В 1998 году на суд американцев был представлен первый «паркетный» внедорожник марки — Lexus RX300. В Америке «трехсотый» Lexus стал популярным быстро: за пять лет было продано без малого 356 тыс. автомобилей, хотя по всему миру объем продаж составил около 525 тыс. автомобилей. Но нужно учитывать, что в Европе, равно как и в России, Lexus RX300 начал официально продаваться лишь с 2000 года. Этим в какой-то мере можно «оправдать» то, что за три года в Старом Свете было продано всего 15 тысяч автомобилей.
Кстати, Lexus RX300 для Европы оснащали более жесткой, «собранной» подвеской.
Хорошо зарекомендовавшая себя трехлитровая V-образная «шестерка» на поставляемых в Европу машинах «задушена» и развивает вместо 223 л.с. (при 5,800 об/мин.) всего 198 л.с. (при 5,600 об/мин.) но зато чистота выхлопа соответствует нормам Euro 4, которые в Европе вступят в силу в 2005 году. В остальном «европейские» и «американские» Лексусы практически одинаковы — разница сводится к деталям.
Построенный на отдельной, специально разработанной платформе, Lexus RX 300 (в Японии он называется Toyota Harrier) оснащается 3-литровым двигателем V6, в конструкции которого впервые для этого класса машин использована система изменения фаз газораспределения в зависимости от оборотов (в интерпретации фирмы Toyota она называется VVT-i).
C точки зрения вездеходности Lexus оснащен постоянным полным приводом с симметричным распределением крутящего момента между осями (50:50), имеет межосевой дифференциал блокируемый вискомуфтой и установленный на заказ задний дифференциал повышенного трения системы Torsen.
К слову, аэродинамике Lexus RX300 уделено особое внимание: коэффициент Cx удалось снизить до 0,35, что, как уверяют производители, — лучший результат для этого класса.
Технические характеристики модели Вы можете посмотреть в каталоге : club-lexus.ru/catalog/index.php?item=1
История модели Lexus RX на английском языке:
RX Chronology - 2006
10/12/2005
MILESTONES
* March 1997 - Lexus announces the official production name of its new luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV). Based on the Sport Luxury Vehicle (SLV) concept unveiled one month earlier, the mid-sized luxury SUV will be called the RX 300. The RX 300 is slated for production in the first half of 1998.
* January 1998 - Lexus unveils the production version of the 1999 RX 300 at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. This groundbreaking SUV combines the most desirable aspects of both luxury sedans and 4x4"s. It provides off-road ground clearance and available full-time four-wheel-drive for poor weather and road conditions, yet step-in height is lower than other SUV"s for more convenient entry and exit.
* March 1998 - The new RX 300 goes on sale.
* December 1998 - With the help of the RX 300, Lexus records sales of 156,260, an increase of 60 percent from the previous year.
* April 2000 - Lexus announces that production of the RX 300 mid-size SUV would be added in North America. By 2003, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc. (TMMC) will build the RX 300 at its Cambridge, Ontario facility in Canada, making it the first plant outside Japan to produce a Lexus model.
* January 2001 - An RX Silversport model featuring a Euro-tuned sport suspension, a special grille, unique interior luxury items and exclusive colors is introduced.
* January 2001 - Toyota announces plans to produce RX 300 engines and transmissions at its Buffalo, West Virginia, plant.
* April 2002 - Lexus and Coach fine leather partner to offer a special edition RX 300 model.
* May 2002 - Four years into its product cycle, the RX 300 continues to be the top-selling luxury SUV in the United States and has sparked many competitors to introduce similar luxury car-based SUVs.
* January 2003 - Lexus announces that the new RX 330 will become the first Lexus vehicle to be manufactured in North America.
* March 2003 - The second generation RX is introduced in the North American market as the RX 330. The new RX 330 is available in both two-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations, the second generation RX is 6.1 inches longer overall and has a larger 3.3-liter V6 engine.
* April 2004 - Lexus achieves its two-millionth vehicle sales milestone - a 2004 RX 330 luxury SUV sold by JM Lexus in Margate, Fla. Lexus presented the new owner with a luxury spa and golf vacation package to Pebble Beach, Calif., and made a $25,000 donation to two local charities in the name of the selling dealer.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
* September 1998 - The RX 300 is named "Most Appealing Luxury SUV," in the J.D. Power and Associates APEAL Study.
* October 1998 - RX 300 is named the inaugural "Sport/Utility of the Year" by Motor Trend magazine. This marked the first time the magazine separated its "Truck of the Year" award into two categories, truck and SUV. This change reflects the growing popularity of SUV"s.
* September 1999 - The RX 300 finishes second (behind LX 470) in the "Most Appealing Luxury SUV" category in J.D. Power and Associates" APEAL Study.
* April 2001 - Consumer Guide names the RX 300 a "Best Buy."
* May 2001 - The RX eceives top honors in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS).
* January 2002 - The Car Book lists the RX 300 as a "Best Bet" for American car buyers.
* March 2002 - The Ultimate Car Book rates the RX 300 a "Best Buy."
* May 2002 - RX 300 takes second place in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS).
* February 2003 - The RX 300 is awarded as IntelliChoice"s "Best Overall Value" for an Intermediate SUV over $30,000.
* May 2003 - The RX 300 is the highest ranked vehicle in the Luxury SUV segment of the 2003 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS).
* July 2003 - The RX 300 is the highest ranked vehicle in the Luxury SUV segment of 2003 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS).
* October 2003 - The RX 330 is the highest ranked vehicle in the Luxury SUV segment of 2003 J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Performance Execution And Layout (APEAL) study.
· April 2004 - The RX 330 is the highest ranked vehicle in the entry luxury SUV segment in the J.D. Power and Associates IQSSM.
· September 2004 - The RX 330 is touted as the "Most Appealing" luxury sport utility vehicle by the J.D. Power and Associates APEAL StudySM for the second year in a row.
· December 2004 - Consumer Guide awards the Lexus RX 330 a "Best Buy" award for a premium mid-size SUV.
· February 2005 - For the third year in a row, the RX 330 is named the IntelliChoice "Best Overall Value" for an SUV in its class.
· May 2005 - The RX 330 is the highest ranked vehicle for the second year in a row in the entry luxury SUV segment of the J.D. Power and Associates IQSSM.
