Even though there are so many crossovers around the world in nowadays that even car enthusiats can get bored with them, Lexus couldn’t take something like LF-NX to the streets. Having such plethora of sharp-edged three-dimensional elements seemed more repulsive than attractive to many people, which is exactly the opposite way to go when you’re designing a moneymaker like mid-size crossovers. So if you were tired of seeing automakers toning down their concept cars in order to mass-produce them, in this case you should thank Toyota’s division. Instead of losing “coolness”, like what usually happens with Renault cars, for example, NX ended sticking to L-finesse’s commandments. Which, as IS, LS and RC have shown, isn’t bad at all.
Browsing through the pictures reveals a more aggressive interpretation of the typical crossover formula. Having such tall beltline makes NX look taller than it actually is, which aids to an imponent feeling. The strong creases are still there, starting with the two-element headlights with L-shaped LEDs (and Lexus’ signature spindle grille between them), continuing by the sides with carefully-dimensioned zones of light and shadow, and ending on a rear fascia with slanted windshield, long tail lights and a large license plate room. NX is based on Toyota RAV4 and inspired on Lexus RX, but manages to look bolder than the first and better-proportioned than the second. Only by taking off the conceptual version’s excesses.
Nevertheless, those who want to criticize this vehicle are only a deeper observation away of not leaving empty-handed. If you’re used to see a car’s design elements following each other, like the headlights’ contours coming from hood and sides and being continued by the grille (like the first Renault Sandero, to give a random example), you probably won’t like Lexus’ idea of creating visual connections only between some of the elements and let the others “float” around them, like the daytime LEDs around the front fascia. But the truth is this strategy is actually very good. This company is very serious with its intention of being a tough competitor at the high-luxury market. Investing on attractive styling is a very effective way to make up for the lack of tradition.
When you open NX’s doors, however, there will be less surprises. This crossover has followed the other current Lexus at the cabin, which means a sportiness-oriented room. There’s a very attractive two-tone coating, starting with black leather and chrome inserts as standard, and pairing that with beige seats and dashboard in regular trims and black dashboard and dark-red seats in F-Sport. Lexus directed some efforts towards internal space as well, but trendy cars such as crossovers are more interested in being modern and cool. NX shows how far it is from being an exception to that by bringing items like the latest Remote Touch interface, which relies on a touchpad to control the infotainment central with enhanced character input.
Other interesting equipments are Lexus’ very first lateral g-force sensor and boost meter, head-up display, radar cruise control and wireless-device-charging system, which make a pretty large list along with perforated leather for the seats, stitched leather for the dashboard, brushed metal for internal details and the typical package of electronic systems for active and passive safety. Such recipe enables NX to compete with lots of models around the world, but its main targets are definitely Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLK. Not to mention some of the crossovers that will appear in the next few years. However, instead of following the Germans and fighting with lots of trim levels, NX will start with only three.
NX200 will bring a four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated 2.0L engine which will be paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. Those who are already decided in favor of more power can take NX200t, which adds a twin-scroll turbocharger to the previous set. But if you’re more interested in being ecological, NX300h defends the upscale position with a hybrid powertrain, whose combustion engine will be the same 2.5L with Atkinson cycle found at ES300h, along with CVT transmission. Lexus hasn’t revealed performance or fuel efficiency figures so far, but you can expected very close ones to those of its main competitors. Besides, F-Sport accessories can come with the latter two engines, but each market will only receive some of them.
Lançamento no Brasil (09/02/2015)
Depois de aparecer com pompa e circunstância no último Salão do Automóvel, o novo crossover da Lexus começa a ser vendido no país de forma oficial. Sempre na versão NX200t, ele traz acabamento Luxury por R$ 216 mil e F-Sport por R$ 236 mil. O motor 2.0 turbo de quatro cilindros e 238 cv aparece em ambas, assim como o câmbio automático de seis marchas e a lista de série inicial: estão lá ar-condicionado bizona, central multimídia com TV digital, controle de cruzeiro adaptativo, acesso e partida sem chave e luzes externas em LEDs. A versão mais cara adiciona acessórios esportivos como rodas de liga leve maiores, bancos exclusivos e acabamento do painel em aço escovado. A Lexus conta com duas concessionárias no Brasil, ambas em São Paulo.