Motoring: Lexus RX ticks the SUV boxes

Pics of Lexus RX; Rolls-Royce Wraith and Mitsubishi Outlander are in the system.

THE luxury SUV sector seems to grow more competitive by the day, with a succession of new models being wheeled out by the leading premium manufacturers.

While the Range Rover continues to be in a class of its own when it comes to off-road performance, it is a widely recognised fact that most of the vehicles being offered to this market are never likely to have to tackle anything more difficult than a speed hump.

Therefore, a car’s ability to travel across rough ground is not the primary reason for considering the vehicle as a purchase. Hence the ‘luxury’ factor which can be tagged on to such vehicles.

The latest contender to emerge is the all-new Lexus RX 450 – the Japanese manufacturer’s fourth generation luxury SUV.

There is also a lot riding on the new model’s success because in Lexus’s 26-year history, the RX remains the brand’s best-selling model.

Such a fact goes a long way towards explaining why the SUV – or Sports Utility Vehicle – sector is so important to today’s premium manufacturers.

With more than 2.1 million RX models reaching the road, it represents three out of every 10 vehicles the company has sold.

The new fourth generation model looks to build on this success and while the vehicle has undergone a complete redesign with a new luxurious interior and longer wheelbase, it remains distinctly a Lexus.

The longer wheelbase has enabled the designers to offer improved cabin space, which has in turn led to higher levels of comfort and luxury. The company is also touting the new vehicle’s safety features, with the RX incorporating the Lexus Safety System+ package of driver aids.

While full UK and European specifications will be announced ahead of the RX launch here later this year, Lexus has said the global engine range will include a 3.5-litre V6 petrol and V6 petrol full hybrid powertrains.

Takayuki Katsuda, the chief engineer of the RX, said: “Our ambition has been to make a completely new statement in this segment while building on and staying true to the ground-breaking values of previous RX generations.

“Lexus’s pioneering spirit drives our creation of new technology and generates new ideas. It allows us to introduce new vehicles with leading-edge features. We are committed to bringing ‘progressive luxury’ to the world.

“I believe this new RX will not only surprise new customers, it will also delight and satisfy our loyal customers, whose high expectations will be met by many innovations.”

His colleague, chief designer Gen Ikeda added: “We designed the RX to have a high amount of excitement and strength. The longer wheelbase and larger wheel size create sporty, powerful proportions. At the same time as we have secured a highly luxurious and spacious cabin, we have kept a sleek and dynamic vehicle silhouette.”

The new upgraded, more powerful 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine will target output of 300bhp, matched to a new eight-speed automatic transmission.

The full hybrid powertrain will feature an improved, Atkinson cycle 3.5-litre V6. System output, including the electric motor, will also be around 300bhp.

Lexus say both engines have been tuned to achieve high fuel economy and low carbon emissions.

The new RX has also been re-engineered to deliver car-like handling. The entire chassis has been strengthened to provide better stability and control through bends. The body structure has been made stronger, too, with extra stiffness that contributes to drastically improved handling response and to a reduction in engine and road noise levels in the cabin.

It  benefits from significant improvements in active and passive safety provisions, in line with Lexus’s continuing focus on improving vehicle safety performance.

The improvements include a stronger body structure that raises the overall level of passive safety, and the introduction of the Lexus Safety System+, which helps avoid or mitigate collisions at a wide range of vehicle speeds.

Lexus Safety System+ is being introduced worldwide. It integrates several existing Lexus active safety technologies: the Pre-Collision System (PCS), which detects and warns the driver of potential collision risks with vehicles, pedestrians and obstacles on the road ahead; Lane Departure Alert (LDA), which triggers a warning sound if the vehicle moves out of its lane without signalling; and Automatic High Beam (AHB), which helps maintain the best forward visibility when driving at night.

The system’s multi-faceted approach to active safety makes use of a millimetre-wave radar that works with a camera to help keep the RX in its intended driving lane, via the Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) feature. These elements also support the performance of the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).

