Hands On: Lexus' Remote Touch Beats iDrive

The 2010 Lexus RX 350 and Lexus RX 450h Hybrid now have a cockpit controller like BMW's iDrive. Except the Lexus Remote Touch controller is drop dead simple to use.
Remote Touch is the technology highlight of the third generation of Lexus' midsize luxury SUV, along with an impressive Bluetooth system, iPod integration, improved navigation, and a hybrid version that will account for one in five RX sales.

Lexus' Remote Touch replaces the previous generation touchscreen display and uses a force feedback joystick rather than the control wheel employed by BMW (iDrive), Audi (MMI), Mercedes-Benz (Comand), as well as Honda/Acura, Hyundai, and Infiniti. Force feedback means that when the joystick pointer nears an object on the 8-inch onscreen LCD display, the pointer snaps to the selection. Remote Touch is idiot proof.
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Bmw8ter - 2/24/2009 9:53:44 PM

+1 Boost

Take the joystick operation out of the equation entirely, and replace it with a touchpad like a laptop computer. Now that would be awesome, and makes much more sense as there are no moving parts to break.

NannerPus - 2/26/2009 3:49:20 AM

+4 Boost

Why did Lexus have to sell out and copy the Germans again?! The one time we have something different than them with the touch screen and then they have to go and copy the German concept again. It is humiliating. So now with tail between legs we have to admit that the German concept was superior all along? So what if the touchscreen got sticky and washed out and couldn't be used while driving, at least it was different and not a direct copy. Bring back the Touch Screen. Bring back the Touch Screen!

You can call me NannerPus NannerPus.

maikoazu - 2/25/2009 2:09:51 AM

+1 Boost

I also prefer the stubby joystickish pointing stick. Sadly most laptop use touchpad instead but Lenovo's Thinkpad line of notebook and laptop still has the signature IBM red Trackpoint.

Bmw8ter - 2/25/2009 6:56:59 AM

+1 Boost

I have a Lenovo T61 that I use for work. It's possibly the best laptop I've ever owned. I could never get into using the red joystick on the thing though....more lag than the touchpad.

shabaru - 2/24/2009 10:47:27 PM

+6 Boost

There are the yesses and the no's....

Yes: Seems quite initiative to use and what do you know? Its a Lexus so maybe customers will feel a bit more safer with the reliability.

No: The only thing that new technologies will offer is only some more getting used to...

CarCrazedinCali - 2/24/2009 11:28:25 PM

+1 Boost

Sounds SWEET! I can't wait to try it

SanJoseDriver - 2/25/2009 12:07:22 AM

+2 Boost

I love Lexus' touch screen controls and at first was horrified that they were going to replace it with a joystick. After reading this, I'm going to at least have to try it before passing judgment. I still think that at the very least they should have still enabled touch in addition to the joystick.

DinamoR - 2/25/2009 1:21:12 AM

0 Boost

I've tried it. It's so easy a caveman could do it. Lexus does it again.

Willis - 2/25/2009 4:42:36 AM

+4 Boost

Is this really necessary? The "Beats iDrive" part? There have been so many threads on these boards lately designed to start flame wars. This is another one of them.

XYZZ - 2/25/2009 5:02:40 AM

-5 Boost

yet you are an active participant in the flame wars. are you down on this particular thread ONLY because there is little to say in defense of bmw, to this SUPERIOR lexus innovation?

Willis - 2/25/2009 9:29:33 AM

+4 Boost

Huh? Where am I participating in attacking Lexus or defending BMW? I am not a fanboy for your information.

JUGNU - 2/25/2009 4:45:14 AM

-3 Boost

Can't wait to try it. Looks like this Remote Touch is going to be in every new Lexus. RX and also new HS250h has it.

JUGNU

kpaxx - 2/25/2009 8:40:18 AM

+4 Boost

Tried it! Not that much different or better than MMI or Command! Just Different!

Imola48isX5 - 2/25/2009 10:23:55 AM

+4 Boost

what do you know lexus got an idea from bmw...

