[Auto] Fifteen years after its arrival, the RX 400h takes on the Lexus UX 250h hybrid crossover

[SougarLord]

 

To celebrate the anniversary, Lexus put the UX 250h hybrid crossover 'head to head' with its pioneer, the RX400h, at its Zaventem technical center in Belgium.

 

While the RX 400h boasts the smoothness and refinement of the engine worthy of a “factory new” vehicle, even after 15 years of intense use, the new UX 250h sets new standards of hybrid efficiency and dynamism.

 

To celebrate more than 15 years of leadership in self-charging hybrid technology, Lexus brought the fourth generation of the UX 250h hybrid crossover 'head to head' with the pioneering Lexus RX 400h hybrid crossover, at its state-of-the-art Zaventem Test Center and Technical Center. , in Belgium.

 

The UX 250h offers a very compact-like ride

In near-perfect conditions offered by the Zaventem test track, while the RX 400h premium crossover showed impressively refined performance, steering response and straight-line stability, the UX 250h is mostly inspired by one person: Akio Toyoda, Lexus Master Driver, who insists you have to enjoy driving every new Lexus. This ambitious goal went through the creation of a new platform of great rigidity, as the perfect base to achieve a handling of the hybrid crossover similar to that of a compact.

 

Lowest center of gravity in the category

Thanks to its new platform and the location of the hybrid battery, the UX 250h has the lowest center of gravity in its category. This feature, essential for the vehicle's dynamic performance, is complemented by the weight reduction measures adopted in the body structure, such as the use of lightweight aluminum in the side doors, fenders and bonnet.

 

Combining the power of a gasoline engine with one or more electric motors, Lexus self-charging hybrids have always been the benchmark when it comes to electrifying luxury cars.

 

Lexus hybrids self-charge when driving or braking, so owners never have to plug them in or worry about battery life. Now in its fourth generation, in addition to offering refined power and control, Lexus' self-charging hybrid system is more efficient and generates significantly less emissions than conventional gasoline or diesel engines.

 

Maintenance-free advanced hybrid engineering

 

 

On the test track, the RX 400h continues to roll as smooth and refined as it did when it left the Kyushu plant in 2005. The reason is that most competing hybrid systems are based on direct multi-drive transmissions. speeds or automatic transmissions, which contain multiple clutches and actuators, which can suffer from wear.

 

Instead, Lexus' hybrid transaxle design offers a system that, in addition to minimizing repair bills, ensures a superior driving experience throughout the life of the vehicle.

 

UX 250h: Fourth Generation of Lexus Self-Charging Hybrid System

In the move to the UX 250h, there has been a quiet revolution under the hood of Lexus hybrids since the RX 400h. By ceasing to be a technology reserved for the more expensive reference models, the fourth generation Lexus self-charging hybrids, such as the UX 250h and ES 300h, offer lower fuel consumption and lower emissions, while allowing to cover long distances. longer in all-electric mode. At the same time, overall power, responsiveness and ride quality have been pushed to higher levels.

 

Over the past 25 years, Lexus and Toyota have filed more than 24,000 patents related to self-charging hybrid technology and electric vehicles; more than any other automaker.

 

To reaffirm its leadership in this area, in 2018 Toyota Motor Corp. announced that it would grant royalty-free access to its patents for hybrid vehicles and others that incorporate electrification technologies.

 

First-class gasoline engine efficiency

If the powerful 3.3-liter V6 gasoline engine in the RX 400h was revolutionary in its day, the new 2.0-liter engine in the UX 250h incorporates technical innovations, such as rapid combustion technology, that make it the most thermally efficient of any production vehicle. Around sixty different prototypes were designed to evaluate new technologies before conducting more than 10 million kilometers of road tests.

 

Fourth generation battery technology

Like the RX 400h, the UX 250h relies on the proven quality of the luxury brand's nickel hydride (NiMH) technology in its most advanced form. The number of cells has increased, thus achieving a higher battery power, which is used more actively, while the size of the battery has decreased, thanks to the optimization of the internal layout and the adoption of a system more compact cooling.

 

More compact, lighter and extremely reliable batteries

Lexus has used nickel hydride (NiMH) battery technology to power most of its 1.7 million hybrids. This technology is extremely reliable, in principle lasts longer than the vehicle itself and can be recycled more easily than other battery materials. Continuous ‘kaizen’ improvements introduced over the last 25 years have resulted in a 50 percent weight reduction and 60 percent size reduction in this battery technology, at a very cost-efficient addition.

 

More than 50 percent of the time in zero emission mode

Designed for driving largely in busy urban areas, the UX 250h takes the benefits of Lexus self-charging hybrid technology to new heights. Recent tests carried out in Belgium show that 57 percent of the time the UX 250h runs with the gasoline engine off, and that almost 45 percent of the vehicle's tractive power is drawn from the electric motor, while 34 percent of the power used to propel the wheels is generated by the simple act of braking.

 

Exterior design

Parked alongside its pioneering rowmate, the new UX 250h exhibits a bolder design and a much more athletic stance, accentuated by its bold body lines, Lexus signature grille and triple L-shaped LED headlamps. At the rear, the combined one-piece headlamps are not only eye-catching, but also aerodynamically efficient.

 

The headlights have integrated fins to reduce turbulence, while improving rear stability when cornering, as well as with side winds. The UX 250h crossover, which is now Lexus 'best-selling model in Europe, has also made Lexus' self-charging hybrid system available to many more customers.

 

Interior design and technology

 

 

When you get behind the wheel, you can see the undeniable sense of luxury and crossover refinement that continues to be seen in the cabin of the RX 400h. The RX 400h's equipment list is also impressive, with technologies such as multi-zone climate control, Mark Levinson® premium stereo with 11 speakers, and high-intensity discharge headlamps - HID, High Intensity Discharge - that would not seem out of place. place in no current luxury model.

 

Above all, what stands out is the advancement in on-board technologies. Today, UX 250h owners can enjoy innovations previously reserved for flagship models, such as a 10.3-inch multimedia display with Wide View Monitor, extra-large front viewfinder, and a Mark Levinson® Premium Surround sound system with 13 speakers.

 

And, perhaps more importantly, if the RX 400h was the first crossover to feature Comprehensive Dynamic Vehicle Management –VDIM, Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management–, the new UX 250h incorporates the innovative Lexus Safety System +, which includes Pre-collision safety, now with daytime and nighttime pedestrian detection and daytime cyclist detection.