Announcing the award, DrivingElectric Editor Richard Ingram said: “The Lexus RX is a refined and luxurious SUV that shuns its rivals’ diesel engines for advanced hybrid technology. A worthy winner of our Best Premium Hybrid Car award.”

The RX has the distinction of having been the world’s first luxury hybrid vehicle, with the RX 400h introducing the technology to the premium segment in 2004.

Now in its fourth generation, the RX has constantly evolved to deliver higher levels of comfort, refinement and hand-crafted luxury, together with greater efficiency and higher driving rewards from its self-charging hybrid electric system. The range has also grown to include a purpose-designed seven-seat model, the RX-L. Lexus has already sold 500,000 hybrid RX vehicles in the world, including 131,000 in Europe.

The RX has also served as the foundation for Lexus’s development of an extensive SUV range which includes the mid-size NX and the compact UX, introduced in 2019. The UX is leading Lexus’s entry into the battery electric vehicle market with UX 300e, which is currently launched in Europe.

ENDS

European sales of Lexus hybrid SUVs have passed the milestone of a quarter of a million units. The total, recorded at the end of February, represents cumulative sales since the introduction of the RX 400h in 2005, the world’s first luxury hybrid vehicle.

Lexus was an industry pioneer in originating the concept of a luxury SUV with the launch of the original RX model in 1998. Since that ground-breaking innovation, it has introduced new models and constantly improved the performance of its market-leading hybrid electric technology. With more vehicles to choose from and growing customer demand for electrified powertrains that offer superior efficiency, growth in annual sales volumes has accelerated.

As the longest-established model, the RX large luxury SUV accounts for more than half the hybrid sales total, with 127,203 units. Now in its fourth generation, the RX has the added appeal of a seven-seat version, the RX L.

The mid-size NX, launched in 2014, has gained 101,137 hybrid sales, while the most recent addition to the line-up, the UX compact crossover, has enjoyed a strong start since its arrival in 2019 with 22,171 sales and the status of the brand’s current best-selling model.

Lexus is the global leader in sales of electrified vehicles in the premium market, having delivered about 250,000 hybrid vehicles to customers in 2019, and 1.7 million since the launch of the first Lexus hybrid model, the RX 400h in 2005.

January – December 2019 sales results by main regions:

• North America 324,667 +0%
• China 201,783 +25%
• Europe 87,206 +14%
• Japan 62,394 +13%
• East Asia 34,419 +8%
• Middle East 32,421 +8%

Comment from Lexus International President Koji Sato:

” I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to each and every Lexus customer around the world. From the time of our founding, we at Lexus have been earnestly pursuing the spirit of innovation and untiring evolution, and we will continue to take up the challenge of building vehicles that exceed our customers’ expectations.

Looking forward, based on our ‘Lexus Electrified’ vision, we will expand our lineup of electrified vehicles, starting with the launch of our first BEV production model, the UX300e. We will further evolve the Lexus DNA to achieve the ideal balance of ride comfort and quietness with driver confidence and engagement. By applying advanced Lexus technologies such as the integrated control of drive power, learned over many years developing electric motor control technologies in our hybrid vehicles, we will provide an inspiring and enjoyable driving experience unique to Lexus.”

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Cumulative figures up to the end of November 2019 indicate that more than 501,000 new Lexus SUVs have been sold since the RX’s European introduction in 2000.

Now in its fourth generation, the RX remains Lexus’ best-selling SUV model in the region, with almost 275,000 delivered to customers. The RX also had the distinction of being the world’s first luxury hybrid SUV, with the launch of the RX 400h in 2005.

Since that first step, Lexus has continuously improved its self-charging hybrid technology and made it fundamental to its development of new generations of SUVs, including the mid-size NX, added to the line-up in 2014 and the new, compact UX, launched earlier in 2019.

Customers are increasingly keen to embrace Lexus hybrid power for its refinement, well-proven reliability, increasingly rewarding performance, and excellent efficiency. Today, Lexus hybrids can travel up to 50% of the time in zero emissions mode in congested urban environment, without the petrol engine having to be brought into play.

Almost half the 500,000 Lexus SUV sales have been hybrid models, while the proportion compared to conventionally powered versions has grown steadily. So far in 2019, hybrids have accounted for 63% of sales in the region as a whole*, and 96% in the Western European markets.

Lexus’ stable of SUVs also includes non-hybrid LX and GX models, available in Russia and other Eastern markets.

