Fort Bend Lifestyles and Homes Magazine Mar 2009: Kelly Foss Reports on New Autos for Fort Bend Lifestyles and Homes magazinee, 2010 Lexus RX, 2009 Infiniti FX

2010 Lexus RX

The Lexus RX, to a certain degree, defined the luxury SUV/CUV market. This car-based vehicle is an excellent combination of Lexus luxury and dependability, good looks and versatility. Now, there is a totally new RX from Lexus.

When we first saw the new RX, it looked remarkably similar to the past generation and we asked the Lexus PR people why? Normally, when you redesign and introduce a model, it usually looks different. With some confidence, they informed us that the current owners really liked the looks of the RX, so they decided to make only slight alterations to its appearance. The RX is the best selling of all Lexus models and is the top seller in the midsize luxury SUV segment so who can argue with their logic.

Two RX models, the RX350 and the RX450h, are offered. The 350 is powered by a 3.5 liter V-6 and its 275 horsepower are more than enough to get you a speeding ticket if you ’re not observant. The 450h is the hybrid model containing Lexus’ latest hybrid technology. Fuel economy is now rated at 28 city and 27 highway, which is an 8 percent to 12 percent increase, while system horsepower has been boosted to 295. Both models are available with all-wheel drive if desired.

The RX’s ride is both controlled and supple. I had the chance to drive the vehicle over winding two-lane hill country roads and on a freeway cruise. The vehicle is very comfortable and offers secure handling. The interior has been quieted, which is a challenge for an SUV. The open interior architecture tends to reverberate sound like an echo chamber.

Lexus has upgraded the safety systems of the vehicle. Active safety is improved with better stability and traction capability, optional radar cruise control and pre-safe systems. Additionally, the body of the vehicle has been strengthened and the air bag suite now includes knee airbags for the front passengers.

New technology abounds in the RX. You can pair up to four Bluetooth phones and download your contact list to the RX. The audio system can play music from your smart phone using Bluetooth. The RX also offer dual rear entertainment system screens positioned on the seatbacks of
the front seats. XM NavTraffic and NavWeather give you real-time traffic conditions and nationwide current weather reports for any location.

The navigation system’s display screen is placed closer to the windshield and out of reach of the other passengers. Lexus has added a joystick controller mounted between the front seats that looks and works like a computer mouse. The movement is intuitive and easy to control, unlike the frustrating experiences that owners of expensive German cars have with similar devices.

The Lexus RX is improved by every measure and should continue its sales success.

2009 Infiniti FX

When the original Infiniti FX was introduced, it made a statement with its unique styling. It looked like a horse at full gallop even when sitting still. The new FX follows in the successful footsteps of its forebears and pushes the envelope
further.

What Infiniti is trying to deliver with the FX is a vehicle with sports car driving characteristics, luxury vehicle amenities, plus SUV room and utility. Actually, they ’ve done a good job of combining all three in one interesting vehicle.

The FX comes in two versions, the FX35 and the FX50. The 35 is equipped with Infiniti ’s very pleasing 3.5 liter V-6 engine, which produces 303 horsepower and is capable of pulling this sizeable vehicle around effortlessly in a manner that would satisfy most owners. It is available in either rear- or all-wheel drive. The FX50 is both a higher performance and more luxurious model. It is powered by a 390 horsepower V-8 and is offered with all-wheel drive only. With technology like Active Steering and Active Dampening, the FX50 will keep up with almost any sports car on the road and drives much better than you think a vehicle of this size and ilk should. Both models have Infiniti ’s new 7-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, which, in DS sport mode, provide almost manual transmission control —almost.

The FX is a five-passenger SUV with two comfortable and roomy rows of seats. Even with its tapered roof line, the cabin is spacious. Seating is comfortable, front and rear and the cargo area in “normal” mode will stow five full sets of golf clubs in bags with the cargo cover closed, meaning everything is out of sight. The second row of seats goes flat with the push of a button, yielding a huge 64 cubic feet of cargo space.

Interior luxuries include quilted leather seats with both seat heaters and coolers. The wood inlays are gorgeous hand-stained genuine maple. The leather cover on the steering wheel is hand-stitched so no rough edges contact the driver ’s hands. Infiniti uses class leading Bose audio systems. The one in the FX is integrated with the excellent touch-screen navigation system and has a built-in hard drive that allows you to save 2,900 songs or about 150 hours of music that you take with you anywhere you go. That means after they ’re downloaded, you don’t need the MP3 or iPod in the car anymore.

Other technology includes a 360-degree Round View camera system that allows you to see all objects on every side of the vehicle on the navigation screen. Additionally, you can change views, and a camera shows the driver a close-up image of the curb, which makes parallel parking a breeze. The FX bristles with other high tech gadgetry that mercifully can be turned off if you ’re the type that doesn’t want that much vehicular intervention in your driving experience.

In all, the new FX is an amazing vehicle. It is stylish, useful, swift, comfortable, luxurious and very fun to drive.

Visit www.car-data.com for more information on these models.