Lexus is expected to take a seven-seat, extended version of the Lexus RX SUV, badged RX350L and RX450hL, to the Tokyo motor show later this year
Lexus is also looking to broaden its large SUV range with the seven-seat RX350L and RX450hL models. The niche is currently unexplored by Lexus, so these variants on the RX large SUV will provide a rival to the Volvo XC90, Mercedes-Benz GLS and upcoming BMW X7. Lexus filed trademarks for these badges earlier this year, and will appear at the show before going on sale in early 2018, according to Japanese car site, Excite.
The Lexus UX is also on its way as a production car within this timeframe, patent files have shown. This may come later, due to a full production model's longer development time, however.
A new entry-level SUV based on the Paris motor show’s UX concept, which will share the same name, will replace theLexus CT hatchback in the Lexus range, with a small SUV which will sit underneath the Lexus RX and Lexus NX SUVs.
Patents have been filed for a range of variants under the UX name, including the UX200, UX250 and UX250h. The small numbers signify the nature of the engine, and are of a similar range to the CT200h.
The styling of the production UX is expected to be less extreme than the concept, but will still maintain the spindle grille and angular styling which Lexus has adopted with its current generation of cars. Like the concept, the engine range suggests both traditional internal combustion engines as well as a range-topping hybrid.
Speaking at the Paris motor show, Johan Van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota and Lexus in Europe, said: “This UX concept is all about anticipation and Lexus’ unparalleled knowledge in the SUV market. We are ready for the next chapter of a bolder [looking] Lexus SUV – the UX concept.”
Toyota boss Karl Schlicht said: “We would see other SUV developments before we’d see another coupe – that’s my guess. Once the coupes have done their job, we need to further refine the SUV range.”
A Toyota spokesman could not comment on the patents or the possibility of the models' debuts, as per procedure at Toyota regarding all future products.
Read more:
2018 BMW X7 concept to be revealed this September
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It will sell
Purely because it will be a hybrid, and people are scared to death to commit large amounts of their own money on a diesel, JLR need to up their with modern powertrain options.
Future Lexus SUV's
Yawn