2015 Lexus NX specification announced

Lexus has marked its first entry into the highly competitive compact crossover segment with the official launch of the Lexus NX today at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show.

The Lexus NX, created for urban and active lifestyles, features an edgy and emotional design evolved from the controversial Lexus LF-NX concept. The bold design shows Lexus recent initiative to attract younger buyers to the brand, starting with the new IS.

Two powertrain variants of the NX are on display in Beijing: the NX 300h, riding on Lexus’ well known petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, and the NX 200t, the first Lexus fitted with a turbo engine. Both will be available in front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive.

The NX 200t is powered by a newly developed 2.0-litre direct-injection turbocharged engine producing 175 kW and 340 Nm. It features the world’s first combination of a cylinder head with an integrated water-cooled exhaust manifold and a twin scroll turbo charger. This combination in addition to other new technologies such as a turbo-specific D-4ST fuel injection technology and continuous variable valve timing with expanded valve opening angles (VVT-iW) ensures excellent driveability and fuel efficiency, claimed Lexus.

The all-new six-speed automatic transmission, developed to match the new turbo engine, uses newly-developed control logic to calculate required engine torque. The resulting maximised engine torque gives responsive and smooth acceleration for higher efficiency.

The force-fed NX is the first Lexus to be fitted with an idling-stop system, which reduces fuel consumption by automatically switching off the engine when the vehicle is idling. Lexus claims the system used in the NX has extremely fast engine-restart time.

To ensure reliability and performance, the new turbo engine has been tested for more than 1 million kilometers.

The NX 300h combines a high thermal efficiency 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine with an integrated high-torque electric motor. Similar to the powertrains used in the IS 300h and G3 300h, total output is rated at 164 kW and 221 Nm (145 kW for US version). The hybrid variant also features sprung-weight damping control to increase ride comfort and handling stability. Vehicle pitching is reduced through the precise control of the drive motor’s torque.

Like the IS and GS, the NX adopts special manufacturing techniques such as body adhesives and laser-screw welding to improve the rigidity of the suspension system as well as the body, for a stiffer chassis.

A newly developed shock absorber, capable of controlling even the smallest micro-level fluctuations, is designed to strike a strong balance between handling stability and ride comfort. Additionally, the NX features a new Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), capable of variable control in 30 stages.

All-wheel drive turbo models feature a Dynamic Torque Control All-Wheel Drive system which automatically switches from front-wheel drive to all-wheel drive by calculating the driver’s intended driving line and adjusting the distribution of torque to the rear wheels as required. This increases cornering performance on all surfaces. All-wheel drive hybrid models also benefit from improved cornering, particularly on slippery surfaces, due to the E-Four system.

The “F SPORT” grade boasts numerous exclusive features such as specially-tuned suspension and interior and exterior design. In addition, the F SPORT variant achieves even sharper handling due to performance dampers that improve rigidity while absorbing small amounts of flex.

Sales of the Lexus NX are scheduled to begin in world markets in the second half of 2014.