Hello,

I have been prepping up and getting ready to make the leap into the hybrid world myself very soon, but I have question which has been concerning to me. I have read on some of the early review (don't ask where, i forgot) that when the regenerative braking is used, a noticeable whine/humming noise is present in the cockpit of the RX.

For those of you who already have the new hybrid, do you notice this at all or is it really silent under braking? Other then the regular road noise you'd hear in an engine vehicle.

Thanks

 

yes you wil hear like an electric whine when braking. Personally I like it because it gives more validation that you are driving an electric car.

I dont think you have hear it in the cabin, just outside. I wouldnt worry about it.

 

When you start driving a hybrid, you've graduated to a different car. It will drive pretty much like what you've been used to but like going from a prop driven plane to a jet (they both fly) there are differences. One is the sounds. Although it's quieter because of more insulation, there are new sounds. One is the 'quiet' whine of the electric motor as you come to a stop. It's not objectionable. Another difference is the terrific increase in economy and horsepower at the same time. That also shouldn't be objectionable. Another is the transmission. It's so smooth, you'll never feel the transmission change through it's 6 gears.

It's a great car, enjoy it.

 

The whine is so insignificant that my response is who cares. So, there is a bit of a whine while you are breaking before coming to a complete stop. Big deal! Overall, the car is quieter than the all gas RX since the engine is not running at times. Do yourself a favor and go test drive the RX450h.

 

Thanks for the quick responses. Much appreciated! The only reason I had not test driven the new RX hybrid is b/c the dealer did not have one available last time I went. But you guys answered my worries!

Looking forward to driving in a new erra of hybrids vehicles!

 

Actually there are no gears. It is Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT)

 

psu beat me to it. when i first drove a CVT, it was really weird to not get that sound and slight jolt from a vehicle changing gears. definately takes some getting used to.

however, i believe even though the RX has a cvt, you can still manually select the gears using sport shift and it will simulate the 6 gears (like in the LSh)

 

Actually it does have gears. Yes, it's a continuously variable transmission, and mine has 6 forward gears. The way it works though you don't feel them unless you shift manually which you can do in sport mode. Last Saturday evening we drove into the mountains and used the sport mode coming back down to 'play' with the downshifting. It worked perfectly and at will shifting down from 6th as shifter was tapped down for engine braking (you move the lever to the left and tap it up or down to shift. The display indicates which gear it's in). That is the only time though I've felt the shifting was when doing it manually. It's known as ECVT (Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission). It's always in the right gear for the power vs economy needed.

 

Well, to get more technical they are not gears like a conventional transmisson. The ECVT has pre-defined ratios to simulate gears, and give you a more sporty driving experience.

 

Comet
I'm not trying to be a smart-*** here, I'm just telling you what I was told when I asked the service adviser (because I was curious too). It has gears and less moving parts than a conventional transmission but is designed for the hybrid only. I guess you raised another question though. If it has a pre-defined ratio, then what is driving it and what is the ratio based on? It's not an ancient Buick Dynaflo or centrifugal clutch. Just having a ratio makes no more sense to me than Cap & Trade. But you 'CAN' manually shift it up and down through the gears and in the manual sport mode, you can feel them shift. And the particular gear is shown on the display. I don't know how this may differ from your 400h, but the 450h is a total redesign including a totally new engine family as well.

Ok, now I'm sprinkling salt & pepper on my crow and looking at myself as a smart-*** .

I don't understand it, but I just got off the phone with my dealer and he stand-ed corrected so I do too. He said it's hard to explain but think of a 'two' gear box working like a torque converter and he used the phrase 'simulated' ratios. He said that my experience in d/shifting was simulated. If you're going at hwy speed and tromp it, you can feel it d/shift to the lower range.

I humbly apologize and choose to place this under my original post as I 'WAS' wrong.

 

okay a CVT has an infinite amount of gearing so it always chooses the right one for the most economical drive.

However, to make the hybrid a little less alien to people, lexus allows the car to shift through the 6 gears when you move the shift **** to the sport shift (left setting). THen you can shift through 1-6, though they arent "real," just simulated.

 

Ok, so how do the paddle shifters work on the 450h?

 

there are no paddle shifters in the RX.

If you mean shiftable gate, then the CVT just has preset ratios that act like gears 1-6. I dont know the complexities, but it would feel like a normal car. except i dont know when you would shift since there is no "red line"

 

I know--just joshing

 

Hal
When you pull the shifter down into drive, by design it falls to the right for normal driving and you just 'drive'. You can slide it over to the left then it's spring loaded if you tap it up or tap it down to shift (whatever that really means). The 'D' changes to a numeral for whatever gear (ratio) it's supposed to be. That's the best way to describe it. Sort of like paddles but you tap the gear shifter up or down. It's spring loaded and returns back to it's center point.