Lexus RX chief engineer Takayuki Katsuda explains that while there is considerable dealer demand for a seven-seat crossover, it won’t be an RX with an extra row — from Australian website Car Advice:
“It’s depending on the market demand, and also as you say it is a fact that many of voices have requested us to do a seven-seater,” Katsuda said.
“But at this moment we have no schedule or I cannot say anything about a future project issue,” he said. “But such kind of request, and the voice is there. That is a fact.”
“But from the design, or technical design view point, it is, in principal, impossible because the third row seat makes the C-pillar or D-pillar areas have to be a little bit bulky, bulky or square,” he said.
This would suggest that should a three-row Lexus crossover come to market, it would be an all-new model — of course, this doesn’t explain the mysterious RX prototype spotted with its rear panels covered with camouflage.
One more interesting quote from the Car Advice story:
“We are not a practical brand – of course practicality of the car is needed, but practical image is not suiting for the Lexus, that is Toyota’s role,” Katsuda said.
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