Lexus’s answer to the BMW X1 and Jaguar E-Pace is said to be as 'agile as a hatchback'
07 Mar 2018 | 2232 Views | By Jimi Beckwith, Autocar UK
Lexus has claimed that its upcoming UX crossover, which is on show in Geneva, will be as agile as a hatchback thanks to an all-new platform with a low centre of gravity.
The new car is one of the brand's most aggressive-looking models. Inside, there's a new widescreen infotainment system that appears related to ...
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Lexus has claimed that its upcoming UX crossover, which is on show in Geneva, will be as agile as a hatchback thanks to an all-new platform with a low centre of gravity.
The new car is one of the brand's most aggressive-looking models. Inside, there's a new widescreen infotainment system that appears related to the one used in the Lexus LS.
The small SUV, which brings the fight to the Jaguar E-Pace and Mercedes-Benz GLA, stems from the UX concept, which was revealed at the Paris motor show in 2016.
The UX will be powered by a mix of internal combustion engine and traditional hybrid powertrains, as proven by Lexus’s trademarking of UX200, UX250 and UX250h monikers following the concept’s reveal.
This suggests the car will share engines with lower-end NX SUV models and the ageing CT hatchback. It is thought that the UX will eventually replace the CT.
Features of the production car will be toned down from those of the concept; the large, intricate wheels and door cameras in place of mirrors are the first to go.
Rivals range in length from 4400mm to 4450mm, so it’s likely that the UX will sit somewhere in the middle.
Prices have yet to be confirmed, but its closest competitors are priced £29,000-£35,000. The NX occupies the lower end of the segment’s price range, so it’s likely that the UX will do the same, with a price tag of less than £30,000 expected.
The Lexus RX L, a seven-seat version of its large SUV featuring three rows of seats, will make its European debut at the show, alongside the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept, first revealed at the Detroit motor show in early January.