FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Lexus LF-NX

It was previewed via a single headlight teaser shot three weeks ago and seen in the first spy shots in July, but now Lexus has revealed its idea of an all-new compact SUV ahead of its world debut at the Frankfurt motor show on September 10.

Dressed in an edgy bodyshell featuring the premium car-maker’s highly sculpted L-Finesse design language, the first compact SUV from the Japanese luxury brand has emerged as the LF-NX, with the LF prefix denoting ‘Lexus Future’ as with all the brand’s recent concepts and the ‘NX’ suffix confirming the nameplate to be worn by the showroom version.

Naturally, the world’s luxury hybrid market leader has revealed its answer to the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 in petrol-electric form, although no technical details have been provided.

The low-slung five-door wagon is dominated by the most aggressive iteration of Lexus' now-signature spindle grille yet seen, plus ‘arrowhead’ daytime running lights (DRLs), while a pronounced diamond-shaped belt line and coupe-like roofline produce a narrow glasshouse and sleek side profile punctuated by muscular black-trimmed wheel-arches.

While the strikingly distinctive corner styling separates the bumper from the front wing with an aggressive vertical cut, the rear-end is no less surprising, featuring tail-light clusters that plunge downward to the full depth of the bumper, creating a sharp, aerodynamic trailing edge.

Finished in a new Brushed Metal Silver exterior colour in an attempt to give the impression of a body carved from a single billet of solid metal, the LF-NX’s aggressive exterior design is echoed inside, where a driver-focussed cockpit continues the brand’s 'Human Oriented' L-finesse design theme.

Like previous Lexus models, the LF-NX’s dashboard is divided into an upper display zone and lower operation zone, allowing for “intuitive interaction with the vehicle's next-generation technology”, which includes touch-sensitive electrostatic switches, and a new Remote Touch Interface (RTI) touch pad design.

Featuring Lexus’ trademark blue instrument lighting, the interior is trimmed with Sunrise Yellow/Black leather with contrast stitching.

As we’ve reported, the LF-NX’s world debut was fast-tracked from the Tokyo show in November to next week’s Frankfurt show following lobbying by Lexus’ European division, which is keen to cash in on the booming compact premium SUV market.

To be positioned below the larger RX crossover from under $60,000, the mid-size five-seat SUV is believed to be based on the platform that underpins parent company Toyota’s fourth-generation RAV4.

Given Lexus has trademarked the NX 200t and NX 300h names, expect the newcomer to be powered by the same 2.0-litre turbo-four that will debut in the new RC 200t Coupe and a more advanced version of the 2.5-litre petrol-electric drivetrain seen in Toyota's homegrown Camry Hybrid.

Unlike the Camry, the front- and all-wheel drive NX will score the more powerful, port/direct-injection Lexus engine and hybrid drive system from the rear-drive IS 300h and GS 300h sedans, albeit mounted transversely as in the Camry -- not longitudinally like the related four-cylinder petrol/electric/CVT drivetrain in the IS and GS.

While the IS 300h is already on sale, the GS 300h will be unveiled alongside the LF-NX at Frankfurt, before it becomes the economy leader of Lexus’ latest GS large sedan line-up in Australia late this year.

Before then in November, Lexus will relaunch its new ES medium sedan line-up in Australia.

Expect the all-new Lexus NX crossover to be revealed in final production guise at the Geneva show before its global release next year.

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