Has anyone hear any fuel requirements for the turbo motor? Gas prices are getting more and more expensive......I would think if Lexus tuned the turbo to accept 87 octane (unleaded regular) this would attract even more buyers who are dreading filling up with premium gas. Considering the RX currently uses unleaded regular gas...I would think Lexus would do the same for the NX? Or because it is a turbo we should expect premium gas automatically ? What do u think?

 

Premium forsure

 

I worked the numbers out.

If you drive 15k miles a year with a 15 gallon tank and get a combined 23 mpg while the difference of regular vs premium gas is 40 cents then you are looking at spending an extra $260 a year on gas. That is a mere $5 a week extra for the premium. If you are a heavier driver or if the difference in price is greater where you live maybe it pushes to $8-10 extra vs $5 a week.

If you can afford a $35-$45k car I don't think an extra $250-$300 a year in gas will be an issue.

 

Probably 91 octane.....feed the beast......

 

GREAT POINTS!

Here in Calif, Premium is typically 0.20 cents more, so that would equate to a mere $130 a year, hell people could save that by cutting back on Starbucks...(LOL)

 

Right now premium near me is .40 - .50 per gallon higher than regular. It usually stays at that level.

In the compact luxury CUV segment most of the competition recommends premium (X3, Q5, GLK, RDX) so it shouldn't surprise potential buyers if the NX 2.0t recommends premium.

On the other hand Ford, GM (Caddy), Hyundai. Kia recommend regular in their 2.0t's, so consumers have a choice if the use of premium is an issue.

 

This link is to a video of the new NX turbo engine. Doesn't give numbers, though.

 

If I were to buy a $40K vehicle, last thing I would worry about is $125 per year. That's assuming 15K miles per year at 24MPG and $0.20 premium extra in SF Bay area where I live.

08 RX350 AWD (wife)
08 Avalon Touring (mine)

 

To both above, the difference becomes more apparent in Canada where 91 octane is up to 20 cents more per liter, where the OP and myself are from. Nowadays, you can buy many non-luxury SUVs (primarily mid-size though) for 40K many of which use 87 octane, so I can see where premium fuel alongside other factors such as higher regular maintenance costs can add up and be a tipping point for some potential buyers.

Hoovey, as for whether the 2L Turbo takes a minimum required 91 octane, honestly not sure. If rumors of possibly getting 250-260 hp from this engine applied to a future IS and GS were to be accurate, that engine may require 91 which means there is "hope" for the "lesser" 235 hp engine in the NX to run on 87.

When the RX 350 switched from 91 to 87 in MY 2012 onwards, power rating went from 275 to 270...

 

To me if I want it, $4-500 extra per year is not going to make a difference. $US40 per month is just 2 weeks of Starbuck. If I have to ask my wife to cut back on Starbuck to buy the Lexus, then obviously I cannot afford it.

08 RX350 AWD (wife)
08 Avalon Touring (mine)

 

The extra cost of $400/year is nothing however the bragging right is huge. Public perception is great so I guess Toyota will tune it on 87 regular.

 

I agree. With many consumers it's not a question of whether or not they can afford premium, but if it's necessary.

There is a big difference between not being able to afford something, and not wanting to spend on something.

That being said I wouldn't be surprised if the NX is rated for premium, at least initially.

 

The gas price exercise from above assumes a fixed price of gasoline. Having lived thru the gas shortages of the early 70's I can only think were being lulled asleep again. My criteria for my next vehicle will be that it get >30mpg and not require premium gas. So a turbo that gets 23mpg on premium does not make the cut. Or how about a diesel Lexus?

 

i doubt it... high tech engine like this will require so-called "premium" for sure. It will likely get better mpg with premium as usual, but I am sure you will be able to run it with 87 with ECU tuning it down.

 

isnt diesel more expensive than premium?

There wont be any shortages, not with US developing shale oil... I was worried about it few years ago, thats why I switched from V6 to 4cly turbo diesel.