Lexus RX 350L 7-seater teased ahead of LA reveal

Lexus is set to expand the range, and seating, of its RX mid-size SUV family, with the new seven-seat RX 350L scheduled to debut at the Los Angeles motor show at the end of this month.

The RX 350L was teased in a shadowy preview image overnight. Details are thin on the ground at the moment, but all will be revealed when the covers come off at LA.

The 350L differs from its siblings by adding a third row of seating, boosting passenger capacity to seven occupants.

It’s a long-overdue product for Lexus, and should finally give the Japanese brand a legitimate rival to other monocoque-construction luxury high-riders capable of transporting seven people. Up until now, the only Lexus models capable of carrying more than five passengers have been the Prado-based GX that’s only sold overseas, or the super-sized (and supremely thirsty) Landcruiser-based Lexus LX.

It is unclear if the 350L will be a long-wheelbase version of the current RX or be underpinned by a new chassis altogether.

Currently, three different RX models are available in Australia (200t, 350, and 450h), with Luxury, F-Sport and Sports Luxury variants of each.

Further details on the new model have not been revealed, but with Australia’s current love for all things SUV – seven-seaters in particular – it should be popular when it arrives locally.

The RX was first launched in Australia in 2003, and since then has become one of the brand’s most popular vehicles, making up more than a quarter of all Lexus’ sold since then.