2010 Lexus RX350

Lexus has announced pricing for the 2010 RX 350. The base, front-wheel-drive model starts at $37,625 while the all-wheel-drive version carries a $1,400 premium, totaling $39,025. All prices included a $825 delivery, processing, and handling charge.

The new RX welcomes Lexus's "L-finesse" design theme -- styling language introduced on the 2006 GS. While each exterior dimension is up about an inch and every body panel is unique from that of its predecessor, the 2010 RX appears conspicuously similar to the 2009 model. While the interior volume hike is rather insignificant -- 140.9 cubic feet versus 140.8 -- the jumps in legroom (0.6 inch front, 0.2 inch rear) and rear shoulder room (0.5 inch) are not. There's even an additional 1.7 cubic feet of cargo space, thanks to an all-new rear control-arm suspension that eliminates the 2009 model's impeding strut towers.

So how does one improve upon an icon? According to RX chief engineer Takayuki Katsuda, "I wanted to reinvent the new RX," which loosely translates to a more luxurious and user-friendly interior, a stouter 3.5-liter V-6, a more-efficient Atkinson-cycle engine for the hybrid, and additional safety features, improved driving dynamics, and better fuel economy.

As before, the 2010 Lexus RX is available in two gas (RX 350 FWD and AWD) and two gas/electric trims (RX 450h FWD and AWD). The 2010 Lexus RX 350 receives an upgraded 3.5-liter 275-horsepower, 257-pound-foot V-6 that represents increases of five horses and six pound-feet, and, with help from a new six-speed automatic, delivers an estimated combined-fuel-economy bump of one mpg. Reside in the Snowbelt? Then opt for the all-wheel-drive version, which gets a new Active Torque Control system that uses an electromagnetic coupler bolted to the rear differential to apportion up to 45 percent of torque to the rear wheels. The coupler, which eliminates the center differential, helps the new system tout weight savings of 66 pounds.