assist (ACA).
• Drive-Start Control (DSC).
• Panoramic View Monitor (PVM).
• Hill-start Assist Control (HAC).

Conclusion

Jacques Brent, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Lexus, stated: “In the 24 years since the first-generation RX was born as a luxury crossover, it has become a huge success story for our customers in the United Arab Emirates.”

“Now in its fifth generation, the platforms and technologies of the RX have been revolutionized to bring the ‘Lexus Driving Signature’ to even more customers as a core model. The car's fundamentals have been thoroughly enhanced across all models, while the RX500h F SPORT PERFORMANCE pushes the frontier even further with an electrified all-wheel drive system. Created without compromise, the all-new Lexus RX will become a companion that enriches your life, and we are extremely excited to share it with our customers in the Emirates,” he concluded.