New 2022 Lexus RX premium SUV teased for the first time

A new version of the Lexus RX is on the way, and the Japanese car maker has dropped the first teaser for its forthcoming BMW X5 rival ahead of its full unveiling on 1 June.

So far, all Lexus has shown of its next-gen RX is a close-up teaser image of the car’s front end. That said, the official image confirms that the new RX will sport a more aggressive look than the car it’s replacing. There are more prominent air intakes in the front bumper, for instance, along with a more pronounced front grille and an angular LED running light design.

Full specs for the new Lexus RX will be confirmed closer to the car’s launch, although the styling of the RX in the teaser all-but-confirms it’ll be available in a sporty F-Sport trim. Using more recent additions to the Lexus range – such as the Lexus NX and the all-electric Lexus RZ SUVs – as a reference, it’s likely the next-gen Lexus RX will also come in entry-level Premium, mid-range Premium Plus and plusher-still Takumi grades.

Likewise, Lexus is keeping details on the new RX’s engine ranges under wraps for now, although trademark filings strongly suggest this big SUV will be exclusively available with petrol-electric hybrid power. There will likely be an RX350h using a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a brawnier RX500h with a 3.5-litre V6 under the bonnet.

For the first time ever in a Lexus RX, there’s also set to be a plug-in hybrid version, called the RX450h+. This will likely use the same 2.5-litre petrol engine as the non-plug-in RX350h, but come with a more powerful electric motor and a much larger battery pack – the latter allowing this plug-in hybrid SUV to cover short journeys on electric power alone.

Don’t expect a fully electric version of the next-gen Lexus RX any time soon, however, since such a car would likely tread on the toes of the forthcoming electric-only and similarly sized Lexus RZ. It’s also unclear if Lexus has any plans for a more spacious RX L version of its next-gen RX.

Initial details on the next-gen Lexus RX will be revealed at its official unveiling on 1 June, with more concrete UK specification and pricing info being revealed closer to its expected launch towards the tail end of 2022.

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