2010 Lexus RX 350

The 2010 RX represents a serious update over the previous model year. The power train remains a 3.5-liter V-6, but the automatic transmission goes from five to six gears, the rear gets supported by a double wishbone suspension to maximize cargo room, and Lexus gives the cabin electronics a welcome upgrade. The RX is still available in front-wheel- or all-wheel-drive formats. We reviewed the all-wheel-drive version. The hybrid version, called the RX 450h, is also available, and we will review that car at a later date.

Where previous RX 350 models could be had with an air suspension that could be raised for tough terrain, Lexus has now removed that option. But the new RX 350 feels more solid than the old one, most noticeably in the steering. Where you could turn the steering wheel in the previous RX with a single finger, the 2010 model shows a comfortable amount of resistance, just enough so it feels like you are actually controlling the car.

The 3.5-liter V-6 engine puts modest power to the wheels, only 275 horsepower and 257 pound-feet of torque, enough for a 7.5-second stroll up to 60 mph, according to Lexus. In our driving, the engine felt adequate to run up hills and generally get ahead of traffic, but there are no head-snapping starts off the line. We were surprised that the engine uses port injection, and not the direct and port injection combination used in the IS 350 C.

As it is, The 2010 RX 350 comes with an innovative new cabin tech controller called Remote Touch, which is basically a joystick on the console that moves a pointer on the car’s LCD. If you’ve used a mouse, Remote Touch will be second nature. The ergonomic joystick and mount fits easily into your hand, with an enter button on the side of the mount.

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Lexus LS 600h

With all the high gas prices out there, hybrid vehicles are continuing to become more popular among drivers. There are a few luxury hybrid choices out there, and the Lexus LS 600h Hybrid seems to be the most popular of those choices. Check out some of the features of the Lexus LS 600h and what sets itself apart from the other hybrids.

In the technological realm, the Lexus LS 600h is state-of-the-art for gadgets. With the car’s power train technology creating the 430 horsepower, as well as the interesting gauges on the dashboard, the vehicle is incredibly technologically advanced. Thankfully, the actual vehicle does a very good job of reminding others that it is a hybrid, not just a joyride vehicle.

The actual transition between the hybrid system or the actual gas-powered engine is relatively seamless, allowing you, the driver, a level of peace you have never heard before. Because of that, you can expect a smoother ride in your hybrid, yet be aware that the electricity motor of the vehicle will only be able to go at lower speeds with much shorter distances.

The EV mode button in the car automatically turns the battery power to the primary source of power, and makes trying to talk about several subjects as well. If interested, know that it takes about 3 minutes to go to 25 miles per hour on a bad day.

As for the actual handling, it is precise and soothing, like any product from Lexus. Depending on the reviewer, the review may run from “confident” to something more along the lines of handling a limosuine and being told I’ve done a good job. This particular vehicle is perfect for Joyrides.

The gas consumption of this particular hybrid is one of the best out there, and the engine even shuts itself off while on traffic stops. The only thing to look out for is that, like all other hybrids, the air conditioning still runs off of the air conditioning, which can cost a lot. The engine is definitely supposed to utilize regenerative braking, so that way, you can have that particular problem fixed later.

Gas Mileage and the “Green” Factor

This is a hybrid vehicle, and as a hybrid vehicle from Lexus, the luxury Toyota line, boasting should be expected from the company that the hybrid is one of the busier streets where hybrids were released. As a result, the windmill stopped moving around and they had a chance to talk. At lease there is no reliance for gasoline any longer.

In this case, this talk about the hybrid’s success with being a hybrid system is one that needs to be spoken about. In this particular case, those who are constantly driving, the desire for a rest is more than acceptable. In fact, you don’t need to charge your car because the vehicle does it for you. This particular vehicle is definitely one where you can relax and help take care of the environment pretty passively.

The emissions of the vehicle are much, much lower than it was thought to be in conventional sedans, and the gas mileage is also much better than that of a normal sedan. So, without the greenhouse gases trying to ruin the atmosphere, and the gas mileage making the car a worthy investment, this particular vehicle is still worthy of praise for being able to have emissions that are 70% cleaner in comparison to actual gas-powered sedans.

Additional Features

On top of all of these other features, the LS 600h has an interesting and valuable Pre-Collision System, much like a system that can be seen in other hybrids and conventional vehicles by Lexus. This particular Pre-Collision System is the Advanced variety, which is a much more upgraded version of the PCS. The PCS has the ability to retract the seatbelt, activate the brake assist and help protect you against collision problems.

But, those are not the only reasons to look at the LS 600h hybrid.

1. Quiet is the first thing to notice about the new LS 600h. The noise and vibrations that are simply commonplace with conventional vehicles are cut in half by the noise cancellation technology in the hybrids.

2. The backup cameras are available and visible in the hybrid, alerting you to when pedestrians are close, as well as radars that do the same. Even better, there are lights to notify the driver that there may be something in the way.

This particular vehicle is certainly one of the more expensive models that Lexus and Toyota have to offer. At a starting price of $104,000, that is a huge sum to consider purchasing a hybrid vehicle for. Then again, this particular hybrid is much more than a counterpart, and the price may be two to three times more expensive than a regular hybrid, perhaps it is worth it to avid buyers.

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The SC400 and SC300 were the next step for Lexus in the early nineties, as they stepped up their bid to rival the biggest brands in luxury motoring. Lexus continued to receive accolades from the motoring world’s top journalists and also gained recognition from US marketing giants, J D Power & Associates, who named Lexus as the number one car line in multiple categories including customer satisfaction and sales satisfaction.

Yet more awards arrived for Lexus with the SC and ES ranges selling strongly and gaining rave reviews. Lexus used car sales started to gather pace in the US also, as they did worldwide when Lexus was named Best Luxury Import in 1994 by well established US car magazine: Car and Driver.

Lexus vehicles were now regarded worldwide as one of the most reliable brands in the business, and although they held their value in terms of depreciation, Lexus cars were very much sought after by used car consumers and dealers alike.

If it wasn’t enough for Lexus to perform strongly in the sports coupes and luxury saloons market, they then developed and produced an SUV, the LX450, which grabbed the attention of consumers in such a way that in the first year of production the LX450 outsold the market leader in the SUV sector, the Range Rover.

In 1996 Automobile magazine released their list of the 24 most influential cars in automobile history, with the Lexus LS400 named as one of them – an impressive feat given Lexus had been in production for only seven years.

Lexus became popular with celebrities also and you couldn’t watch a Hip-Hop video or episode of The Sopranos without spotting at least one Lexus. It became the desired drive, and remains exactly that, even though interest may have waned in recent years, though that is true of the car market as a whole, thanks to the credit crunch.
New models of the popular LS and ES Lexus were released along with the hugely powerful GS range, sporting V8 engines and more horses than the starting line at Aintree. Lexus continued to perform well in their three main categories of sports coupe, luxury saloon and SUV heading into the millennium, picking up yet more awards and topping many magazine ‘best car’ lists.

Car of the year

The crowning moment came for Lexus in 2007 when the LS460 was named World Car of the Year. Lexus’s slogan ‘the pursuit of perfection’ was almost complete, I say almost because Lexus continue striving to improve the quality of their cars across the board.

Having been in production for 20 years, Lexus cars are don’t remain on the forecourts of used car dealers for long as Lexus used car sales continue to perform well amidst the global economic downturn. This can only be because of the quality and reputation that Lexus have earned after 20 years in their pursuit for perfection. Word of mouth can remains a powerful medium.

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