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I took my boys swimming in the Lexus RX450h, the hybrid large SUV, at the weekend. I mean, I took them to their swimming lesson in it; can't imagine what a swimming pool would cost in the Lexus options list. My seven-year-old said it’s the best car he’s ever been in. He liked the looks, and the buttons for the electric seats, and the expansive dashboard layout, and the large screen.
Erin Baker: How to build the perfect car
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Motoring journalists get sniffy about Lexi (perhaps with the exception of the LC500 sports GT just launched). They say they’re boring, old-fashioned, lack feedback and are just dull. So I approached mine in sniffy fashion and laughed off my son’s comments – after all, he’s recently been in a BMW i8, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Bentley Mulsanne and Porsche Boxster.
But there are some surprisingly nice things about the RX450h. The infotainment screen is massive – it’s like driving in a cinema. I also think the steering is great for an SUV, with a precise feel around the dead-ahead. The hybrid system is an honest one – it switches to full-electric mode a lot of the time – I drove it all weekend and barely put a dent in the fuel tank. I also – whisper it quietly – have a sly liking for a lacquered steering-wheel insert. I know, I know. What can I do? Oh, and the kit is spectacular – all the bells and whistles – cooled and heated seats, heated steering wheel, 360-degree parking camera, lots of storage space…
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It got me thinking about my ideal car. And this is it:
Front styling by Ferrari
Rear styling by Volvo
Steering by Alfa Romeo
Suspension by Rolls-Royce
Engine by McLaren
Transmission by BMW Group
E-differential by Aston Martin
Steering wheel by Lexus
Panoramic sunroof by Peugeot
Speaker system by Bentley (Naim)
Electronics by Kia
Touchscreen graphics by Land Rover
Connectivity by Seat
Air-con by VW
IsoFix by Citroen
Fabric seats by Renault
Boot by Mercedes
Seat belts from BMW M4 Competition Pack
Now that’s an expensive monthly PCP outlay right there. I’d love to see what the resulting car would look like – anyone fancy drawing it for me?!
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A former Motoring Editor at the Telegraph, Erin Baker combines a bike licence and race licence with a love of high-speed cars and penchant for embarrassingly low-speed crashes. Now she has two sons, she’s largely put her leathers to one side, preferring the cut and thrust of automotive industry debates and wondering which cars have Isofix…
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