Tag Archives: Lexus

NEW CARS

2026 Lexus RX Sharpens Its Look, Expands Performance Options

The Lexus RX, long the sales king of suburban cul-de-sacs, enters 2026 with subtle but notable upgrades that add polish to its already broad lineup. Lexus hasn’t reinvented its bread-and-butter luxury crossover, but it has tightened the stitching, sharpened the looks, and expanded the performance options for buyers who want more than a silent glide to Whole Foods.

2026 Lexus RX 450h

What’s New

Wireless phone charging is finally standard across all trims (about time), and the RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid now gets a new Premium grade, slotting neatly between the existing trims. The F SPORT Handling and F SPORT Performance models—arguably the most interesting RXs—can now be dressed with the new Appearance Package. That bundle includes black exterior trim, a set of 21-inch black-finish split-spoke wheels, and orange brake calipers that scream “I lift, bro” in a segment better known for yoga mats and baby seats. Inside, gray stitching dresses up an otherwise all-black interior.

Platform and Packaging

Still riding on Toyota’s GA-K platform, the RX uses high-strength steel and clever bracing to deliver rigidity without excess weight. Lexus promises sharper handling and a low center of gravity, though at 192.5 inches long and 66 inches wide at the rear track, this is still a sizable machine. The rear multi-link suspension and well-placed battery packs in hybrid models free up respectable cargo and passenger space, while a lowered loading floor makes Costco runs less of a CrossFit workout.

Powertrain Smorgasbord

As before, the RX menu offers something for everyone:

  • RX 350: A 275-hp 2.4-liter turbo four paired with an eight-speed automatic and available AWD. Smooth, torquey, and adequate for most buyers.
  • RX 350h: A 246-hp hybrid with a nickel-metal hydride battery. Efficiency is the headline here, not speed.
  • RX 450h+: The plug-in hybrid gets the NX’s 2.5-liter four and lithium-ion pack. With 38 miles of EV range, 85 MPGe, and a 6.2-second sprint to 60, it’s the sweet spot for green-leaning luxury buyers.
  • RX 500h F SPORT Performance: The wild card. A 366-hp turbo-hybrid with Lexus’s DIRECT4 AWD system, six-piston brakes, and available rear-wheel steering. Lexus wants you to believe this is a performance SUV. Michelin Pilot Sport rubber and a bespoke suspension tune make a convincing case, though it’s still more commuter missile than Nürburgring slayer.
2026 Lexus RX 350

Tech and Comfort

Inside, the RX continues its “Japanese minimalism meets tech lounge” vibe. A 9.8-inch touchscreen is standard, but most buyers will spring for the crisp 14-inch unit. Lexus’s latest Drive Connect infotainment system is fully cloud-enabled, voice-controlled via “Hey Lexus,” and comes with a generous three-year trial. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and six USB-C ports are scattered throughout the cabin.

As for creature comforts, Lexus offers six interior colorways, available Mark Levinson audio with 21 speakers, and mood lighting with 64 selectable colors. Optional ventilated rear seats and power-folding second rows remind you this is a Lexus, even if you checked the sporty F SPORT box.

Safety and Driver Assistance

The RX comes with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which now includes Curve Speed Management (slowing for corners during adaptive cruise), Proactive Driving Assist (gentle steering and braking), and the usual suite of lane-keeping and pre-collision aids. Remote Park and digital key functionality extend the tech halo further.

The Bottom Line

The RX has never been about thrills; it’s about quiet confidence, refinement, and bulletproof resale value. For 2026, Lexus layers on just enough athleticism and tech to keep it competitive with German rivals without alienating the loyalists who’ve been keeping dealers busy since the Clinton administration.

Is the RX 500h F SPORT Performance truly a performance SUV? Not quite—but in the world of Lexus, where subtlety trumps drama, it’s about as rowdy as things get. For everyone else, the plug-in 450h+ and its usable EV range will probably be the smarter play.

The 2026 Lexus RX arrives in dealerships later this year. Expect pricing to stay close to the current range, with most buyers easily eclipsing the $60,000 mark once they start ticking boxes.

Pricing

Source: Lexus

CONCEPT CARS

Lexus LFR: The LFA’s Spiritual Successor or the LC500’s Angrier Cousin?

