Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[<i>Consumer Reports</i> tests fuel efficiency vs. speed; Honda Insight biggest loser]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/10/i-consumer-reports-i-tests-fuel-efficiency-vs-speed-honda-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/10/i-consumer-reports-i-tests-fuel-efficiency-vs-speed-honda-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/10/i-consumer-reports-i-tests-fuel-efficiency-vs-speed-honda-i/#comments
2010 Honda Insight - Click above for high-res image gallery

The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. Common sense, right? Absolutely, but it's still helpful to see real-life data, as you'll see by checking out the results of a recent test performed by Consumer Reports. Not all cars perform the same at various speed limits, and as you might expect, America's most fuel efficient models are also the vehicles most affected by higher speeds.

A total of seven vehicles were tested by CR: a Acura TSX with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder; a new 2010 Honda Insight; a Lexus RX350; a Mercury Mountaineer with 4.6-liter V8; Toyota Camry and RAV4 with 2.5-liter four-bangers; and a Yaris with a 1.5-liter four.

As you're probably aware, today's hybrids are optimized for high fuel economy at city speeds and therefore lose much of their miserly ways on the highway. As it turns out, this was especially true of the new Insight hybrid, which lost over 15 miles per gallon moving the needle from 55 mph to 75 mph - the largest drop in the contest. Click here for the complete test results.


Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight


[Source: Consumer Reports]

Consumer Reports tests fuel efficiency vs. speed; Honda Insight biggest loser originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 honda insight2010HondaInsightacura tsxAcuraTsxfuel economyfuel mileagefuel mileage testFuelEconomyFuelMileageFuelMileageTesthonda insighthonda insight 2010honda insight hybridHondaInsightHondaInsight2010HondaInsightHybridlexus rx350LexusRx350mercury mountaineerMercuryMountaineertoyota camrytoyota rav4toyota yarisToyotaCamryToyotaRav4ToyotaYarisThu, 10 Sep 2009 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[First Drive: 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/08/first-drive-2010-lexus-rx350-and-rx450h/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/08/first-drive-2010-lexus-rx350-and-rx450h/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/08/first-drive-2010-lexus-rx350-and-rx450h/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h - Click above for high-res image gallery

Few vehicles have done more to establish a genre and define a brand as much as the Lexus RX. Introduced over a decade ago to suburbanite real estate agents and their Napa-weekending friends, the original RX300 helped boost Lexus sales by 60% when it hit dealers in late 1998. Over the ensuing years, Lexus' posh people mover slowly evolved to include a hybrid drivetrain, a refreshed exterior and tasteful appointments that helped solidify its success. For 2010, the RX plays the same tune but adds a few more instruments, a new backbeat and reworked crescendo.


Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Lexus RX350 and RS450h


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Damon Lavrinc / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h

First Drive: 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20102010 lexus rs450h test drive2010 lexus rx3502010 lexus rx350 review2010 lexus rx350 test drive2010 lexus rx450h2010 lexus rx450h review2010LexusRs450hTestDrive2010LexusRx3502010LexusRx350Review2010LexusRx350TestDrive2010LexusRx450h2010LexusRx450hReviewfeaturedfeauredfirst driveFirstDrivelexuslexus rxlexus rx350LexusRxLexusRx350rx350rx450rx450htest driveTestDriveThu, 08 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[LA 2008: Lexus unveils the third generation RX350 and RX450h]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/19/la-2008-lexus-unveils-the-third-generation-rx350-and-rx450h/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/19/la-2008-lexus-unveils-the-third-generation-rx350-and-rx450h/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/19/la-2008-lexus-unveils-the-third-generation-rx350-and-rx450h/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h

