Lexus RX and GX get tasteful Black Line trim levels

It's refreshing to see a Lexus car without excessive chrome. PHOTO FROM LEXUS

Lexus vehicles are wonderful to be in, and they’re fun to drive. But with rival luxury brands launching new products or updating current ones, keeping the Japanese automaker’s catalog fresh is truly a never-ending challenge. This time, two of the company’s SUV models get a special variant called the Black Line.

Only 2,500 RX Black Line units will ever be produced. PHOTOS FROM LEXUS

The RX’s Black Line treatment just makes a lot of parts colored black. These include the spindle grille, the mirrors, the lower front bumper, and the 20-inch wheels (plus the lug nuts). To make the black bits stand out, only two exterior paint jobs are available: Eminent White Pearl and Caviar. The dark theme continues to the interior with the open-pore wood trim and the leather seats. Only 2,500 such vehicles will be produced—2,100 for the RX350 and the rest for the RX450h.

The spindle grille never really looked good on the GX. Painting it black is a stylish compromise. PHOTOS FROM LEXUS

The GX receives more changes. There is now a 10.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Parking assist, heated power-folding mirrors, and Lexus Safety System+ are standard equipment as well. Black Line cars have dark 18-inch wheels and exterior trim. Aside from Starfire Pearl and Black Pearl, the GX can be had in Nori Green Pearl.

While these updates are for the US market, we hope that locally available Lexus models get Black Line touches as well.