Beauty and brains, inside and out

At the unveiling of the Lexus RX 350L were, from left, Lexus Manila, Inc. president Raymond Rodriguez, Lexus Philippines SVP Jose Maria Atienza, Lexus Philippines vice chair Dr. David Go, Toyota Motor Philippines and LMI chair Alfred Ty, Lexus International RX chief engineer Takeaki Kato, Lexus Philippines president Satoru Suzuki, Lexus Asia-Pacific GM Christopher Taylor and Lexus Philippines EVP Kei Mizuguchi

Lexus has once again done a mid model life change that makes a big difference. It improves the obvious and visible, but also the invisible that will only be obvious when you start to realize how much everything just… feels.

The most obvious change? There are two of them, or at least two body lengths. The RX 350L is longer than the others, and sits in the middle of the price range. It doesn’t have a longer wheelbase, just a longer rear. This is because, and its a big because, it has the much-awaited third row of seats. A power-folding two-position row of seats is back there now, behind the second row bench. That alone is what will pull people into the showrooms and into the cars.

Satoru Suzuki

Suzuki (left) and VSO Group of Companies chair Eddie Jose

TMP Lexus Brand Department VP Carlo Ablaza

But that’s not the real big deal. The real big deal starts in the unsexy unflashy production and development division. In a continuing industrial trend, the way the vehicles are put together is more precise and more efficient. If you remember seeing spot weld points on your older cars or videos of how the machines fly around the chassis, that’s somewhat old school. Those spots or spot welds created hot points, which meant that you couldn’t have too many in too small an area, or too close together, or you would stress the metal. Now, with a combination of very precisely measured adhesives and a technology that uses more accurate lasers that allow closer proximity, the body of the vehicle is put together with more strength and rigidity. In a quick answer, this should make the car handle better. This though isn’t exactly easy to discern especially in an SUV with all the electronic stability working. What is perceptible though is this, the car is more quiet and more comfortable. If you are familiar with previous RX models or have the chance to jump in and out of them to compare, you should notice the change. You will feel a little more insulated, a little more detached from the outside world. A little more… Lexus.

This doesn’t mean you are driving a whale. The new RX handles as well as previously is not slightly more tightly. It isn’t a sports SUV, more a premium luxury crossover that happens to have settings you can use for a little more fun on a mountain road.

GT Capital Auto Dealership Holdings chair Vince Socco (right) with guests

Alfred Ty

The RX 350L sits in the middle of the price family in the Philippine market. Below it is the accessible RX 350 Premier with the same engine but without the third row or the length. Above it site the wonderfully (even more) quiet RX 450H, the hybrid. Hybrids are increasingly becoming the intelligent choice globally, as well as locally, and this is just another excellent reason to go greener. There is also RX 350 F-Sport which sits just below the hybrid in price.

There are of course the all-important visual differences you need to be able to show people and tell them about. It has a new headlamp design and a new grille (all but the F Sport model) and new 18-inch wheels. Apple CarPlay and Android are there to keep you connected, and a power rear door to help you load all your (other) cool toys when you go out to play. Or something like, I don’t know, groceries or a baby stroller. If you choose the hybrid, it opens with just a wave of your foot.

So who will get which? The RX 350 Premium is already pretty spot on for most buyers, the hybrid RX 450H, the most decked-out. But it will probably be the RX 350L with that third row that gets the most attention and the most sales. The RX family came out into the world almost three decades ago, and the world had no idea what to think. It was an off-roader that wasn’t, a luxury vehicle from a company with no heritage of such (in the minds of other companies at least), yet it became the game-changer of a market and a generation. It was exactly what people wanted. Now as cars become ever more specific in terms of answering just what people want, you can have whatever flavor of RX you desire.

Lexus Manila, Inc. Executive Vice President Masabumi Hisamatsu (left) explains the features of the updated RX to guests

Stunning models clad in gold outfits present the RX 350L

Pricing of the 2020 Lexus RX are as follows:

• RX 350- P4.278 million

• RX 350 L-P4.758 million

• RX 350 F Sport-P4.838 million

• RX 450h- P5.078 million