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I've read a lot on this vehicle, it looks pretty impessive, more of a departure from the Siennaesque minivannish RX we have now, here's the story and pictures from Detroit.
Story and pictures courtesy of MSN Carpoint.
With lights flashing and video playing, the nation’s top luxury marque introduced a new RX crossover vehicle with a bigger engine, roomier interior and headlights that swivel.
The 2004 RX 330 goes into production at its Kyushi, Japan, factory in February and will replace the 2003 RX 300 in showrooms shortly thereafter.
But by September, production of the new RX also will be started at an assembly plant in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. It will mark the first time in history that a Lexus is built outside Japan, said Denny Clements, Lexus group vice president and general manager.
The RX 300 ranks as the best-selling luxury SUV in the United States, with more than 70,000 sales last year. Its design dates back five years.
The new RX 330 retains the familiar shape of the predecessor RX, but with streamlined, sleeker body lines.
The new model also is 6.1 inches longer, slightly wider and about a half inch taller than the current RX. The result is 1.8 inches more front legroom and 84.7 cubic feet of cargo space, vs. 75 cubic feet in the current model.
But the new RX, like the current model, lacks third-row seating. Clements said Lexus has other, larger SUVs for buyers who want the additional seats.
A new 3.3-liter V6 mated to a new five-speed automatic transmission provides 230 horsepower for the RX 330, up from 220 horses in the current RX 300 with a 3.0-liter V6. Torque in the new RX is 242 lb-ft at 3600 rpm, up 20 lb-ft from the current model.
Swivel headlights are among the new options for the RX 330. Designed to help improve visibility in night driving and during poor weather, the lights turn direction as the vehicle goes through a curve or around a corner.
Right and left headlights swivel independently, and movement is based on calculations from the vehicle speed and steering angle.
Other options include laser-measured cruise control that’s also available on the Lexus flagship, the LS 430, and a navigation system with rearview camera.
Final pricing wasn’t disclosed, but Clements assured the RX 330 base price will be “around $35,000.” Two- and four-wheel-drive models will be offered.
Clements noted calendar 2002 sales figures released last week made Lexus the best-selling luxury brand in the United States for the third straight year. Lexus sales of 234,109 in the 12 months of 2002 topped BMW-branded vehicle sales, which came in #2.
“It seems we have become a benchmark . . . and we intend to stay one,” Clements said.
Story and pictures courtesy of MSN Carpoint.
With lights flashing and video playing, the nation’s top luxury marque introduced a new RX crossover vehicle with a bigger engine, roomier interior and headlights that swivel.
The 2004 RX 330 goes into production at its Kyushi, Japan, factory in February and will replace the 2003 RX 300 in showrooms shortly thereafter.
But by September, production of the new RX also will be started at an assembly plant in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. It will mark the first time in history that a Lexus is built outside Japan, said Denny Clements, Lexus group vice president and general manager.
The RX 300 ranks as the best-selling luxury SUV in the United States, with more than 70,000 sales last year. Its design dates back five years.
The new RX 330 retains the familiar shape of the predecessor RX, but with streamlined, sleeker body lines.
The new model also is 6.1 inches longer, slightly wider and about a half inch taller than the current RX. The result is 1.8 inches more front legroom and 84.7 cubic feet of cargo space, vs. 75 cubic feet in the current model.
But the new RX, like the current model, lacks third-row seating. Clements said Lexus has other, larger SUVs for buyers who want the additional seats.
A new 3.3-liter V6 mated to a new five-speed automatic transmission provides 230 horsepower for the RX 330, up from 220 horses in the current RX 300 with a 3.0-liter V6. Torque in the new RX is 242 lb-ft at 3600 rpm, up 20 lb-ft from the current model.
Swivel headlights are among the new options for the RX 330. Designed to help improve visibility in night driving and during poor weather, the lights turn direction as the vehicle goes through a curve or around a corner.
Right and left headlights swivel independently, and movement is based on calculations from the vehicle speed and steering angle.
Other options include laser-measured cruise control that’s also available on the Lexus flagship, the LS 430, and a navigation system with rearview camera.
Final pricing wasn’t disclosed, but Clements assured the RX 330 base price will be “around $35,000.” Two- and four-wheel-drive models will be offered.
Clements noted calendar 2002 sales figures released last week made Lexus the best-selling luxury brand in the United States for the third straight year. Lexus sales of 234,109 in the 12 months of 2002 topped BMW-branded vehicle sales, which came in #2.
“It seems we have become a benchmark . . . and we intend to stay one,” Clements said.
