Design risks are rare in the auto industry. Most new models share physical characteristics either with modern competitors or with classic cars that fans still hold in high regard. For better or for worse, you don’t often get surprised by a new design.
In 2012, the “spindle grille” from Lexus
was an exception. And while the updated version of the concept found on the 2023 RX changes the look a little, it doesn’t exactly fix what many consider to be broken about the luxury automaker’s front end. The faces in Lexus’ lineup has been a point of contention for car enthusiasts for a decade already. Jerry
, your car ownership super app
, dove into the controversy to give you the inside scoop. The divisive design of Lexus’ “spindle grille”
Lexus introduced its spindle grille for the 2012 model year, strapping it to the front end of its new CT hatchback. From the get-go, it stirred up strong reactions.
Since then, the automaker has reused the concept for all kinds of vehicles, from sports cars to SUVs. The large, black grille also inspired similar ideas for other brands like Hyundai and BMW.
The size of the grille and its “spindle” pattern have been polarizing amongst auto designers from the very beginning, and Motor1
says Lexus has even acknowledged this, but rather than move on with a completely new concept, the luxury car brand chose to adapt it for the new RX. The 2023 RX’s spindle grille could be more contentious than past renderings
A quick glance at the 2023 RX’s grille might have you believe that the original spindle grille is still in rotation. But a closer look shows a slight variation: the top of the front end shares the same color as the crossover before shifting to the conventional black grille.
It’s an odd choice, especially within the context of Lexus’ recent admission that to many, the spindle grille makes its cars look like Darth Vadar. The adapted design doesn’t really change that at all.
In fact, producing a slightly different version of the same thing cements the Star Wars villain-like aspects of their lineup into the brand’s future.
Other changes coming to the 2023 Lexus RX
The new grille isn’t the only change coming to the Lexus RX. The crossover is also gaining new variants, four of which are hybrids.
The base model, called the RX350, still runs completely on gas. Car and Driver
says it has a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four with 275 hp. Jumping one step up to the RX350 F Sport gives the SUV a bit of a more aggressive look, but no changes to its guts. Beyond these two are four different hybrid-powered trims. AWD comes standard in the RX350h, which uses a four-cylinder engine and electric motors to produce a combined 246 hp.
Adding the “F Sport” moniker to this trim makes a much bigger difference than it did to the gas version. Its six-speed automatic transmission
and turbocharged engine bumps the horsepower of the hybrid to 367. The RX350h+ turns the crossover into a plug-in hybrid, while the F Sport Performance incorporates all the available bells and whistles.
How to find the best coverage once the 2023 RX gets here
The 2023 Lexus RX doesn’t go on sale until the end of this year, but if you plan to buy one when it does, make sure to shop with Jerry for car insurance
. Jerry is a personal insurance broker that lives in your pocket. But don’t worry about buying tiny office furniture: Jerry is an app.
Once you download Jerry, just answer a handful of questions that will take you roughly 45 seconds to complete, and you’ll immediately get car insurance quotes for coverage similar to your current plan.
Jerry customers save an average of over $800 a year on car insurance payments!
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