The new Lexus RX 400h print ad may be a good looker, but according to the Chemist’s Laboratory Notebook blog, it’s just a pretty picture:
Whenever I see chemical information or structures in real world situations, it makes me excited that non-chemists are getting a little exposure to what I work with every day. Usually the chemistry isn’t great (and sometimes it doesn’t even make sense), but at least our industry is getting some recognition. Although I tried to find some connection between the structures pictured and hybrid cars, I couldn’t find one.
No word on what the structures actually indicate, maybe I can get a followup. Very curious, how hard would it have been to include relevant chemical bonds?
It’s fairly bereft of any substance, but Fifth Gear had a mini-interview with Melanie C (of Spice Girls fame) about her choice of vehicle:
Seems like she couldn’t stop herself from plugging her album, though listening to her own albums to learn the lyrics is so appropriate it could almost be true.
It’s starting to feel like an everyday occurrence to find something linking Lexus with golf, and today’s no exception. As part of their U.S. Open sponsorship, three commercials were made, one of which I’ve already posted about, and here’s another:
I’ll admit, at first this commercial confused me, as I searched for some connection between finding your inner golfer and selling cars. Seems it’s much more subtle than that — It’s all about the pursuit, right?
As for specifics, this commercial was directed by Rob Groenwald, with music by Nate Morgon of Elias Arts.
One commercial remains, which I’m obsessively trying to track down. My own pursuit, if you will…
Easily, my favorite car magazine feature is the long-term test, where the magazines various writers and editors spend twelve months behind the wheel of a car then share the results.
Well, not satisfied with a single year, Car & Driver enjoyed a two year-long visit with the RX 400h. The magazine’s staff managed to put 40,000 miles on the SUV in that time, which gave them plenty of road to find out all of the vehicle’s low points:
To many drivers the transition from purely electric to gas and electric power wasn’t always smooth, and the amount of added power delivered was unpredictable. Many also felt a lurch and heard a clunking sound when the gas engine kicked in when the vehicle was at a complete stop. Most drivers thought that a $50,000 Lexus should behave more smoothly.
The regenerative braking system got gripes, too. The transition from regenerative to hydraulic braking was often disconcerting because a small increase in pressure on the brake pedal might produce a huge increase in deceleration. Drivers complained that when they began to press lightly on the brake pedal, the RX seemed to surge a bit, causing the knee-jerk reaction of applying more braking than intended. This was especially apparent in city driving at moderate to low speeds. All the Lexus service guys could do was tell us, “That’s just the way they work.”
These issues, along with the rather obligatory cost breakdown of a hybrid versus its traditional engine counterpart (it would take 91,000 miles before the 400h would justify its $3,800 premium over the RX 350), doesn’t really build a strong case for the hybrid. Unless you’re feeling incredibly guilty about your carbon output, stick with the RX 350.
While I have strong doubts that Lexus will ever release a RX Wagoneer edition, one 400h owner isn’t about to wait to see. Discovered by Autoblog.it, this one-off wooden body kit was created by Italian tuner firm Castagna Milano for someone very rich and equally eco-obsessed:
Most of the reactions to this unique body modification are decidedly negative, but I’m not sure I share that opinion (I’ve always had a soft spot for the Wagoneer). With the RX model being Lexus’ most ubiquitous, it’s a real challenge to stand out in the crowd, and that’s certainly not going to be a problem here.
Click Read More for some additional shots, including a photo of the fully customized interior.
Toyota announced that they have now sold 1 million hybrid vehicles worldwide, ten years after the introduction of the Prius. Here’s a breakdown of the individual vehicle sales:
As expected, the Prius was the biggest seller, making up 75% of the total. The entire Lexus lineup, which includes GS 450h, the RX 400h and the LS 600h, only accounted for 9.1%, with the remainder of the sales spread out among the Camry, the Alphard, and the Highlander.
Amazing totals, and with Toyota commanding 66% of the hybrid marketshare in America, that number can only be expected to grow faster and faster.
Both of Lexus’ current RX models ranked in the top four of Consumer Reports latest SUV rankings, with the RX400h coming in second and the RX350 tying the Acura MDX for third.
Considering that the Highlander Hybrid took the number one spot, Toyota practically swept the Consumer Reports rankings. Not a bad result, though they did have the unfair advantage of two incredibly similar vehicles in the race.
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