2016 Lexus RX 350 Teased Ahead of 2015 New York Auto Show

TORRANCE, California — The redesigned 2016 Lexus RX 350 SUV is being teased ahead of an April 1 debut at the 2015 New York Auto Show.

The teaser photo shows a more sculpted RX 350, with redesigned taillights and C-pillars. The makeover looks evolutionary, not radical.

Pricing and technical specifications were not released. The 2016 RX 350 is expected to arrive at Lexus dealerships later this year.

The popular RX 350 competes with such vehicles as the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, BMW X5, Lincoln MKX and Volvo XC90.

As reported earlier by Edmunds, the redesigned RX 350 is expected to be larger, a strategy that will separate it in terms of size and price from the recently introduced 2015 Lexus NX 200t SUV, which shares a platform with the smaller Toyota RAV4.

A boost in fuel economy is expected for the RX 350, as Toyota uses an extensive amount of lightweight materials. The 2015 RX 350 returns 18 mpg in city driving and 25 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA.

A key question is whether the RX 350 will be stretched to accommodate a third-row seat.

The RX 350 has been Lexus' No. 1 selling model for years, accounting for 35 percent of total Lexus sales last year.

Edmunds says: Legions of luxury buyers will be watching this unveiling with great interest.