In Automobiles, Hybrids, Electric Vehicles and Alternative Fuels, International News, Lexus/Mick Chan/November 17, 2021 2:56 PM / 2 comments

The second-generation Lexus NX will make its debut in the Thai market at the end of November, when the 2021 Thailand International Auto Expo will open on December 1st five months after its world premiere.

According to Headlight, Lexus and Audi Q5 and BMW X3 rivals have launched their latest internal combustion and hybrid power systems. The NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid version will enter the Thai market lineup magazine. The global lineup also includes non-plug-in NX 350h, 2.4-liter turbocharged gasoline NX 350 and 2.5-liter naturally aspirated NX 250.

It is said that the plug-in hybrid NX 450h+, which has been confirmed in Thailand, is equipped with an A25A-FXS 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle gasoline engine with front and rear axle motors powered by 18.1 kWh lithium-ion batteries. This is the powertrain used in Toyota RAV4 Prime, with a rated total system output of 302 horsepower, 176 horsepower and 228 Nm from the internal combustion engine.

NX 450h+ has four driving modes, namely EV, Auto EV/HEV, HEV and Self-charge modes. Auto is to let the vehicle decide when to start the engine, while HEV is to combine ICE and electric motor to get the best performance. Cars in some markets link Auto EV/HEV mode with the navigation system, enabling the car to switch modes according to road conditions.

The non-PHEV NX 350h hybrid version uses the same A25A-FXS Atkinson cycle gasoline engine with 176 hp and 228 Nm of torque. It only drives the front wheels or the AWD with the E-Four setting, which uses the electric motor to drive the front wheels and rear wheel. This provides a combined output of up to 239 horsepower, producing 0-96 km/h in 7.2 seconds.

In terms of pure internal combustion engine, NX 350 represents the top product of the ICE series of this model, equipped with a 2.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, which can produce 275 horsepower and 430 Nm of torque. These outputs are sent through the "high torque" version of the Direct Shift eight-speed automatic transmission and reach all four wheels through electronically controlled AWD settings, where the front and rear torque distribution ranges from 75:25 to 50:50.

The 2.5-liter Dynamic Force engine in the NX 250 complements the NX engine series. It produces 204 hp and 247 Nm of torque, which is automatically sent to the front wheels through a direct eight-speed shift, with optional AWD. The FWD version completes 0-96 km/h in 8.2 seconds, while the AWD completes in 8.6 seconds.

The suspension setting of the second-generation NX is still the front McPherson strut and rear trailing arm double-wishbone design. The version with the F sports package will adopt the adaptive variable suspension (AVS) as standard.

In terms of safety, Lexus Safety System+ includes pre-collision safety (PCS), radar cruise control (with full-speed following function), lane departure warning, lane tracking assistance, road sign assistance and active driving assistance. PCS (term for Lexus AEB) has been extended to assist at intersections to avoid collisions in a wider range of situations and to detect motorcycles.

Internally, the instrument panel is centered on a 14.0-inch touch screen, while also providing a 9.8-inch screen, which replaces the remote touch controller method used to control the infotainment function in the past Lexus models. The driver has a seven-inch digital display panel. For mobile devices, it supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the former gets wireless connection, and Qi wireless charging stand.

The second-generation NX has many features pioneered by Lexus. Lexus said that one is the E-Latch system that replaces the traditional door mechanism, which brings smooth door operation and a relaxed feeling. The other is an advanced parking system that the driver can operate through a smartphone. At the same time, which version of 2022 Lexus NX would you like to see in the Malaysian market?

Hope that Lexus Malaysia will bring at least 2.5L turbocharger. It is best to bring a 5-liter V8 engine from the IS500.

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