AlexTx - 2/25/2009 11:41:22 AM

-2 Boost

I remember when Audi came out with the MMI system and people were telling me: "Oh it's not touchscreen? Lexus and Acura is touchscreen".
Not anymore they are not!!
Some Lexus clients will not like that.. they have been so spoiled and now it's gone..

david999 - 2/25/2009 11:50:00 AM

-2 Boost

Hard to beat this type of system. Touchscrean is nice, but washout on sunny days due to close proximity of the screen is a drawback. The Lexus one is also much easier to use than other remote-type set-ups.

iLexus - 2/25/2009 12:18:12 PM

-2 Boost

I wonder who will be the first to copy this Lexus technology. BMW?

theoptimisticpessimist - 2/25/2009 3:48:52 PM

+2 Boost

Your mean BMW will copy from Lexus what Lexus copied from BMW, Right.

iLexus - 2/25/2009 4:14:40 PM

-2 Boost

Wrong.

Lexus will never copy BMW. If Lexus had to copy someone it will be Mercedes since Mercedes was Lexus Target since it was first introduce back in 1989.

theoptimisticpessimist - 2/25/2009 4:32:18 PM

+5 Boost

I'm reffering the Lexus batardized "I drive", But glad to see you accept Lexus affinity for creative reproduction.

NItePhire - 2/25/2009 12:24:39 PM

+2 Boost

I tried it last month at a local car show and it really is rather simple in comparison to Idrive however that been said I will miss their really simple touch screen. My wife has a ES350 and although I dont like the car the nav system is one of the best.

Ricks2Dogs - 2/25/2009 12:30:56 PM

-1 Boost

I guess Lexus did the right thing again by waiting...copying...then improving. They've done this repeatedly in the past and were ridiculed for doing so. Maybe now, that will stop.

Chaos29 - 2/25/2009 1:12:07 PM

-2 Boost

I don't buy laptops without the little pointer stick. Touch pads are for slow people- novice or down right have too much time on their hand. The pointer stick is way more accurate and gets the task done 100 times faster than using touchpad (now add the auto snap on feature : Perfect). Don't need a mouse.

I'm speaking of laptops.

vonbeeler - 2/25/2009 2:06:15 PM

+1 Boost

LEXUS= COPY. Some things never change.

Imola48isX5 - 2/25/2009 2:15:50 PM

+1 Boost

Lexus is always in the shadow of BMW eventually catching up. Us BMW owners prefer to park our own cars.

BJS470 - 2/25/2009 8:20:50 PM

-2 Boost

The iDrive is a FAILURE...Enough said

theoptimisticpessimist - 2/25/2009 9:30:34 PM

+3 Boost

How is the idrive a failure? Acura,Audi,Mercedes,Hundyai,Infinti, and now Lexus all have some form of it. You may not like it but BMW read the future right.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/25/2009 11:31:54 PM

+1 Boost

No surprises here. Is it better than the new 7 Series's iDrive though? I'm eager to try that one out.

Jordanski - 2/26/2009 12:57:11 AM

0 Boost

i still think the new audi mmi is wayyyy better

ubercool - 2/26/2009 10:23:22 AM

-3 Boost

Looks cheap n nasty, touchscreen is still the nicest sytem to use!!!

Jordanski - 2/26/2009 12:59:59 PM

+1 Boost

gtfo & go drive your pathetic infiniti

S4cabriofoxone - 2/27/2009 1:33:52 AM

+1 Boost

He is actually a Jaguar salesman. Touch screens are better but Jaguar's implementation is horrible--on the XK especially there is tremendous lag after you press the screen.

cbro980 - 2/26/2009 6:49:45 PM

+2 Boost

I have just spent 5 days with the new RX and the controller. I have always hated the idea of something that makes life more complex and is not needed. However it seems that is not the case in the new RX. The nav screen is very far forward and so I see the necessity of the controls being close at hand. After using this new controller for the 5 days, I can say that it is easy to learn with a one minute learning curve, fast, easy and not at all a bad thing. I also love not getting fingerprints on the touch screen as before. I have read about the complexity and long learning curves of the German controllers but Lexus seems to have very neatly solved those issues.

xj13 - 2/27/2009 8:40:13 AM

0 Boost

I saw a red ISF today and it was so ugly. The second one I've seen in 6 months.