Lexus new “RX” announced! What is the first “Harrier” that has the roots of an urban premium SUV?
“New Lexus RX Announced! The roots of the urban premium SUV, the first generation “”Harrier
New Lexus “”RX”” Unveiled, Looking Back to Its Roots, Toyota’s First Harrier
On June 1, 2022, Toyota unveiled the all-new RX, the premium SUV under the Lexus brand. It is expected to go on sale in Japan this fall!
The first generation Harrier, a handsome SUV, is so cool! Also see the first generation RX and previous generation Harriers .
The first generation Harrier was the pioneer of premium crossover SUVs
The RX is the flagship of Lexus’ crossover SUV lineup. After the Lexus brand was rolled out in Japan in 2005, the third-generation RX was launched in Japan in 2009. The model presented here is the fifth generation.
The origin of this RX is the first generation Toyota “”Harrier”” launched in Japan in 1997, which debuted in the North American market in 1998 as the first generation Lexus RX.
We look back at the roots of the new RX and what kind of car the first generation Harrier was, the pioneer of the urban luxury SUV.
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The Harrier is still a popular crossover SUV under the Toyota brand today, and as mentioned above, the first generation was born in 1997.
Based on the platform of the sixth-generation Camry launched in 1996, it was developed as a vehicle that combined the basic performance of a luxury passenger car with the mobility and functionality of an SUV, a concept that was quite novel at the time.
The name “”Camry”” was derived from the English word for “”a small hawk of the genus ‘Chuhi,'”” and the emblem on the front of the car was not the Toyota mark, but a hawk emblem.
The first-generation “”RAV4,”” which was launched in 1994 and established the basic concept of a crossover SUV, was a huge hit, but the Harrier was designed based on the concept of a “”sport utility saloon,”” with a refined urban image that was completely different from both the RAV4 and cross-country 4WD vehicles. The exterior of the Harrier is designed with a sophisticated urban image that is completely different from both the RAV4 and the cross-country 4WD vehicle.
The body size was 4575 mm (overall length) x 1815 mm (overall width) x 1665 mm (overall height), an imposing size for the time.
The front face adopted a novel slant nose, with widely sloping front pillars, flowing side silhouettes, headlights and grille divided into two sections (upper and lower), and taillights with a circle motif, all expressing sportiness and prestige.
On the other hand, the minimum ground clearance of 185 mm was secured to ensure both drivability on rough roads and good ease of getting in and out of the car.
The interior was also designed to be spacious with an emphasis on ease of use and comfort, with an instrument panel shift that allowed side walk-throughs and other minivan-like utilities, as well as the leather seats essential for a luxury model.
The engine is a 2.2-liter inline 4-cylinder that delivers a maximum output of 140 hp (later switched to 2.4-liter) and a 3-liter V6 that boasts 220 hp in the higher grades. Torsen LSD was available as an option for the rear differential.
The 3-liter model’s engine mounts featured “”active control engine mounts”” to reduce idling vibration, resulting in quietness befitting a premium SUV.
The suspension is an independent suspension with 4-wheel struts, and coupled with a chassis with performance rods and reinforcement members placed in various parts to increase rigidity, the vehicle exhibited agile handling and driving stability.
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With its sophisticated urban styling, high-quality interior, and ride comfort, the first-generation Harrier broke new ground for SUVs, and was a hit not only in Japan but also in the United States.
The concept of the Harrier has been carried on from generation to generation, and the new RX, which is a spinoff of the Harrier, is sure to be an even higher quality model.”