Normally, we stay clear of Auto Express's stories which are based on renderings, since they are fabricated just to give credibility to the image, but this one seems different. Not only is their rendering of the Lexus NX SUV based on something Toyota let slip, but the British magazine also has information about the debut date and price of the model.
The NX is designed to be a crossover SUV which slots under the RX. Test mules have previously been spotted being benchmarked against the BMW X3 and Audi Q5, which gives us a clear indication of its place in the market.
Auto Express says the NX will be available in Britain in October 2014, with prices starting at £30,000, equivalent to about $50,000, though that's not really relevant since prices differ from market to market. The best way to look at that number is to compare it to the Audi Q5, which in Britain starts at about £31,000 with either a 150 PS 2-liter diesel or 225 PS 2-liter TFSI.
At launch, it seems the NX will be available with a "300h" powertrain, meaning a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder and an electric motor working in unison, basically the same as in the IS.
A sporty NX 200t will also be introduced, offered only with the F Sport package and powered by a more powerful 2-liter turbo, the first engine of its kind Lexus has ever made. Our source suggests 240 hp will be on offer.
So what about the looks? That will be slightly subdued from the LF-NX Concept, which is actually a good thing. Funky lines work great for concepts, but the 30 to 40-year olds who buy these kinds of SUV can't drive flying saucers to work every day.
The first video below is a screenshot from a presentation made by Toyota North America president Jim Lentz at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Based on that, Auto Express created a rendering why has been "colorized" by Internet users. That's what you see in the second video.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News