The 2009 Lexus RX is now on the Lexus USA website, which should put all the rumors of an impending redesign to rest.

The only difference from 2008, it seems, is the addition of the Pebble Beach edition, which brings with it the Truffle Mica exterior color, a limited edition 18″ wheel design, chrome grille and some assorted Pebble Beach badging.

The standard FWD RX 350 will start at $37,500 USD, and the Pebble Beach edition at $41,380.

Lexus has set the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for an assortment of models, including the 2009 RX 350, which will skip up $100, bringing the front-wheel-drive version to $37,500 and the all-wheel-drive version to $38,900. The 2009 RX 350 is expected in dealerships by early February 2008.

Other models see a price bump as well:

• The LS 460 will jump up $500 to $62,000, and the LS 460L will start at $72,000
• The ES 350 increases by 0.3%, or $100, to $33,820
• The entire IS range will see $100 increase on all the various versions
• The RX 450h also sees a $100 increase.

In general, the price increases are rather insignificant, considering, with the exception of the LS. The more significant news is that the 2009 RX 350 price has already been set, which makes me think that the redesigned model (based on the LF-Xh concept) will be released in 2010.

[Source: The Earth Times]

When the same-old Lexus LF-A concept was displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show instead of the expected production model, it was a clear sign that something was amiss in the supercar’s development. There’s no official word, but according to a Winding Road source, there’s certainly been some bumps in the road:

Rumblings from inside Toyota suggest that some key engineers have actually been pulled off the program to deal with other tasks as Toyota’s global drive continues.

The idea of building both V-10 and V-8 gas-electric hybrid versions must also be causing a few sleepness nights. Lexus is also reportedly having trouble getting the LF-A to meet its target 350 km/h (218 mph).

A source also says that the business plan is predicated on building just 26 a month, which suggests that the LF-A is meant to be very, very exclusive.

The article goes on to suggest that the LF-A won’t be seen until 2009, meaning the development could stretch throughout next year. It’s hard to fault the logic, if the car’s not ready, there’s no point releasing it, but you have to wonder why Lexus chose to promote the car so heavily. Really, though, I wish they had shown the same restraint with the LS 600hL…

In preparation for the Tokyo Motor Show, Lexus has announced their latest concept, the LF-Xh, though I think it’s safe to call it by its real name, the 2009 RX.

The exterior design is pure L-Finesse as applied to the RX. The front-end is a touch too stubby, and there’s a bunch of the standard concept design conceits, including the tiny windows and the over-the-top interior, but all in all it seems like a natural progression of the current RX styling. I’m particularly impressed by the rear, and I love the light-casing designs at both ends of the car. But my absolute favorite, and this is hardly a surprise, is the panoramic glass roof. I hope this is one feature that makes it to the production model.

With All-Wheel Drive powered by a V6 gas/electric hybrid, the underlying tech is straight out of the RX 400h, so nothing new on that front.

Now, for the photo gallery:

Automotive News has revealed a number of significant facts about the future of Lexus, and it’s strictly upscale — with no plans to release a sub-$30,000 vehicle, Lexus will not be attempting to match their German competitors car-for-car, instead focusing their current lineup and all new vehicles at high-end segments.

Broken down, what does it look like? Here we are:

IS: The IS-F will be released late this year, with a coupe and hard-top convertible version following in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

ES: A hybrid ES will be seen in 2009, a mid-cycle refresh in 2010, and a redesign in 2012.

GS: No changes (what about the GS 460?) are planned, though the 350’s V6 will be bored out to 3.5 litres in 2008.

SC: A long overdue redesign will be coming for 2009, with a significant drop in weight and a displacement increase to 4.6 litres.

Hybrid: A dedicated hybrid, once rumored for 2009, then 2010, is now scheduled to be released in 2012. It may be a small crossover, and would only be for Japanese and European markets, at least in the short-term.

RAV4: The most interesting news here is talk of a Toyota-based Lexus built on the RAV4 platform, though this may be the dedicated hybrid mentioned above. It could be for Japanese and European markets only.

RX: The RX will be redesigned for early 2009 and released as a 2010 model.

GX: A redesign is expected for Fall 2009, where a six-speed automatic transmission may be added.

JX: Expected in 2009, the JX will be a seven-seat crossover and be based off the GS platform.

I dislike these summary-style news items, though it does confirm a number of things, like the JX and IS Coupe/Convertible versions. With no mention of the GS 460, I question how accurate the report is, but will hold out hope for the RAV4-based Lexus, which I could see dominating the small crossover market.

[Via: Autoweek]

James Fabin, Senior Product Manager for MyRide.com, has dropped some major news regarding the 2009 RX on his blog. Here’s the specifics:

• The 2009 RX will be offered in two versions, a five-passenger model similar to the current model, and a new seven-passenger long wheelbase model.
• A six-speed transmission will be standard.
• The RX 350’s engine will be boosted to bring it somewhere around 300hp for the 2009 model.
• The interior of the 2009 RX will be all new, including a 9″ LCD display that will be navigated by a touchpad located between the front seats.
• There will be an RX-F, with 380hp and available only in the five-passenger version.

It all seems very plausible, with the exception of the last point. A RX-F is hardly out of the question, but it’s not a model I see appealing to the enthusiast crowd, who will no doubt make up the majority of F-Series buyers. Of course, stranger things have been known to happen. Fabin also claims that a GS-F is on the way, and that Lexus will be releasing nine new vehicles in the very new future.

Interesting news, to say the least, though how accurate it is remains to be seen. Given his credentials, though, I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

(Thanks Dan!)