The brand new Lexus LBX will probably be revealed on June 5 in Milan, Italy – and we’ve bought our first glimpse of the brand new compact luxurious crossover.
Slotting beneath the present UX, which shares the majority of its DNA with the Toyota Corolla and C-HR, the LBX seems to be a manufacturing model of the sub-UX crossover previewed in Lexus’s fleet of ideas from December 2021.
Based on a current report, the LBX will probably be based mostly on the Toyota GA-B platform, which underpins every part from the Yaris and Yaris Cross to the Aqua (Prius C), Aygo X and Sienta supplied abroad.
The tightly cropped entrance quarter teaser appears very in line with the shadowy preview from 2021, and the automobile seems to be completed in a Rose Gold paint with a frontal design not too dissimilar to the Toyota Crown household and new Prius that’s not coming to Australia.
In the meantime, the darkened rear shot exhibits off a full-width LED tail mild signature, which wouldn’t look misplaced on a Renault – specifically the Arkana. Going by the 2021 announcement, nonetheless, whereas the LBX ought to have a sporty profile, it will likely be extra jacked-up hatchback than SUV coupe.
Ought to the LBX be based mostly on the Toyota GA-B platform, it’ll doubtless be obtainable with related powertrains to the Yaris and Yaris Cross – i.e. three-cylinder petrol and hybrid choices.
Within the Yaris and Yaris Cross, the 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol-electric hybrid presents a system energy output of 85kW, and gas use as little as 3.3 litres per 100km.
Lexus Australia has not given any additional particulars aside from issuing the press launch with the reveal date, although given it’s been distributed to native media it’d be logical to imagine it’ll make the journey Down Beneath ultimately.
The posh arm’s native division has beforehand confirmed it’ll enter “three new segments” in Australia by mid-2024, and we’ve already seen the brand new LM folks mover confirmed to land right here quickly, whereas the subsequent technology of the Prado-based GX off-roader can be more likely to make it to Australian showrooms within the subsequent 12 months.
That makes the LBX the third ‘new phase’ providing to be doubtless for our market, and will type an fascinating proposition towards mainstream and premium-branded choices. At the moment, the UX opens up at $46,085 earlier than on-road prices, suggesting the LBX may begin across the $40,000 mark.
Key rivals would come with the Audi A1 and Mini vary, in addition to high-spec variations of mainstream hatchbacks and crossovers.
Whereas not a direct substitute, the LBX will function a non secular successor to the previous CT200h hatchback, which drew upon previous Prius underpinnings in a Corolla-sized hatch bundle.
The CT was discontinued globally in 2022, and was offered in Australia proper up till 2021.
Keep tuned to CarExpert for our protection of the Lexus LBX’s reveal on June 5.
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