Lately, Lexus has been rethinking its market strategy for the US market ever since it decided to pull back its CT 200h car model due to decrease in sales. The exit of CT 200h had created a void and it was widely speculated that Lexus might launch crossover SUV models for strengthening its position in the US market. Crossovers and SUVs contribute towards 60% of Lexus’s sales in the US market.
New launches
Lexus’s RX crossover and the LX SUV product lines have been very popular in worldwide as well as within the USA where the respective models have achieved record sales. The RX line of crossovers has also gained popularity in the Dubai market. In fact, the RX350 won the ‘Middle East Car of the Year’ award in 2016 in the Best Small SUV Category’.
Speculations within the car industry were proved right when Lexus launched the 2018 Lexus RX 350L and the 2018 RX 450hL, the three-row versions of the popular crossover. Lexus has also launched a more spacious 2018 LX 570, the two-row version of the SUV.
The new Lexus RX models
The RX 350L gets 286 bhp by a 3.5-litre V6 engine and the hybrid RX 450hL gets 304 bhp by the Lexus Hybrid Drive system. Lexus has beefed up the safety features in the RX-L models. The three rows of seats are protected by full-length side curtain airbags.
Moreover, the crossover models are equipped with standard Lexus safety system features like Lane Keep Assist, Intelligent High Beams, All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision system, Blind Spot Monitor with Intuitive Park Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Braking.
The 2018 LX 570 model
The LX 570 will be boosted by a 5.7-litre V8 engine that delivers 383 bhp to the SUV. Initially, the LX 570 has three rows of seats. However, Lexus found that customers rarely utilized the third row and hence the company removed the third row for offering more cargo space. The SUV’s exteriors are quite similar to the current version but the leather-trimmed interiors are offering plenty of novelties.
Some of the nice features include a four-zone automatic climate control, power tailgate and moonroof. The SUV is equipped with 20-inch wheels and the 12.3 display screen is integrated with the smartphone.
