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The Lexus NX is a luxury compact crossover sold by Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. The name NX stands for Nimble Crossover
Calling the Lexus NX distinct in its styling is an understatement. It looks like no other crossover on the road. It does, however, carry a rather bold interpretation of the Lexus ‘Spindle Grille’ and arrowhead, LED daytime running lights. The NX comes with two unique front grilles: the standard and the F Sport. The standard 200t and hybrid 300h models get a less aggressive front splitter and grille, while the F Sport enjoys a larger, more authoritative styling cue. The F Sport also enjoys bespoke, 18-inch wheels colored in a beautiful gunmetal gray. The standard NX models get either 17- or 18-inch wheels that correspond to the different trim levels.
Inside the NX is a cabin that almost seems familiar to those used to Lexus’ other products. The Spindle design is found the center stack and the center console features the same elements as other models, namely the current IS sedan.
The Lexus NX comes with two separate engine options. The standard engine is an all-new 2.0-liter turbocharged, inline four-cylinder and the second is the familiar 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder mated to Toyota’s Hybrid Drive. The two engine options are also accompanied by the option of either front- or all-wheel drive.
The turbocharged, 2.0-liter I-4 is an all-new engine for Lexus. In fact, it’s the automaker’s first ever turbocharged gasoline engine. With its first turbo attempt, Lexus decided to go all-out, throwing massive amounts of technology into the engine for high performance and good fuel economy. The engine uses direct fuel injection to precisely place the fuel in the cylinders while the dual overhead valves seamlessly switch from the conventional Otto cycle to the fuel-sipping Atkinson cycle.
The engine features an integrated exhaust manifold built directly into the cylinder head. The twin-scroll turbocharger is then bolted onto the head to make turbo lag nearly nonexistent. Also hanging off the block is the water-cooled intercooler. A variable wastegate control system reduces backpressure during low engine loads. All told, the 2.0-liter turbo is worth 235 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 258.2 pound-feet from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm. The turbo is rated to push 17 psi of boost at wide open throttle. An all-new six-speed automatic transmission is mated to all NX 200t models.
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