2015 Lexus NX tagged posts

2015 Lexus RC & NX: IIHS Crash Test

If you’ve paid attention to the IIHS crash test data (which you can find in the “Technical Measurements” tab, under each model’s test category, on the IIHS official webpage), then you may have an impression that, compared to its German luxury car competitors, Lexus usually has inferior crash test results.

For example for the moderate overlap front test, when measuring the footwell intrusion, the current GS sedan has structure deformation around 6-9 cm; but for the Mercedes-Benz E class, BMW 5-series, Audi A6, they all have those numbers in the 1-2 cm league, which means in the crash test, the Lexus GS has more severe deformation in its...

Today Lexus released the pricing for its all-new NX CUV. Below are the details:

NX 200t FWD: $35,405
NX 200t AWD: $36,805

NX 300h FWD: $40,645
NX 300h AWD: $42,235

Standard features: backup camera, power adjustable seats, NuLuxe upholstery, 17-in wheels.

Premium package ($2,670 – NX 200t; $2,890 – NX 300h): memory driver seat, heated and ventilated seats, moonroof, upgraded lightings, 18-inch wheels

Luxury package ($4,505 – NX 200t; $4,885 – NX 300h): all options in the premium package, plus: heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, power liftgate, leather interior, wood trim

Individual options: navigation, blind-spot monitor, pre-collision system

On sale date: Nov...

Lexus showed a blue-color 2015 NX200t FSport at the Orange County Auto Show the past weekend.

Some observations:

1. Both front seats and the 2nd-row seat has plenty of legroom, the RX owners probably won’t feel it to be cramped
2. Lots of cargo space, which suggests Lexus may want to use the NX to replace the RX, and the RX will be upgraded to compete in SUV with 3-row seating;
3. Interior materials and build quality is first-class, with leather wrapped and fine stitching dashboard, plus the center console and armrest
4. LED headlights are fantastic
5. Exhaust tips looks quite sporty

We all know there will be a new 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine debuts together with the upcoming 2015 Lexus NX.

There is more information coming from AutoWeek today. Here are the summary and a little bit of our analysis.

– This engine will also work similar to the RC-F’s V8, the way the valvetrain design will use the Atkinson cycle to improve fuel efficiency during low load situation, and switch back to the normal Otto cycle under heavier acceleration requirements. Lexus named this valve technology to be “VVT-iW”

– It is the first time the hybrid cycle mode (Atkinson <=> Otto cycle) paired with the turbo application

– We estimate the compression ratio for this engine will b...