Well, this was unexpected. You go to The Quail expecting to be fed canapés and watch a billionaire try to reverse a McLaren Speedtail into a hedge, and Lexus turns up with something that looks like it escaped from Gran Turismo 8. They’re calling it the Sport Concept—which sounds like what a PowerPoint file would be named before marketing gets involved—but we all know what’s really going on here. This is the first proper glimpse of what we’ve been whispering about for ages: the Lexus LFR.

And, my word, it’s gorgeous. Imagine an LFA and an LC500 got stuck in a wind tunnel together, were left overnight, and in the morning you found this thing sitting there with a smug grin.

Lexus is keeping its cards closer to its chest than a poker player at the world championships, but here’s what we do know. It’s a front-engine, rear-drive, twin-turbo V8 job with what’s likely a rear transaxle—because the engine’s pushed so far back it’s practically trying to escape into the firewall. There’s a Toyota twin too, but that one won’t be coming to the US. Shame. Oh, and it’s going to form the bones for Toyota’s next GT3 race car, which means under all that concept flash, this thing is serious.

The details are delicious: exhaust pipes hiding under the rear wing like some secret weapons system, giant rear vents that could have been lifted from the LFA’s design sketchbook, and big side intakes that might feed cooling air to brakes, the gearbox, or possibly the afterburners. On the rear brake light, there are four tiny fans—no one’s saying what they do, but it’s the sort of thing that makes car nerds rub their hands like Victorian villains.

Of course, it’s still very much a concept car. There’s no interior—just blacked-out windows—and even the Bridgestone logos were shaved off the tyres, presumably so we’d focus on the bodywork rather than start price-matching rubber. But Lexus’s promise that the production car will look “a lot like this” is enough to have us making the sort of noise you normally reserve for spotting a wild Ferrari F40 in traffic.

Fun fact: Toyota and Lexus actually benchmarked the AMG GT R when developing it, because it’s one of the best front-engine, rear transaxle sports cars in recent memory. This explains the proportions, the long bonnet, and the confident stance. It’s also a cheeky nod that Lexus isn’t aiming for “good for a Lexus” anymore—they’re aiming for world class.

The last time Lexus gave us a truly uncompromising sports car, it was called the LFA. It had a screaming V10, cost as much as a country estate, and was instantly one of the best cars on Earth. Now, this? This looks like they might be ready to do it again—but with turbos, race-car DNA, and just enough attitude to make the Germans sweat.

Brace yourselves. The LFR might just be coming. And it’s not here to play nice.

Source: Lexus; Photo: Brian Silvestro / Motor1

News

Man Sues Toyota Over Recall—Doesn’t Check If His Car Is Even In It

Recalls are an inevitable part of the modern automotive industry—a reflection of manufacturers’ commitment to safety, but also a source of frustration for owners. Some drivers ignore recall notices for years. Others, like one Lexus RX owner in New York, take a far more aggressive approach—filing a lawsuit before even confirming whether their vehicle is actually included.

In early February, Toyota issued a recall for certain 2025 Toyota Camry, 2025 Lexus NX, and 2024–2025 Lexus RX models. The campaign, affecting roughly 41,000 vehicles, addresses a potentially defective second-row seat belt that may have been damaged during manufacturing. Toyota estimates the defect exists in fewer than one percent of recalled vehicles, and any confirmed faulty seat belt will be replaced at no cost.

That wasn’t enough reassurance for plaintiff Mark M., who claims Toyota owes him compensation for “hours of his time,” “a vehicle that has been devalued,” and “the cost to transport himself and his defective class vehicle” to a certified service center. His legal complaint also argues that the remedy—a complete seat belt replacement for affected vehicles—is insufficient, insisting the car’s value would remain diminished even after repair.

However, there’s one glaring issue with the case so far: it’s unclear whether Mark’s Lexus RX is even part of the recall. Toyota’s legal team has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, pointing out that the plaintiff never alleged facts confirming his vehicle’s inclusion. The automaker noted that identifying affected vehicles is straightforward—owners can check by entering their VIN or license plate on Toyota’s recall lookup tool.

For now, the future of the case is uncertain. Toyota awaits a ruling on its motion to dismiss, while the legal standoff underscores a curious reality of the recall process—sometimes, the legal drama begins before the repairs do.

Source: Toyota