2016 Lexus RX
No nameplate has done more to put luxury crossovers on the map than the Lexus RX. Over three generations, this Camry-based, mid-size luxo-ute has set the standard as to what it takes to run around upscale suburbia. Now, 2016 sees an all-new RX with more style, comfort, and hi tech, and perhaps, more impact. So let’s see if owners should leave their gated communities for a new RX?
Lexus knew better than to mess too much with the core attributes of the 2016 RX. So, while the brand is aggressively expanding its high performance offerings; when it comes to their best-selling model series, they showed a lot of restraint.
Although that is not obvious when you first see it. Now, we can spend all day debating the clearly radical looks, or that it has grown a bit. 1.9 inches in wheelbase and 4.7 in overall length. But, we don’t think it will deter most current Lexus buyers seeking an ultra-comfortable neighborhood showcase.
So, if it happens to strike you as an angry, drop jawed, sharply creased parent of the NX, and more like an oddly-elegant sci-fi rolling sculpture, so be it. Designers did throw in a “floating roof design” that is this season’s must-have fashion accessory.
But, back to those core values. Unlike the rough riding, tightly sprung NX, the RX remains a very smooth operator with a ride that is luxurious without being flabby. So good call here, Lexus.
It is also extremely quiet. Even the hybrid version is virtually silent. Our senses really couldn’t tell if the gas engine was running or not.
Steering response has been increased without much change in overall feel which remains unremarkable.
Fully living up to expectations denotes the interior as well. Materials are exquisite, amenities are what you’d expect, and comfort is top notch. No wonder RX buyers are such a loyal lot.
The layout is similar to stablemates IS and RC and things seem a little cluttered. But this two-row family hauler provides excellent seat comfort up front, and a second row that is far nicer than many kids might deserve. The bigger outsides also adds to space here for adults.
And you can take it with you when you go, thanks to 18.4 cubic-ft. of cargo room. No kids on board? Well, now you’ve got 56.3 cubic-ft. of big box storage space. A power rear hatch is standard, touch-free operation is optional.
An 8.0-inch dash-top TFT infotainment screen is standard. Up-level trims get a 12.3-inch hi-res display with Lexus’ Remote Touch interface.
Another familiar aspect of the new RX is under hood. A 3.5-liter V6 still does duty. But, it’s the newest direct-injected version, now producing 295-horsepower and 267 lb-ft. of torque. Add hybrid hardware, and output grows to 308-horsepower. Max towing capacity is unchanged at 3,500-lbs.
The RX350 does add an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the 450h hybrid incorporates a CVT. Both are available with front or all-wheel drive; the hybrid’s AWD adds an additional electric motor in the rear.
The only nod toward more street prowess is that the F Sport upgrade is now available with both powertrains. It is definitely the way to go for bragging rights in your cul-de-sac. Not only will you get even more aggressive styling tones inside and out…
…blacked out trim, 20-inch wheels, unique gauges, paddle shifters, aluminum accents, even an Active Sound Generator…
…but you’ll also get an Adaptive Variable Suspension as well. And while it takes handling a big step up, most soccer moms will probably just end up leaving things in comfort mode.
Lexus Safety System + includes automatic braking, upgrading the already extensive list of safety features.
Now Government Fuel Economy Ratings aren’t finalized yet, but Toyota claims 20-City, 28-Highway, and 23-Combined for a front-wheel drive V6; and 31-City, 30-Highway, 30-Combined for the hybrid.
RX pricing should start in the low 40’s.
The Lexus mission of late is to rally up some new customers and become a much more dynamic brand. And while that’s a noble mission, to us, the results have been somewhat mixed. Fortunately, except for looks, there’s nothing about the 2016 Lexus RX that will impact its appeal to current owners and prospects. It’s still premium in comfort and execution, and remains what most other luxury crossovers aspire to be.
Specifications
- Engine: 3.5 liter
- Horsepower: 295
- Torque: 267 lb-ft.