Reference:

*Lexus Europe sales include the European Union countries, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, as well as the following Eastern markets: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Caucasus region, Turkey and Israel.

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The Which? report, based on its own extensive tests and consumer feedback on reliability from more than 40,000 car owners, names the UK’s best and worst car buys. Which? is a brand name used by the Consumers' Association, the largest consumer organisation in the UK.

Faring particularly well in the diverse and fiercely competitive larger SUV segment, the Lexus RX took the prized Which? ‘Our Pick’ spot. As well as being noted for ticking all of the boxes as a luxury SUV, Which? customer survey results position the range-topping Lexus hybrid SUV as “one of the most reliable new cars you can buy”.

Another class leader, the Lexus CT 200h takes top spot as the Which? ‘Our Pick’ medium car. Survey results show that 94 per cent of CT 200h remain trouble-free in the first three years of ownership, proving it to be the most reliable medium car you can buy new today.

Alongside the recognition for individual vehicles, the Which? Car Guide places Lexus as its carmaker of the year in its brand reliability table, with 64 per cent of Lexus models on sale receiving ‘Best Buy’ status.

Full list of Lexus accolades:

Category Model Status

Medium cars Lexus CT 200h (2011-) Our Pick and Best Buy

Used large cars Lexus IS (2005-2012) Best Buy

Used large cars Lexus LS (2007-2012) Best Buy

Larger SUVs Lexus RX Hybrid (2015-) Our Pick and Best Buy

En route to the top spot, Lexus achieved the highest rankings for the interior and comfort, exterior and reliability categories. Significantly, the results are based on the opinions and experiences of car owners rather than experts and commentators, and Britain’s motorists once again responded in their thousands to the survey.

Lexus models also dominated the Driver Power model categories, with the RX taking the award for Best Premium Large SUV and rated best for interior and comfort; the RC coupe emerging as Best Sports Car and best for reliability and build quality; the IS saloon Best Compact Executive Car and runner-up to the Best New Car of the Year; and the GS saloon named Best Executive Car.

Driver Power is the UK’s largest, most comprehensive car satisfaction poll. Success in the survey is based on the first-hand experience of thousands of UK car owners who responded to Driver Power survey questions about the quality, reliability and performance of their vehicle (up to two years old) and the service they receive from retailers and repair shops.

Steve Fowler, Auto Express Editor-in-Chief, said: “It’s fantastic to see Lexus top the Driver Power brand ranking for the third year in a row. The company has a proven track record of building luxurious, desirable and comfortable cars, and the stellar reliability rankings Lexus continually generates will be the envy of many carmakers, too.”

Ewan Shepherd, Director of Lexus in the UK, commented: “It’s 30 years since the Lexus brand was born and it’s always been our aim not just to deliver the best customer service, but also to redefine what great service means to today’s customers. It’s this core commitment to excellence, a line-up of great new products and the hard work and dedication of everyone who works for Lexus – especially our retail partners – that has helped us once again claim top place in the Driver Power manufacturer rankings.”

For more information please visit: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/driver-power

Incisive styling is one of the stand-out features of the Lexus RX luxury crossover, the edges and curves of its sharp yet elegant lines catching the eye and making a strong design statement. This impactful styling is being given extra emphasis in a new addition to the RX range, the new RX Sport.

RX Sport in detail

The RX Sport is distinguished by a series of exterior elements with a matching black finish. This includes a powerfully rendered signature Lexus spindle grille, featuring a sequence of horizontal bars, framed in chrome and flanked by fog lights set in new black surrounds.

The 20-inch alloy wheels have a five-twin-spoke design and are also painted black. The side profile is further punctuated by new black housings for the heated, electrically adjustable door mirrors with integrated turn indicators and auto-folding function.

At the rear a new black diffuser treatment for the lower part of the bumper creates a strong contrast with the bodywork colour while also expressing the RX’s status as a spacious SUV with all-wheel drive capability.

The new RX Sport is available with all powertrains in the range: the self-charging, petrol-electric hybrid RX 450h, the turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol RX 300 and the petrol V6-powered RX 350. It sits at the heart of the RX range as an accessible choice for customers, based on the current best-selling mid/Executive grade. Its introduction follows the successful addition of similar Sport versions to the Lexus CT hatchback, IS saloon and NX compact crossover ranges.

