Further emissions development and customer demand for higher performance engines has led to the introduction of a new 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine for the UK/Europe-specification Lexus RX SUV, according to a Toyota GB spokesman.

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Asked why these markets didn’t get the new engine from the start, as in North America and Japan (the old three-litre unit was carried over), he said: “America is by far the biggest market for the RX (108,000 in 2005) and new models are introduced there and in Japan first.”


Toyota said the introduction of the RX 350 in UK and Europe provides buyers stronger performance, with greater fuel economy and lower emissions. The Euro-spec engine develops 272bhp at 6,200rpm and 342Nm of torque at 4,700rpm. Other mechanical changes include re-mapped five-speed automatic transmission shift patterns, changes to the four-wheel drive system and new soundproofing measures.


The RX350 has the same trim and equipment specifications as the previous RX300, with the addition of a new multimedia and navigation pack, standard or optional according to model, which includes a more sophisticated 11-speaker Mark Levinson premium hi-fi, DVD player and faster-responding sat-nav.


The top version also gets rear passenger video screens set into the front seat head restraints.

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In the UK, Lexus sold 4,538 RX models in 2005 of which 3,026 were the RX300 and 1,512 were the hybrid power RX 400h, taking the cumulative total since 2000 to more than 16,000.


For the remainder of 2006, it is aiming for around 1,000 RX 350 sales, with 1,800 targeted for 2007.


Graeme Roberts