Jeremy Webb heads to the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed as a special guest of Lexus and is wowed by the brand’s ingenuity, forward-thinking design, and of course, their renowned luxury and hospitality.
I have been to the Festival of Speed (FOS) a few times as a member of the Press, which is great as you get to access certain areas that the general public can’t, allowing you to get closer to the action. But I have never been as a VIP guest of a car manufacturer, so when I was invited by the luxury brand Lexus a big smile came over me. I knew this year would be even more special.
The documents came through the post and filled me with delight. Sponsors tags, VIP tickets and the all-important lunch tokens for eating in Goodwood House. This is a very big deal in the car world, as there is so much motorsport history connected to the Goodwood estate
I have previously looked with green eyes as selected guests entered the house enjoying drinks on the balcony, which has a perfect view of the hill climb track. Now I was one of the chosen few along with my guest.
Lexus has a long connection with Luxurious Magazine and myself and other members of the team have driven several Lexus models, the reviews of which are in the online magazine. This year, the brand is showcasing the new UX small SUV and the RXL large luxury SUV.
The UX will be the new premium small SUV in the Lexus range but will not lack anything its bigger stablemates have. The interior and exterior offer the same luxury feel and look as all Lexus do.
“The inside-out concept came from a lot of discussions within the team. We wanted to show the human-centric aspect of the concept in a visually as well as philosophically strong way.
A strong symbiosis between the exterior and interior was felt to be important by all the designers involved. It was a key goal to create anticipation from the exterior, which could then have a visual link and expand into the interior,” said Alexandre Gommier, Interior Designer.
The car has been sculptured to blend parts of them so they all perform a function and still look good. The use of single materials allows a flow to the exterior to look continuous. It is a beautiful-looking car.
The interior has been deconstructed as the designers state, with maximum space for occupants as clutter has been removed. New thinking with cockpit displays for both the driver and passenger allows more cabin room and, through new technology, more information and entertainment.
The UX is a self-charging Hybrid with four-wheel drive due to an electric motor located on the rear axle. The petrol engine is 2.5litre powering the front wheels.
I am very impressed with it after spending quite a long time looking around the car and then inspecting the interior. It will sell well.
After looking at the future model, I viewed the current and latest Lexus, the RXL. This is a larger RX with the ability to have seven seats the first time this has been possible in a Lexus in Europe.
110mm have been added to the rear, but a whole lot more has been added inside, with space being increased a great deal through good design.
The RX 450hL brings together a 3.5-litre V6 with an efficient electric motor and E-Four all-wheel-drive system to deliver power, performance, and control along with low CO2 figures. It also offers a third row of seats, allowing the car to accommodate seven people in luxurious comfort.
The RXL literally builds on the success of the very popular RX with the increase in seating capacity and extra load space, making it truly versatile. I can see this being a market leader and knocking other seven-seat vehicles off the sales leaderboards.
I have driven the RX and loved it, so there can be no reason why the RXL won’t be the same to drive.
Model figures.
- Acceleration 0-62 mph 8.0 secs
- CO2 Combined (g/km) 136
- Combined mpg (l/100km) 47.9 (5.9)
- DIN-hp / KW313 / 230
Standard specifications for SE.
- Lexus Safety System+ consists of Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Crash Safety, Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Sway
- Warning System, Active High Beam System
- Leather upholstery
- Driver and Passenger 8-way electrically adjustable front seats
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Power-folding third-row seats
- Lexus Navigation with full European map capability
- Reversing camera
- 18″ alloy wheels 7-spoke (235/65 R18) (106V)
- Powered Tailgate
Learn more about the Lexus range here: www.lexus.co.uk
After spending some considerable time pouring over the Lexus range, I headed back to Goodwood house for lunch.
My guest and I were shown through to the opulent dining area and treated as true VIPs. The meal was delicious, the ambience incredible and overall, it was an experience which will last long in my memory.
Once again a big thank you to Lexus UK for inviting my guest and me to attend Goodwood FOS as their VIP guests and to Paul the owner of Luxurious Magazine for the opportunity.
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