Lexus News: Lexus Unveils The NX Crossover

[William Maley]

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The hot thing in the automotive marketplace, especially in the luxury car segment is compact crossovers. At the moment, we have the BMW X1 and Buick Encore. Before too long, the Audi Q3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class will be making an appearance. Now another luxury automaker is joining the fun. Yesterday at the Beijing Motor Show, Lexus unveiled the production NX crossover.

Compared to the concept NX that was making the rounds last year, the production model loses some of the sharpness. It hasn't loss any of the dramatics though. The design still features the spindle grille, narrow headlights with L-Shaped LED strand sitting underneath, and sculpting along the bottom of the doors. Inside, the NX takes some ideas from the IS with a center stack that features a screen on top and controls right underneath. There is also the latest version of Lexus' Remote Touch system which now features a touchpad taking the place of the joystick.

For the U.S., the NX will be offered with two powertrains:

• NX 200t: 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, Six-Speed Automatic
  
• NX 300h: 194 horsepower and N/A pound-feet of torque, CVT
  

Both models come with front-wheel drive as standard, while all-wheel drive is optional.

Lexus says the NX lineup will be available sometime later this year.

Source: Lexus

Press Release is on Page 2

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All-New Lexus NX Compact Crossover Launches With Marque’s First Turbo Powertrain

• Available With Three Powertrains: Gasoline Turbo NX 200t, Naturally Aspirated NX 200, and Full Hybrid NX 300h
  
• Lexus Enters Luxury Compact Crossover Segment
  
• NX Reveal at Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on April 20
  

April 10, 2014

BEIJING – April 11, 2014 – There’s a first for everything! The all-new Lexus NX comes to market as the brand’s first entry into the luxury compact crossover segment and with the first turbo in the lineup. The NX will also be offered in naturally aspirated and hybrid powertrains. Powertrains will vary by region. The U.S. market will offer the NX 200t turbo and NX 300h hybrid. The NX 200t F SPORT will also be available with unique exterior and interior features.

Lexus will maintain its role as the luxury hybrid leader with six hybrid models including the NX 300h. The NX will be the fourth vehicle in Lexus’ luxury utility vehicle lineup and positioned below the popular RX.

The Lexus LF-NX concepts, originally introduced at the 2013 Frankfurt and Tokyo Motor Shows, influenced the striking and emotional design of the NX. The sharply styled crossover will be revealed at the 2014 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on April 20.

Chief engineer Takeaki Kato and his team developed NX as a luxury vehicle that provides versatility and details unexpected in its class to young, urban drivers.

Exterior Design

The NX was developed to have more agility than a SUV plus a bold, eye-catching exterior with its low profile and unique roofline.

As with all Lexus vehicles, the aggressive exterior starts with the spindle grille. Innovative LED headlamps and daytime running lamps firmly express Lexus’ bold styling.

The front and rear wheel arches add to the NX’s wide and low, muscular stance with bold flares. The arches house standard 17-inch or available 18-inch wheels.

The profile is accentuated by a roofline peak set towards the back of the vehicle to create a tight silhouette and provide ample head-room for rear seat occupants.

Subtle, luxury details are included in the innovative Lexus-first door handle with a hidden key barrel and integrated lighting.

The rear is punctuated by Lexus’ signature ‘L’ shape combination lamps, each with seamless LED lighting, while the bodywork echoes the spindle grille design.

Interior Design

The NX’s cabin combines the structural beauty of a high-performance machine with luxury materials that maximizes functionality. The combination of hard metallic surfaces and contrasting soft materials help create a unique interior.

A strong, center silver frame surrounds and defines the center instrument panel. Knee pads located at the base of the center stack help support the driver and passenger. The Human Machine Interface (HMI) technology continues the impression of an advanced vehicle and is also located at the bottom of the center stack.

Seating played a significant role in the cabin design. The NX possesses a low hip point adding to the connection of the driver to the vehicle and increasing overall head room. The NX also has a long cargo area length and a wide front to rear couple distance.

Technology

The NX introduces an innovative all-new 2.0-liter gasoline turbo in NX 200t and a naturally aspirated engine in NX 200 with the choice of front and all-weather drive. Lexus also offers a highly efficient hybrid in NX 300h.

The NX has an array of innovative on-board technology, including an available Lexus-first Wireless Charging Tray to enable a mobile phone to be charged. Other available technology includes the first application of a new Lexus Remote Touch Interface with a touch pad; and a comprehensive Multi-information Display, including a Lexus-first G sensor and boost meter, Heads-Up Display, All-speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

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[David]

Personally these are the ugliest Predator Mouth Compact CUV's I have seen. Buick has them all beat so far and that does include the X1 which I am not impressed with either.

[daves87rs]

You could cook on that grill....

[Delta Force79]

Repulsive. I know Lexus has never made the most stylish cars around, but my god that is horrible.

[ZL-1]

Grille is horrendous; the rest is actually kind of sharp-origami-cool... But overall and judging fromt he pics, I'm not a fan of it. Now what GM/Cadillac should be doing right now is getting a couple of Alpha CUVs out ASAP to kill this thing.

[ocnblu]

This thing ain't got NO alibi.

[David]

Grille is horrendous; the rest is actually kind of sharp-origami-cool... But overall and judging fromt he pics, I'm not a fan of it. Now what GM/Cadillac should be doing right now is getting a couple of Alpha CUVs out ASAP to kill this thing.

Agreed, Imagen a Escalade shape and look but in a Compact Luxury CUV package. That would ROCK!