2023-06-05 07:00:00
You have to leave something to those responsible at Toyota’s premium brand Lexus: Giving up is not part of their vocabulary, and that’s why the small LBX will soon be a new beacon of hope for dealers. In the coming year, the smallest Lexus ever will be launched on the market and is primarily intended to appeal to customers who have not yet dealt with the brand founded in 1989. Around 25,000 units are to be sold annually in Europe in the future, in order to come close to 100,000 registrations. Lexus currently sells around 70,000 vehicles a year in Europe.
The three letters LBX, which stand for “Lexus Breakthrough Crossover”, already reveal its special position in the model range. The model name puts the four-door and 4.20 meter long city SUV on a level with the LFA super sports car, at least as far as the number of letters is concerned. While the LFA rounds off the brand’s portfolio, the LBX promises entry into the Lexus world and is intended to appeal primarily to younger customers. Behind the new model is the quite demanding “goal to question the conventional concept of a luxury car,” says chief engineer Kunihiko Endoh, describing the orientation of the compact LBX.
For the LBX, the developers had to adapt the GA-B small car platform, which the Yaris Cross also uses. “We failed fundamentally in our first draft, and it was only after we had reworked the basis that we found the design we wanted,” recalls chief designer Simon Humphries. The city SUV rolls onto the road on 18-inch wheels with a newly designed “Diabolo” grille. The designers managed the feat of “defusing” the bulky front end typical of the brand and at the same time maintaining the brand identity. This also applies to the body design, which fits seamlessly into the Lexus design language.
The interior also meets the Lexus requirements with its fine materials and impeccable workmanship. Despite the manageable dimensions, there is enough space for four people, and the developers promise that the quietness typical of the brand prevails while driving, so that the optional audio system from Mark Levinson can play to its strengths. The person behind the wheel looks at a tidy information center, which can be supplemented by a head-up display. The infotainment is controlled via the centrally located 9.8-inch touch-sensitive monitor. The “Hey Lexus” assistant also responds to voice commands. At 332 liters, the luggage compartment is manageable and can only be filled via a fairly high loading sill. In the all-wheel drive version, the volume is reduced to 240 liters.
A hybrid system is used for the drive, in which a 1.5-liter three-cylinder (with a balancer shaft to avoid vibrations) is combined with an electric motor, which together achieve a system output of 136 hp (100 kW). The energy storage department is handled by a bipolar nickel-metal hydride battery, which is primarily intended to enable more powerful support from the electric motor. 100 km/h is reached in 9.2 seconds and the top speed is 170 km/h. A second electric motor in the rear lets the LBX mutate into an all-wheel drive vehicle.
The latest generation of the Lexus Safety System + is responsible for safety. The Lexus managers leave it open whether a fully electric variant is also planned in the future. “Let’s wait and see what the future brings,” explains a brand spokesman.
The LBX comes in a variety of trim levels, which Lexus defines as “atmospheres.” In addition to the entry-level model, the “Atmospheres” Elegant and Relax are in the price list, where the focus is primarily on the high-quality appearance. With Emotion and Cool, the sportier and more dynamic characteristics are addressed. In addition, the LBX can be personalized in such a way that “the customer ultimately owns a unique vehicle,” explains Europe boss Dimitris Tripositis.
The price for the smallest model in the portfolio has not yet been set, say the brand spokespersons, and they resort to the usual formulation of a price adjusted to the competition – whatever that may be. The current entry into the Lexus world starts at around 40,000 euros for the UX. So the LBX will probably be the first Lexus somewhere in the 30,000 mark. (cen/ww)
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