The next Lexus RX is due on Australian roads as soon as late 2022 – though it’s unclear whether all four engines available overseas will be offered locally.
Australian launch timing for the new-generation 2023 Lexus RX luxury SUV has been confirmed – and it could be in your driveway before year’s end.
Revealed last month, the fifth-generation RX is due in Australian showrooms towards the end of 2022, a Lexus spokesperson indicated to Drive – assuming no further delays due to production slowdowns or parts shortages.
Pricing and specifications have yet to be confirmed for Australia – nor which of the four petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains offered overseas will be available in Australia.
If the related, one-size-smaller NX medium SUV is any guide, expect to see all four in local showrooms – with the new RX350h entry-level four-cylinder and RX350 turbo petrol four-cylinder likely to be the biggest sellers, the latter ditching the current RX’s petrol V6.
MORE: 2023 Lexus RX revealed, confirmed for Australia
The successor to the current RX450h V6 hybrid is the RX500h F Sport Performance, a 270kW turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid pitched at power-hungry buyers, with a six-second 0-100km/h time, sporty all-wheel-drive system, larger brakes and rear-wheel steering.
Lexus Australia may also opt to offer the RX450h+ plug-in hybrid, which has now been detailed for the European market – and confirmed to feature the same mechanicals as its smaller and lighter NX450h+ sibling.
That means a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and multiple electric motors combining to develop 225kW, paired with an 18.1kWh battery pack and E-Four all-wheel drive.
With a larger and heavier body, the RX450h+ can’t match the NX450h+ PHEV’s capabilities, with a seven-second 0-100km/h time for the RX (vs 6.2sec for the NX), 65km of estimated WLTP electric range (vs 74km), and a 1.2L/100km estimated fuel use claim (vs about 1.0L/100km).
While pricing is yet to be confirmed, it’s likely to increase to some degree to cover increases in space, power, efficiency or technology over the current RX, which costs $72,204 plus on-road costs in RX300 five-seat guise.
As reported, the new Lexus RX rides on the Toyota group’s latest TNGA-K front- and all-wheel-drive platform, clothed in a body that’s wider, lower and longer in wheelbase (but not overall) than the outgoing model.
A 14-inch touchscreen and 8.0-inch instrument display feature in flagship models, while likely to be standard in Australia is a full suite of advanced safety features, including adaptive cruise control, lane tracing assist and blind-spot monitoring.
The 2023 Lexus RX is expected to arrive in Australian showrooms later this year. Stay tuned to Drive for all the latest updates.
The post 2023 Lexus RX due in Australia this year appeared first on Drive.
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