They're right. This "green" SUV certainly does not lack gusto! The combined power of the gasoline engine and electric motor is rated at 295 horsepower, with 234 pounds-feet of torque to back it up. Those are pretty decent numbers; after all, the RX 350 generates only 275 horsepower. The old RX 400h, meanwhile, produced 268 horsepower and 212 pounds-feet of torque.
The new Lexus RX 450h is not only 10-percent more powerful but also 16-percent less thirsty, at least according to the fuel economy average claimed by the manufacturer: 6.8 liters per 100 kilometers. This would translate into a real-world rating of about 8 L/100 km. Not bad at all for a 2-ton SUV.
A full hybrid
Like the Prius and Escape Hybrid, the RX 450h is referred to as a "parallel hybrid" or "full hybrid", meaning that the gasoline engine and electric motor are both independent and complementary. As a result, the vehicle can run solely on electricity if you drive smoothly and are not in a hurry. Whenever extra power is required, a little more pressure on the gas pedal is enough to awaken the V6... unless road conditions previously forced it into action.
The electric motor is fed by a 288-volt, nickel-metal hydride battery (Ni-MH) located under the rear seat. Smaller and lighter than the old model's, the battery frees up space and allows a flat, generously-sized cargo area that's not too high above the ground (unlike the cargo floor of a Nissan Pathfinder, for instance).
Moreover, in keeping with the current trend in the industry, the RX 450h receives an electric power steering. It makes sense for a so-called "green" vehicle to use this type of steering because it further reduces fuel consumption by up to 3 percent (according to Lexus).
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| The RX 450h isn't motivated by a 4.5-liter engine but rather a 3.5-liter V6. |
The new Lexus RX 450h is not only 10-percent more powerful but also 16-percent less thirsty, at least according to the fuel economy average claimed by the manufacturer: 6.8 liters per 100 kilometers. This would translate into a real-world rating of about 8 L/100 km. Not bad at all for a 2-ton SUV.
A full hybrid
Like the Prius and Escape Hybrid, the RX 450h is referred to as a "parallel hybrid" or "full hybrid", meaning that the gasoline engine and electric motor are both independent and complementary. As a result, the vehicle can run solely on electricity if you drive smoothly and are not in a hurry. Whenever extra power is required, a little more pressure on the gas pedal is enough to awaken the V6... unless road conditions previously forced it into action.
The electric motor is fed by a 288-volt, nickel-metal hydride battery (Ni-MH) located under the rear seat. Smaller and lighter than the old model's, the battery frees up space and allows a flat, generously-sized cargo area that's not too high above the ground (unlike the cargo floor of a Nissan Pathfinder, for instance).
Moreover, in keeping with the current trend in the industry, the RX 450h receives an electric power steering. It makes sense for a so-called "green" vehicle to use this type of steering because it further reduces fuel consumption by up to 3 percent (according to Lexus).
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| Moreover, in keeping with the current trend in the industry, the RX 450h receives an electric power steering. |