The LBX draws off a popular Toyota small car but delivers to a premium audience and seems to have more zest.

ONE of the country’s more popular small cars is the basis of a new Lexus bay, set to get here in early 2024.

Though spun from the Toyota Yaris Cross, the LBX unveiled to the world today clearly sports a wholly new look from its more mainstream sibling.

The make is also promising a significant step in performance from the 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain, with an additional 15kW in overall power and another 20Nm of torque.

Lexus New Zealand has given no indication of pricing, but says it will position just under their current cheapest choice, the UX, which kicks off at $64,400, as an entry-level option with aim to deliver Kiwi customers “an accessible path to owning a luxury vehicle.” 

For reference, the five-strong Yaris Cross family kicks off at $33,290 in entry GX, which is petrol pure, and reaches to $45,690, in top Limited Hybrid trim, with two tone paint. 

Lexus here expects the LBX will represent around 15 percent of total Lexus sales and it is encouraging potential buyers to express their interest to secure a priority order.

The inspiration behind the first car since the LFA to feature a three letter name stemmed from the vision of Akio Toyoda, the current chairman and former president and chief executive of Toyota. 

In respect to LBX - that’s shorthand for ‘Lexus Breakthrough X(cross)-over’ - the preference is to describe him as a Lexus ‘master driver’ - the final arbiter of what makes a Lexus a Lexus.

The local agency says with LBX Toyoda sought to redefine the conventional notion of luxury cars and to go beyond the constraints of compact size to deliver a high-quality driving experience and design. 

The goal was to design a car tailored for the discerning customer, allowing them to relax and feel like their true self during casual drives.

Another reason for LBX is that Lexus has been very keen to have a small car to sell in Europe. This model is being described as the first Lexus specifically designed for that role.

The Yaris Cross is a handy and well-regarded car, but Lexus says the platform underwent a comprehensive renewal, accompanied by refinements in electrification technology and core engineering characteristics. 

They also re-engineered the three-cylinder 1.5-litre engine, adding a balancer shaft in the name of reduced vibration. 

Lexus NZ has not shared maximum power and torque outputs for this market, but in the United Kingdom and Ireland it’s quoted at 100kW with 185Nm of torque available. The Yaris Cross hybrid has a total system output of 85kW (the engine alone making 65kW) and 120Nm.

While the full technical details are undergoing final validation, Kunihiko Endo, the LBX's Chief Engineer, says all versions will have CO2 emissions below 120 grams per kilometre. 

Vice President of Lexus New Zealand, Andrew Davis, says the LBX embodies a ‘Premium Casual’ approach to the crossover market.

“The ‘Premium Casual’ design philosophy establishes a presence and level of refinement that far exceeds its class. The mission was to develop a compact crossover appealing to customers with sophisticated taste, seamlessly integrating into their everyday lives as a casual essential,” he says.

It’s proposed the model is meticulously crafted to challenge the conventional notion of a luxury car. With it will come a new grade system that allows customers to select from three themes - described as ‘atmospheres’ - that best match their lifestyle and preferences.

The car diverts from recent Lexus design language. Up front the slim headlights rise towards the outer edges, while the front of the bonnet drops down, giving a wider appearance. The signature spindle grille has been reworked, sitting below a narrow aperture that runs along the lip of the bonnet.

In terms of dimensions, the car measures 4190mm in length, 1822mm in width and 1545mm in height. Compared with Yaris Cross, the A-pillars are moved further back. Cladding around the wheel arches and along the sills is a feature and 18-inch wheels seem the go.

Despite being noticeably smaller than other Lexus models, the LBX has many of the same materials and technology inside. In front of the driver is a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, and there's an option to supplement the screen with a colour head-up display that projects onto the windscreen. The Tazuna ('reins of a horse’) strategy means the ergonomics are quite driver-focused. 

The engine-start button is up high next to the instrument display. The 9.8-inch touchscreen filling the centre console runs the latest Lexus Link Connect system, with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. Usefully, there are little physical buttons for adjusting cabin temperature. The system can also provide cloud-based navigation with real-time traffic information, and an onboard assistant can be summoned by saying - yes, you guessed it - “hey, Lexus".

The model appears to have the same drive selector that appears in other Lexus models.