Lexus - RX Euro NCAP - Not yet rated
Lexus has combined a serious SUV exterior with a luxury car interior to create the versatile and intelligent RX, it's solid but refined 4x4.
The RX is available in a V6 3.5-litre petrol engine and the RX 400h high performance hybrid. Each model has three main trim levels: standard, SE and SE-L, which as you'd expect from Lexus all come equipped with an impressive range of luxury and safety equipment. Top-of-the-range models have air suspension, leather seats, an 11-speaker Mark Levinson audio system and adaptive headlights.
Billed as the first hybrid performance SUV the RX400h. combines a 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine with two electric motors. The petrol engine produces 208bhp, while the electric motors produce 123kw in the front and 50kw for the rear. The petrol engine and motors can work independently of each other or in synergy such as under hard acceleration. . The electric motor is used to pull away and at low speeds and therefore it emits no harmful emissions - They can actually power the car independently up to 50km/h without the aid of the petrol engine. They also allow the car to switch off while stationary such as at traffic lights. The batteries are charged by regenerative braking when the car is slowing, travelling downhill or braking. Lexus claim their batteries will last the life of the car so should never need replacing. Despite its green cutting technology the RX 400h still produces some impressive performance statistics including acceleration from 0 to 62mph in 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 124mph.
Lexus has for some time been at the forefront of green motoring so it should not come as a surprise to learn that, along with its parent company Toyota, it was joint winner of the prestigious WhatCar? Green Award for 2007.
Combined fuel consumption of 34.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 192g/km on the 400h are the best in class when compared against other luxury SUVs. If you are still unsure, the battery and hybrid and is relatively maintenance free due to the lack of moving parts.
Although not yet tested (Lexus says the car has been engineered to get a five-star Euro NCAP crash rating) the RX comes with all the safety gadgets you want in a car, including ABS, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control system and Brake Assist System. Nine airbags (a driver's knee 'bag exclusive to Toyota/Lexus) deadlocks, an alarm, remote central locking and a reversing camera add to the list of features available. Whilst the hybrid version has a lot of big acid filled batteries onboard these are all contained within the crash protection zone and are automatically disconnected in an accident.
Lexus has consistently ranked at or near the top in independent ratings of quality, reliability and durability, even so, all Lexus models come with a 3 year 60000 mile, 3 year paint and 12 year perforation manufacturers warranty. In addition you also receive 3 years free Lexus Roadside Assistance, provided by the RAC. The Hybrid system is also covered by an additional 5 year warranty for peace of mind.
About the manufacturer
Despite it's luxury image, Lexus is one of the leading players in advancing motoring technologies to reduce the impact on the environment. Perhaps not so surprising when you realise their connections with Toyota.
Lexus understands that cars produce exhaust emissions, consume raw materials and energy, emit certain harmful substances during manufacturing, and have to be disposed of properly at the end of their lives. Whilst understanding these impacts on the environment are of concern to most of us, it also accepts that doing without a car altogether isn't a viable alternative for most people, and therefore petrol and diesel engines will probably continue to form the major source of automotive power for years to come. Accordingly Lexus is directing its efforts toward advancing existing technologies as well as developing new technologies to reduce, and ultimately eliminate the effects of each of these processes.
The 2015 EU target is for 85% of all vehicles weight to be reused or recycled and 10% energy recovery, leaving only the remaining 5% for disposal. Along with the benefit of reduced waste, recycling also helps cut back CO2 emissions as it reduces the need to use fossil fuels in the creation of new materials. This is on top of the 2003 UK's End of Life Vehicle Directive which also seeks to prevent and limit waste, improve reuse, recycling and recovery of end of life vehicles.
To help achieve these goals, Lexus is pioneering the use of high recoverability materials, researching and using parts easy to recycle at the end of their lifecycle. This includes many rarely seen parts, like body sealer and interior skin material, as well as more obvious things like bumpers.. In fact recycled bumpers are already being used to make trim for luggage compartments and recycled soundproofing material is being utilised for the silencer behind the dashboard.
Lexus has also introduced a policy of free take back for all qualifying Lexus vehicles from the 1st of January 2007 and they have appointed Autogreen Ltd as the service provider to manage the scheme.
Lexus now uses a number of lead free car parts and anti-corrosion coatings, mercury-free lighting and switches, and asbestos-free friction materials and engine gaskets. In Japan, Lexus has developed ways of using certain foam products found in vehicle residue to create recycled soundproofing products. Glass can also be recycled to make tiles for use in landscaping pavement. It also avoids Substances of Concern in various kinds of paints and in solvents
Plastic components used in the interiors and exteriors of Lexus vehicles are molded from highly recyclable and lightweight materials. Enviromentally preferable materials have largely replaced mercury and lead, some of the more challenging substances to deal with, when a car is dismantled.
Lexus uses its Automobile Shredder Residue Recycling plant to recover urethane foam, fiber, copper, glass and plastics from dismantled vehicles.
When it comes to fuel technologies ultimately the aim of Lexus is to produce a zero-emissions car. In the meantime, a host of innovations and initiatives such as lightweight engineering, a sophisticated fuel-injection system, 'clean diesel' technology and recycling solutions are playing their part in helping to limit the immediate ecological burden. This includes hybrid technology, a combination of petrol and electric power which greatly reduces emissions and boosts economy. Lexus recently launched the GS 400h, the world's first luxury hybrid SUV and hope soon to incorporate this new technology into the GS range.
Thanks to the existing sophisticated VVT-i combustion management controls all Lexus models already meet Low Emission Vehicle or the more stringent Ultra Low Emission Vehicle EPA certification standards.
All eight factories that build Lexus vehicles are ISO 14001 qualified, having received an internationally recognized certification for environmental management systems. In-plant water use, waste volume and scrap material generation have been cut dramatically, along with improvements in plant energy efficiency.
The Lexus Environmental Assistance Network allows all Lexus dealers access to a customized web site that provides up-to-date waste-management information enabling them to return numerous components for precision factory remanufacture and ultimate sale as rebuilt parts.