New Lexus Hybrid SUV to Go on Sale April 15

New Lexus HEV is Garnering Thousands of Pre-Orders

April 15, 2005 could be considered one of the most significant days in Lexus history. Why? It is the day Toyotas luxury division begins selling a vehicle that will point the nameplate in a new direction with regards to performance-oriented powertrains.

The RX 400h, derived from the brands best-selling RX 330 crossover sport utility, makes use of Toyotas Hybrid Synergy Drive system, combining electric and gasoline engines to improve fuel efficiency while reducing emissions.

But unlike the automakers popular Prius HEV, the RX 400h uses its hybrid-electric drivetrain to improve performance over the conventionally powered RX 330. By how much? Lexus states the 400h produces 270 horsepower, which puts it into the league of V8-powered drivetrains offered by rival carmakers. Incidentally, the new electric motors will rotate at 12,000 rpm, which is twice the rpm of the electric motor in the Toyota Prius. Motors? Yes, the 2x4 model will have two electric motors while the all-wheel drive version will have a third electric motor in the back.

"Amazingly, the 400h will also deliver combined-fuel-efficiency that will be significantly better than the current-EPA-average for a four-cylinder compact sedan (about 27.4 mpg)," said Denny Clements, Lexus group vice president and general manager, adding that the "SUVs driving range should exceed 600 miles on a tank of gasoline."

A normal V6-powered Lexus RX 330 with all-wheel drive can achieve 19 mpg city and 26 mpg on the highway, by the way.

The new 400h will also be rated as a super ultra low emissions vehicle (SULEV), the best rating given to vehicles under U.S. federal government standards.

The RX 400h will mark the first time a luxury nameplate will feature hybrid power, and more significantly the first time a vehicle has made use of the technology to improve performance over its conventionally-powered counterpart. While allowing V8 power in an engine bay that would otherwise not be capable of housing a larger V8 motor, the RX 400h also may be the first hybrid that makes economical sense to its prospective buyers. Anyone doing the math needed to compare the fuel savings of a Honda Civic Hybrid to a regular Honda Civic, for instance, will see it will take a very long time to pay for the difference in the hybrid cars price merely in fuel savings. Most hybrid buyers take the plunge into the relatively unproven technology for environmental reasons alone. It should be said that Toyotas latest Prius makes greater economical sense than Hondas Civic Hybrid, due to its much larger, midsize layout. It is priced similarly to the Honda, yet delivers greater functionality.

In comparison, those opting for V8 power in a luxury SUV expect to pay substantially more for the privilege over whatever the price the base engine vehicle is being offered at. For example, to move up from a comparable V6-powered four-wheel drive Infiniti FX35 to a V8-powered FX45 a premium of $8,625 will be required. The same scenario in a BMW X5 costs $11,300. Lexus will offer V8 power in its new RX 400h, for a similar premium to its competitors, while enhancing fuel economy and improving emissions, something its rivals do not offer.

"The real story about our hybrid drive is the acceleration; the 0-30 and 30-50 (mph) is extremely quick," Clements added. "We dont have final numbers, but I can tell you that our 0-60 (mph) acceleration is under eight seconds."

Clements continued, "Luxury buyers arent really concerned about fuel economy--its not in the top 10 things that they worry about--but they want to do the right thing for the ecology, but they dont want to make the sacrifice."

To add to the new models appeal, Lexus will add distinctive features such as all LED tail lamps and a larger front end air intake vs. the RX330, while the interior will have brushed aluminum accents to give it a high-tech look.

The RX 400h will also incorporate VDM, or Vehicle Dynamic Management, which is a system that uses a variety of sensors to anticipate the onset of a vehicle skid or slide and then helps the driver to correct the situation with a combination of braking and throttle control.

The Lexus hybrid uses a regenerative braking system, just like the Prius, to further boost system efficiency. When the vehicle is coasting or the brakes are applied, the electric motor functions as a generator, capturing kinetic energy that would normally be lost as heat through the brakes and converting it into useable electricity to recharge the batteries.

Building the 400h will raise awareness of hybrid vehicles among luxury buyers, Clements noted.

"Our dealers have already taken a huge number of orders, just on the word-of-mouth off of Prius," Clements said. "I think what we have, when you talk to our customers, is that there are a lot of very affluent people who would like to make a statement about Middle East oil; would like to make a statement about who they are; but dont want to make the sacrifices in terms of performance or luxury amenities. We think its going to really resonate in the marketplace, but we will see what the market tells us."

Just how huge are the orders for the RX 400h? According to Toyota, Lexus has more than 9,500 confirmed pre-sold orders for its luxury hybrid. The new model, going on sale on April 15, 2005, will be manufactured at Toyotas Kyushu plant in Japan.