New generation Lexus RX costs over 3 billion in Vietnam

The luxury SUV has a new, sharp design, a new 2-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, and a price of 3.06 billion VND, 225 million VND higher than the old version.

First appearing at the Vietnam Motor Show in late October 2015 in Saigon as a short walk, RX was officially launched to Vietnamese customers in early 2016. Along with its younger brother NX and older brother LX, RX carries a design following the new language of the Japanese luxury car brand, with strong changes aimed at young customers.

The RX is Lexus' most important model globally, the SUV accounts for 28% of the Japanese luxury brand's sales, selling more than 100,000 vehicles each year. In the US market, the RX is one of the first luxury SUV models to create a trend since 1998. The RX appearing in Vietnam brings changes that must first be suitable for Americans.

New generation Lexus RX in Vietnam. Photo: Luong Dung.

Spaciousness is the first taste of Americans, so the new generation crossover has a wheelbase extended by about 51 mm and an overall length increased by 120 mm. The rear seats are more comfortable with the knees a long distance from the front seats. The increased length serves the interior design.

Previously, the RX was round and full with mostly flat surfaces on the body, but the 2016 RX is different, sinewy, angular and even complex for customers who prefer simplicity. Mr. Takayuki Katsuda, the chief engineer responsible for both the 3rd and 4th generations, admitted that changing almost against what he himself had researched in the 3rd generation was not easy and took time to accept.

The design details are similar to the younger brother NX200t. The most special point on the appearance of the new RX is the C-pillar, when the structure changes with black glass extending across the tail to create a seamless look, giving the feeling of a longer car than before.

The interior is also upgraded but seems more gentle, the advantage is that every detail on the dashboard is oriented towards the driver, easy to recognize within reach without losing focus on driving. The air conditioning vent is as large as on German sports cars. The Japanese car company also applies the "standing screen" trend with a vertical infotainment display screen in the middle of the dashboard. However, the dashboard surface is too wide, giving a feeling of excess, taking up space and lacking sophistication. Also because of this design, combined with the sloping windshield, the driver's vision is also a bit more limited.

Under the hood, the new RX promises to bring more exciting experiences to the driver. The new version of the 3.5-liter V6 engine on the RX350 integrates D-4S direct fuel injection technology, VVT-iW intelligent variable valve timing system for a capacity of 295 horsepower at 6,300 rpm, maximum torque of 370 Nm at 4,600-4,700 rpm. 8-speed automatic transmission.

Driver-focused interior. Photo: Luong Dung.

In addition to the traditional RX350 version, Lexus Vietnam also imported the RX200t version equipped with a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, direct fuel injection D-4ST, maximum capacity of 234 horsepower at 4,800-5,600 rpm, maximum torque of 350 Nm at 1,650-4,000 rpm. 6-speed automatic transmission.

The RX200t version is equipped with technology to automatically turn off the engine when the car is stopped temporarily to save fuel, but the RX350 version does not have this technology. Explaining this, the chief engineer said that because American customers do not like this technology, while the changes to the main RX350 version must first serve the American market.

To increase performance, the SUV received a series of upgrades in the suspension, chassis, body, and braking system. The RX350 is equipped with the most advanced comfort and safety features with 5 driving modes (Normal, Eco, Sport S, Sport S+, Customize), 10 airbags, ABS, BA, EBD, TRAC traction, HAS hill start assist, and Cruise Control. In addition, there are rear collision warning, blind spot warning, tire pressure monitoring, cornering headlights, and 4-wheel drive.

With dozens of "dizzying" changes, Lexus priced the RX200t at 3.06 billion while the RX350 version costs 3.337 billion. The old version of the RX costs 2.835 billion VND. So if customers buy the RX200t, the car is 225 million more expensive, while buying a new RX350 is 502 million more expensive than the old one. In addition, the RX200t is also priced equivalent to the 2.0 version of the Audi Q7, while the RX is only in the same segment as the Audi Q5.

According to VnExpress