Test drive Lexus RX 2004 - 2008 SUV

Your life

It is believed that the combination of high speed characteristics, efficiency and environmental friendliness in one car is impossible. By releasing the Lexus RX400H, the world's first hybrid premium premium, Toyota proved the opposite.

In appearance, this is the usual Lexus RX300, many of which drive along the roads of our planet. But in fact, the RX400H car is unique. Like no other, he lives his own, unknown inexperienced life. The secret lies in the symbol H, meaning that Lexus RX400H is a hybrid. Brr, it does not sound very. Something like a cyborg. Meanwhile, this is just a certificate of using a benzoelectric power plant.

Toyota sat down on hybrid technologies more than seven years ago and ran into more than 120 thousand cars. The most obvious example of a car Prius. Now here has appeared an all -wheel drive Sport Utility Vehicle. Based on the popular RX300, the hybrid version is indexed as a four hundredth to reflect significantly greater power than that of a gasoline counterpart. So, the return of the hybrid power tandem (3.3-liter V6 and two electric motors on the front and rear axles) is 270 hp, which is more than 70 horses exceeds the three hundredth indicator. In addition to three engines, the components of the highly intellectual power plant are a generator, a planetary power distribution mechanism, an electronic power control unit and a high-voltage nickel-metallogid battery (by the way, designed for the entire service life of the car).

After turning the ignition key, the RX400H begins its secret activity. When touched from a place and movement on a small (approximately 10 km/h) speeds, only electric motors are used. The car is silent, like a ghost, removed from the anchor. Pressing on the gas pedal activates the main engine (automatic launch is accompanied only by muffled rumbling), which in combination with both eletromotors and, accordingly, in all -wheel drive mode provides smooth acceleration. Non -ows, by the way: 7.6 seconds to hundreds by 1.4 is better than that of the lighter RX300. At the same time, the battery additionally supplies electric motors with pre -accumulated energy, increasing the potential of the gasoline engine.

With uniform movement, for example, along the highway, Lexus becomes front -wheel drive. The main engine is now operating, through the generator feeding the front electric motor. Due to excess power V6, the battery is also recharged. Of course, it does not require stationary recharging. And the control system vigilantly makes sure that the batteries do not run out.

When braking (all -wheel drive is involved), electric motors turn into a recovery mode, converting kinetic energy into electric, which is accumulated in the battery. It is worth stopping, and the gasoline engine automatically turns off to save fuel. If at the same time remained, say, a climatic installation or headlights, then the V6 will periodically start for recharging.

Excluding the hybrid specificity of the RX400H in sled sensations, it differs little from the gasoline counterpart: the same rustle of the steering wheel, the same informative brakes, compromise-compromise suspension ... Unless the additional thrust of the hybrid heart creates the impression of a more powerful engine than it really is. The Lexus electric accelerator is akin to turbocharged. But if the turbine often sins in the failures, then in this case the energy is transmitted with lightning speed. The effect is enhanced by a stranded transmission, distributing traction effort to the wheels in one breath. It is curious that RX400H with an average fuel consumption of 8.1 l/100 km per third more economically RX300.

Inside, the car is akin to the same RX300. Little rethought is the design of the instrument panel and the transmission selector. A seven -inch information display may, among other auxiliary certificates, give out a graph of energy costs with the number of the recharge manufactured by the machine or the functional scheme of the units at the moment. Due to the small size and competent layout of the nodes (the battery, for example, hidden under the rear seat), the dimensions of the salon and trunk correspond to the numbers of the three hundredth.

The creators of the machine also assure that due to the modified suspension and the new movement control system (VDIM), which connects ABS, trac-control, the exchange rate stability system, the steering wheel, accelerator, transmission and is extremely high-speed, car controllability has been significantly improved.

By the way, no matter how outwardly the RX400H resembles a gasoline counterpart, it can be identified according to the original optics, the personal design of the radiator and wheeled discs.

Despite its electrical essence, the hybrid has not lost excellent off -road qualities: it confidently climbs on mountain steeps and forced the dead puddles. In general, the car is noble. Dear, really. For Russia, the price of $ 77,300 ($ 11,000 is more expensive than the maximum packed RX300), but taking into account extraordinary qualities and economy, Toyota engineers say that in terms of reliability and performance in harsh winter conditions, the new hybrid SUV does not differ from the usual.

It remains to mention the purity of the exhaust corresponding to strict Euro-4 standards, thanks to which, by the way, the car is in high demand among the Americans turned to the environmental friendliness.

Surprisingly, we have also formed a solid package of preliminary orders. Probably because, although Lexus RX400h and lives his life, he is able to improve the life of its owner to a large extent.

Technical characteristics Lexus RX400H

Equipped mass, kg 2040
Full mass, kg 2505
Dimensions, mm:
- length 4755
- Width 1845
- Height 1670
Base, mm 2715
Trunk volume, l 439
Maximum speed, km/h 200
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, from 7.6
Control consumption of fuel, l/100 km:
- City cycle 9.1
- Zagorodny 7.6
- Mixed 8.1
Engines:
- type of benz., V6, 24-valve; front and rear electric motor
- working volume, cm3 3311 //
- power, KW at min-1 155/5600; 123/4500; 50/46105120
- General. Power. hybrid. power plant, L.S. 272
- torque, NM at MIN-1 288/4400; 333/01500; 130/0610
Transmission electron., Bestensench., Full -wheel drive
Tire size 235/55R18
Wheel suspension (front and rear) Mcpherson
Brakes (front/rear) disk., Ventyl./Disk.
Steering gear-rake, with eur
Price, $ 77 300

Text: Igor Kuznetsov
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [07/2005]