Lexus RX test drive since 2008 SUV

Lexus RX 450h. Fly of butterfly

Lexus RX 450h. Price: from $ 89200. On sale: since July 2009
Lexus, following the updated gasoline RX 350, displays the RX 450H to the market and the hybrid crossover of the second generation. The first acquaintance with the new Japanese hybrid took place in the vicinity of the Magyar capital
Test pilot
Vladimir Makkaveev, 31 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience of 12 years, personal car - Volvo C30
We sit behind the wheel of the RX 450H, click the Start button, transfer the automatic unaccounted box to the Drive position and enjoy silence. It seems that Lexus does not think to wake up. But it is worth removing the leg from the brake pedal, and the two -ton RX 450h is inaudible, like a Japanese butterfly omurasaki from a flower, slipping from the parking lot of the Budapest airport Feriched on the highway.
The route is designed in such a way as to simulate the mixed operation cycle. A short manipulation of the Remote Touch with a branded joystick created and like a computer mouse, and a permanent fuel consumption diagram and a power supply diagram of the power plant, which allow the RX 450H fuel mode, appear on the multimedia system screen.
In the bowels of the Japanese hybrid, not one, but three hearts with a total capacity of 299 liters lurks. With. 249 horses from this herd are on the share of a gasoline engine borrowed from the RX 350. True, in the process of adapting the basic engine to the hybrid drive, the designers had to fork out on a tax of 28 horses. Unlike RX gasoline, in the hybrid, instead of the Otto cycle, the Atkinson cycle is used, which, due to a slight loss of power, significantly reduces the temperature of the engine.
However, all the RX 450H power-wing losses are completely compensated by a hybrid drive built according to a consistent parallel scheme that allows not only the use of electric motors to increase the traction characteristics of the gasoline engine, but also to bring the car both gasoline, and electric or both energy sources at the same time. RX electric motors did not undergo changes: exactly the same two electric motors with a capacity of 167 liters. With. in front and 68 l. With. The first generation of the RX 400H hybrid crossover stood behind. The capacity of the batteries remained the same, except that the batteries themselves were somewhat modified for better cooling.
As a result, despite the formal decrease in the power of the gasoline engine and an increase in the mass of the car compared to the RX 350 by 120-135 kg, the dynamic characteristics of the RX 450H are even better than that of the mono -aggregate RX. The hybrid accelerates up to a hundred only 7.8 s 0.2 s faster RX 350. At the same time, the fuel consumption of a hybrid crossover is several times lower than that of a gasoline counterpart. Of course, we, of course, did not reach the 6.3 l per 100 km of the mixed cycle during the Hungarian test. But 6.8 liters per 100 km with a fairly comfortable mode of movement on the premium segment SUV is a truly outstanding indicator. The next day, having flushed for the purity of the experiment in Pesk traffic jams, we simulated the everyday regime of a resident of the Russian metropolis. However, it was not possible to significantly increase the gluttony of the hybrid. In the first traffic jam, the gasoline engine fell asleep in a dead dream, and the electric motors, as if afraid to wake it, almost 1.5 kilometers quietly pushed RX along the streets of the Hungarian capital. As a result, despite traffic, for the entire 50 -kilometer flight with a butterfly speed along the streets of Budapest, we barely spent 4.3 liters of fuel.
Features of operation
In operational terms, the differences between the second -generation RX hybrid RX and the RX 350 gasoline are very insignificant. The frequency is the same as that of the monoggenic fellow 10,000 km. And the service life of the batteries of the hybrid installation, as in the case with the lithium-ion drive of Mercedes-Benz, corresponds to the service life of the entire car. At the same time, according to the assurances of their creators, the negative impact on the environment during the future processing of batteries of the hybrids that has outlived their age is minimized. 99% of the components of the batteries are subject to processing.
One of the features of the operation of the Japanese hybrid is some restrictions imposed when moving on electric motors. Although the Lexus RX 450H is able to overcome up to 3 kilometers on an electric protrusion without activating a gasoline engine, however, it is not worth it to relax, in the hope of getting to the nearest gas station, if necessary. The engineers of the manufacturer categorically prohibit the operation of a hybrid with an empty tank, as this can adversely affect the hybrid installation. But Russian frosts, according to the Japanese, do not care about the new hybrid. Tests at minus temperatures up to 50C did not reveal the fall of batteries. Although, with prolonged operation in conditions of severe frosts, a certain decrease in the density of nickel-metallological batteries is likely to avoid, most likely, it will still not be possible.

Driving
The manipulation of motors operation schemes is very exciting. In terms of controllability, almost no different from the gasoline RX.
Salon
The combination of apparent simplicity and maximum ergonomics give a typically Japanese approach to the formation of style.
Comfort
For the benefit of handling, the suspension became a little tougher than the first generation RX hybrid.
Safety
10 airbags. 42% of the parts are made of high -strength steel.
Price
Prestige and innovation are always worth money.

Advantages and disadvantages
+ The possibility of complete autonomy of movement on electric motors, minimum fuel consumption, low level of emissions CO2.
- significant mass and volume of batteries.

Specifications
Mark and model - Lexus RX 450h
Dimensions - 4770x1885x1685 mm
Engine - gasoline + 2 electric motors, 3456 cm3, 249/299* hp/6000 min.
Transmission - automatic, unacceptable KP
Dynamics - max 200 km/h; 7.8 s to 100 km/h
Competitors - BMW X5, Audi Q7

Our opinion
In Russia, every year the percentage of hybrid sales in the total Lexus increases by 78%. With the advent of updated models, these numbers will only grow. Indeed, unlike the United States and Europe, we have the demand for hybrids is determined not so much by their economic and environmental performance characteristics as fashion for an innovative drive.

Author: Vladimir Makkaveev
 
 
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [July 2009]