Lexus RX

The Lexus RX is a luxury crossover SUV sold by Lexus since 1998. The RX is designed to combine the functional characteristics of an SUV with ride and features of a luxury sedan.[1] The RX series has comprised multiple V6 and hybrid-powered models (such as the RX 300, RX 330, RX 350, RX 400h, and RX 450h), in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions. Three generations of the Lexus RX have been produced to date, in compact or mid-size form.[2] The Lexus RX has been the best-selling crossover luxury SUV on the US market since its introduction and has ranked as the best-selling luxury vehicle in the United States.[3]

The Lexus RX first premiered in 1997 as a Lexus concept, followed by the debut of the production RX 300 model at the 1998 North American International Auto Show.[4] In 2003, the second generation RX debuted in the U.S., and the redesigned RX 330 went on sale shortly after. Equivalent versions of the first and second generation models were sold in Japan under the Toyota Harrier (トヨタ・ハリアー) nameplate until 2008. In 2006, the RX line added the world's first luxury hybrid,[5] the RX 400h. The redesigned third generation Lexus RX 350 went on sale in early 2009,[6] followed later that year by the second generation Lexus RX Hybrid, the RX 450h.[6]

As the earliest luxury crossover on the market, the Lexus RX has inspired similar competitors from rival marques.[7] Its commercial success as Lexus' best-selling model has been attributed to the strong reliability reputation of Lexus and the RX line.[8] The RX is the only Lexus vehicle to be produced within as well as outside Japan, with North American market RX 350s being made at the Cambridge plant in Canada.[9] The RX designation, signifies its place in the Lexus lineup next to the larger body-on-frame GX and LX SUVs.

In February 1997, Lexus debuted the "Sport Luxury Vehicle" (SLV) concept, a prototype crossover SUV, at the Chicago Auto Show.[4] This concept, which appeared close to production, combined the characteristics of an SUV, wagon, and sedan.[10] In Japan, the SLV concept appeared in first-generation Toyota Harrier form (codename SXU10 and MCU10 for the front-wheel drive models, and SXU15 and MCU15 for the all-wheel drive models) in December 1997. Two engines were available, the 2.2 L 5S-FE I4 which produced 139 hp (104 kW) JIS (102 kW) and 191 Nm (140 ft·lbf), and the 3.0 L 1MZ-FE V6 which produced 219 hp (163 kW) JIS (161 kW) and 304 Nm (224 ft·lbf). Both engines could be specified with either front or all-wheel drivetrains. All models came with an automatic transmission. The first RX was partly based on the RAV4 platform.