Three Row Lexus RX to Debut at LA Auto Show

Posted by Kevin on November 15th, 2017

After months of speculation, the rumors have been confirmed — Lexus will introduce a long wheelbase RX crossover at the LA Auto Show later this month.

Details are sparse right now, with just the teaser image above and a short press release so far:

How can the top-selling Lexus RX get even better? Make more of it. The all-new 2018 RX 350L, now featuring three rows, will make its World Premiere at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show. The hybrid model, the RX 450hL, will also be announced. The RX that paved the way for the luxury crossover segment 20 years ago will retain its stylish figure while also providing more flexibility for passengers.

The RX 350L will be revealed at the Lexus Press Conference taking place on November 29, 2017 at 10:00 am PST in the South Hall at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

In comparing the teaser image with the existing model, there’s no obvious difference outside of the badge:

Lexus RX Current

This is an important detail, as the tail light is always one of the main changes made in a mid-cycle refresh — from this image alone, it would suggest that the RX L will be introduced as a near carbon-copy of the current RX.

And here we are, the most important model in the Lexus lineup will see its most significant change since the introduction of the hybrid powertrain — what do you think?

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Comments
Trexus
spwolf
Nissan has certainly not abandoned Infiniti, but they cant wave a magic wand to introduce 10 new models they need...
Infiniti hasn't had a flagship since the Q45. Bring back the original naming structure.

Q45 = LS
M45 = GS
G37 = IS
I35 = ES
mmcartalk
Trexus
Infiniti hasn't had a flagship since the Q45. Bring back the original naming structure.

Q45 = LS
M45 = GS
G37 = IS
I35 = ES

The last-generation Q45 didn't sell in the U.S., though. Just sat in the showrooms. They couldn't give it away, even with 10K or more discounts.
meth.ix
Infiniti is getting better in my opinion and (seems like) it isn't that much of a rebadged Nissan with a couple more features anymore. Acura however, is pretty disappointing and Honda seems to have put little effort into their Acura models. One thing that would help both these companies would be to become a worldwide manufacturer instead of just in North America (that's what I'm aware of) and being sold with the Nissan/Honda badge elsewhere. This would help the brands differentiate more and make them higher priorities for their parent companies. After all, it's working for Toyota.
S
Trexus
Infiniti hasn't had a flagship since the Q45. Bring back the original naming structure.

Q45 = LS
M45 = GS
G37 = IS
I35 = ES
Infiniti made the mistake of letting its second-in-line creep into the flagship so today's Q70 ended up in no-man's land. They wanted the M to be more competitive but ended up making it too big and powerful that eventually dethroned the Q. It's like Mercedes saying "screw the S-class let's just make a really big E-class LWB". Although to be fair, the main problem has always been that the Q45 didn't achieve the level of success LS enjoyed.
krew
Joaquin Ruhi
Autoweek's rendering of what the RX L could look like:

Honestly, I don't mind it. The front overhang is the only real fault I see with the RX design, so bulking up the rear to match is almost unnoticeable.

This rendering is great, and proves the RX L is going to be a home run for Lexus.
krew
Moved the Infiniti talk to The Garage:

https://lexusenthusiast.com/forums/threads/whats-wrong-with-infiniti.4034/
Ian Schmidt
krew
Honestly, I don't mind it. The front overhang is the only real fault I see with the RX design, so bulking up the rear to match is almost unnoticeable.

This rendering is great, and proves the RX L is going to be a home run for Lexus.
Agreed, the larger rear overhang balances out the design really nicely.
krew
krew [​IMG]

Autoweek takes a guess at the seven-seat crossover.
View the original article post
ThePenguin
It's weird to see the gas door on the driver's side :confused:

Overall, I think the rendering looks good. This whole process won't be a simple feat, but the overall flow of the vehicle looks to have ultimately stayed the same.
Joaquin Ruhi
ThePenguin
It's weird to see the gas door on the driver's side :confused:
Depends on whether you consider the "driver's side" the left or the right (not sure where you're from).

[​IMG]
[​IMG]
I immediately picked up on the discrepancy in the fuel filler on the 2 left side shots (present in the RX L, absent in the RX) used in Krew's article. It seems to me that the fuel filler door is on the left side of the RX, regardless of market. I've been through the galleries on Lexus' official U.S. (LHD), Japan, UK and Australia sites (all RHD), and each and every photo has the 4RX fuel filler on the left side. It seems that the RX shot Krew selected above was originally facing right but was flopped to face left via Photoshop (thus explaining the missing fuel filler door).

The other noteworthy take from the two illustrations is how a beefier, wider rear fender flare in the RX L (especially on the top and rear/trailing edge) cleverly helps mask the RX L's longer rear overhang.

My final comment: if the rearmost side window in the RX L (between the C and D pillars) is that shallow in the production RX L, the poor 3rd-row passengers will be subject to some major claustrophobia...
krew
Joaquin Ruhi
It seems that the RX shot Krew selected above was originally facing right but was flopped to face left via Photoshop (thus explaining the missing fuel filler door).

The other noteworthy take from the two illustrations is how a beefier, wider rear fender flare in the RX L (especially on the top and rear/trailing edge) cleverly helps mask the RX L's longer rear overhang.
I can't get away with anything! :eek:

Yeah, I flipped the image because I wanted it identical to the rendering. Good eye! :praise:
Joaquin Ruhi
krew
I can't get away with anything! :eek:

Yeah, I flipped the image because I wanted it identical to the rendering. Good eye! :praise:
LOL! :joy:
maiaramdan
Dead by born
Joe
  • Joe
    Joe
  • November 22, 2017
krew
krew [​IMG]


Autoweek's effort is a nice try, and the sizes of front and rear overhang are a nice match, indeed.
But if you look at the real camouflated stuff on the above picture, it seems to me that the line above the rear wheel arch keeps the same shape as on the 5 seater and the back door's window is more vertical than on Autoweek's try-out (where the angle looks the same as on the 5-seater).

J