The baby Lexus has plenty of foes to fend off.
Japanese luxury carmaker Lexus has finally addressed a long, gaping absence in its lineup with the arrival of the UX compact crossover, at last answering the propositions posed by cars like the Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X1, and very recently, the Volvo XC40. While it’s definitely been toned down since we first saw it as the UX Concept from 2016, the UX is certainly one very distinctive looking thing, and we’re sure that it’ll set itself apart in the segment with great ease.
The first thing that hits you with the UX is the design of the thing. Again, while it was toned down from the concept car (not all cars can go show-floor-to-showroom unchanged like the LC Coupe), a handful of design features we loved off the show car have been adopted for production. The flared fenders and squared-off wheel arches are just a couple, along with the prominently upswept belt line that accentuates the glasshouse.
Lexus’ signature spindle grille is present and correct, flanked by headlights that reposition the signature Lexus-flick above the main lighting unit (they’re usually below) (which makes it look like it’s confused). The rear wasn’t shown off at all neither in photos nor video, though the full-width U-shaped taillight appears to be present and correct, replete with ‘flying’ top edges on either side (our bet is that they’ll claim it offers some kind of aerodynamic advantage).
No photos of the cabin were given either, but a brief look afforded by the teaser video shows off a digital instrument cluster (likely with a moveable centre ring like the LFA supercar), as well as a widescreen infotainment screen setup in a freestanding style above the dash, a first for Lexus. And of course, there’s an analogue clock nestled between the centre AC vents.
The Lexus UX is expected to ride atop of Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, which will probably imbue the hybrid Lexus UX (as seen here) with a 2.0-litre hybrid system (dubbed Toyota Hybrid System II). We know that Lexus has visited the patent office and blocked off the badges UX200 and UX250, so expect those variants to be announced in due course.
More information on the Lexus UX will be made available at its full public unveiling at the Geneva motoroshow next week. Stay tuned to CarShowroom as we bring you more updates as they come.
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