SPY PICS: Baby Lexus SUV?
Don't be fooled by the Lexus CT 200h cladding. Word is that the forthcoming BMW X3-size Lexus NX lurks underneath this test mule recently spotted in GermanyThese Automedia photos snapped at the Nurburgring recently may not give much away, but it is believed the new Lexus baby SUV, expected to be dubbed NX, is lurking beneath the Lexus CT 200h-derived body.
We understand that the car, which is expected to appear at this year’s Tokyo motor show in November prior to an international launch in 2014, will feature a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder inserted into an NX 200t model that will be sold alongside a hybrid NX 300h version.
It has been suggested that the new Lexus SUV will be based on the platform of the current Toyota RAV4 – which would make sense – although some members of the auto press have speculated that the CT hatchback could be a starting point. All we really know is that Lexus favours the idea of a smaller SUV to supplement its current range of RX models.
A turbocharged four-cylinder would also be a first for Lexus, which has so far relied on V6 and V8 powerplants, in both conventional and hybrid models – apart from the CT 200h and the Europe-only IS 300h that use four-cylinder engines in their petrol-electric drivetrains.
A competitor for BMW’s X1 and X3 SUVs, as well as Audi’s Q3, would be a timely thing for Lexus. The company’s stand at this year’s Tokyo motor show should be an interesting place.
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