The F Sport version of the new RX is aimed at customers seeking more excitement and performance from their luxury SUV. It will be available with both powertrains and will benefit from a number of special visual and performance features that will set it apart from other versions in the range.

And the Oscar goes to…

ROLLS-ROYCE is used to making an impression on the big screen but it is the company itself which is now in the spotlight.

The launch film for its Wraith model – ‘And the World Stood Still’ – has been accepted into the BFI (British Film Institute) National Archive, the world’s most significant collection of film and television programmes.

To celebrate the occasion Rolls-Royce created Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’, which it aired for the first time at the 2015 New York Motor Show.

The film, which won a Gold Award at the 26th International Visual Communications Association (IVCA) Awards, caught the attention of the BFI’s Senior Curator for Non-Fiction Films, Patrick Russell, who considered it a striking piece of contemporary cinematography and so decided to accept it into the archive.

“We are delighted to see Rolls-Royce’s Wraith launch film enter the BFI’s collection,” he said. “We selected it for preservation as it is an outstanding and award-winning example of modern corporate promotional filmmaking. It’s a powerful use of the film medium for product launch purposes, executed with impeccable craftsmanship.”

Marc Mielau, global head of marketing, Rolls Royce Motor Cars, said: “It is a great honour to see ‘And the World Stood Still’ accepted into the BFI National Archive. It is testament to Rolls-Royce’s unique position in the public consciousness as the makers of ‘The Best Car in the World’ and the passion, innovation and creativity of the entire team involved.”

The film, ‘And the World Stood Still’, introduced the Wraith as the most powerful and technologically-advanced Rolls-Royce in history. View the film below.

Filmed at a secret location near Barcelona, the shoot included an innovative ‘Timeslice’ (frozen time) sequence created using 100 SLR cameras; the longest purpose-built camera rig in Europe; an award-winning film director; 36 computers; 1.5km of cables and one prototype Rolls Royce Wraith. A behind the scenes film was also launched after the company was inundated with requests from fans across social media networks worldwide.

Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’ celebrates Rolls-Royce’s long heritage in film and its entry into the BFI National Archive. Rolls-Royce motor cars have taken leading roles in movies since the dawn of film-making, and have featured in such hits as Goldfinger (1964), The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) and The Great Gatsby (1974) to name a few.

Major sales landmark for Outlander PHEV

THE popularity in the UK of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV continues to define the vehicle as a major trendsetter. The company has now seen sales for the vehicle top 10,000 in its first year.

The multi award-winning vehicle is transforming the plug-in sector and converting many buyers to the segment. Launched in April 2014, it has now overtaken every other plug-in hybrid and pure electric car, even passing vehicles that have been on sale since 2011, such as the Nissan Leaf, to become the UK’s favourite plug-in vehicle.

Buyers yearning for an economic off-roader have been swayed by the vehicle’s impressive fuel economy and ultra-low emissions.

Combining electric and petrol power, Mitsubishi claims it can travel 32½ miles in electric mode alone – more than enough to accommodate the average daily commute.

Lance Bradley, managing director of Mitsubishi Motors (UK), said: “To sell 10,000 Outlander PHEVs between June and the end of March was a challenge set by our colleagues in Japan – given the market for plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2013 was 980 it seemed like a very big challenge. But the reaction to the vehicle has been fantastic and that is because it’s a car without compromise.

“People want to be environmentally responsible but they still want to have a car that is great to drive and doesn’t cost significantly more than equivalent traditional petrol or diesel powered car.”

As well as its official fuel consumption figure of 148 miles per gallon, the Outlander PHEV’s low emissions of just 44g of CO2 per kilometre mean there’s no vehicle tax to pay plus it’s exempt from the London congestion charge and it qualifies for the government’s £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant too. In addition, company car drivers can reap the reward of a low Benefit in Kind (BIK) of just 5%, meaning a virtual pay rise of several thousand pounds per year.

Drive safely.