Impending small city sports utility envisaged as a petite power player.

EXTRA spice could one day add to a Lexus sports utility soon to release here as the epitome of small suave.

Among Lexus showcases at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon motor show is a LBX with performance parts from Toyota’s performance division, Gazoo Racing, not least the three-cylinder turbo that slots into the GR Yaris and GR Corolla hot hatches.

Tagged the LBX Morizo RR Concept – using the ‘Morizo’ pseudonym adopted b Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda in racing – the car presents as a concept, but the make has said it could be easily built.

Although it is pains to say that doesn’t mean it will come into production, the make agrees that, because the LBX is based on the same platform as the Toyota Yaris Cross and the Yaris, the cost of developing a high-performance flagship would be much lower than if it was a standalone model.

The LBX - for ‘Lexus Breakthrough X(cross)-over’ - is arriving in March, in three trim levels, all running a 1.5-litre petrol hybrid, primarily front-drive though Relax and Cool also come in all-wheel-drive. Prices span from $58,900 to $68,900.

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.

The LBX in Morizo format would spank either; it has 224kW and 400Nm. Drive is sent to all four wheels through a ‘Direct Shift’ eight-speed automatic transmission – a gearbox which will make its production debut in the facelifted Toyota GR Yaris, also announced at Tokyo.

Significant changes have also been made to the LBX’s appearance, including more aggressive bumpers, 20mm wider wheel arches, 19-inch aluminium wheels – shod in 235/45 tyres – and 10mm lower sports suspension.

Inside there are unique sports seats and yellow seat belts, giving the cabin a sportier feeling to go with the aggressive exterior.

LBX is being positioned as an entry-level option with aim to deliver Kiwi customers “an accessible path to owning a luxury vehicle.” 

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.

Despite being noticeably smaller than other Lexus models, the LBX has many of the same materials and technology inside.