Orders are set to open about October for the new Lexus LBX small crossover, with the first deliveries expected in early 2024. LBX stands for ‘Lexus Breakthrough Crossover’.
The full-hybrid LBX will compete in the premium segment with the likes of the Audi Q2 and also the Mini Countryman. Lexus is targeting 25,000 sales a year in Europe. This new smaller model is designed to appeal to urban buyers throughout Europe. The other big market being Japan.
The LBX is based on Toyota’s TNGA-B architecture, already familiar to the popular Toyota Yaris Cross. However, there is wheelbase for the LBX is 20 mm longer than the Yaris Cross but with similar overall length due to its overhangs being reduced slightly. It gets bigger tyres than the Yaris Cross too, and overall aims to give a bigger look and feel.
The Lexus LBX will be offered only with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder 136 HP petrol engine coupled with an electronic continuous variable transmission (eCVT ). The full-hybrid powertrain has a two kilowatt-hour battery. It claims to be more powerful because of the bipolar electrodes stacks structure in the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH ) battery.
The baseline LBX is front-wheel-drive, but there will be the option of an electric rear axle, and this improves traction on slippery surfaces. Lexus promises that the LBX will come with an a strong level of active safety systems as standard.
Dimitris Tripospitis, the head of Lexus Europe, is quoted as saying that the LBX will have four trim levels - the ‘Elegant’, ‘Relax’, ‘Emotion’ and ‘Cool’. He added that they have only minor price differences, and that will be primarily down to the different materials used for interior finish.