- EPA: 20 mpg city / 28 mpg highway,
2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid
Kia Adds Hybrid Assistance To Keep The Party Going
For 2022, Kia gave their minivan a major reboot. So much so, they changed the name to Carnival and even stopped calling it a minivan. Well, they can’t fool us though. After all, we love minivans for their all-around practicality. Well for 2025, Kia has updated its multi-purpose people mover, including adding hybrid power. So, let’s see if that makes time in the new Carnival even more festive.
With many brands no longer even competing in the minivan segment, it’s noteworthy that not only is Kia still in the game, they’ve given their multi-purpose 2025 Carnival a major update after only 3 years on the market. That update includes a first-time optional hybrid powertrain.
The Carnival Hybrid config is an extension of the Sorento SUV’s setup, pairing a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine with a larger 54-kW electric motor. Combined output of 242 horsepower, 15 more than Sorento. Total torque is a stout 271 lb-ft, getting to the front wheels through a true six-speed automatic transmission. Throw in a full 19-gallon fuel tank and you’ve got close to 600 miles of range, allowing you to keep the party going farther than before.
The V6 Carnival remains available, although it’s now listed at 287 horsepower, down from 290. But the Government Fuel Economy Ratings take a huge leap here in the Hybrid; from 18 City, 26 Highway, 21 Combined to 34 City, 31 Highway, and 33 Combined.
The Hybrid comes with a few additional tricks up its sleeve, the most noticeable being the dial-like shifter in the console. But there is also a pretty clever regen braking setup that Kia calls E-VMC. The Electrification-Vehicle Motion Control has three levels of regen, but also has an E-Handling component which adjusts regen going into corners and amounts of electric assist when coming out of them; E-Ride, which includes unique shock tuning for the Hybrid but also can engage the electric motors to mitigate harsh impacts; and E-Evasive Handling Assist, which kicks in during emergency maneuvers. All techy cool!
Another step in Kia’s efforts of making everyone forget this MPV is actually a minivan.
All Carnivals regardless of powertrain get updated styling for ’25 which includes a new face that trades the concave grille for a flatter, larger one. The headlights are no longer incorporated into the grille, and the daytime running lights are much snazzier. In back, the taillights take on a completely different look, with much larger vertical elements on the sides. The liftgate gets a chunkier SUV-like vibe and the rear bumper is more pronounced than before. Altogether, another step in Kia’s efforts of making everyone forget this MPV is actually a minivan.
There’s upgraded tech for the inside, namely Kia’s new frameless panoramic display that incorporates both the 12.3-inch driver display and 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment. It not only looks better, but processing speeds are much faster. The driver’s display gets a completely new theme with modern bar and number style speed displays instead of virtual gauges. A Full Display Mirror is also now available, which can switch from traditional mirror to camera.
The Hybrid has a bit less horsepower but 10 additional lb-ft of torque, so off to Mason Dixon Dragway for some numbers. It certainly didn’t feel underpowered, spinning up the tires off the line and even chirping on the shift into second. We hit 60 in a respectable 8.0 seconds, which is still .80 slower than the V6. Our best quarter-mile time was 16.2 seconds at 88 mph.
There was a different vibe to the handling experience, as E-Handling virtually eliminated understeer. But there was still some body roll and stability systems were eager to engage quickly. The brakes retain a natural feel, and stopping distances averaged a good 110 feet from 60.
The Carnival Hybrid is available in four of the Carnival’s five trims, all but the base LX. So, a base LXS Hybrid goes for $42,235, a $2,000 premium over the V6.
The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid offers more than just much better fuel economy. Kia has found a way to integrate battery assistance into just about every mechanical aspect of the vehicle, delivering a driving experience that is unique from its V6 counterpart, and adding more good vibes to an already exceptional family vehicle.
Specifications
As Tested
- Engine: 1.6-liter turbo-4
- Transmission: 6-speed automatic
- Horsepower: 242
- Torque: 271 lb-ft
- 0-60 mph: 8.0 seconds
- 1/4 Mile: 16.2 seconds at 88 mph
- Braking, 60-0 (avg.): 110 feet
- EPA: 34 City | 31 Highway | 33 Combined
2024 Lamborghini Revuelto
Lamborghini Keeps V12…Adds Electric Power…Makes Us Happy
Supercars, hypercars, thousand-horsepower pickup trucks, seemingly ordinary EVs with mind-boggling power numbers; the lines are blurring when it comes to high-performance specs these days. But when you see any Lamborghini, you know exactly what you’re in for!
