Ahead of its debut at the Geneva motor show, Lexus has released the first official image of the UX, a model it calls its first “urban crossover.”
If you’ve been following Lexus design trends, the grille of this all-new crossover will hardly surprise you, but it’s the wraparound taillight strip and the lines breaking up the door surfaces that will likely invite the most comments when the crossover is unveiled.
What vehicles will the UX battle in the marketplace when it lands later in 2018? The brand’s newest and smallest crossover will set its sights on the likes of the Volvo XC40, the BMW X1 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, though when it comes to proportions, it will likely land close to the Toyota C-HR with which it shares the modular TNGA platform. Among the recently announced TNGA engines is a 2.0-liter gasoline inline-four, which is the likely powerplant for the UX 250 nameplate that Toyota trademarked earlier. We’re also likely to see a hybrid version of the new crossover, badged as a UX 250h, which will pair an electric motor with the same 2.0-liter engine.
The UX is due to go on sale later this year, but the automaker has not confirmed if it will be offered in the U.S.
Lexus hasn’t released images of the UX interior, but it does promise a more adventurous than usual design.
“The look inside the cabin combines a highly focused driver’s cockpit with a wide and inviting passenger space,” Lexus said. “With its brave design and intuitive technology features, the UX will serve as a gateway model for Lexus in a dynamic and growing part of the market.”
Lexus hasn’t mentioned yet whether the UX will come to the U.S. — we’ll have to wait until Geneva to find out — but it does seem like a natural fit for this market. We have a hard time seeing Lexus keeping it out of North America.
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