Lexus releases first SUV Hybrid

SUVs and 4x4s heve long been deemed the most environmentaly un-friendly cars on the road. But Lexus are about to change all that, with the release of the worlds first hybrid MPV which goes on sale in the UK on the 15th of June

The Lexus RX 400h is the world’s first premium SUV to feature a hybrid power system. It achieves a unique position in the market by not only delivering the low exhaust emissions and high fuel efficiency that are well-established characteristics of hybrid power, but also by providing the high performance that has until now typically been the preserve of large-capacity petrol engine models.

In spite of its use of a wide range of advanced technologies, the RX 400h remains true to all the core principles of Lexus with no compromise in terms of luxury, quiet and seamless operation, durability and refinement.

The RX 400h can run on its electric motors alone at start-up and low to mid-range speeds, which cuts exhaust emissions to zero. In normal driving conditions, a power split device will divide output from the engine between driving the wheels and powering the generator, which in turn charges the high-voltage battery. This means the vehicle never has to be off the road to be charged.

The RX 400h’s Hybrid Synergy Drive® system combines a 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine with a 165bhp front electric motor that has a world’s-best power to weight and volume ratio, a high voltage battery and a generator. A second electric motor at the rear axle gives the vehicle an electric four-wheel drive capability — E-Four — that is automatically engaged when required.

In any journey, the system will operate in different modes in order to maintain the maximum efficiency, with power from the engine, the electric motors or a combination of both. Whenever the vehicle comes to a halt, the engine will automatically be switched off to minimise fuel consumption.

The RX 400h is almost identical to the RX 300 model, sharing the same aerodynamically-efficient design that provides excellent stability and keeps wind noise levels to a minimum. A few details set the RX 400h apart, including a revised front grille designed to aid cooling of the Hybrid Synergy Drive® system and neatly integrated front fog lamps in the front bumper section.

In the UK the RX 400h is offered in three grades: RX400h, SE and SE-L. The entry-level specification includes cruise control, multi-zone climate control, eight-speaker sound system with dashboard-mounted six-disc CD autochanger, rear privacy glass, High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and electrically adjustable front seats.

The SE-L grade includes the Lexus Navigator satellite navigation system with touch screen operation, voice control capability and Electronic Traffic Avoidance. This system brings with it Bluetooth® connectivity which permits hands-free use of compatible mobile phones, and the Rear Park Assist Monitor which transmits the view from the back of the vehicle to the colour monitor on the centre console for safe and simple reverse parking manoeuvres. SE-L versions are also equipped with state-of-the-art in-car entertainment, including an 11-speaker Mark Levinson® premium hi-fi and a DVD player with twin monitors mounted in the back of the front seat headrests. The Lexus Navigator package is optional on SE models; the ICE DVD system is an option on the RX 400h entry-level and SE models.

The new RX 400h is positioned to claim sales in both the high-power petrol and the diesel sectors, thanks to the strong balance of power, high torque and efficiency delivered by its Hybrid Synergy Drive® system. It also has the potential to draw new customers to the SUV market, as it is the only luxury vehicle currently to offer such a technologically advanced powertrain.