Kenya’s President William Ruto helped Lexus gain popularity in the country. It was his signature ride during his campaign trails.
Immediately after assuming power and becoming Kenya’s fifth President, he also acquired a Lexus as his new official ride.
With now demand for Lexus ride picking globally, the automaker decided to advance the game by introducing Lexus TX.
Lexus TX will be built at Toyota’s Princeton, Indiana plant. It will be assembled alongside Grand Highlander targeting families seeking maximum passenger and cargo space.
According to the automaker, Lexus TX offers a longer list of standard features, advanced technology, and premium materials.
Features and Specifications
According to Forbes, Lexus TX 350 will start retailing at Ksh8.1 million (USD 55,050) minus all forms of taxes imposed before shipping.
It will be powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder making 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic.
The base TX 350 features front-wheel drive, but for USD 1,600 it can be upgraded to all-wheel drive.
“Driving each version of the TX confirmed similar but distinct personalities, with the base TX 350 offering more than adequate power, a smooth, refined ride and confident steering. The TX 500h, with standard AWD, a six-speed auto and a motor mounted on each axle, delivers a marked increase in power delivery. It also provides a notably more engaging steering response, especially when in “Sport” driving mode. The TX 500h features “Rear Dynamic Steering,” a system that allows the rear wheels to turn slightly for improved stability and handling dynamics,” Forbes stated in their review.
“The TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid also offers standard all-wheel drive, but unlike the 500h, it isn’t outfitted as an F Sport Performance model. This means the 550h+ has driving dynamics similar to the TX 350, though at 29 mpg, it’s notably more fuel-efficient than the TX 350’s 23 mpg. The performance-oriented TX 500h is rated at 27 mpg, an excellent blend of fun-to-drive fuel efficiency with solid value,” Forbes added.
Storage for the New Lexus
Lexus TX has sufficient passenger and cargo space making it an ideal family car. It has 20 cubic feet of storage room behind the third row, enough for seven carry-on bags (or one for each passenger). Fold the third row down and cargo space grows to 57 cubic feet.
Drop the second-row seat-backs and the TX offers 97 cubic feet of carrying capacity, which is surprisingly close to Toyota’s box-like Sienna minivan at 101 cubic feet behind the front seats.
It also has seven USB ports, wireless smartphone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The brand-new SUV is also fitted with heated front seats, climate control, 12 12-speaker system, and climate control.
“Higher trim TXs come with a series of upgrades, from semi-aniline leather seats to a heads-up display to a 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. Automatic parking, a digital rearview camera, a digital key that lets you use your smartphone to unlock and drive the TX and a wide range of connected services are also available if you sign up for Lexus’ Remote Connect subscription,” Forbes test drive review stated.
The car is expected to hit other markets starting from 2024. It is set to revolutionize the SUV market globally.
