According to a Lexus Canada press release, the 2013 Lexus RX 350 F Sport will be getting an eight-speed transmission:
The 8-speed automatic transmission of the RX 350 F SPORT version is now equipped with a steering wheel-mounted paddle shift control. The paddle switches can be used even with the gear selector in D range, allowing the driver to quickly change to fixed range mode without the need to engage S range via the gear lever.
As one of the rumors floating around in the weeks before the RX F Sport’s official debut, this upgraded transmission was never mentioned in any of the Geneva Motor Show press materials — in fact, the Lexus Europe press release states that the RX 350 F Sport would have the standard six-speed transmission:
The 6-speed automatic transmission of the RX 350 F SPORT versions is now equipped with a steering wheel-mounted paddle shift control.
As for the USA, the eight-speed transmission was confirmed today during Lexus USA’s monthly sales conference call — quoting Lexus General Manager Mark Templin:
Equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and a specially tuned F Sport suspension, the RX F Sport will add a little more EDGE to the RX lineup.
I’ll see what details I can get during this week at the New York Auto Show, but I’m happy to see the RX F Sport getting such a major mechanical upgrade.
[Source: Lexus Canada & Lexus USA]
No discussion thread for this article yet.