Driving the Hill Country in a 2010 Lexus—With a Stop at the Houston Auto Show

| |
Related articles: Life > Autos

The weather in south Texas was sunny and bright January 22, adding to the pleasure of our road trip from San Antonio. It was a delightful drive, as we wound up and down gorgeous Hill Country roads in a beautiful new 2010 Lexus RX 350 and the 450h hybrid.  We drove the 350 luxury utility vehicle for the first leg of the trip, and the 450 back.  The RX 350 arrives at dealers this month, with a base price of $36,800 for the front-wheel drive model and $38,200 for the all-wheel drive version. 

Our ultimate destination: Utopia. Texas car writers enjoyed a delicious lunch at a chef-owned restaurant, The Laurel Tree, in a tiny town called Utopia before heading back to San Antonio. Definitely worth a special trip, next time you’re in south Texas.

The 2010 RX 350 has a push-button start and SmartAccess keyless entry system. The SUV drives quieter and smoother than ever, thanks to a new double-wishbone rear suspension design.  There is also a revised 3.5-liter V6 engine with all-new six-speed multi-mode automatic transmission and increased HP from 270 to 275. The multi-mode transmission allows drivers to shift manually if desired. The RX 350 also introduces an electronically controlled active torque control AWD system, using an electronically controlled coupling ahead of the rear differential to vary torque distribution anywhere from 100:0 to 50:50 front to rear.  The new AWD system is 35 lbs lighter than the previous system.

The Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) handling technology (able to anticipate loss of vehicle control in all directions) is available on the new RX 350, and manages all the standard dynamic handling systems such as anti-lock braking system, brake assist, vehicle stability control, and traction control so they work together seamlessly. The new RX also has Hill-start Assist Control, which uses brake pressure to help prevent the car from moving backward when starting on an incline.  This feature was tested extensively on the Hill Country drive, and found to work perfectly.

Another innovation for the 2010 RX 350 and 450h is the intelligent adaptive front-lighting system, which works something like extrasensory perception, estimating where the vehicle will be in three seconds based on speed and tire angles, to adjust the lateral aim of the headlamps. With a camera mounted on the inner rear view mirror, a new automatic high beam system switches from high to low beams in response to oncoming vehicles or those traveling in front. The Pre-collision system with dynamic radar cruise control uses millimeter-wave radar to measure and maintain a pre-set following distance from a vehicle traveling ahead. 

In other words, this vehicle takes many of those tough spur-of-the-moment decisions totally out of the driver’s hands so you can concentrate on enjoying the beautiful scenery! 

The RX 350 and 450h are also equipped with 10 standard airbags including knee airbags for the driver and front passenger.

The exclusive exterior design features that distinguish the RX 450 hybrid from the RX 350 include Lexus hybrid blue on front and rear emblems, hybrid logos, rear combination lights, and headlights.  While 18-inch wheels are standard, 19-inch wheels are optional.   One of the most unique features on both models is the rear spoiler design. The primary function is to help lower the vehicle’s coefficient of drag, but it also conceals the rear wiper, and houses the AM/FM radio antenna and high-mount stop lamp. Nine exterior colors are offered, including a lovely new cerulean blue metallic.

From San Antonio, we drove to Houston (unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to keep the Lexus!) for the 2009 Houston Auto Show, with more than 600 vehicles on display at Reliant Stadium. 

Some of my personal favorites seen at the show (which closed Feb. 7) included the new Ford F-150 Raptor, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, General Motors’ new Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, and the too-cool-to-describe Nissan Cube with its boxy look and features like “magic rubber bands” making it the perfect small family SUV. Concept cars with special appeal included the compact Chrysler ecoVoyager, the ferocious Dodge Demon, and the Pontiac G8 Sport Truck.

By far the most popular exhibit at the family-friendly show was the Raptor simulator, where anyone tall enough to ride could “drive” through an off-road course and get a score.  Most drivers lost control and turned over a few times, much to the delight of the onlookers.

Jo Ann Holt is a journalist and car columnist from Dallas, Texas, and a member of the Texas Auto Writers Association.