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Turbo-petrol, hybrid and PHEV power available alongside next-gen safety

 MATT BROGAN

NEXUS will roll out its next-generation NX into Australian showrooms from January 2022.

The fi ve-seat SUV will be priced from $60,800 (plus on-road costs) and off er various engine choices, including a direct-injection 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol, 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol, and both petrol-electric hybrid and plugin hybrid variants. Two- and all-wheel drive confi gurations will also available.

In addition to the broad powertrain line-up on off er, Lexus says the NX will debut a range of next-generation design and technology features, including new safety and connectivity features. Four trim grades will be off ered, in conjunction with Lexus’ optional Enhancement Packs. "The all-new Lexus NX combines luxury specifi cation and famous Takumi craftsmanship with next-generation design and a level of technology that extends from active safety and security to infotainment and powertrains," Lexus Australia Chief Executive Scott Thompson said. "The range starts with a focus on lightness and agility, extends to our renowned best-selling hybrid-electric system, and a focus on power with an all-new turbocharged petrol engine and a high-performance, low-emissions PHEV."

The NX range begins with the NX 250. Fitted with a 152kW/243Nm normally aspirated 2.5-litre petrol engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, the two-wheel drive variant debuts Lexus’ “human-centric” Tazuna cockpit, which includes power adjustable and heated front seats, dual-zone climate control and a 9.8inch infotainment array featuring “Hey Lexus!” voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity, plus DAB+ digital radio reception.

The entry-grade NX also features 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with automatic high-beam assist, a power-operated tailgate, as well as an extensive range of safety technologies. The NX 250 includes safe exit assist (SEA) with new e-latch electrically activated door handles, which can detect cyclist and passing vehicles and prevent the Lexus’ doors from being opened.

The Lexus-fi rst system joins intersection-turn assist (ITA), emergency steering assist (ESA), parking support brake (PKSB), blind-spot monitor (BSM), dynamic radar active cruise control (DRCC), lane-tracing assist (LTA), and road-sign assist (RSA). All NX derivatives are further equipped with Lexus Connected Services, which includes SOS call functionality.

Lexus says the NX 250 will accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds and has a combined cycle fuel consumption fi gure of 6.9 litres per 100km.

The Enhancement Pack (+$3000) for the NX 250 includes a wireless phonecharging pad, moonroof, and kick sensor for the powered tailgate.

Moving up the price sheet, the $65,600 (+ORCs) NX 350h Luxury range will arrive with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine coupled to an electric motor. The maximum combined power for two-wheel drive variants is listed at 179kW/239Nm (petrol engine), with the electric motor adding its own 270Nm kick. On all-wheel drive variants, the peak output of the electric motor is 391Nm. Both variants feature a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Lexus says the two-wheel-drive NX 350h Luxury can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds and the AWD variant is a second faster. Optimal combined-cycle fuel economy is 5.0 litres per 100km. The NX 350h’s equipment levels are otherwise identical to those of the NX 250.

The Enhancement Pack (+$3000) for the NX 350h is identical to that off ered on the NX 250.

Next up is the NX 350h Sports Luxury. Priced from $73,100 (+ORCs), the mid-tier derivative is available in two- and all-wheel drive guises, but off ers additional equipment compared with its Luxury-spec siblings. Extra features include 20-inch alloys, tri-beam LED headlights, leather-accented upholstery, a larger 14.0-inch infotainment screen, 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, colour head-up display, 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats, digital rear-view mirror, wireless smartphone charging pad and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system.

Priced from $73,000

The NX 350h Sports Luxury is available with two enhancement packs. Enhancement Pack 1 (+$3000) adds a panoramic moonroof, while Enhancement Pack 2 (+$6000) adds a panoramic moonroof, heated steering wheel, digital rear-view mirror, parking assistant ¬ this marks the fi rst time automatic reverse parallel and perpendicular parking has been off ered on a Lexus NX.

The F Sport range is also priced from $73,100 (+ORCs) and is off ered with the hybrid powertrain found in the NX 350h or with a 205kW/430Nm 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine and eight-speed automatic combination. Lexus says the latter can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 7.0 seconds and return a combined cycle fuel economy fi gure of 8.1 litres per 100km.

F Sport derivatives include a sports body kit, body-coloured wheel arches, black window surrounds, scuff plates, perforated leather-accented steering wheel and transmission lever, alloy pedals, sports seats, Hadori aluminium ornamentation, and fi ve-mode Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) with performance dampers front and rear.

Lexus’ F Sport range is available with the same enhancement packs off ered on the NX 350h Sports Luxury.

Finally, and priced from $89,900 (+ORCs) is the NX 450h+ F Sport all-wheel drive. The range-topping variant merges the equipment from standard NX F Sport grades with a moonroof, heated steering wheel and a digital rear-view mirror.

The NX 450h+ F Sport is powered by a 227kW plug-in hybrid powertrain comprising a 2.5-litre petrol engine and dual electric motors – one on each axle. Power is sourced from an 18.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which Lexus says can provide an all-electric driving range of up to 87km. The fl agship variant is said to be capable of accelerating 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds and its optimal combined cycle fuel economy is rated at just 1.3 litres per 100km.

There are no further enhancement packages available on the NX 450h+ F Sport.

The Lexus NX range is available in eight paint colours: Sonic Quartz, Titanium, Sonic Chrome, Onyx, Graphite Black, Caliente, Khaki Metal and Celestial Blue. F Sport variants are further off ered with an additional two paint colours: White Nova and Cobalt Mica.

Four upholstery colours are available across the range: Hazel, Black & Rich Cream, Dark Rose, and Black. F Sport variants are available with F Sport Black, F Sport White and F Sport Flare Red.

All Lexus passenger vehicles are backed by a fi ve-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants receive a 10-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty on the battery.

2022 Lexus NX pricing*

NX 250 (a) $60,800 NX 350h Luxury (a) $65,600 NX 350h Luxury AWD (a) $70,400 NX 350h Sports Luxury (a) $73,100 NX 350h F Sport (a) $73,100 NX 350h Sports Luxury AWD (a) $77,900 NX 350 F Sport AWD (a) $77,900 NX 350h F Sport AWD (a) $77,900 NX 450h+ F Sport AWD (a) $89,900 *Pricing excludes on-road costs.