Did I have too much coffee, or is this a prototype of a new RX? I saw this thing in Glendale, and it was some middle-aged lady driving it. The interior was gutted and there was a gigantic (24") CRT monitor sticking out of the dash. She seemed pretty pissed that I was taking pics, LOL.

She pulled up to me at the light, and asked if I was looking for something. I said, "Yeah. . . the front bumper is different." She told me, "No. . . I don't think so."

Am I on crack guys or is this the real thing? The lower splitter was all taped up. Maybe they're toying with the idea of an RX-F?

 

Looks like someone modded an RX, although the driver may not be aware of that fact (it may not be her's).

No way that thing could be an RX-F...

 

I think thats just a aftermarket front bumper. Doesnt even have Manf plates on it.

 

An ugly one at that, it looks like the Corolla S bumper.

 

i dont think that is prototype but i can be wrong .. the front bumper look like a kit that Extreme Dimensions offer.

 

That body looks identical to the RX350 except the front bumper.

However there appears to be some monitoring equipment sticking out on the driver's side, and you said there was a big monitor inside as well. Obviously they're testing something, but unless they're testing their hybrid system with the new 3.5L I doubt that it's a Toyota test.

 

24" CRT? That's weird. Although the rumors are that the new RX will have a much bigger LCD screen:

http://community.myride.com/kickapps...LOG&as=3898&b=

 

However, that looks like a Michigan license plate on the back, where most manuf. plates come from, even non-American vehicles. Usually when I see vents like that underneath the lights on the bumper, they are for a cooler, air intake or air entry to help cool down brakes.

 

That kit is very similar, but the lip is less pronounced on the one I saw. And when I said CRT, i'm not talking about a nice nav screen, but a big bulky computer monitor. The interior was practically stripped too...

And yes, those are Michigan plates but the pic was taken in Glendale CA. We see a lot of test cars here, but they are usually fully camo'd.

 

In Mexico, we have several car plants, VW is the biggie, and they will test models that will be made at those plants out in the open (well before they hit the market) and I usually see something like DF DEM (Distrito Federal (Mexico City) Demonstrator). On the toll highway near my house I have seen over years many vehicles produced locally but tested on this highway late at night (when yours truly comes back from the track).

 

Well i saw the new commercial for the RX last night on TV.. Definitely didn't look like that...

 

The first picture doesn't even look real lol

I thought for a second someone spent god knows how many hours making some real life 3D image

 

Um... The crappy cell phone camera quality should give it away... And these were MY pics, not something gathered off some stupid Japanese photoshop mag.

Obviously, because of the testing hear, they are testing something... But god knows what or who is doing the testing. But then it begs the question of the freaky front bumper. I dunno of after market companies that would go through that much trouble... And I fail to see how driving dynamics has anything to do with a bodykit.

Whatever it is, it's very strange and begs a lot of questions, IMO. But I only posted it on here for CL's entertainment.

BTW, I've seen those little wheel attachment thingies on a lot of test cars and soy shots... Anybody have any idea what they do?

 

I hope that front bumper doesnt make it into production...

 

A few questions occurred to me . . .

Why would Lexus test a fully-badged prototype?

Why would the prototype, except for the front bumper and interior, be identical to the current production model, on the streets since mid '03?

Why a prototype in "Savannah Metallic", a production color, rather than the usual hard-to-photograph flat black?

A 24" CRT would occupy most of the dash - and be about 18" deep - to what purpose? Why not an LCD?

Was Xzibit in the car too?