1st Drive Review
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A adjust of prescription.
Lexus is about to go off its meds. And it isn’t due to the fact the brand’s regimen for achievement hasn’t been successful. On the contrary, considering that the aptly named RX hit the industry in 1998, Lexus has ruled the roost in the mid-size luxury crossover segment. Competing formulations have come and gone, but the RX’s potential to dull the ruder elements of the everyday drive and encapsulate its occupants in leather-lined finery has verified to be a strong elixir. The Lexus RX is the best-promoting luxury crossover despite, or maybe due to the fact of, a demure, soapstone-shaped exterior that inauspiciously dissolves into the suburban landscape. Okay, so possibly the RX is not all about rose petals and scented candles, but we’re considering handful of are bought for their maximum 80.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity.
With the NX, Lexus is seeking for a younger, and slightly less ovarian, demographic. So it is out with the pillowy exterior types extended related with the RX and in with a relatively riotous interplay of creases and folds from the NX notion and the large, X-shaped grille that 1st appeared in the 2012 GS sedan. Following all, who does not like to get spindle-faced each now and then?
There are 3 versions of the NX that will hit U.S. dealers later this year: the NX200t, NX200t F Sport, and the NX300h hybrid. All will be offered in a decision of front- or all-wheel drive. The hybrid will be the sixth to join the already hybrid-intensive Lexus lineup.
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The RAV4 Connection
Just as the RX dipped into the Camry parts bin for different bits, the new NX raids the RAV4 pantry exactly where it tends to make sense to do so. The 2 compact crossovers share the very same 104.7-inch wheelbase and Lexus says the NX uses the RAV4’s front floorpan and cowl/dash structure as effectively. Numerous other drivetrain components are also shared, but Lexus claims that 90 percent of the NX’s content material is certain to that model.
The most significant news is below the hood of the NX200t, exactly where a new turbo engine—the 1st in a Toyota solution because the mid-1990s Supra—makes its debut. Rated at 235 horsepower, the 2.-liter 4-cylinder is constructed for good throttle response and not ultimate overall performance, with an eye toward low emissions and fuel consumption. Equipped with dual variable valve timing, it can switch from the regular Otto cycle to the Atkinson cycle as necessary. The exhaust manifold is integral with the cylinder head, which features a built-in water jacket that cools the exhaust and lowers combustion temps, permitting for far more boost with out requiring excessive air/fuel mixture enrichment (which is excellent for fuel economy). The single turbocharger is a twin-scroll style, wherein 2 of the engine’s 4 manifold runners are paired with each and every impeller for decreased lag. The turbo is Toyota’s personal design and uses an air-to-liquid intercooler with its own cooling technique to pull out far more heat. A 6-speed automatic transmission with manually selectable ratios is borrowed from the RAV4.
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Even though the output of the NX200t’s engine is competitive with the 2.-liter, 4-hole turbos in the Audi Q5 and the BMW X1 and X3, a massive throttle stab won’t specifically push you back in your seat. Exactly where the turbo 4 actually excels is in element-throttle tip-in at low to medium engine speed it starts creating its maximum 258 lb-ft of torque at a mere 1650 rpm and tackles uphill grades at 2000 rpm with no functioning up a sweat. There’s no sense of the engine creating boost, and it is Lexus-smooth, too, with no any of the booming identified in some other 4-cylinder mills. On the other hand, there is not a large effectively of power at the best finish for passing, and the engine’s torque trails off above 4000 rpm.
Expect to see this engine below the hood of more Lexus products down the road (and perhaps even a handful of Toyotas) as fuel-economy standards continue to tigh8. Lexus says the 2-ton NX200t can get to 60 mph in about 7 seconds, which is effectively behind the 6.2-second zero-to-60 performance we’ve measured in all-wheel-drive the BMW X1 and X3 AWD.
Continued…
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