Lexus names its all-new compact SUV
Toyota's premium division aims to tackle Audi's Q3 and BMW's X1 with a new compact crossover rangeLexus appears to have named the all-new compact crossover that will slot in below the existing RX and LX in its SUV line-up by filing a pair of trademarks in the US and Canada for the nomenclature ‘NX 200t’ and ‘NX 300h’.
The nameplates provide a couple of distinct clues, as the letter ‘X’ denotes ‘all-terrainer’ in Lexus parlance, while the alphanumeric suffixes indicate the powertrain configuration.
The 200t is reportedly the new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine announced at the recent Paris motor show and due to launch in 2014; the company claims the motor will offer high output yet miserly frugal fuel consumption.
Meanwhile, the hybrid-powered 300h is likely to use the 2.5-litre AR Atkinson-cycle petrol engine (paired with an electric motor) that, according to Toyota, “achieves a maximum thermal efficiency of 38.5 per cent, realising both high fuel efficiency and high output”.
The choice of the ‘NX’ moniker is an interesting one, as Nissan offered a front-wheel-drive coupe with the same model name from 1991 to ’96, and some sources suggest this is Lexus’ way of dishing out payback for Infiniti’s use of the JX appellation for its new medium-large SUV (JX was a prefix trademarked but never used by Lexus).
Lexus is yet to confirm that it plans to build a small SUV, but a senior Lexus Australia official recently conceded this was a segment that represented a significant void for the company – especially in SUV-crazy Australia.
The NX will reportedly share its platform with the next-generation Toyota RAV4, which has recently been spied in Saudi Arabia and may surface at this month’s Los Angeles motor show.
It would certainly make sense for Lexus to field a contender in the compact SUV segment as the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 have been strong sellers in European and emerging markets for the two German prestige brands.
The Q3 and X1 haven’t fared too badly in Australia either, with 1007 and 1104 sales respectively to the end of September this year.
Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site…
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