In addition to its specific external features, the RX Sport is equipped to a high level. LED headlights with Automatic High Beam, smooth leather or high-quality fabric upholstery and a nine or 12 -speaker Pioneer premium audio system with, respectively, eight or 12.3-inch Lexus Media Display are all provided as standard. The fourth generation RX has a top five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP and all versions are fitted with the Lexus Safety System + package of active safety and driver assistance features.

The new RX Sport will be available to European customers from February 2018.

The RX success story

The RX has a distinguished history and continues to be one of Lexus’ most popular global models. With its launch of the original RX model in 1998, Lexus can be credited with creating a new class of vehicle, the luxury sport-utility vehicle. The newcomer generated keen public interest, prompting other manufacturers to produce their own interpretations of the premium SUV concept.

Lexus continued to bring design and technical innovation to the segment, most notably with the introduction of its first hybrid-power vehicle, the RX 400h in 2005, paving the way for hybrid to become the brand’s core powertrain technology.

The RX has remained hugely popular, sought by people who need and appreciate the flexibility of a sport-utility vehicle combined with the driving comfort of a premium sedan, presented in an elegant, contemporary design package. To date, more than 234,000 RX have been sold in Europe.

The current RX, the fourth generation model, was launched in late 2015 and is available with a choice of three powertrains: the hybrid RX 450h with electric E-Four all-wheel drive capability; the RX 300 powered by a 238 DIN hp turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine and available with front or all-wheel drive; and the RX 350, featuring a 300 DIN hp direct-injection petrol V6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission.

London, United Kingdom - Last night, Hollywood actor and producer Jude Law starred alongside an elite cast of actors from the world of immersive theatre, in an exclusive interactive show.

The 14-scene odyssey, held at London’s Tom Dixon designed Mondrian hotel and a secret underground bank vault, allowed 100 guests to take centre-stage in the performance and become the star of their very own personalised show. These unwitting participants were catapulted into a live theatrical manifestation of ‘The Life RX’ - a multi-sensorial world of luxury, excitement and thrills, as depicted in the latest TV advert for the new 2016 Lexus RX, which also stars Jude Law.

Each room brought with it new scenarios and unexpected experiences that required guests to improvise in their new persona as an international movie star, whilst the rest of the cast had been fully prepped to work around their specific personalities. The ultimate bespoke performance.

The guests’ new role then took a dramatic turn as award-winning stage and screen legend - and immersive theatre fan - Jude Law surprised them by sharing their ‘red-carpet scene’ finale to the production.

Designed to celebrate the luxury credentials of the new Lexus RX, each carefully crafted scene was inspired by elements of the sharply styled best selling SUV and the extraordinary lifestyle depicted in its TV advert. This creative premise propelled the guests into a multitude of ‘film star’ scenarios, each designed to stimulate the senses in ever more sophisticated ways.

Propelled from one exhilarating scene to the next, en-route guests were laser-guided through underground bank vaults, crawled through giant speakers inspired by Woodstock Sound Engineer, Mark Levinson’s premium acoustics systems, bundled into Lexus RX’s to escape their pursuers, and asked to ride incognito in a customized luxury luggage trolley!

Our stars’ gastronomy skills were tested by a perfectionist, personal chef. Their ‘on-screen presence’ was questioned by cinemas’ media elite. And gaggles of adoring fans threw themselves at our stars during the premier of their very-own movie.

They were even in-demand as fashion muses. Luxury British tailor, Joshua Kane, (playing himself in the production) begged our stars to wear one of his unique creations for the forthcoming awards season. In creating the garment he had used the same expert craftsmanship and hand-stitched techniques seen in the interior of the luxury SUV.

Speaking about the event, Jude Law said: “Immersive theatre is a medium that has interested me for a while now. This is an experience where the audience is in the driving seat, and are taken into an incredibly magical world - having filmed the Life RX ad, being thrust into that world was something I wanted to be a part of. I had a lot of fun and hope everyone who came enjoyed it as much as we did creating it.”

Spiros Fotinos, Head of Marketing at Lexus Europe said: "With ‘The Life RX’ campaign we expressed an attitude that resonates with the modern luxury consumer. Luxury is not only about having the option to do something but actually having the courage to do it and make it your own. This is exactly what we did by staging an unprecedented immersive theatre experience and what we enabled our guests to do. All went through the same 14 scenes but they each experienced something unique and amazing. This bespoke approach reflects the spirit of the Lexus brand and fits perfectly with the bold and innovative character of the new RX."

