/ MOOD BOARD /
/ WORDS LOW SHI PING /
DRIVEN BY INSPIRATION A myriad of influences came together to create this new compact SUV.
W
hat do architecture, a race car and martial arts uniforms have in common? The folks at Lexus will tell you it is the UX, the Japanese automotive brand’s first-ever compact SUV. Launched at the Singapore Motorshow 2019, it is living proof that design inspiration can strike from anywhere. The UX’s body cross-section and wheel arch mouldings recall that of an armoured vehicle, while the rear combination lamps are inspired by the structure of a racing car. Guided by the traditional concept of engawa – which is the crux of Japanese
12
architecture that believes in the seamless connection of exterior with interior – the driver enjoys a maximum field of view, thanks to the impression that the hood is flowing through the windshield and joining with the upper end of the instrument panel. Inside, know that the leather upholstery, with its perforated patterns that curve and dip, is influenced by sashiko, a traditional quilting technique used to make Judo and Kendo uniforms. The UX is also pioneering a new trim grain finish that recalls washi or the Japanese paper found in traditional homes. Who’s up for a long, long road trip?