New car news

19 February 2009 - 11:00

Hy' school run

This is the new Lexus RX 450h – the latest version of the car that kicked-started the world’s fascination with trendy hybrid SUVs. It’ll be shown at Geneva in March, and replaces the RX 400h as the yummy mummy’s car-of-choice.
 
Most importantly, and unlike the outgoing RX, it will only be available as a hybrid, with no plans for a petrol-only version. But fear not, it’ll still have a 3.5-litre V6 to charge its batteries so you can have your power fix before cruising through town on eco-friendly electric power.
 
But it’s the CO2 figures that’ll grab headlines – rumours suggest they’ll be below 160g/km, which is almost unheard of in SUV circles (a Land Rover Freelander Stop-And-Start emits 179g/km, and that has a diesel). Lower CO2 means better fuel economy too, so expect the new RX to challenge some of the more frugal diesels out there.
 
But that’s not all. Lexus will be showing the new IS 250C at the show too: the convertible version of the IS saloon. Like the RX, it will get V6 power, but in the smaller form of a 2.5-litre, 205bhp petrol already found in the IS. It gets a folding metal hard top (Lexus claim it’ll retract in 20 seconds) and will rival the likes of the 3-Series convertible when it goes on sale in the summer.
 
Prices have yet to be announced for either car, but we’ll be at the show on March 3 when all will be revealed, so check back then for more news. Unless something goes terribly wrong.