New 2019 Lexus UX 'Urban X-over' goes from concept to reality
It seems like just yesterday we covered the Lexus UX Concept when the futuristic crossover was teased at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Now nearly two years on, that concept has become a reality with the announcement of a forthcoming 2019 model.
Short for urban crossover, the UX is the first vehicle built on Lexus’ new G AC Global Architecture Compact platform. G AC is lightweight, exceptionally strong and possesses a low centre of gravity and unique suspension tuning yielding an agile and comfortable ride.
“The Lexus UX is designed for the modern urban explorer seeking a fresh, contemporary and dynamic take on luxury driving,” said Chika Kako, executive vice president of Lexus International and chief engineer of the UX.
“I wanted to positively overturn the image of a crossover with a high body that requires careful maneuvering, and offer a car with nimble performance and excellent maneuverability that makes it as easy to drive as a sedan.”
While the bodylines have been smoothed over a bit, the UX remains quite faithful to the angular styling of the concept. The spindle grille sees its first block-shaped mesh pattern containing different shapes together creating a truly 3-D aesthetic. The chunky black wheel arches remain — crafted to channel airflow for better aerodynamics — and the rear end features full-length tail lamps comprised of 120 LEDs that looks particularly dazzling when illuminated at night.
The four individual spider web seats have been swapped out for a more conventional five passenger setup, and instead of see-through polycarbonate A-pillars, they are slimmed down to increase visibility. The instrument hood purposely sits low, also to make it easier for the driver to become more spatially aware.
Two flavours of the vehicle will be offered: the front-wheel drive UX 200 utilizes a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine making 168 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque The other, the UX 250H, is a hybrid combining a 2.0-litre four cylinder with two electric motors putting down 175 net horsepower on all four wheels via electric all-wheel drive. Both are mated to direct-shift manual transmissions. In addition, customers may opt for F-SPORT series packages bundling in bigger wheels, LED fog lamps, heated steering wheel, signature front grille and more.
Complete specifications are expected closer to the official launch in the near future.
