Lexus reinvents Dorothy’s red shoes in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ for the RX

In cooperation with Harris Reed, the acclaimed fashion designer, famous for his creations against the grain, Lexus is reinventing the iconic red shoes Dorothy wore in the movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’. At an event in New York to mark the 50th anniversary of W Magazine, attended by numerous celebrities, Lexus presented its brand new ‘ruby rims’. Licensed by Warner Bros Consumer Products, the concept celebrates the bold redesign of the brand’s most iconic car, the new Lexus RX.

Lexus reminds us that it continues to lead the way with the modern interpretation of one of the most celebrated films of all time. What if Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” had ignored the advice to “follow the yellow brick road” and opted for the road less traveled?

With ‘Ruby Red Wheels’, Harris Reed and Lexus present the RX as the ultimate vehicle that inspires and encourages drivers to go off the beaten track. In its role as the official vehicle of W magazine’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the RX with ‘ruby wheels’, parked at the entrance to the event, welcomed countless fashion icons, celebrities and celebrities who have lived in their time over the decades. W’s cover, which also set the tone for the 1970s-inspired celebration.

“As a gender-fluid designer, I’ve always taken the roads less traveled, where I found my inspiration,” said Harris Reed. “The bold new design of the Lexus RX and the cinematography of the Hollywood classic ‘The Wizard of Oz’ convey the literal interpretation of what it means to choose your own path and embark on a new journey along the red brick road, in a clear nod to the iconic red shoes from the film and my own designs,” he added.

To design the ‘ruby rims’, Reed took inspiration from two of the hats in his recent Spring 2023 ready-to-wear collection. The backs of the rims are made of solid aluminum, sealed with sparkling glitter. At the center are the ruby ​​core and Lexus logo, embedded in polished ruby ​​paint, and powered by LED lighting that brings them to life. The spoilers reveal the bold ruby ​​color from many different angles, creating a magical moment that celebrates the iconic power of shoes and wheels. The dramatic color change represents the transition between two worlds that immerses viewers in this journey.

The RX 450h+ is a plug-in hybrid model set to become the most successful option for European customers within the new RX range. It offers the characteristic efficiency, power and response of a plug-in system, but goes further thanks to the superior qualities of Lexus hybrid technology. This technical advantage is combined with the high response and driving characteristics of Lexus – Lexus Driving Signature –, its full equipment, advanced safety and driver assistance systems and its exclusive Takumi luxury craftsmanship. The vehicle also benefits from the ingenious structure made possible by the RX custom GA-K platform, which allows the hybrid battery to be placed completely under the floor. As a result, it improves dynamic performance as it helps to lower the car’s center of gravity and free up more space in the passenger compartment and trunk.

The RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid offers the freedom to take long journeys without interruption, adding the benefits of lower emissions, fuel efficiency and longer range in electric mode. In short, the kind of combination of qualities that today’s large SUV customers are looking for. Recently confirmed homologation data shows how far the car can go: CO2 emissions of 24 g/km, fuel consumption of 1.1 l/100 km. and autonomy in electric mode up to 69 km. (WLTP combined cycle figures). The system power of 227 kW/309 DIN hp results in a snappy response and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds.