Lexus to Launch Stretched RX & New UX
Lexus Lineup Getting a Little Greener with New Crossovers
Lexus is the king of the hybrid luxury market, but starting soon its green portfolio will be growing. The car company is preparing to launch two new crossovers. They include a stretched version of the RX and an all-new small CUV based on the UX concept. Best yet, both of these new machines will be hitting the market with hybrid offerings.
Thanks to some sleuthing by the team at AutoCar, we know that Lexus has filed for patents on variants of the UX names. These include UX 200, UX 250 and UX 250h. This new compact crossover is going to be replacing the slow-selling CT 200h. Based on the naming structure, it is expected that this new CUV will be dumping the 1.8L hybrid setup from the Prius and CT 200 in favor of the more powerful 2.5L hybrid system that is used in the NX SUV. This setup is already designed an implemented in both FWD and AWD variants in an SUV shell. So, it should be easy and affordable for Lexus to adapt it to a slightly smaller machine.
For the RX, Lexus is preparing a longer wheelbase version with a third-row seating option. The only offerings Lexus has with three rows of seats come in the form of true body-on-frame SUVs, and those lack some of the comfort and refinement found in the more-popular unibody CUVs on the market today. With a longer RX, Lexus is much better positioned to tackle machines like the Mercedes GLS and Audi Q7. To denote the new models, Lexus is expected to slap an “L” onto the names creating machines like the RX 450h L.
We are told to expect the stretched RX to be shown first with an on-sale date of 2018. The UX should go on sale in the same general time frame. However, we are unsure when a production unit will be unveiled. As always, keep checking in here at Club Lexus. We will be sure to give you guys all the details as we get them.
