A gas/electric hybrid joins Lexus' best-selling vehicle line for 2005. The RX is the upscale cousin of the Toyota Highlander from Lexus' parent company. Both employ the platform used by the Lexus ES 330 and Toyota Camry sedans. The RX 330 has a 230-hp V6 and a 5-speed automatic transmission. It offers front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive without low-range gearing. Antiskid/traction control and antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard. Unlike Highlander, RX doesn't offer 3rd-row seating. But it does come with head-protecting curtain side airbags that are optional for the Toyota. Added for '05 are sensors designed to detect a rollover and trigger the curtain airbags. Front side airbags and a driver knee airbag also are standard. So are a 40/20/40 split rear seat with slide and recline adjustments, tire-pressure monitor, and 17-inch wheels. Optional are 18-inch wheels, xenon headlamps, self-leveling air suspension with driver-selectable height settings, and adaptive cruise control designed to maintain a set following distance. Also available: power tilt/telescope steering column, rear DVD entertainment, rearview TV camera, voice-control navigation, and Lexus Link assistance through OnStar. Steering-linked headlights are available, as is a multipanel sunroof with a larger opening than the regular sunroof. Also for 2005, the power front-passenger seat goes from 4-way to 8-way, and a wireless connection to cell phones is now included with navigation, which is revised with new graphics and a more-detailed database.

Due in showrooms in spring 2005 as an '06 model, the hybrid RX400h will combine a 3.3-liter gas V6 and a battery-powered electric motor for a total of 270 hp. It uses a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and will offer 2WD and AWD. As with Toyota's small Prius hybrid sedan, the 400h can be driven on electricity, the gas engine, or both. No plug-in charging is required. Pricing won't be announced before the early calendar-2005 sales start, but Lexus says to expect a $5000 premium over 2WD and AWD RX 330s.