Australia’s best-selling Lexus is about to get a ground-up redesign, set to debut in Japan in May 2021.
BestCarWeb reports the next-generation Lexus NX will move to the latest Toyota New Global Architecture chassis underpinning the current Toyota RAV4 and Harrier, and share their 2690mm wheelbase.
The next NX will also share their hybrid powertrain, according to the report, although it’ll continue to offer a Lexus-exclusive turbocharged engine.
The current Lexus NX
The current NX300’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is expected to be replaced with a turbo 2.4-litre producing 220kW of power.
That’s a significant jump from the 175kW of the existing NX300.
The new NX will also feature a lower and wider body with more coupe-like styling, according to Best Car Web.
Measuring 4630mm long, 1630mm tall and 1870mm wide, it’ll be 10mm shorter, 15mm lower and 25mm wider than the current car, while its wheelbase will grow by 30mm.
That’ll also make it 15mm longer and 5mm wider than the RAV4.
The plug-in hybrid RAV4 PHV’s powertrain could also join the NX range.
Mating a naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors and an 18.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the RAV4 PHV has a total system output of 225kW and can do the 0-100km/h dash in just 6.2 seconds.
While the current NX is one of the older models in the luxury mid-sized SUV segment, that hasn’t dented its appeal.
Along with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Porsche Macan, it was one of the only crossovers in its segment to grow its sales during a horrific 2020.
With 3518 sales, the NX was behind only the BMW X3 (4360) and Mercedes-Benz GLC wagon (4470).
It’s been a consistent seller for the brand, growing its sales each year from 2014 to 2018. Last year’s performance wasn’t far off its best year, 2018, where Lexus sold 3697 NXs.
The current model offers a choice of the aforementioned turbo 2.0-litre and a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid with a total system output of 147kW.
The availability of a hybrid is unique in this segment.
Land Rover offers only mild-hybrid versions of its Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque, while Mercedes-Benz and Volvo offer plug-in hybrids.
The plug-in hybrid GLC300e costs around $20,000 more than a base NX300h, while the Volvo XC60 T8 is more expensive still.
BMW announced it was bringing a plug-in hybrid version of its X3 to Australia but it has yet to materialise.
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