The event was meticulously produced and directed by an A-list team including the Creative Director of London’s Old Vic Tunnels, Hamish Jenkinson, the Performance Director behind many Secret Cinema classics, Simon Evans, the Sound and Graphic designer from smash-hit immersive experience Punch Drunk, Stephen Dobbie, ‘The Railway Children’s’ award winning Set and Costume Designer, Joanna Scotcher, Moschino and Beyonce Lighting Designer, Tupac Martir and many of the cast from cult immersive theatre shows such as ‘You Me Bum Bum Train’.

‘The Life RX’ immersive experience will be further brought to life using pioneering 360 filming techniques, hidden cameras were placed throughout the experience to allow those who couldn’t attend on the night to enjoy this one off performance at home.

Pictures of the event will be available on February 10 as from 8.30AM CET on Lexus Newsroom: www.newsroom.lexus.eu

‘The Life RX’ TV advert can be found at:

Entering production at the end of 2010 for sale throughout the world, the CT 200h is Lexus' first ever compact, five-door car. It marks the introduction of the first, and only, full hybrid vehicle to the European premium compact segment.

Retaining strong visual links to the LF-Ch concept, the CT 200h has a highly distinctive, sharp-edged, resolute appearance which immediately sets it apart from rivals. Its interior brings unprecedented levels of quality, refinement and progressive luxury to the segment.

Combining a 1.8 litre VVT-i petrol engine and a powerful electric motor, the CT 200h's Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain combines 2.0 litre performance with class leading CO₂ emissions. It offers customers a choice of two distinct driving moods -Dynamic, or Relaxing- in conjunction with four, selectable drive modes.

Featuring a new platform with unique double wishbone suspension architecture to the rear, the Lexus CT 200h has been specifically developed to combine superior driving involvement and handling agility with the ride comfort expected of any Lexus.

Created for those who wish to lower their emissions but not their standards, the CT 200h is new gateway to Lexus, and will bring a younger group of customers to the brand.

LFA

LFA Sales

Since its debut at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, global demand for Lexus' thoroughbred LFA supercar has remained consistently strong, and the level of demand is now in excess of the announced 500 unit production run.

However, Lexus has not yet confirmed any orders, and prospective customers who have not yet registered their interest should not be deterred.

The deadline for receiving initial expressions of interest is set at mid-March, to coincide with the end of the Geneva Motor Show. Thereafter, the process of allocating the 500 units across the 56 countries wherein the LFA is being offered will begin.

Final allocation will be fixed in April, and individual orders confirmed with customers by the end of May.

Customer Information

Encapsulating a broad spectrum of customer profiles from business people to drivers of competition sports cars, some 75-80% of requests for further information or expressions of interest have come from non-Lexus customers.

The remaining 20-25% are Lexus owners already familiar with the unparalleled levels of quality, refinement and technological sophistication which hallmark the brand.

A high percentage of requests have come from customers who have closely followed the different stages of concept car development since the LFA project was started in 2000, and who appreciate its unique, eye-catching design.

A complete information on the LFA including all technical specifications can be found on the USB stick enclosed to this presskit.

RX 450h FWD

Boasting class-leading CO₂ emissions of just 140 g/km, a new, front-wheel drive version of Lexus' full hybrid crossover, the RX 450h FWD, is now on sale in selected European markets.

The RX 450h is the high-performance flagship of the RX range, the third generation of which remains the world's best-selling SUV. Combining smooth, powerful performance with class-leading CO₂, NOx and particulate emissions, the benefits of second generation Lexus Hybrid Drive continue to attract new customers to the brand.

Sales of the RX 450h have been higher than expected, and its segment share has grown significantly in major European markets. This trend is expected to continue, and will be boosted by the arrival of the RX 450h FWD.

The new, front-wheel drive Lexus SUV shares the RX 450h AWD's full hybrid drive powertrain componentry and 220 kW/299 bhp maximum power output, but has no rear transaxle or rear electric motor, effecting a weight saving of some 65 kg. It returns class-leading CO₂ and NOx emissions of 140 g/km and 13 mg/km respectively.

Positioned at the heart of the fleet market and on the significant, 140 g/km European taxation threshold, the new, front-wheel drive Lexus full hybrid crossover reinforces the RX 450h's position as the cleanest and most efficient premium SUV in its class.