A New Lexus SUV/Crossover Coming: Called "NX"

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TEXT/PHOTOS

My apologies for the rather lengthy story copied and pasted with credits, below opposed to simple adding the link. However, there were so many obnoxious pop up ads and uninteresting stories blocking the print, I thought I would spare us all the frustration 

Lexus NX Crossover to Pursue China's Audi-BMW Buyers

By Craig Trudell  Apr 11, 2014 1:31 AM ET 

Source: Toyota Motor Corp. via Bloomberg

Toyota Motor Corp. (7203)'s Lexus will show its newest production-ready crossover at the Beijing Motor Show for the first time as it tries to narrow the gap with German luxury car brands in the world's largest auto market.

The NX will be Lexus's first compact crossover, the company said today in a statement. The model, positioned below the mid-sized RX that Toyota introduced more than 15 years ago, will compete with Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's X1, Volkswagen AG's Audi Q3 and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz GLA.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda is pushing to add more "flavor" and "seasoning" to the lineup at the world's biggest automaker and in February promoted a designer to lead its luxury division for the first time. BMW and Audi each outsold Lexus more than three-to-one globally last year, as Toyota's reluctance to introduce local production of luxury models in China raises prices in that market.

"Without a localization assumption and thus with a higher price in this entry premium segment, the Lexus NX will find it difficult to gain ground in China from its German rivals, namely the locally made BMW X1, Audi Q3 and MB GLA," Zhu Bin, a senior analyst at researcher LMC Automotive in Shanghai, said in an e-mail.

LMC Automotive estimates Toyota will sell 2,720 NX crossovers in 2015, capturing 1.3 percent of the entry premium segment. While the researcher projects NX sales will rise to 3,763 by 2018, the model will trail growth in the broader segment, paring Toyota's share to 1.2 percent, Zhu said.

First Turbo

The NX will be the first Lexus model offered with an optional turbocharged powertrain. Toyota plans to introduce 14 new engines globally by next year that boost fuel efficiency at least 10 percent, the company said yesterday.

"The market tends to view Toyota as lagging behind in conventional powertrain innovation," Tatsuo Yoshida, a Tokyo-based analyst for Barclays Plc, wrote yesterday in a report. "We think the adoption of next-generation powertrains could help eliminate this perception."

Lexus sold more than 523,000 vehicles last year, a record that topped a previous best of 518,300 set in 2007. About half of the brand's worldwide deliveries were in the U.S., where sales gained 12 percent to 273,847.

BMW sales climbed to a record 1.66 million last year, making it the leader in the global luxury auto market, followed by Audi's 1.58 million and Mercedes's 1.46 million.

To contact the reporter on this story: Craig Trudell in Tokyo at ctrudell1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Young-Sam Cho at ycho2@bloomberg.net Lena Lee, Dave McCombs

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Far Better Photos of the New Lexus
Shown in Two Variations

Toyota Motor Corp. Lexus NX300h, left, and NX200t F Sport

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Wearining the Latest Interpretation of the Lexus Signature Grille


Production Version, Below





Concept, Above

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Additional Pics of Exterior





Interior Photos Added Following Today's Release





Source: Toyota

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Lexus Plans on Utilizing its New Exaggerated Signature
Much Like Acura Did Over the Past Decade in Promoting the Complete Lineup for the Brand

The All New United Stated Bound Lexus NX and
Sports Coupe Concept Sporting the Aggressive Front Facia, Below



Production Version NX, Above / Coupe in Concept Form...

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RC-F Sport with Options per Lexus Website, Labeled Prototype by Toyota Corporation
Highlights the Enhanced Grille Seen of the NX Crossover

Source: Toyota Corporation

[Atomic]

I've always liked the availability of two tone interiors. The red/back has a sporty look (posted earlier in thread) and the following is something more mainstream but still modern and edgy, I think. It will be interesting to see how the vehicle will be perceived by the car buying public and auto enthusiasts alike.

[giant_mtb]

"Hmmm...not sure how to style the front end...fuck it, I'll just make the grille as huge as I can."

[hotrodalex]

They gotta stop the weird headlight thing. The basic design is fine but the details and surfacing in person are just gross.

[Madman]

Hideous. 

[ifcar]

The one with horizontal slats on the grille instead of the honeycomb looks much better.

[CJ]

Why is this a thing.

[12,000 RPM]

I like it.

[Madman]

I like it.

http://www.lenscrafters.com/

[CALL_911]

I don't love the NX, but I don't hate it either. I straight up love the RC, however.

[12,000 RPM]

http://www.lenscrafters.com/

I have 20/20 vision. It's not a Ferrari 250 SWB but it's not terrible either. Looks way better than the Macan and the X1/X3 for starters.

[Madman]

I like it.

I have 20/20 vision.

Are you sure about that?   

It's not a Ferrari 250 SWB but it's not terrible either. Looks way better than the Macan and the X1/X3 for starters.

The Macan, X1 and X3 may not be the best looking cars on earth, but at least when I see one I don't become violently ill.  The sides and the back of the NX are tolerable.  Not pretty, but tolerable.  But that front?  You'd have to be either blind or insane to want to be greeted by that face every morning as you walk out to your garage or driveway.

It sort of reminds me of this girl I remember from school.  From the neck down she looked alright.  But her face was horrible enough to scare animals and send children running away in tears.  That, in a nutshell, is the Lexus NX.  Like that unfortunate girl I remember from long ago, fix that face and you might be on to something.

[2o6]

And you can't speak for everyone....


I think it looks wonderfully weird. It's got this techno-organic feel about it that sets it apart from German rivals.

[Raza]

The looks are a bit whatever, but I'm surprised at the name.  Won't Nissan sue them for selling a car with the name NX?

[AltinD]

The looks are a bit whatever, but I'm surprised at the name.  Won't Nissan sue them for selling a car with the name NX?

It depends if Nissan has patented 'NX', and if yes, for what markets. They certainly haven't patented that name in China, so even if they did elsewhere, Lexus can always badge the vehicle differently

PS: TESLA cannot sell their cars in China under the Tesla brand

[thewizard16]

They gotta stop the weird headlight thing. The basic design is fine but the details and surfacing in person are just gross.

Agreed. The new IS is a good example of how it just doesn't work. The weird separated LED headlight thing makes the front of what is an otherwise attractive car look very unappealing IMO.

[Raza]

It depends if Nissan has patented 'NX', and if yes, for what markets. They certainly haven't patented that name in China, so even if they did elsewhere, Lexus can always badge the vehicle differently

PS: TESLA cannot sell their cars in China under the Tesla brand

Interesting.  Nissan is so sue-happy with these things, I assume they'll sue because they sold a car called the NX. 

[Lebowski]

It depends if Nissan has patented 'NX', and if yes, for what markets. They certainly haven't patented that name in China, so even if they did elsewhere, Lexus can always badge the vehicle differently

PS: TESLA cannot sell their cars in China under the Tesla brand

Patented?

[Lebowski]

It's ugly IMO.

[AltinD]

Patented?

Trademarking? .... same shit

[Laconian]

BF's coworker is a Lexus troll (owns a CT200h) and he's super hyped about this car. He's trying to get my BF interested in buying one.

[68_427]

It looks even worse in real life.

[Xer0]

The IS needs this new engine ASAP

[12,000 RPM]

The IS needs this new engine ASAP

Yes, it can join the long list of cars with soulless Euro approved 2.0Ts

[CALL_911]

Yes, it can join the long list of cars with soulless Euro approved 2.0Ts

Are u joking