Due in Australia late this year, the latest model from the upmarket Japanese Lexus marque is the UX (the ‘U’ for Urban and ‘X’ for Crossover).
It joins the LX, GX, RX and NX in the Lexus lineup, but as the title suggests is more suburban cruiser than bush-basher in its intentions.
In what Lexus tells us is a world first, the specially-shaped wheelarch mouldings use the airflow over their edges to reduce turbulence and lift, contributing to the vehicle’s stability.
Similarly, aero-stabilising blade taillights begin at the top of the rear guards and run across the rear of the UX. These guide the airflow around the rear and also reduce turbulence and lift, contributing to vehicle stability when cornering and driving in crosswinds.
Again on the aero side of the design, the five-spoke 17-inch alloys wheels have Gurney flaps along the spoke edges that reduce wind resistance and, at the same time, increase airflow to cool the brake discs.
The 2019 Lexus UX will be offered as the front-wheel-drive UX 200 powered by a new high-efficiency 126kW 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine mated to a new-design Direct Shift CVT automatic .
The Lexus UX 250h which uses an even higher-efficiency version of the 2.0-litre petrol engine that’s paired with a fourth-generation hybrid drive system. This is likely to come to Australia with a choice front-wheel drive or E Four electric all-wheel drive.
Lexus UX is the marque’s first vehicle built on its new Global Architecture – Compact (GA C) platform with its lightweight yet rigid structure, low centre of gravity and refined suspension.
We are assured that, “The materials and workmanship are pure Lexus, combining Japanese traditions in craftsmanship and hospitality with innovative production techniques.” Given our knowledge of Lexus models over the past 30 years description is exactly what we expect when the all-new UX comes here at a date yet to be announced.
