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Highlight: When parking on the street, the RX can detect if
a vehicle or bicycle is approaching from the rear, preventing the inside occupants
from operating the door.
Test Vehicle's MSRP: $76,765
Seating Capacity: 5
Standard Safety
Features:airbags; ABS; back up camera; a stability
control system; pre-collision system; rain detection system; a radar
activated cruise control system; lane tracing assist system; lane departure
with steering assist; intelligent high beam headlamps; a front collision
warning system; a road sign assist; an automatic braking system; blind spot
electronic monitor with a rear traffic alert system; a daytime cyclist
detection system; rain-sensing
windshield wipers; side mirrors with integrated turn lamps; and a first aid kit
The second-generation, five-passenger Lexus RX hybrid was introduced last summer as a 2010 model just months after the RX 350, the non hybrid version, hit the scene. Along with the new sexy futuristic design, the vehicle also wears a new name – the RX 450h – dropping the RX 400h tag.
Lexus best-selling hybrid not only is draped with new sheet metal, but underneath the vehicle one will find a uniquely designed double-wishbone rear suspension that helps provide exceptional agility and control, along with more cargo space.
And, under the hood, one will find that Lexus made dramatic changes their, too, with its next-generation hybrid system. In this updated midsize crossover, the Asian-based automaker has packed in a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine, which puts out more horsepower than its non-hybrid sibling, the RX 350, while also improving fuel-efficiency.
According to fueleconomy.gov this hybrid can achieve somewhere between 30 to 32 mpg in city-driving, while earning 28 mpg on the highway. This estimate takes into consideration both the all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive versions.
Must Have Goodies:
The new RX 450his available with a selection of luxury and sport option packages, which include features like a high-end 330-watt, 15-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound system, heated and cooled front seats, a dual-screen rear-seat mounted entertainment system, a dynamic radar cruise control, which automatically adjusts the speed and distance for the driver before rear-ending a vehicle, and a Sports Package featuring a sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels.
The luxury five-passenger crossover is also available with a one-of-a-kind Pre-Collision System (PCS). With the use of radar technology, the PCS recognizes a possible frontal collision and primes the brake assist and retracts the driver's and front passenger's seat-belt in anticipation of the crash.
In addition to the PCS, the RX 450h is also available with two available headlight systems which swivel in the direction of the steering-wheel and the speed of the vehicle. Thus, this helps to improve the overall lighting, when cornering.
And a feature every vehicle should offer is a new automatic high-beam system that automatically switches from high to low beam at night when it detects light from oncoming vehicles.
Moreover, Lexus offers offer a rear-view camera for going in reverse, but what we believe to be a Lexus-exclusive is their all-new wide-angle side view monitor. With a camera located under the passenger side-view mirror, the driver can check hard-to-view areas on the passenger side of the vehicle by simply selecting a button on the navigation screen or the steering wheel and view the camera image on the navigation screen. Yes, big brother was always riding along with us even when we didn’t realize it.
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