Lexus dropped the third-generation RX on the world today here at the LA Auto Show. As before, the RX luxury crossover comes in two forms, the standard issue RX350 and the hybrid RX450h. The 3.5L RX350 gets a power bump to 275 hp while the hybrid engine grows from 3.3L up to 3.5L and 295 total horsepower. Lexus has improved the inverter that converts between DC power from the battery to AC for the motor, making the whole hybrid drivetrain more efficient. The RX450h gets a unique grill and badging to set it slightly apart from the new RX350, while both models get plenty of new gizmos and gadgets including an upgraded navigation and telematics system. For instance, a new controller for the nav system that Toyota calls Remote Touch provides customizable haptic feedback as you use it. A larger brighter OLED display screen also offers an improved angle of vision and a heads up display is available for the first time. The design is an obvious evolution of the previous RX, but now features a more broad-shouldered look just like the Toyota Highlander with which it shares its platform. Check out the press release after the jump as well as our high-res images in the galleries below.

Gallery: LA 2008: 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h


Gallery: 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h



Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading LA 2008: Lexus unveils the third generation RX350 and RX450h

LA 2008: Lexus unveils the third generation RX350 and RX450h originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>la auto showla auto show 2008la autoshowLaAutoShowLaAutoShow2008lexus rxlexus rx350lexus rx450hLexusRxLexusRx350LexusRx450hWed, 19 Nov 2008 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Preview: Lexus confirms debut of 2010 RX450h and RX350]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/12/la-preview-lexus-confirms-debut-of-2010-rx450h-and-rx350/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/12/la-preview-lexus-confirms-debut-of-2010-rx450h-and-rx350/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/12/la-preview-lexus-confirms-debut-of-2010-rx450h-and-rx350/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Our friendly neighborhood Toyota/Lexus spokesman, Curt McAllister, dropped us a note with an official announcement of what's coming to the Lexus booth at next week's LA Auto Show, and as expected, the big reveal will be the reworked RX luxury crossover. Like the current crossovers, the RX will come in two prescription strengths: the conventional RX350 with a 3.5L V6 and the hybrid flavored RX450h. The bump in nomenclature from the current RX400h likely implies some enhancements to the powertrain including a bump from the current 3.3L V6 to the 3.5L engine used in the 350. It's assumed the RX400h will also boast enhancements to the hybrid drive system with tech pulled from the 2010 Toyota Prius. The photo above, taken of the Japanese brochure, appeared online showing an evolution of the current design rather than a revolutionary redesign. In addition to the RX, LA will host the North American debut of the all-wheel-drive equipped LS460 and the IS 250C Convertible.

[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading LA Preview: Lexus confirms debut of 2010 RX450h and RX350

LA Preview: Lexus confirms debut of 2010 RX450h and RX350 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>la auto showla auto show 2008la autoshowLaAutoShowLaAutoShow2008lexus ls460lexus ls460 awdlexus rxlexus rx350lexus rx450hLexusLs460LexusLs460AwdLexusRxLexusRx350LexusRx450hWed, 12 Nov 2008 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[2010 Lexus RX coming to LA Auto Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/24/2010-lexus-rx-coming-to-la-auto-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/24/2010-lexus-rx-coming-to-la-auto-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/24/2010-lexus-rx-coming-to-la-auto-show/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lexus LF-xh concept

The Lexus RX is one of the most successful luxury crossovers of the past decade, with sales doubling or even tripling that of its competition. Remarkably, the RX has achieved its considerable success without a major overhaul, but that will change when the next gen RX is unveiled this November in LA. Details on the new RX have been scarce to this point, but we can be sure that a hybrid version will continue to be available and that a plug-in version is a possibility.

The RX is also expected to grow by around five inches, just like its Highlander sibling, though Lexus will likely use the extra room to improve rear passenger leg room. We've seen spy shots showing more evolutionary styling changes, along with a few cues pulled from the LF-xh concept, with tweaks to the front and rear fascias and a curvier C-Pillar.

Gallery: Lexus LF-Xh concept


[Source: The Car Connection]

2010 Lexus RX coming to LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Lexus RX2010LexusRxLexus RX350LexusRx350luxury crossoverLuxuryCrossovertoyotaFri, 24 Oct 2008 17:32:00 EST