First Drive: Lexus RX 450h Hybrid: 2010 model is completely redesigned

We're moving quickly into the second generation of hybrids, now. Ford launched the new Fusion Hybrid last month, and now Lexus brings to life all that their Japanese engineers have developed since the debut of the 2005 RX 400h SUV. The 2010 model is the RX 450h, and it's totally redesigned, with nary a part returning - not interior, exterior, mechanical nor electrical. It looks like the old Lexus RX only prettier.

It's the same popular size, tidy and maneuverable, but the styling is sleeker. Lexus calls it an "arrowhead" design, with gorgeous angles, for example the headlamps. Well, the wheelbase is stretched by one inch and it's 1.6 inches wider for a better stance and handling; but it's only a fraction of an inch longer than before. There’s a new double-wishbone rear suspension. Naturally, the ride is solid and comfortable - it's a Lexus. The interior is as stylish and intelligent as they come. We mean it. Beautiful instrumentation with "organic" white lighting. Sexiest and most graceful design of a center stack we've ever seen, with sideways sloping lines like an off-the-shoulder evening gown on a beautiful woman.

Gone is the 208-horsepower, 3.3-liter V6 internal combustion engine, replaced by a 245-hp 3.5-liter V6 using the high-compression (12.5:1) Atkinson cycle that uses delayed intake valve closing for more efficient combustion. There are 234 pound-feet of torque at 4800 rpm, an increase of 22. It's torque that provides acceleration from a stop and low speeds. Also pulling power; the RX 450h is rated to tow 3500 pounds.

The nickel-metal hydride battery pack is lighter and produces 288 volts DC boosted and converted to 650 volts AC for the 167-horsepower electric motor; these numbers are all increased over the previous hybrid. (You might compare that to the Ford Fusion Hybrid's 400-volt and 106-hp motor, but the Lexus needs more power because of the SUV's weight.)

And for the all-wheel-drive RX 450h, whose awd system is redesigned to be more efficient, there's a second motor for the rear wheels; it makes another 68 horsepower. Actually it's the third motor, because MG1 (Motor Generator 1) is the engine generator, starter, and ratio control for the CVT transmission.

No one ever said hybrids would be simple.

And we could go on with technical descriptions of the hybrid improvements. For example, the PCU (power control unit) is 17.6 pounds lighter and 40 percent smaller, while reducing losses by 10 percent. Overall, that's the deal: everything is smaller, lighter, more powerful and more efficient. Progress.

For all of this electricity, you get EPA-rated fuel mileage of 28 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, on 91 Octane fuel; that's an improvement of about 10 percent over the RX 400h. We drove 60 miles in a front-wheel-drive RX 450h, over some mountain roads with hills that required long throttle application, and averaged 25.5 mpg. For much of the time we used the ECO (economy) mode, a sort of anti-Sport mode; it programs the throttle and transmission for the most efficient and conservative performance, not brisk acceleration. But it will snap out of ECO if you suddenly need power.

ECO mode is good for city driving, where 28 mpg should be easy to attain; by employing the most effective hybrid driving techniques to use the electric motor in EV mode as much as possible, 30 mpg seems within reach. Not bad for a luxury SUV.

But will those who can afford the price of a Lexus RX 450h (which will be announced nearer the on-sale date tba, probably slightly more than the $41,800 of the RX 400h) really care about getting 30 mpg rather than 25? Who knows. But they probably do care about emissions.

There are two types: air pollution (smog particles), and greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and hydroflurocarbons). Lexus hasn't announced greenhouse gas results for the RX 450h; but for air pollution, it gets a government SULEV certification (Super Low Emissions Vehicle), or 8 out of 10 on its scale. But before hybrid owners start feeling all smug and super, the plain old straight-stick Chevy Cobalt, Dodge Caliber and Ford Focus all get 9.5.

The hybrid system switches back and forth between gas and electric power silently, and the CVT transmission operates in its single band without challenging the engine rpm. Better yet, there's a sequential mode that allows you to shift between six ranges, so you can use engine braking effectively, never mind that hybrids like to have their brakes used a lot. But the manual mode works beautifully. All CVTs should be so good.

Most of the fun happens inside the cabin, not under your foot or under the hood (or under the rear seat, where the battery components are located). The RX 450h is a marvel of electronic technology. Our favorite part was when we growled, "It's too damn hot in here," and a sweet voice came out of the dashboard and asked, "Lower temperature?" But that attempt to please wasn’t enough for us. "I'm hungry for Mexican food," we demanded, and the dashboard screen gave us the three nearest Mexican restaurants to choose from (maybe next time we'll whine like bad-mannered children, "I want a burrito!"). On the way there, all we had to do to change the XM radio station was say, "Play Hair Nation," and it went right there.

Do you know what this means (besides that your sweet Lexus will reward you even when you’re mean to it)? It means no more entering addresses for the navigation system one digit at a time with your finger, or cursing over trying to figure out how to input them. You tell the car where you want to go, and the nice lady guides you there. Life in the Brave New World can be grand.

Soon you appreciate her, and stop giving her guff. Next generation (due out probably like next week), expect her to reply "you're welcome" when you say "thank you." Don't ask what future generations will be able to do. Just lean back in your super comfortable power reclining 10-way leather seat and enjoy it.

"It's easier and simpler for the user to interface with the system," the Lexus rep said, which is what they all say, but would you believe it? It's true! It's the BMW iDrive idea, executed with thought and intelligence instead of without it. The shift lever is moved up on the center stack to make room for the Remote Touch, whose shape is ergonomic, can easily be pointed with an index and also maybe middle finger, and is clicked by gently squeezing on the sides with your thumb and other fingers. The screen is located high up on the dash where it's more easily visible without taking your concentration off the road, and has a visor to shield it from light so the contrast is sharper. Best of all, the operation is fairly intuitive to do and find things, and that's the ultimate compliment.

We still have about 50 marvelous creature comforts, safety features and technological capabilities, some standard and some optional, to describe here. Did we mention that if you own a Lexus, some dealers have a Technology Specialist who makes house calls?

With Bluetooth, your cellphone directory can be programmed to audio commands, so all you have to do is announce a name, and the call will be placed for you. One way or another, you can program almost everything, from your iPod Nano, to door lock preference, to lighting settings.The RX 450h has radar cruise control. Ten airbags. Clever storage spaces. Optional LED headlamps and standard LED brake lights. Backup video screen in the rearview mirror, as well as the LCD screen; the camera is really sharp, although lacks the useful trajectory lines like some others have.

Last thing we did with our Lexus was climb in the back seat where there's good legroom to watch a battle scene (aren't they all?) from the movie "Gladiator" in the seven-inch screens on the front seatbacks. We were totally blown away by the incredible quality of the optional 15-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound system, better than any movie theater. Next road trip, we'll let the kids drive (and demand burritos) so we can ride in the back and watch the movie. The Lexus probably has some feature to handle it.