DECLARING the newest Lexus model as “just the tip of the new model iceberg” for his company, Lexus Australia managing director Sean Hanley has launched the NX small SUV model onto the Australian market.
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The new car, touted as the first vehicle wholly developed by the Lexus International business unit, is also being touted as the first car in the small crossover SUV segment to be offered by any car maker.
And project chief engineer Takeaki Kato says that with its “cool exterior and fascinating interior” he wants elements of the car to feel like “the ultimate accessory”.
With design elements like cup holders designed to allow one-handed bottle opening and a removable vanity mirror that can be passed to rear seat passengers he might be on to something.
The reality is though that the new small hybrid Lexus – a turbocharged 2.0-litre version will be added to the family early next year – is an interesting vehicle not only for its propulsion unit but also its execution.
It has a transversely mounted 2.5- litre, four-cylinder engine and an electric motor driving the front wheels. The all-wheel-drive variant has an electric motor on the rear axle rather than a mechanical connection.
Power output is a combined 147 kilowatts and torque output i 210 Newton metres and gets to the wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission.
NX, which comes in four model variants, sits below the popular RX model in the Lexus line up. It is 140mm shorter, 40mm narrower and 55mm lower and has been built for a distinctly younger buyer group.
“In my opinion it is the Goldilocks solution for luxury SUV buyers. It’s not to small, not too big, it’s just right. The point of difference is its packaging.
“This car has the highest level of pre-sale interest of any Lexus with 82 per cent of all inquiries coming from people who are not already Lexus owners,” Mr Hanley said.
The car goes on sale nationally on Thursday with pricing starting at $55,000 for the two-wheel-drive Luxury model.