It’s the brand’s first compact crossover
Following a preview last month, Lexus has dropped full details about its first compact crossover, the all-new UX. Labeled as an "Urban Explorer" in the press release, the UX is the first Lexus to be built on the new GA-C global architecture that helps the crossover achieve the lowest center of gravity in its class and "exceptional body rigidity," according to the automaker.
The result is a crossover that provides an "agile, hatchback-like driving experience," according to the carmaker. That's also thanks to the MacPherson strut front suspension and double wishbone arrangement at the rear.
The Lexus UX is 4,495-mm long, 1,520-mm high, and 1,840-mm wide, with a 2,640-mm wheelbase, which makes it similar to the Audi Q3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
Looking at the busy design with many creases and surfaces, as well as the flared front and rear wings, it becomes clear that the UX targets young customers — a.k.a. millennials. The company claims its designers wanted the exterior and interior to appear almost seamlessly linked, but we'll let you be the judge of that by checking out the photos.
[NativeAd]The highlight of the interior is the driver-focused cockpit with a digital instrument panel and a central touchscreen display sitting atop the center console. The infotainment system can also be controlled via a touchpad.
The Lexus UX is available with two powertrains in Europe: an all-new 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with high thermal efficiency in the UX 200 and a hybrid unit in the UX 250h. The gasoline unit is front-wheel-drive and is available with a new Direct Shift-CVT (said to offer a connected feel typical of double-clutch transmissions), while the hybrid comes as a front-wheel-drive or E-Four all-wheel-drive model.
The UX 250h combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine linked to a CVT with an electric motor and a new NiMH battery for a system power of 178 hp. E-Four versions feature an additional electric motor on the rear axle.
As with all recent Lexus models, the UX comes with the latest version of the Lexus Safety System +, including a Pre-Collision System (PCS) that can recognize pedestrians at night thanks to radar detection.
READ MORE: Check out our complete coverage of the 2018 Geneva Motor Show