They did a good job suppressing it this time around.

 

Yep, sure did. It's not as quiet as the LS, but noticeably more quiet than some other newer Lexus models. It looks like they are using some of the same features that Buick does with its noted Quiet Tuning.

 

Lexus did a lot of tweaks to get the RX quieter, better drag, changes to the engine mounts, changes to the struts etc etc. One of the more interesting things was the new tires that the RX debuts with, not all of them have it but a lot of RX models have the Michelin Premier LTX tires.

 

It's hard to see how they managed to get lower drag up front this time with all those sharp angles, hollows, and creases in the design.

 

All the info I can find states both the 2015 and 2016 have a 0.33cd

As it stands, the RX is bigger, more powerful, and more efficient

 

It's what I read. I think Lexus reports those figures in their website.

 

Both the 3RX and 4RX have an aerodynamic drag coefficient of .33.

 

Given all of the wind-catching creases and angles on the new 4Gen up front, even that is quite an accomplishment.

 

I thought it would be lower, but the 2016 version does seem to look like it sits lower to ground and the height is not as high as the outgoing model. But I would have to look at the specs to make sure.

 

https://lexusenthusiast.com/2015/09/...-450h-preview/

 

One might think this if they did not understand aerodynamics. Styling creases and angles don't have an impact on aerodynamics at speeds that a automobile traverses at.

 

I agree that, all else equal, lower speeds usually = less aerodynamic drag (among other things, I had a flight instructor's rating before I retired). But many, if not most, of today's vehicles are designed with wind-tunnel tests, especially in today's globally-designed platforms where high-speed German Autobahn capability could be needed. And, of course, numbers don't lie......0.33 obviously means 0.33. So I'm not questioning that part.

 

ALL cars are designed with wind tunnel testing. And it's not simply for high-speed German Autobahn capability.

Drag is an enemy for both fuel efficiency and emissions. Should leave the expertise to the engineers. A lot of the "sharp" angles and elements you see can help direct wind more effectively around and ultimately detach from the body.

 

That's right. Good aerodynamic form is not just about a slippery-looking shape; it is also about managing the airflow over, under and around the car's body. Those sharp, deep vertical, fin-like protrusions at the outer bumper edges of new Toyota and Lexus models (like the rear bumper for the Lexus RC) are said to really help with aerodynamics.

I am sure that the rear trunk-lid spoiler and rear under-bumper diffuser on the ES 300h Hybrid that are not there on the normal ES 350 are there to smooth airflow over and under the car, thus helping to reduce fuel consumption.

Since the level of emissions is related to fuel consumption -- burn more fuel and you produce more emissions -- improving aerodynamics to reduce fuel consumption, whether with Mercedes-Benz' new teardrop shapes or Toyota's new sharp, edgy shapes, is good practice, and something that all automakers are doing (although some are better and/or more concerned about it).

 

Lexus in Canada states that the RX for 2016 is .34 while the 15 model is .33. So somewhere someone is not telling the whole story. I thought it would of been an improvement.