Lexus. The name just sounds smooth and sophisticated. Like champagne being poured into a crystal flute. Lexus. Like raw silk rustling in the wind. Lexus.… [Read More]The post First Drive: 2016 Lexus RX 350 F Sport. appeared first on Pursuitist.

Lexus. The name just sounds smooth and sophisticated. Like champagne being poured into a crystal flute. Lexus. Like raw silk rustling in the wind. Lexus. Like sharpened skates gliding over a frozen lake.When the brand is at it?s best, that?s exactly what it is. Quiet, elegant, restrained.Yes, the LFA, RCF and GSF are kickass performance machines. But when you think of Lexus you really think of meticulously crafted, rock solid reliable, luxury transportation for the masses. And that?s exactly how Lexus is positioning the new RX series.The RX 350 is a midsize crossover and a direct descendant of the RX 300 that started the whole crossover craze. This platform is far and away the best selling in the category, dominating a veritable murder?s row of competitors ? the BMW X5, Audi Q5, Cadillac SRX, Lincoln MKX and Mercedes GLE ? by a wide margin. So saying this reboot of the RX franchise is important to Lexus is like saying Autotune is important to Miley Cyrus. Without them, both might actually cease to exist.With that background, when Lexus invited me to drive the new RX in Charleston, I immediately accepted their generous offer and eagerly hopped on a plane and headed south. The fact that the test drive included a stay at the Belmon...