Lexus RX (2009) Revealed in Brochure Blunder

Lexus has let slip pictures of its new RX after a Japanese brochure was seemingly leaked ahead of the car’s launch. We weren’t supposed to see the 4x4 until the November 2008 LA auto show, but we’ve tracked down the photos of the new Lexus RX early.

Are these Lexus RX pictures the real thing?
They certainly look it and insiders at Lexus GB suggest they are genuine. If so, the new RX is hardly a radical departure from the current model. As is the trend for 4x4s, the new RX appears to be longer and wider, possibly to accommodate a third row of seats.

Also expect a development of Lexus’s advanced front lighting system, the pictures revealing multiple ‘pockets’, or light clusters, within the headlamps.

The new RX’s interior is notably different, with a cockpit showing strong sweeping lines and big information displays.

New Lexus RX: the launch timetable
The brochure pictures show two models: the RX350, a V6 petrol and the RX450h – the 'h' denoting this is the petrol-electric hybrid car. Expect the new model to hit UK showrooms in summer of 2009 and this time the Brit importer will axe all petrol versions. It’s hybrid only for the UK.

The 450h will feature Toyota’s latest generation petrol-electric tech, so expect improvements in CO2 figures, making it greener than the current model's 192 g/km.

Lexus’s timing couldn’t be better. Demand for, and second-hand values of, big petrol SUVs is collapsing.

Source

Sphere: Related Content

Future of Toyota Prius: Separate brand, 3 different models

The rumor mill has been churning non-stop about the possibility of Toyota spinning-off the Prius nameplate into a separate brand. You can now file this one under “confirmed” as Toyota’s new green brand has been given the green light. The main goal of the Prius brand will be to bring down the price of hybrids. Toyota is said to be aiming to cut the cost of hybrid technology so much that it would only add $500-$1000 in vehicle cost on the retail end.

The original
Anchoring the brand will be the Prius sedan we’ve known for some years now. The 2010 model year will bring a totally redesigned Prius that is set to debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Along with new sheet metal, the Prius sedan will get a slightly larger motor, moving from a 1.5L to a 1.8L motor. A significant bump in the fuel economy rating is also expected. Whispers of a highway rating anywhere between 60 and 80 mpg have been heard.

With Lithium-ion battery technology still not ready for prime time, the Prius will solider on with a nickel metal hydride battery pack for now.

Big Brother
The first all-new Prius brand vehicle we’ll see will come in the 2012 model year. Based on Toyota’s MC chassis, this vehicle would be larger than current Prius sedan. While design planning is still under way, it’s been said this larger-than-Prius vehicle would come to fruition in a 5-door body style. Possibly something along the lines of Toyota’s foreign market Mark X Zio.

Power is set to come from a new 2.5 liter, four-cylinder, ZR-series motor mated to a next generation version of their Hybrid Synergy Drive. Whether lithium-ion batteries would be ready in time for this car remains to be seen. Pricing for this up-market hybrid should start in the $28,000-$30,000 range.

Little Brother
Toyota will wait until the Yaris is due for a total redesign to launch a smaller-than-Prius vehicle in the 2013 model year. While this new hybrid will share the Yaris chassis, the Prius-brand vehicle is slated to have completely different sheet metal. A 4-door sedan seems to be the format that Toyota will choose for the baby Prius. A vehicle undoubtedly aimed at the Honda Fit Hybrid due in the 2011 model year.

Power will most likely come from a hybridized version of Toyota’s 1.5 liter, four-cylinder. With Toyota aiming for a price point in the upper teens, this model will skip the more expensive lithium-ion batteries in favor of the cheaper, tried and tested, nickel metal hydride battery pack.

Whether any of these vehicles will be plug-in capable remains a question mark. Look for Toyota to officially announce the Prius brand, and possibly show a concept or two, during the upcoming auto show season.

Source

Sphere: Related Content

First Official Photos of New Nissan 370Z

Well, it is not a Honda and definitely not a hybrid, but it will certainly be one of the best sports cars in its class and of course Japanese! I just couldn’t resist posting the first official photos of it, which were released yesterday. Stay tuned for updates in the near future.

Source

Sphere: Related Content

Honda Begins Rail Exports from Swindon Factory

Honda’s car factory in Swindon has begun exporting cars by rail to allow faster transportation of vehicles and reduce the associated environmental impact.

Almost 3,000 trucks a year will be taken off the road following the re-opening of an existing rail head next to the Honda of the UK Manufacturing site at Swindon. Replacing trucks with trains will halve the annual CO2 emissions for one of the key deliveries into Europe.*

The rail head was officially opened earlier today by Rail Minister, Under-Secretary of State, Lord Andrew Adonis.

Up to two trains a week will run from the rail head, with each service transporting over 200 Swindon-built cars to Honda’s European Vehicle Logistics Operations in Gent, Belgium. It’s estimated around 23,000 cars will be exported this way over the course of a year.

“We export Civics and CR-Vs built in Swindon to 60 countries across Europe,” says Simon Stacy, Manager – Logistics Operations at Honda Motor Europe.

“The new rail head and the service it allows will not only deliver Honda cars into Europe faster, but will minimise the amount of trucks travelling in and out of the factory.” The new rail freight terminal links directly to the Honda facility, and has been developed by Kilbride Group. Vehicle logistics company STVA operates the movement service for Honda.

“This new rail option achieves operational improvements combined with quality service delivery,” says Ian Brown, Managing Director of STVA. “It demonstrates that rail can meet a transport logistics challenge while simultaneously minimising environmental impact.” “We are delighted to have provided the infrastructure to enable Honda to move cars by rail through the Channel Tunnel to mainland Europe. The Kilbride Swindon Terminal represents another investment in rail freight infrastructure on behalf of a major industrial customer by the Kilbride Group, following on from the Jaguar Castle Bromwich facility,” said Colin Banyard, Chairman, Kilbride Group.

“Kilbride has carried out both these projects with Legal and General, which are the first two within the £150m Sustainable Development fund set up with Legal and General in April 2007.”


Notes:
• *According to STVA figures
• Honda (UK) already transports cars to Newcastle and Scotland by rail (via Bristol).
• Trains leaving the new rail head in Swindon will carry mostly 5-door and 3-door hatchback Civic models on double-decks
• Up to 243 cars can be transported with each train service
• One road truck can transport eight cars
• One train service could effectively take 30 trucks off the road
• Each train leaves Swindon at approximately 4pm and arrives at Gent, Belgium at 7am the next morning

Source: Honda UK

Sphere: Related Content

Honda R&D Develops Racing Version of Civic Hybrid!

Honda R&D has developed a racing version of Civic Hybrid with 162 ps!!!

Click here to watch the video

Sphere: Related Content