Shield is, however, great for pranks. We enjoyed spraying "Honk if you're horny" on the passenger side of a Mercedes CLS and watching co-workers drive away clueless.
After removing half the interior of the RX to access the back of the navigation unit, we plugged an Ultimate Lockpick 1 into the correct slots and then bypassed the "I agree" startup screen. The Lockpick allows full use of the navigation system while driving and unlocks the direct-dialing keypad for use with a Bluetooth phone. Still better, it converts the nav screen into a video monitor, for which you need a video source, such as an iPod or DVD player, which is then plugged into a connection in the glove box before pressing a couple of buttons.
Lockpicks are available for most Toyota and Lexus vehicles and for GM's new full-size sport-utes. To allow all navigation and Bluetooth functions to be used while in motion, simply press the destination button and then press the bull's-eye in the upper left corner.
A series of automated screen changes later, and the touch-screen buttons that used to gray-out while driving retain their functionality. We don't recommend driving with your head buried in the navigation screen, but we really like this product because if we had a passenger, he could enter a destination on the fly.
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Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Power surges from a horsepower 3. Together, both power trains pump out an exhilarating horsepower.
Like other hybrids on the road today, the RX h uses the electric motors to get moving and at low speeds, but once you feel the need for speed, the car taps into the gas engine for a boost. The Lexus engineers show their pride in the electrical half of the power train by including three ways to watch all the action. A large gauge on the left side of the instrument panel shows how hard the electric motors are either working or charging. For a more detailed view, you can switch to the main LCD in the center console, which displays how gas and electric power are distributed in your vehicle.
Or view a smaller version of this screen embedded in the speedometer display, which you can call up with a few taps of the Display button on the steering wheel. As with other hybrids, nothing happens when you twist the ignition key.
The car wakes up electronically, ready to move under electric power alone until you pass the 25mph mark, at which point the gas engine kicks in. There is an amusing yet serious sidebar to this arrangement; parking valets, friends, and car wash attendants who get in your RX h may sit there madly twisting the key, wondering why it won't start.
Less entertaining is the way you may startle pedestrians by creeping up behind them, running silently on electric power, especially in noisy parking garages. It demands the driver be aware of the unique sound print of this vehicle. Once underway, you'll quickly appreciate this vehicle's main selling point: it's fast.
When the electric motors kick in, power delivery comes on as if from a turbocharger, roundly but forcefully. The numbers tell it all. As with other adaptive cruise-control systems, you set the car's speed and its following distance, and the car will match speeds with slower traffic in the lane ahead.
While other cars are using radar-based systems, Lexus adopted a laser system, similar to the laser guns police use to catch speeders. In our experience with the Lexus system, it worked very well.
On more than one occasion it registered a slower car cutting into our lane and hit the brakes quickly enough to avoid a collision and match speeds.
But this system wasn't particularly friendly with the car's hybrid power train. It didn't seem to drive as economically as a human driver would, reacting strongly on the brakes and accelerator in normal traffic where a human might anticipate braking earlier, and get the best advantage out of the car's regenerative brakes.
Under the hood Similar to other full hybrid cars, the Lexus RX h shuts off its engine at stops and at slow speeds. With light pressure on the accelerator, the car operates as an electric vehicle for short distances, kicking in the gas engine to recharge batteries and supply more drive power when it is called for. In heavy traffic and on city streets with low speed limits, the car makes frugal use of gas.
The hybrid drive manages power distribution between the gas engine and two electric drive motors. The gas engine produces horsepower on its own, while the front and rear drive motors put out horsepower and 68 horsepower, respectively.
But these numbers aren't additive, so total drivetrain horsepower is , enough to push the RX h to 60mph in 7. In our subjective experience, the RX h shows plenty of get-up-and-go. It doesn't hesitate off the line, delivering smooth and prompt acceleration.
Better yet, the transition when the engine kicks in is nearly seamless. In the Mercury Mariner Hybrid , you definitely feel when the gas engine kicks in, but in the RX h that extra power flows in more smoothly. The car had no problem maintaining freeway speeds over hundreds of miles. And to reiterate some of our points made above, the electric-power steering is particularly light, which is fine in a parking lot but leads to a squirrelly feeling on the open road.
The suspension befits a luxury vehicle, nicely damping out road imperfections. The inch standard wheels can be optioned up to 18 inchers. We also mentioned the mileage above. Our average while we had the car came out to This is the same for any car, not just hybrids. Even so, without inspecting the vehicle, it is impossible to say whether it has a problem. They appear to be still fairly pricey on online sites compared to other brands which in some ways bodes well for residuals.
How long cn i expect the battery to last and if in need of replacement — what would the cost of this be? I really fancy the luxury of a lexus however anxious a car of this age may end up being more costly in the long run. Will a vehicle of this age still hold any particular warranty? Hello Gurdip, Thank you for contacting Lexus. Your nearest Lexus Centre would be best placed to assist you further with this query. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser. This website will not function correctly with JavaScript disabled. How long does a Lexus hybrid battery last? Hi Brian, It sounds like the shorter nature of your journeys may be having an impact on your fuel economy.
Kind Regards. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Post navigation Previous Story How to adjust the time on your Lexus clock. Related Posts. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Cookie settings Accept All. Manage consent.
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