Lexus Malaysia today officially took the veils off of its most anticipated model, The All-New Lexus NX; a highly innovative luxury compact cross over that brings an element of sporting luxury into the Malaysian Sports Utility Vehicle market. The Lexus NX is an all-new model that was first introduced to the global market in mid-2014 with production starting later in the year.
The Lexus NX project was first initiated in 2009 and involved over 2,000 engineers who tested the new SUV for more than one million kilometres on rear-roads as well as on dynamometers. The Lexus NX is an important model for Lexus International as it features many firsts for the automotive market and for Lexus itself.
Some of the firsts for the Lexus NX includes an all-new 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged engine, rear power reclining and folding seats, Lexus first; Panoramic view monitor and wireless charger. It also feature a new touch pad-type Remote Touch Interface with vibration feedback, LED cornering lamps, full colour turbo boost meter as well as a touch sensitive interior lamp switches.
Speaking at the launch of The All-New Lexus NX, Datuk Ismet Suki, President of UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd said, “The All-New Lexus NX is a truly unique SUV, one that has never been seen before in the Malaysian market. It is a highly innovative luxury compact cross over which is very different from other highly successful Lexus SUV, the much beloved RX.”
The All-New Lexus NX is targeted at a younger segment of the market as compared to other Lexus models that are mostly targeted to well-established individuals. Datuk Ismet perfectly summed up the Lexus NX and its versatility by commenting, “The All-New Lexus NX is designed for urban singles and young couples in their 30s and mid 40s who prioritise style and driving performance with elegance and yet appreciate a sophisticated design and peerless craftsmanship.”
The Lexus NX will be available with two engines; a 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged petrol engine combined to new six-speed automatic transmission, as well as a 2.5-litre Hybrid engine combined to an E-CVT and E-Four wheel drive system for the All-Wheel Drive model.
The 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged engine offers 235hp at 4,800 to 6,500 rpm with 350Nm of torque from 1,650-4,000rpm. Whereby, the 2.5-litre Hybrid engine on the other hand produces a combined power of 197hp and torque is enhanced with the use of an electric motor and is intelligently controlled at starting and designed to increase gradually to link with engine output increase.
“We at Lexus Malaysia are excited about the introduction of the new Lexus NX. With its good looks and advanced technologies, we are confident that it will open up the brand to an entire new segment of buyers. The new Lexus NX is the first model that comes with a 2.0- litre twin –scroll turbocharged engine and it will be introduced to the other Lexus product line-ups in the near future”, he added.
From the outside, The All-New Lexus NX is unmistakably a Lexus with the iconic spindle grille and Triple-L-Shaped LED headlamps. The overall design produces an aggressive dynamic impression, one that hints at its sporting ability without forgoing the luxuriousness associated with a Lexus.
The headlamps are also unique and utilises six new high brightness LEDs on each side to offer optimum lighting and three lamps aligned in an L-shaped for low beam clarity. Interestingly, a total of 78 LEDs (on both left and right sides) are used for Daytime Running Lamps and this creates a crystal-like shine through thick inner lenses.
The All-New Lexus NX is also a fun SUV to drive. In fact, handling and the fun factor were given the highest priority when developing the NX. From the feedback Lexus received, the NX is incredibly agile despite its height, and is stable at high speeds. Combine this with the comforts expected of a Lexus, as well as state of the art safety technologies, and you have a perfectly balanced SUV in the new Lexus NX.
The interior on the other hand is one that brings a sense of excitement to the cabin atmosphere. When designing the interior, the core idea was to combine the structural beauty of a high-performance machine with materials and textures that provide a luxurious touch without sacrificing on functionality. What this transpires to is an interior that oozes luxuriousness, quality and one that is easy and practical to use, making it the ideal interior for the technologically savvy and for those who prefer to keep things simple.
Despite its size, the Lexus NX is surprisingly spacious. The interior is perfectly sized for five adults or a young family. The boot space is intelligently designed to hold three (3) full sized golf bags or travelling size luggage with whatever may be necessary for a weekend getaway. It also offers a panoramic view monitor that provides a bird’s eye view of the car to make parking easier. The All-New Lexus NX also garnered 5-star in the EURO NCAP crash test ratings.
Lexus Malaysia is offering The All-New Lexus NX in 5 variants priced at RM292,000 till RM 369,000 including the range-topping Lexus NX 300h at RM375,000 without insurance.
Order taking for the new Lexus NX began in October 2014 and more than 600 units orders have been received to date with the Lexus NX F SPORT variant being the most popular model. “We expect to sell around 2,000 units by the end of this year and aim to capture 50% of the market share for the Best Selling compact SUV in the Small Luxury SUV segment in Malaysia”, said Datuk Ismet Suki, President of UMW Toyota Motor.
The launch event was also attended by Yg. Berbahagia Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin, Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor, Mr. Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman, UMW Toyota Motor and Mr. Takeaki Kato, Chief Engineer of the All-New Lexus NX.
