insideKENT Magazine Issue 24 - March 2014 | Page 138

MOTORS

PRICE AS TESTED: £53,605

TOP SPEED: 124MPH

ECONOMY: COMBINED 44.8MPG

At the front of the RX 450h F-Sport is a 246bhp,
3.5 litre V6 petrol engine, coupled to a
continuously variable automatic transmission and
assisted by a 165bhp electric motor; whilst the
rear of the car boasts a second electric motor,
this time rated at 67bhp, that supplies the rear
wheels with additional power as required. So
when all of these motors are doing the business,
the resulting output (you can't just add them up
by the way) is a pretty vroomy 295bhp, producing
a car capable of a very reasonable top speed of
124mph and 0-62mph in just 7.8 seconds. And
it's very quiet – producing just 62db at 70mph.
Performance-wise the RX 450h is very responsive;
a heavy thump on the accelerator produces a
satisfying response from both the petrol and
electric motors. And thanks to the air suspension
employed, the Lexus is a lovely ride on long
motorway journeys, yet remarkably spritely on
those country lanes, cornering impressively well
for a larger car. The F-Sport that we tested had

0-62 MPH: 7.8 SECONDS

PERFORMANCE: 295BHP

COMBINED CO2: 140G/KM

even more enhanced stability thanks to a new
lateral damper system, making for a pleasurable
drive.
Overcoming stubborn petrol-head-induced
stigmas at every turn, Lexus' persistence has
resulted in a well-respected range of hybrid cars
with lower particulate emissions, a smoother
drive train, and now, with the latest of the RXs,
lower carbon emissions too. Figures of 44.8mpg
combined and CO2 emissions of just 145g/km
place the 450h ahead of not only big boys like
the Range Rover Sport TDV6, but actually mean
it's beating some of the superminis out there.
And if you're reading ahead here, yes that's
absolutely right – the RX 450h has a 3.5litre
engine and yet is eligible for a cheap tax disc!
In the RX 450h, Lexus have come up with an
SUV that is far from the villain of the piece, and
quite capable of rivalling – and even beating – all
of those diesel-burning competitors in almost

138

every way. Yes it's an SUV. Yes it's a big car.
But somehow, a combination of persistence, fine
craftsmanship and ingenious engineering and
design has created a truly beautiful machine. The
RX 450h F-Sport is a shining example that
sometimes it's best not to worry about what the
competition are doing, and that if you believe in
something, and commit to it with passion and
determination, the results can be remarkable.

Lexus Sidcup
Ruxley Corner
152 Maidstone Road
Sidcup
DA14 5HS
0844 539 0211
www.sidcup.lexus.co.uk