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LEXUS PHILIPPINES has brought in the all-new NX which, the luxury car maker’s local distributor announced, “marks the beginning of a significant evolution of Lexus design.” The company said in a release that, “while remaining true to the brand’s main philosophies, the new model presents a more sophisticated, dynamic, and mature appearance and a more muscular character.”

The all-new version of the crossover is said to boast overall advancements in performance, safety, and luxury — and is expected to surpass the discriminating expectations of the Philippine luxury-crossover browsers. It started with an overall goal for “functional beauty,” with the NX boasting balanced, strong proportions with a powerful road-gripping stance. The overall length, wheelbase, width, and height have been increased for a more commanding presence on the road when compared to the outgoing NX. Lexus added that there is now more space for rear-seat passengers as well.

At the front, the hallmark Lexus Spindle Grille has been rendered more upright and with a subtler frame which accentuates the long bonnet and contributes to the overall form and volume of the body. The more upright position also improves the grille’s cooling performance. In the rear are L-shaped rear combination lights with the signature Lexus blade lighting that spans the width of the vehicle. The oval Lexus emblem has been replaced with the “LEXUS” name emblazoned on the tailgate, creating a simple and more modern look.

Inside, the all-new NX marks the first application of the brand’s new Tazuna concept for the driver’s cockpit design. Taking its name from a Japanese word describing a rider’s control of their horse using the reins, it focuses on giving direct, intuitive control of the vehicle, following the principle of “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road.” Tazuna also adds to the rewards of the driving experience, making the driver feel confident and in control of the vehicle and surroundings. More intuitive design groups all relevant controls together and brings them closer to the driver — from the multimedia screen, information display, and central gauges in one easy eye-level area to the starter button, shift lever, and air-conditioning controls on another.

Additionally, designers worked with the brand’s takumi artisans to “perfect the design relationship between the steering wheel and shift lever.” The cross-section of the wheel provides the driver the best grip feel and ease of use while the shift lever now gives a snug fit at an ideal angle. Lexus also researched the shoulder-to-fingertip distance of people around the world to define a layout that provides excellent control without disturbing the driver’s posture.

Passengers are greeted with an increased sense of spaciousness plus an elevated level of comfort, quality, and attention to detail that are distinctly Lexus. For the front passenger environment, the design goal was to create the feeling of a luxurious lounge, with no intrusion from the driver’s area. The cabin finish employs high-quality materials that both look and feel good. Comfort is addressed in details such as a precise front seat design with attention to the cross-section shape of the seat, the position of the side-supporting bolsters and even the forming of concave areas to make space for the occupant’s elbows. Extensive use of materials to absorb and insulate noise and vibrations makes for a quiet and calm environment.

Lexus Philippines said that all variants of the Lexus NX here will feature as standard the Lexus Safety Sense (LSS) suite of advanced safety features which include the Pre-Collision System (PCS), Adaptive High Beam System (AHS), Automatic High Beam System (AHB), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC). The latest development of LSS introduces upgrades in performance and functionality. These systems have also been tuned to operate in a way that feels more natural to the driver, and thus more reassuring, adding to the sense of driving confidence inspired by the NX’s new platform and powertrains. With this evolution, Lexus Safety System moves to the next level as a personal driving partner.

Three trims will be available in the Philippines. The NX 350 F Sport (P4.548 million) features a newly developed T24A-FTS 2.4-liter inline-four turbocharged engine, a new high-torque Direct Shift-8AT, and a new electronically controlled full-time AWD. In addition to the New Global Architecture’s high-speed combustion system, the engine features the brand’s first center-injection direct-injection system and close placement of the turbocharger and catalyst in order to meet increasingly stringent exhaust and fuel economy regulations around the world, while at the same time being conscious of carbon neutrality. The system generates 279hp at 6,000rpm and while 430Nm from 1,700rpm to 3,600rpm.

The transmission has been optimized for the turbocharged engine, which can generate high torque from low revs. The newly developed shift control technology enables acceleration and deceleration that is faithful to the driver’s will and provides a pleasant shift schedule.

For the hybrid variants available in the Lexus NX 350h Premier (P4.488 million) and NX 350h (P3.338 million), these are powered by the A25A-FXS 2.5-liter inline-four mill with a high-output electric motor, and use a control logic exclusive to Lexus to achieve an optimized balance of acceleration performance and reduced fuel consumption. The gasoline engine develops 190hp and 239Nm of torque, while the front and rear motor generators add 182hp and 54hp, respectively. The NX 350h Premier comes with electric folding rear seats, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound system, and a power rear hatch with a kick sensor.

For more information, visit Lexus Manila or the Lexus website at lexus.com.ph and social media pages (@lexusmanila). To arrange a consultation with a personal sales consultant, visit the Lexus Remote page at https://fal.cn/3eSWW or download the MyLexus App available for both Android and iOS users.