Lexus has been pretty good about keeping its upcoming 2009 RX crossover hidden from spy photographers, but just hours ago one of our ace photographers spotted a heavily disguised prototype out for a drive. This is the first prototype we've seen; everything else has been a mule disguised as the current RX350.
The photos don't give away too much, but we can definitely tell that the RX's basic shape is still intact. The waterfall-style front grille looks like it grows a little bit, not a surprise given the RX as a whole is expected to grow about two inches in length. We're expecting the same 3.5 liter V6 that's in the current model, although it'll be hooked up to a 6-speed automatic transmission, one more ratio than the current vehicle offers.
This morning, we received word that a three-row version of the RX will appear for the first time. What this could do to the more upmarket three-row GX470 is a question. The GX470 seems to be exceeding sales targets, but it's a much more rugged truck-based vehicle based on the same platform as Toyota's 4Runner.
A hybrid version of the RX is definitely on the production calendar. It's rumored to exceed 400 horsepower when it arrives in 2010 as a 2011 model. The base RX350 is expected to arrive in late '08 as a '09 model.
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