Ward's names 3rd-gen RX Best Design Harmony Interior
04-07-09, 09:15 AM
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Ward's names 3rd-gen RX Best Design Harmony Interior
Every year, authoritative trade automotive journal Ward’s AutoWorld magazine announces their Interior of the Year awards, and the 2010 Lexus RX 450h received the top Design Harmony prize.
Here are excerpts from an article by Tom Murphy:
The 11 winners of the 2009 Ward’s Interior of the Year awards have two key elements in common: great looks and great value.
Ward’s editors evaluated a field of 35 vehicles that are either all-new or have significantly upgraded interiors for the ’09 or ’10 model years.
“There are certain aspects we look at closely in the Interior of the Year competition, and value is just as important to us as fit-and-finish, styling, comfort and safety,” says Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine.
“An interior doesn’t have to be expensive to be good,” Winter says. “But it does have to convey a sense of high-quality craftsmanship and have pleasing textures and low-gloss surfaces. Electronic systems have to be intuitive and easy to use and not just focus on offering a high number of features and functions. Consumers are becoming a lot savvier about what they want inside their vehicles.”
All 35 vehicles were divided into six car and truck segments based on price. One winner is named for each of the six categories, plus special-achievement honorees are selected in five other areas. The 11 awards carry equal weight.
Having both types of awards allows vehicles to compete with others in their segment, as well as with the entire field, regardless of price.
“Some interiors come along that are so unique, so functional, so appealing that we must recognize them,” Winter says. “Only one vehicle will be recognized for brand expression, or for redesign, so those awards are just as hard to win – if not harder – than those for each of the segments.”
Among the winners is the all-new Lexus RX 450h hybrid-electric cross/utility vehicle, which goes on sale in August. Pricing has yet to be announced, but the current RX 400h hybrid starts at $42,080.
The RX, with its riveting asymmetrical center stack, tasteful wood steering wheel and luscious color palette, is recognized with a special-achievement award for Design Harmony.
For feature stories about each of the 11 winners, as well as a complete list of the 35 vehicles evaluated, see the special report on WardsAuto.com April 27.
To view the full story:
http://wardsauto.com/ar/wards_interior_winners_090406/
Here are excerpts from an article by Tom Murphy:
The 11 winners of the 2009 Ward’s Interior of the Year awards have two key elements in common: great looks and great value.
Ward’s editors evaluated a field of 35 vehicles that are either all-new or have significantly upgraded interiors for the ’09 or ’10 model years.
“There are certain aspects we look at closely in the Interior of the Year competition, and value is just as important to us as fit-and-finish, styling, comfort and safety,” says Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine.
“An interior doesn’t have to be expensive to be good,” Winter says. “But it does have to convey a sense of high-quality craftsmanship and have pleasing textures and low-gloss surfaces. Electronic systems have to be intuitive and easy to use and not just focus on offering a high number of features and functions. Consumers are becoming a lot savvier about what they want inside their vehicles.”
All 35 vehicles were divided into six car and truck segments based on price. One winner is named for each of the six categories, plus special-achievement honorees are selected in five other areas. The 11 awards carry equal weight.
Having both types of awards allows vehicles to compete with others in their segment, as well as with the entire field, regardless of price.
“Some interiors come along that are so unique, so functional, so appealing that we must recognize them,” Winter says. “Only one vehicle will be recognized for brand expression, or for redesign, so those awards are just as hard to win – if not harder – than those for each of the segments.”
Among the winners is the all-new Lexus RX 450h hybrid-electric cross/utility vehicle, which goes on sale in August. Pricing has yet to be announced, but the current RX 400h hybrid starts at $42,080.
The RX, with its riveting asymmetrical center stack, tasteful wood steering wheel and luscious color palette, is recognized with a special-achievement award for Design Harmony.
For feature stories about each of the 11 winners, as well as a complete list of the 35 vehicles evaluated, see the special report on WardsAuto.com April 27.
To view the full story:
http://wardsauto.com/ar/wards_interior_winners_090406/
04-21-09, 05:30 PM
#5
I saw some dealers put '10 RX350 and its predecessor next to each other in the showroom. This is one of the best ways to catch ppl's eyes and impress the buyers. For example, the functions buttons on the steering wheel are much better...
05-07-09, 03:17 PM
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Ward’s AutoWorld finally got around to posting their follow-up article a few days later than they promised:
Design Harmony: Lexus RX Achieves Harmonic Balance
by Christie Schweinsberg
Lexus interior designers handily bring a sense of calm and order inside the new '10 RX 450h hybrid CUV — no small feat considering the technology inside.
Contributing to the serenity are enough artistic flourishes to warrant a special exhibit at the Guggenheim.
Take the dramatic swoops and bulges that make up the instrument panel. The lack of symmetry and the absence of a conventionally arrayed center stack make for a visually arresting experience that simultaneously soothes and engages.
For this unique achievement, Ward's editors bestow on the new RX a special-achievement award for Design Harmony.
It's more than the instrument panel that impresses. Throughout, the vehicle demonstrates a new aesthetic that relies not on straight lines intersecting at right angles but on unconventional shapes that serve as strong design cues.
A shining example is the door panel. In the new RX, the upper part of the 2-tone panel is trimmed to resemble the wing of a bird in flight.
The color scheme contributes to the tranquility, with ivory as the dominant shade, beautifully accented with deep grayish brown. Supple surfaces abound, highlighted with glossy cherry-tone wood.
Enabling the clutter-free look is the new remote-touch device in the center console that functions like a computer mouse and controls the stereo and heating/air conditioning. The flat, joystick-like **** allows the driver to control numerous vehicle functions displayed on a menu on the navigation screen.
The previous RX was a success, but the interior sorely needed updating.
The new RX fits the bill handsomely and sets a new standard for artistic achievement within the automotive interior.
http://wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto_de...xus/index.html
Design Harmony: Lexus RX Achieves Harmonic Balance
by Christie Schweinsberg
Lexus interior designers handily bring a sense of calm and order inside the new '10 RX 450h hybrid CUV — no small feat considering the technology inside.
Contributing to the serenity are enough artistic flourishes to warrant a special exhibit at the Guggenheim.
Take the dramatic swoops and bulges that make up the instrument panel. The lack of symmetry and the absence of a conventionally arrayed center stack make for a visually arresting experience that simultaneously soothes and engages.
For this unique achievement, Ward's editors bestow on the new RX a special-achievement award for Design Harmony.
It's more than the instrument panel that impresses. Throughout, the vehicle demonstrates a new aesthetic that relies not on straight lines intersecting at right angles but on unconventional shapes that serve as strong design cues.
A shining example is the door panel. In the new RX, the upper part of the 2-tone panel is trimmed to resemble the wing of a bird in flight.
The color scheme contributes to the tranquility, with ivory as the dominant shade, beautifully accented with deep grayish brown. Supple surfaces abound, highlighted with glossy cherry-tone wood.
Enabling the clutter-free look is the new remote-touch device in the center console that functions like a computer mouse and controls the stereo and heating/air conditioning. The flat, joystick-like **** allows the driver to control numerous vehicle functions displayed on a menu on the navigation screen.
The previous RX was a success, but the interior sorely needed updating.
The new RX fits the bill handsomely and sets a new standard for artistic achievement within the automotive interior.
http://wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto_de...xus/index.html
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05-07-09, 08:39 PM
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