And just so we’re all on the same page, what we’re in for with the Lamborghini Revuelto is 12 cylinders worth of hot hybrid performance. So, to those who thought the race to electrification meant the demise of the V12 supercar, Lamborghini defiantly says: “Not so fast!”
This is the successor to the Aventador, but forensic fanatics can trace its DNA back to the iconic Countach. The Revuelto shoulders the burden of not only being the brand’s latest and greatest V12 super sports car, but their first high-performance electrified vehicle. Just when the adrenaline rush from attending the Revuelto’s coming out party at Italy’s Vallelunga circuit was fading, we’re back on track here at Roebling Road Raceway attacking corners like we’re getting paid to do it.
Revuelto is, of course, named after a famous fighting bull, but the word also translates to “mixed,” a nod to this beast’s powertrain. Its mid-mounted naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 has flipped compared to the Aventador and now has an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with an integrated electric motor bolted to the back of it that sends power directly to the rear wheels. Output there is 814 horsepower. But Lamborghini’s mechanical mixologists didn’t stop there, putting two more 110-kW electric motors up front, powering strictly the front wheels and making the total output 1,001 horsepower.
As you can imagine, the drive mode situation gets a lot more complicated as in addition to the usual chassis and drivetrain settings, you can dial in where the power comes from, and when and how much battery you’re using; 13 options to choose from in all.
Set it up for max power, and the Revuelto will get to 60 in 2.5 seconds; all-wheel-drive provides plenty of traction, even on a cold winter’s day, and power delivery never lets up until you ease off the throttle. We were lucky enough to get two days of track time at Roebling Road Raceway before a rare snowstorm blew through coastal Georgia.
It was the fastest we’ve ever been at the end of the front straight here.
And the Revuelto was instantly fast around this track, the kind of push you back into your seat thrust that can throw your equilibrium off in a hurry; in fact, it was the fastest we’ve ever been at the end of the front straight here. It holds onto plenty of that speed through the corners too, with Corsa mode allowing just a bit of slip before easing back power, allowing you to maintain momentum and rocket off corners with authority.
Now, it doesn’t feel playful or toy-like; rather a big, fast, precise, purposeful machine that requires your full attention. Especially when it comes to braking zones, where you really must put some foot into it so that it knows you’re serious. And with the front tires shouldering all that force, it did lead to a few moments of wavering, though that did improve the more laps we did.
The Revuelto’s mono fuselage chassis is made entirely of carbon fiber, something they have much experience with, and it is both lighter and stiffer than the Aventador’s. There’s plenty of carbon fiber in the slick bodywork too, crafted to produce the necessary downforce without a bunch of add-ons. Superficial types will geek out over the choice of 70 trim colors to complement the 400 shades of water-based paint that are available for the outside, including this Verde Citrea. Standard wheels are 20-inchers up front and 21 inches in back, the rears sporting 345 Bridgestone Potenza Sports.
Lamborghini claims the interior was inspired by spacecraft, and we’d be on board with blasting off to anywhere in these leather and Corsa Tex sport seats. This is a plug-in hybrid, with the charge port slickly integrated into the front storage area. EV-only driving range is limited to around 5 miles, and when that engine sitting directly behind you comes to life, it definitely gets your attention.
Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 10 City, 17 Highway, and 12 Combined. If you can afford the insane $612,858 base price, you can add your name to the list and wait a year or two for Lamborghini to assemble yours exactly how you want it.
With the Revuelto, not only has Lamborghini kept the V12 supercar alive, but they’ve also crammed this square peg of performance right through the round hole of modern mobile electrification. What else did we expect from Lamborghini?
Specifications
As Tested
- Engine: 6.5-liter V12
- Transmission: 8-speed dual clutch auto
- 0-60 mph: 2.5 seconds
- Engine Horsepower: 814
- Electric Motor Horsepower: 187
- Total Horsepower: 1,001