I've only ever driven an RX around town...never on the highway so maybe that's why. Around town though, the thing rides and handles nicely. I like it. X5, Cayenne, and Q7 are a lot heavier though so that's probably why they're so much smoother and more stable.

 

Yes! Someone on the same page as me. Add cylinder deactivation in there too since the V6 has electric motor(s) to supplement it already and recoup the benefits.


And + 40 on the 2nd gen RX handling much better than the 1st. Im very impressed, especially with the turning radius which the RX300 lacked.

 

Cylinder deactivation = active cyinders have the burden of running an air compressor, which is what inactive cylinders essentially are.

 

We have had 3 different model year 2RX's in our household. The first one being an 04, the other being 05 Thundercloud Edition and now an 08 RX350 with almost everything in it. Engine noise into the cabin is the biggest thing I don't like about the 2RX, but everything else is great. The 2GR-FE 3.5L V6 350 is a big improvement in power over the 3MZ-FE 3.3L V6. Passing power and standstill acceleration in the 350 is great as well as the mileage aspect.

 

Who cares if it makes better MPG on the highway though? Unless you're saying that you don't actually get any advantage from cylinder deactivation.

 

Well, I dont know how effective cylinder deactivation is, but it really cant be too effective. If they could make it so that the valves would stay open on the inactive cylinders, it would be tons more effective, but it would make cams so complicated, and probably unreliable.

 

pano roof you also get a little sneak peak of the interior dash

 

Honda's Pilot and Odyssey gain 1 MPG in the city and 2 on the hwy. Now I would imagine that hybrids could potentially benefit more than regular vehicles on the highway simply because you have two forms of propulsion and don't have to rely as much on using all 6, 8, 10 cylinders. Nevertheless, 2 MPGs is 2 MPGs.

 

I wish the brake light on top was longer ala Bentley coupe..

 

Well, all that complexity just to gain 1-2 mpg? Blah... if the system fails, and everything eventually fails, it will cost more to repair than the fuel it saves.

 

Are you serious? Cars have becoming increasingly more complex and the majority of people havent cowered in fear and resorted to bicycles, horses, or rickshaws. The 80s are long gone and Honda, Chrysler, and GM have had success with this technology since it reappeared, unlike the GM 8-6-4 engines.

 

As I understand it there's really nothing about the current cylinder deactivation systems to fail. If anything did fail it would go into a close loop mode where it just never deactivated any cylinders, taking you back to square one. No big deal.

 

The valves operate like normal, except you dont have combustion in those cylinders. Think about it..In order for the valves to stay close all the time, each cam lobe will practically be independent of one another. We know camshafts aren't made that way. They are usually a single piece of metal and as long as the cams are turning the camshafts, the whole piece turns.

 

For one thing, the X6, FX50 and Cayenne are a lot more performance oriented than the RX to begin with. The RX is FWD in base form. Can you imagine the torque steer on a 400 hp RX FWD?

All I'm saying is, if given the choice between:

a) RX AWD hybrid, 2.5L GR engine, 280 hp, 30/28 mpg, $2000 premium over RX350

b) RX AWD hybrid, 3.5L GR engine, 400 hp, 23/24 mpg, $4500 premium over RX350


I'll take choice a).

 

I'll go out on a limb here and say there's absolutely no way Lexus is going to come out with a 400+ hp RX hybrid using the 3.5L V6.

350 maybe. Not 400.