The first Lexus NX arrived in Europe in 2014 and soon became the best-selling model of the firm on the old continent. Its sophisticated design, compact size, and hybrid technology fit in well with the premium audience. 175,000 units have been registered and, seven years later, the second generation of this Japanese SUV arrives. As with the previous batch, this NX brings together the best of Toyota’s hybrid technology in a body focused on comfort, connection with the driver and elegance. Of course, its appearance represents a decisive change in the role of Lexus in the world as a supplier of all types of electrified systems . We are talking about the launch of the Lexus NX 450h +, the plug-in hybrid variant that will become the flagship model of its introduction in the PHEV segment with 309 hp of joint power and up to 74 kilometers of autonomy .
The firm brought us together in Palma de Mallorca to be able to test the advantages of this new Lexus road that, as always, draws its mechanics from Toyota’s experience. At the same time, we had the opportunity to also talk about the Lexus NX 350h, the conventional model that incorporates the fourth generation of the Japanese self-charging hybrid technology. In this case, it is a power increase of 24% to 244 hp, with a reduction in CO2 emissions of 10% compared to the previous model.
But propulsion is not the only thing that has worried Lexus, which, since its birth as Toyota’s premium firm, has sought excellence in all its processes. For the development of this new generation of NX they have opted for the “Vital x Tech” concept (vital and technological) , which focuses on the vehicle as a machine capable of connecting and expressing dynamism , while making use of the latest technologies. For this, the figure of the Takumi remains key, the masters in charge of shaping the clay and adapting it to the new times . A new approach that we were able to put to the test on the island’s roads, perfect for studying other firsts such as the Tazuna philosophy and its unique conception of a cabin focused on the driver and his needs.
