#NYIAS: Feast Your Eyes On The BEST Shots Yet Of The All New 2016 Lexus RX Exterior - Have They Knocked It Out Of The Park?

Nissan phoned - it would like its styling cues back.

What a hodge-podge of styling.

That was my thought as well. The Murano is way overstylized and uglier in person, and it looks like Lexus is copying that model.

Everything except the fact that it is a mouth breather looks good to me. Seriously fix that grille. It is appalling.

Looks OK... maybe it is a small park? The biggest problem I have with a lot of the designs lately is their lack of harmony. Seems like a lot of incongruent lines mashed together. Each piece taken in isolation often looks good but then when it is put together it looks, not of a whole. An example from the RX above: the rear door is nicely designed, yet the rear quarter panel through to the roof section don't seem to fit in with the door design. Another example is the flow from the hood (quite good looking) and how it flows into the squared off front wheel arch (which is also nice). The two elements don't mix well or flow together well IMHO. But then again I like the Cadillac CTS, so to each his own. That is how my eyes see it.

Jesus Christ that is awful. Why don't they stop screwing around and just make the entire front bumper a grill? They're almost there.

Sorry, but the 2015 Murano has nothing to do with this RX, being that automotive design and development (overall) have very strict lead times, usually measured in years (I'm an automotive engineer).

Lexus finalised the styling aspects of the 2016 nearly 2 years ago (no point of return/correction to design) and it was likely a full size clay model in late 2012/early 2013. 2016 RX test mules were already running around in August 2013. Where was the 2015 Murano (Z52) back then? Kept in secret at Nissan facilities, yet to be seen by any non-Nissan personnel and non-Z52 (Murano) suppliers.

I am so tired of off-handed assumptions by naive/ignorant individuals (especially bloggers and journalists), that believe a new automobile can go from design freeze to launch stage in a few months (not directed at you). That is a 2-3 year process on average. Not 6-12 months, in which car A debuts (early 2014) and then car B comes out months later (2015), for everyone to claim car A influenced car B.

The Murano was shown back in 2013 as the Resonance concept.

(To *my* eyes...) The rear looks "generic Asian." The profile: Generic Asian + Origami. The face: Predator hideous (as in the 1987 film).

I'm definitely NOT the guy they're selling to! (I believe the most beautiful SUV/Crossover selling at this time is the 2015 Audi Q5, but that's just me).

But according to Lexus, their sales are brisk and the new styling is giving them the sales numbers they want, so good for Lexus and the people who like it! As long as the buyer is happy with their purchase, who gives a rip what Steve thinks about it.

I smell racism

Oh my... that thing is friggin hideous.... oh my that's ugly.... oh well, somehow it will sell?

Say all you want and this will sell and sell and sell, just like the Camry in the nose of Accord or 6

The front overhang is huge (just like on the NX)...it looks like it could practically tip over on it's nose...the rest of it looks okay....at least they are adding some character to their previously boring designs

Agreed, another area where the design seems out of whack somehow.

This thing is beautiful to say the least. I will definitely want one for sure.

But the Europe worshippers will always hate it just because it is Japanese.

But in truth, Japan cars = Reliable and overdelivers value

I know it goes against the grain and people JD Powers but my personal experience has been very different. Worst car I ever had was a Honda Accord. Looked and felt old after just a few years and had a lot of problems with it.

JDMUSMuscle writes “…Europe worshippers will always hate it just because it is Japanese…”

I’m sure there are some people who are as you describe. I don’t see myself as one of them. When I was shopping for my next vehicle, Lexus was the *FIRST* name I thought of because I understand them to be amongst the best in terms of few initial defects, great reliability, great fit and finish, a high level of luxury, and very respectable handling. In other words, Lexus makes truly noteworthy vehicles!

What stopped me cold is that I really dislike their styling. So much so, that I can’t get past the looks to consider owning one, even though it’s likely an otherwise noteworthy vehicle. It appears to me that many others feel this way, too. They’re don’t dislike Lexus’s current offerings because of the country of origin. They dislike it simply because to their eyes (and mine), the vehicles look immensely unattractive.

Nope......this is ugly......they should have stopped at the NX..........front and rear overhangs are ridiculous!........grill is ugly an gigantic.

A 'Fender Bender" with this suv would cost thousands!!!!!!!!!!

I have the same reaction to this that I did when the new Murano was introduced last April...wtf.

Seriously, the RX has been a nice looking but not overly aggressive vehicle for Lexus. They have way overstylized this thing. This may be the ugliest Lexus Vehicle I have seen in a long time, which is surprising as I like there new Sports Sedean they have been advertising a lot lately.

That D-pillar execution is awful. Murano's is clean and tidy in comparison.

Overstyling does not create passion, when will Lexus learn this? You can't buy class, like you can't invent passion.

This design looks good....with a Toyota badge. Just like the Murano works with a Nissan badge and wouldn't work with an Infiniti badge. It really looks like the RX went down a price class or two.

I think Lexus is running the risk of alienating its core customers today who like the current RX for its tastefully expressive design, both inside and out. These are typically an older buyer (in my observations) and I just don't know if this new design will appeal in the same way.

Best headline I've read on this new RX: "The 2016 Lexus RX is here to take your kids to school or eat them" Patrick George.

Just damn ugly...

Lexus wins customers through there reliability perception. It works for customers who value it over style. With that said, this thing is hideous and they have gone too far in an effort to attract a younger base before they become BMW or Audi fans. Bland style is one thing, but overly aggressive styling will turn people away.

Lexus has no heritage. They go from extremely boring to extremely radical. This car is reminds me of a Pontiac Aztek, but worse.

Lexles has produced one of the UGLIEST RX's yet.

The rear glass looks very raked. Perhaps it is just a trick on the eyes, but is seems to take some of the untility out in terms of cargo volume.

Yeah heaters! Is damn ugly but the Rx will be still number #1

Thanks god the REAL buyers aren't these heaters.

I'm not a Lexus hater here, and they have had some nice looking vehicles. This one I think will backfire similar to when Acura went bold in 2009 with the new TL. I think if a company wants to up its game in the looks department, bold can be modern and sleek without looking goofy and like a toy car.

We'll see. I didn't feel the NX at all in photos but on the road it's very unique so this has the potential to be pretty bold. I've seen a few Muranos recently and its design that has some of the same feel is very noticeable.

What I find amusing when it comes to Lexus when it is mentioned it creates such a stir. On one had you have complete haters for no other reason but to hate. Then the lovers. The difference is that haters have no logic to their reasoning it like a school kid who lost their ball. The funniest thing i find about Lexus haters is when they carry on about the grill. What a short memory these people have when Audi did the big grill almost 10 years ago and now these same people love them. Now Merc is getting larger and larger front too. As a whole Japanese are better value, better quality and go the distance. There is no doubt the eurofiles will pay what even silly price is offered. European car makers love the Lexus haters as they know they are foolish enough to pay more or less. What is wrong with just liking a car because you do. Now wonder there are wars when people loose the plot over car styling and taste.

Save for the giant grill this is a great looking SUV. I predict a MASSIVE success for Lexus!