First compact Lexus SUV here this year

The first compact SUV from Lexus will be revealed in final production form at the Beijing motor show on April 20, and motoring.com.au sources have confirmed it will go on sale in Australia’s booming SUV market by the end of this year.

Now confirmed to wear the ‘NX’ nameplate, the all-new sub-RX luxury crossover was first shown in adventurous concept form at last September’s Frankfurt motor show, where Lexus executives said it could become the brand’s top-selling model.

Lexus later confirmed it will be the first model powered by its new four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, which it said at the Tokyo show would match the 380Nm torque peak of its naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6.

Likely to gradually replace the Toyota premium brand’s 2.5-litre petrol V6, the 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbo engine is also expected to appear in at least the CT, IS, RC, RX and GS.

Apart from a turbo-four variant, expected to be called the NX 200t, Lexus should also offer a petrol-electric version of its new baby SUV, probably badged as the NX 300h.

The LF-NX concept was hybrid-powered, with the new 2.0-litre engine matched to an electric motor, but it’s unclear whether the NX 300h will also be powered by the new turbo engine or a 2.5-litre petrol four, as in the IS 300h.

It remains to be seen whether the production version of the NX is as daring as the edgy concept seen at Frankfurt and Tokyo, but a recently leaked image of what appears to be a development of the LF-NX show car suggests it won’t.

“When the Lexus LF-NX concept was introduced last year at the Frankfurt and Tokyo motor shows last year, customer feedback was positive,” said Lexus at last week’s Geneva show.

“Customers who liked the LF-NX will be happy to know the production version, NX, derived from the concept will be revealed at the 2014 Beijing International Auto Show next month.

“The all-new NX will be positioned below the RX luxury utility vehicle and will be Lexus’ first entry into the growing segment of premium compact crossovers.”

Expect the NX to be priced from under $60,000 as a direct rival for BMW’s X3, Audi’s Q5 and the Range Rover Evoque when it goes on sale here later this year.

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