2021 Lexus RX SUV Is Partially Redacted By Black Line Special Edition
Oh, and the unredacted RX lineup receives a few new standard features.
The 2021 Lexus RX is the latest vehicle from the Japanese automaker to receive its new Black Line treatment, after the GS sedan and the RC coupe. Now available on RX F Sport models, the Black Line special edition adds dark accents to the exterior and interior. See if you can spot the subtle changes.
Perhaps the most notable update is the set of 20-inch black wheels. Black-painted side mirrors, black side graphics, and a dark grille surround complete the subtly meaner look. The only two high-contrast paint colors available complement the black accents nicely: Ultra White and Grecian Water.
Inside the cabin, the Black Edition features black seats with white accents and blue-colored stitching. Special floor mats, key gloves, and a cargo mat is also part of the package. Buyers also get a custom Zero Halliburton luggage set with Lexus logos.
The Black Line special edition is available with the RX's gas and hybrid powertrains. On the gas model, a 3.5-liter V-6 makes 295 horsepower, while the hybrid pairs that engine with an electric motor for a combined output of 308 ponies. Lexus will sell 750 copies of the gas model and only 250 of the hybrid.
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You needn't wait, either. Lexus is now selling the RX Black Line models, with the RX350 gas model going for $51,660 and the RX450h hybrid ringing in at $52,905.
Other than the Black Line models, Lexus has made minor changes to the SUV lineup for 2021. Every RX350 and RX450h comes standard with blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, as well as power-folding and auto dimming mirrors. A wireless phone charger is now an option, too, and the Performance package has been renamed the Handling package.
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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