Photo: Lexus
For a company that was so against downsizing to turbocharged engines, Lexus sure loves its first forced-induction 2-liter. It's even made an F Sport variant of the RX 200t for Australia.
The combination of the body kit and the turbo engine became available in Japan about two months ago. Australia is the first major market to receive it. However, Brits and some Europeans will have the RX 200t F Sport soon.
The F Sport package doesn't add any power, so the 2-liter inline-4 pumps the same 235 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque, connected to six-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive only. From 0 to 100 km/h, the crossover takes 9.5 seconds, and its top speed is 200 km/h. So while it looks like a Transformer robot, it's as slow as your grandpa's Buick.
The 200t Luxury base trim level carries over from the previous model year. However, you can now step up to the AU$86,840 RX 200t F Sport and expect a considerably cheaper car than the 350 F Sport.
The F Sport package includes its own bumpers, grille, unique 20-inch wheels finished in a darker tint, silver roof rails, and some excellent paint choices. Inside, the kit bundles black leather seats, sports pedals, sports-tuned adaptive suspension, a perforated leather steering wheel with paddle shifters, a 12.3-inch infotainment system with satellite navigation, 15-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, color head-up display and rear passenger door sunshades.
“The expanded RX line, with its focus on style, technology, equipment and safety, broadens our offering with progressive new models in this important and dynamic segment,” said Lexus Australia chief executive Peter McGregor.
Overall, it's not a bad looking machine. And in the Lexus tradition, the only option you need to consider is the paint. However, the 2-liter turbo is down on German competitors and even the Volvo XC90. Sooner or later, Lexus is going to have to give the 3.5-liter V6 a more serious upgrade.
The F Sport package doesn't add any power, so the 2-liter inline-4 pumps the same 235 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque, connected to six-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive only. From 0 to 100 km/h, the crossover takes 9.5 seconds, and its top speed is 200 km/h. So while it looks like a Transformer robot, it's as slow as your grandpa's Buick.
The 200t Luxury base trim level carries over from the previous model year. However, you can now step up to the AU$86,840 RX 200t F Sport and expect a considerably cheaper car than the 350 F Sport.
The F Sport package includes its own bumpers, grille, unique 20-inch wheels finished in a darker tint, silver roof rails, and some excellent paint choices. Inside, the kit bundles black leather seats, sports pedals, sports-tuned adaptive suspension, a perforated leather steering wheel with paddle shifters, a 12.3-inch infotainment system with satellite navigation, 15-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, color head-up display and rear passenger door sunshades.
“The expanded RX line, with its focus on style, technology, equipment and safety, broadens our offering with progressive new models in this important and dynamic segment,” said Lexus Australia chief executive Peter McGregor.
Overall, it's not a bad looking machine. And in the Lexus tradition, the only option you need to consider is the paint. However, the 2-liter turbo is down on German competitors and even the Volvo XC90. Sooner or later, Lexus is going to have to give the 3.5-liter V6 a more serious upgrade.
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