ROME – You don’t live on technology alone. The concept has been clear since the car was born, which with its shapes has captivated generations of enthusiasts of all kinds, from those devoted to sports cars to those more inclined to the traditional sedan and so on. This identical concept is now found in the folds of Lexus’ designs, which has applied to the new RX that same “Next Chapter” philosophy introduced with the new generation of NX. It is an approach through which style directly communicates the performance of the car and the quality of the driving experience.
This is explained by Nozomi Hirai, head of exterior design. “The first thing we wanted to express was a bold design and trim, with a low center of gravity and a feeling of solidity. To do this, we thought of a longitudinal design, from front to back … raising the front of the hood and lowering the lower edge of the rear window, compared to the current RX. By lowering the waistline, we compressed the area above the wheels, creating a solid, low center of gravity and a decidedly solid appearance. “
But the new model also had to be recognizable as an RX, with details referencing its legacy as the world’s first premium SUV. Therefore, the Next Chapter design has taken the concept of the hourglass shape from the characteristic Lexus grille to create a new body effect. Grille that has meanwhile been reinterpreted as a seamless unit: integrated into the bodywork, it is also an expression of the electrified power of the RX. The arrangement of the new slim headlights and a 50mm wider front track also add emphasis to the car’s lower center of gravity and planted appearance.
“At the rear we have kept the characteristic effect suspended roof of RX created by a hidden D-pillar, but with a more evident three-dimensional appearance ”, explain the mimes of Hirai’s team. “This combines with a roofline that has been lowered by 10mm to generate a coupe-like silhouette. The appearance of a compact and powerful rear is accentuated by a shorter overhang and a wide transition from the muscular wheel arches to the taillights, which in turn have been set in a bright line that extends the full width of the car and wraps around the corners to increase the wider look ”. (fp)