Artisan Spirits Shows Off New UX 200 Styling Kit

The problem with Subcompact Crosovers

I have a love-hate relationship with subcompact SUV's. On one hand, I dislike them because of how much they have to compromise in order to become what they are. They ride too high to really feel sporty, yet are way under equipped to ever even think of venturing off-road. They are too small to haul or tow anything, yet too large to get decent gas mileage. That being said, I am starting to warm up to them more and more, and this new kit for the UX200 from Artisan Spirits is certainly helping with that. 

The new age of hatchback

A subcompact SUV is nothing more than a lifted hatchback car that has been equipped with AWD. It's an easy recipe and every automaker can't seem to keep up with the demand for these crossover vehicles. It makes me feel slightly hipster since I was into hatchbacks long before they became popular, but I should be looking at this as a blessing in disguise. If you are willing to put a personal touch on a subcompact SUV like the UX 200 you can end up with a mean street car. Artisan Spirits thought the same and developed this awesome kit to bring some aggression to the little cuv. I am really digging the mid spoiler on the back, a nice throwback to the old NOPI show car days. 

>>Join the conversation about the Artisan Spirits UX body kit right here in Clublexus.com.

Getting a fat lip

The UX 200 is already a good looking car, and not a whole lot is really needed to make it pop. A front lip, side skirts, and rear diffuser all work with that aforementioned rear wing to give the UX a more aggressive stance. I'm sure the idea of painting the lip and side splitters was made by marketing to highlight the parts, but I think that is the way it should always be. If you're trying to be subtle, why are you buying aggressive aero pieces? Speaking of subtle I haven't even mentioned that last bit of kit you get from Artisan Spirits, and it is the cherry on top. 

>>Join the conversation about the Artisan Spirits UX body kit right here in Clublexus.com.

Everything is better with fender flares

While they are not the biggest change over stock, the replacement overfenders extend each arch over 10mm and completely change the look of the bodylines. Artisan has given the UX 200 exactly what it needed with this kit, a little bit of a mean streak. The UX now looks more like a hot hatch than a car that shares its platform with a Prius.

>>Join the conversation about the Artisan Spirits UX body kit right here in Clublexus.com.

That low low

Of course, the new look isn't just down to the kit. While the Artisan Spirits kit does make the UX 200 more aggressive, it's always the stance and the wheels that help to make a car stand out. Artisan fitted their demo car with 20x8.5 inch CORART A5 wheels and lowered the suspension quite a bit, thus giving up any idea that this was ever an off-road capable machine (note: it wasn't). Because the car was designed to sit very high, lowering it causes the tires to almost tuck into the fenders. This gives it a similar look to many stanced cars, while still maintaining enough ride height to be actually driven around on normal roads. 

>>Join the conversation about the Artisan Spirits UX body kit right here in Clublexus.com.

The Elephant in the room

The biggest problem with all of this, of course, comes down to the engine. The UX 200 shares an engine with the new Corolla, and while this engine isn't necessarily bad, it is for sure not powerful. Pushing a paltry 168HP out to the ground, the UX 200 is not really going to live up to those aggressive body lines. It seems like all new Subcompact SUVs are severely underpowered. Hopefully, that is something that will change in the future and we will have a surge of lifted hot hatches prowling the streets.  

>>Join the conversation about the Artisan Spirits UX body kit right here in Clublexus.com.

One click or call away

The UX 200 is getting a lot of attention from a lot of different tuners in Japan, and it's not hard to see why. A car like this was made for the crowded city streets and they don't get much more crowded than in Japan. Lucky for the rest of us though, the ability to ship products worldwide is as easy as sending an email. So if you want to make your own luxury city fighter, give Artisan Spirits a call. And while you at it, ask them about adding more power.

>>Join the conversation about the Artisan Spirits UX body kit right here in Clublexus.com.

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