And F-Sport trim will be offered optionally.
Following the international launch of its new compact crossover, Lexus Australia has finally piped up and officially confirmed the offering of the UX in our market, and gone on to detail the grades & basic specifications of the model we can expect to see. The UX is perhaps the most significant new model for the brand: With compact crossovers all the rage, the UX is uniquely capable of turning around the fortunes of the brand in our market, if not globally.
“The Lexus UX is designed for the modern urban explorer seeking a fresh, contemporary, and dynamic take on luxury driving. We designed the UX to appeal to young buyers who seek not only what is new and exciting, but what is relevant to their lifestyles. I wanted to positively overturn the image of a crossover with a high body that requires careful manoeuvring, and offer a car with nimble performance and excellent manoeuvrability that makes it as easy to drive as a saloon.” — Chika Kako, Executive Vice President, Lexus International
The Lexus UX will be available in our market in two guises: The UX200 will employ a “high-efficiency” 2.0-litre four-pot with 126kW, sending power to the front wheels via a DirectShift CVT automatic. The UX250h on the other hand will pair an “even higher-efficiency version” of the same 2.0-litre, but provide a combined output of 131kW thanks to the utilisation of a small electric motor that boosts efficiency and performance. The UX250h will send power either forwards or to all-four corners, the later using an E-Four electric all-wheel drive setup.
Additionally, the UX will be offered in Australia with the F-Sport package for both the UX200 and UX250h. The F-Sport package not only lobby on things like an exclusive grille design and revised bumpers, but you also get cabin updates like jet-black trim pieces, F-Sport electrically-adjustable front seats, a leather-covered F-Sport steering wheel and shift knob, and aluminium pedals. F-Sport cars aren’t all show either: You’ll find specific springs, stabilisers & dampers that provide UX F-Sport models with a sharper, more engaging drive, though you should be able to option on Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) which will allow you to either sharpen or slacken the suspension setup based on your mood.
When the UX arrives, it’ll have to do battle with cars like the BMW X2, Volvo XC40, Audi Q2 (and Q3), and Mercedes-Benz GLA. The compact crossover segment is one that is easily swayed by design and frankly, if you’re into the angular, origami-like designs that Lexus has been putting out of late, then you’ll love the UX (this writer is a fan). Sharp lines, bold creases, creative approaches to the mundane… the Lexus UX reeks of modernity no matter where you look at it. The spindle grille up front for example, now has elements in it that appear to ‘radiate’ from the badge, while the headlights incorporate the Lexus ‘tick’ daytime running lights above the main beam units, making it look like it has a stern face.
Then you go down the sides and get taken aback by the pronounced creases along the body, all working together to provide some truly complex surfacing that plays with light to a degree that we suspect most carmakers wouldn’t dare apply to their own lineups. Lexus must’ve realised just how much of a design statement the Lexus UX was just going from the nose to the flanks, because the rear is refreshingly simple, though it incorporates the same ‘hourglass’ surfacing at the back as a mirror of the spindle grille up front. And the whole thing is topped off by a full-width LED light bar replete with tips that rise upwards for aerodynamic purposes.
The cabin of the Lexus UX also goes quite a way in displaying a ‘new era’ for Lexus, marrying some new elements with ones that we know and love from the brand. The new aesthetics come in the form of the widescreen infotainment display, which is neatly integrated into the top of the dash (or semi-integrated), which is certainly different from what the mainstream players are doing with their tablet-style freestanding arrangements. As for the familiar, there’s a digital instrument display on the F-Sport models, replete with LFA-esque sliding ring, which slides from one side to another depending on selected mode and display.
As is necessary in a car like this, favoured by young families and empty-nesters alike, the UX comes with a full gamut of safety systems. Available on the UX internationally include things like autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, intelligent cruise control, and even an automatic high-beam assistant. It’s not clear which of these systems, if any, will be offered on Australian-spec models, though we’d expect to at least find AEB as standard if nothing else.
The Lexus UX at launch was confirmed for Australian arrival in Q1 2019, so we’re quite surprised that the local office is now pushing introduction ahead. This could indicate market readiness or excess UX production capacity, though excitement around the model in key global markets suggest the former as the latter would only be a consideration if reception was lacklustre. Pricing and specifics have yet to be released but are expected closer to launch, so stay tuned to CarShowroom as we bring you more updates as they come.
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