LEXUS RX 400H HYBRID SUV - ANOTHER REASON TOYOTA STILL DOMINATES THE HYBRID MARKET
By Colin Ayres - EcoCarOnline.com
With more and more hybrid cars creeping their way into the
mass market, Lexus' RX 400h manages to stand out from the rest.
While all models combine fuel and battery power, the RX 400h
is one of the few that wraps the SUV frame around the fuel
efficient engine. That's right,
a car you can comfortably pack more than two people in with
superior gas mileage. It's rare, but somehow, Lexus has made
implausible, possible - power, wrapped in pretty, sealed with
frugality.
The RX 400h first debuted at the North American International Auto Show and instantly sparked interest among consumers. Since then, the demand for this particular fuel-efficient SUV has transformed from a creep to a race. In a Lexus Group press release, Danny Clements, Vice President and General Manager, offered this explanation, "[It] redefines the midsize luxury SUV market while raising awareness and acceptance of hybrid gas-electric vehicles among luxury car and SUV buyers." He went on to say that, "[T]he RX 400h will exceed the expectations of luxury vehicle buyers and establish a premium market for performance-oriented, fuel-efficient gas-electric hybrids."
The 2006 RX 400h, if nothing else, is a sign of things to come in the hybrid category - more efficiency, more power - just more reasons to purchase one of your own. Released in April 2005, the 2006 model is powered by a V6 Hybrid Synergy Drive system with an all-wheel drive hybrid powertrain that combines two powerful electric motors with the highly efficient 3.3-liter V6 engine to significantly improve low to mid-speed acceleration and overall fuel efficiency. A sigh of relief with gas prices sliding in and out of the $3 range.
Lexus describes the car as a "full hybrid," meaning that it is capable of operating
in separate gas or electric modes, as well as a mode that combines power from
both. With approximately 270 horsepower, a zero-to-sixty acceleration in the
sub-eight second timeframe, and fuel economy equivalent or better than the average
compact sedan, the Lexus RX 400h will light your hair on fire sooner than your
wallet. And Lexus didn't forget about Mother Nature either. The RX 400h will
be rated Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV), one of the most stringent
emissions ratings in the industry.
| Specifications |
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| Price: |
$48,535 (MSRP) |
| Powertrain: |
3.3 liter V6 engine |
| Electric motors: |
Permanent magnet |
| Estimated HP: |
270 |
| EPA emissions rating: |
Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) |
| EPA-estimated mileage ratings: |
30 city/28 highway mpg (May Vary) |
| Transmission: |
Electronically-controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) |
| Wheelbase: |
106.9 in. |
| Length: |
187.2 in. |
| Width: |
72.6 in. |
| Height: |
66.4 in. |
Source. About.com and Lexus.com |
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