2023 Lexus RX arrives in ASEAN with brand new look, PHEV power
Thailand is first ASEAN country to get all-new Lexus RX
The 39th Thailand International Motor Expo continues to see the regional debuts of all-new and refreshed automobiles. Aside from the Ertiga Hybrid, another electrified vehicle has made its official debut in Southeast Asia via The Land of Smiles.
After making its global debut in the US last June, the fifth-generation Lexus RX is now in ASEAN. Not only did the midsize crossover get a more dashing look, but it also got a more stylish and high-tech cabin, as well as a new electrified plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.
The 2023 RX for the Thai market gets a more dynamic appearance thanks to a distinct body kit, a bolder-looking spindle grille complete with a new garnish up top, and massive alloy wheels. Elsewhere, the all-new RX has also been fitted with sleeker LED headlights, eye-catching LED taillights with a lightbar, and a radical-looking C-pillar.
The 2023 RX now sits on the GA-K platform which allowed Lexus to reduce its overall weight by around 89kg. Moreover, the new architecture made the 2023 RX longer and wider than its predecessor. In fact, it now measures 4890mm long, 1920mm wide, and 1695mm tall – making it 25mm wider but 10mm shorter in height. It retains the same length as before, but the wheelbase now measures 2850mm which is 60mm more than the fifth-generation model.
At the heart of the RX 450h+ is not a turbocharged four-cylinder. Instead, it's actually a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated inline-four that's helped along by a pair of electric motors and an 18.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It has a combined system output of 304 PS and benefits from E-Four electric all-wheel drive thanks to the rear-mounted electric motor.
Lexus claims that on a full charge, the RX 450h+ PHEV can travel 87 kilometers on purely electric power and reach a top speed of 135 km/h without engine assistance. Recharging the battery pack, on the other hand, will take around 2 hours and 30 minutes with a standard AC Type II 6.6 kW charger.
When it comes to interior amenities, the RX 450h+ for Thailand has plenty on offer. These include a full leather interior, a power-adjustable steering column, electrically-adjustable front seats with memory function, a 360-degree panoramic view monitor, a wireless charging pad, advanced automatic parking assist, and a heads-up color display.
Infotainment inside the RX 450h+ comes in the form of a 14-inch touchscreen that features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, navigation, and USB-A/USB-C ports. Depending on the variant, there's also a choice between a 12-speaker Panasonic sound system or the 21-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system.
Other interior amenities inside the plug-in hybrid are tri-zone automatic climate control with rear vents, a panoramic moonroof, LED ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, power-folding rear seats, a fully-digital instrument cluster, and Lexus Safety Sense 3.0.
With Thailand now getting the all-new Lexus RX, it might not be long before the all-new crossover also makes its way here in the Philippines. But unlike the Thai version which is only available as PHEV, the PH-spec model could be available with the new 2.4-liter turbocharged engine as well as the regular 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated hybrid variant.
We're keeping our fingers crossed we won't have to wait long for the 2023 Lexus RX to debut here.
