The vehicle is expected to go on sale this fall, as a 2015 model. Two versions of the NX are expected initially, though it’s not clear if both will make it to U.S. shores. One will be a hybrid designated the NX 300h and the other will be a turbocharged model called the NX 200t. The latter will pack Lexus’ first turbocharged engine, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit with variable valve timing and Toyota’s D-4S direct-injection technology.
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Underpinning the NX will be a modified version of the platform found in the Toyota RAV4. Front-wheel drive is likely to be standard, with all-wheel drive remaining an option.
Note, an image of the production NX may have already been shown by Lexus. During a Society of Automotive Analysts presentation held prior to the recent 2014 Detroit Auto Show in January, Toyota exec Jim Lentz made mention of the LF-NX concept. At the same time, a slide showing a crossover styled like the LF-NX but with a smoother and less aggressive look was shown.
The official debut of the 2015 Lexus NX crossover will take place in Beijing on April 20. Stay tuned for an update.
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