cflutist

Does anyone know why Lexus did not put an "AWD" badge on its RX 350/450h cars with that feature?

I see other cars on the road with this information displayed.

This is a dumb question, but how does the Highway Patrol (or other state police) know if your car is 4WD/AWD or 2WD? This makes a difference in Winter Snow Chain Control Areas in CA (don't know about other states though) and the 450h is available in 2WD/FWD or AWD.

Cheryl

2014 RX 450h AWD

corradoMR2

^^^ Good question. I have the AWD badge on my IS so why not on the RX?

My guess is twofold: 1. any additional and unnecessary badge risks on being tacky. 2. As the RX is a crossover sport-utility vehicle, there's an inherent assumption it is all-wheel-drive.

If having the badge will prevent any risk of getting stopped, it may be worth for you to order the Lexus "AWD" badge available for the IS, GS, and LS, and stick it on. Otherwise, the only way to know for a 350 AWD is look underneath for the rear-differential. The 450h I don't believe has it but instead separate electric motors on each rear wheel (harder to tell I believe).

mlerskine

Just looked for the AWD badge on Sewell parts and can't find it. Any suggestions where this may be available?

mlerskine

Never mind! Just looked up my question on this whacky thing called google.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

And cheaper non-lexus ones here:
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/awd-emblem

corradoMR2

^^^ Yep. Ebay.

jfelbab

Cheryl, that info is encoded in the VIN. We have an excellent VIN decoder here : https://www.clublexus.com/forums/vindecoder.php
Law enforcement can run that VIN and know instantly without crawling under the car.

cflutist

Wow, that's pretty cool. Thank you very much. I printed it off and will keep in my glove box.

wase4711

my vin brings up a f-sport model, but my car is an rx awd....should I be concerned, or is it just a database error..

EDIT: NM, I see there is a drop down box, and you can choose a f sport or awd..doesnt make sense, the VIN should be tied to the exact model that it is..

Tom558

I just entered my VIN and it decoded as an F Sport with 8 speed transmission. I wonder if my fuel economy will improve now?

BTW, if I did order an AWD badge how would it attach?

RX330inFL

It is a peel and stick.

Tom558

Thanks.

Just thinking about all this I think we drove through chain control 2 or 3 times in our 2002 AWD Highlander and were always just waved through. The ALL WHEEL DRIVE badge was on the back, as I recall, so I don't think that was what made them think we were OK.

RX330inFL

I think they just assumed. Perhaps based on the stance of the vehicle and its ground clearance.

SW17LS

Never really thought about it before but that is interesting that they put the AWD badge on the IS, GS & LS but not the SUVs.