Lexus Boosts Power, Lowers Base Price of 2010 RX 450h Hybrid Crossover
By John O'Dell April 24, 2009
Considering all the improvements from the first-generation model - including a 16-20 percent fuel economy gain - Toyota Motor Co. is providing luxe segment buyers a bit of a break with the upcoming 2010 Lexus RX450h (right)
hybrid crossover which it priced Thursday at a base of $41,660 for the front-wheel drive model and $43,250 for the all-wheel drive version.
The RX 450h pricing represents a 0.9 percent drop from the base price of $42,080 on the FWD 2008 RX 400h model, and a 0.5 percent dip from the base '08 AWD model's $43,480 sticker (Lexus also levies an $875 destination charge on all vehicles).
Lexus says the 2010 RX 450h goes on sale this summer, but has offered no firm date yet.
The updated crossover features a revamped version of the company's hybrid drive system, now rated at total output of 295 horsepower, up from 268 ponies in the '08 model - Lexus didn't release an '09 model of its hybrid crossover utility but simply carried the '08 over an additional year while readying the RX 450h as a replacement.
For 2010 there's a new 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V6 under the hood (the '08 uses a 3.3 liter Otto cycle gas engine - the difference in is the way the engine takes in air - the Atkinson cycle permits greater fuel efficiency but reduces the gas engine's power output, which is more than made up for in the hybrid by the additional displacement and the power boost from the electric motors).
In addition, the 2010 models' electric drive motors are lighter, smaller and more powerful than in the first-generation RX 400h, and fuel economy is way up thanks to widespread use of lighter materials.
Lexus, Toyota's luxury division, says the 2010 RX 450h front-wheel drive model has an EPA fuel economy rating of 32 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway for a combined rating of 30 miles per gallon. The all-wheel drive model has a city rating of 30 mpg and a highway rating 28 mpg for a combined fuel efficiency rating of 29 mpg.
That's a 20 percent improvement for the all-wheel drive model and a 16 percent improvement for the all-wheel drive hybrid - both '08 models had combined city/highway ratings of 25 mpg.
The automaker says the new RX 450h, despite it's power boost, will earn a SULEV (super ultra-low emissions vehicle) rating from California's tough air quality regulators, which means it automatically meets or betters the federal EPA 's strict Tier 2 Bin 3 standards.
A good deal for the country club set - save some green while driving green on the way to the greens.
John O'Dell, Senior Editor
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