Lexus Gives the RX 450h Luxury Crossover a Dynamic Styling Edge with New Sport Model

Incisive styling is one of the stand-out features of the Lexus RX 450h luxury crossover, the edges and curves of its sharp yet elegant lines catching the eye and making a strong design statement. This impactful styling is being given extra emphasis in a forthcoming addition to the European RX range, the new RX 450h Sport.

RX 450h Sport in detail

The RX 450h Sport is distinguished by a series of exterior elements with a matching black finish. This includes a powerfully rendered signature Lexus spindle grille, featuring a sequence of horizontal bars, framed in chrome and flanked by fog lights set in new black surrounds.

The 20-inch alloy wheels have a five-twin-spoke design and are also painted black. The side profile is further punctuated by new black housings for the heated, electrically adjustable door mirrors with integrated turn indicators and auto-folding function.

At the rear a new black diffuser treatment for the lower part of the bumper creates a strong contrast with the bodywork colour while also expressing the RX’s status as a spacious SUV with all-wheel drive capability.

It sits at the heart of the RX range as an accessible choice for customers, based on the current Luxury grade. Equipment specifications will vary according to market; final UK specifications will be announced nearer the model’s on-sale date during the first quarter of 2018.

Its introduction follows the successful addition of similar Sport versions to the Lexus CT hatchback, IS saloon and NX compact crossover ranges.

In addition to its specific external features, the RX Sport is equipped to a high level. LED headlights with (according to market, UK specification to be confirmed) Automatic High Beam, smooth leather or high-quality fabric upholstery and a nine or 12 -speaker Pioneer premium audio system with, respectively, eight or 12.3-inch Lexus Media Display are all provided as standard.

The fourth generation RX has a top five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP and all versions are fitted with the Lexus Safety System+ package of active safety and driver assistance features.

The RX success story

The RX has a distinguished history and continues to be one of Lexus’s most popular global models. With its launch of the original RX model in 1998, Lexus can be credited with creating a new class of vehicle, the luxury sport-utility vehicle. The newcomer generated keen public interest, prompting other manufacturers to produce their own interpretations of the premium SUV concept.

Lexus continued to bring design and technical innovation to the segment, most notably with the introduction of its first hybrid-power vehicle, the RX 400h in 2005, paving the way for hybrid to become the brand’s core powertrain technology.

The RX has remained hugely popular, sought by people who need and appreciate the flexibility of a sport-utility vehicle combined with the driving comfort of a premium sedan, presented in an elegant, contemporary design package. To date, more than 234,000 RX have been sold in Europe, more than 47,600 of these in the UK.

The current RX, the fourth generation model, was launched in late 2015 and is available in the UK exclusively with a 308bhp petrol-electric hybrid powertrain with electric E-Four all-wheel drive capability.