2022 Lexus NX SUV revealed: The brand’s first plug-in hybrid revealed

A popular rival to the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 has received a major makeover and will arrive Down Under by the end of the year.

2022 Lexus NX (overseas models shown).

Lexus has revealed its new rival to the BMW X3 and Audi Q5.

The current Lexus NX is the luxury Japanese brand’s bread and butter, selling twice as many as any other vehicle in the company’s range.

Lexus will launch the new mid-size luxury SUV in November this year.

Initially it will arrive with a three-model line-up consisting of one hybrid and two petrol powered models.

The new Lexus NX will arrive in Australia from November.

The big news is the arrival of the brand’s first plug-in hybrid, the NX 450h+, which is likely to join the local range at a later date but hasn’t yet been confirmed.

This new green variant combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors – one on each axle for all-wheel drive grip – and a 18.1kWh lithium ion battery.

Performance figures haven’t been confirmed, but it will be able to travel up to 75km on electric power alone and it won’t be able to charge on fast DC chargers.

The addition of plug-in power is part of the brand’s plan to release 10 new fully-electric, plug-in hybrid and regular hybrid vehicles by 2025.

For the first time it will feature a plug-in hybrid.

The rest of the range features more familiar engines. A 2.5-litre petrol engine powers the front-wheel drive NX250, and a combo of the same engine and an electric motor powers the NX350h, which has a choice of front- or all-wheel drive.

Lexus has developed a new 2.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine for the all-wheel drive NX350.

A huge 14-inch touchscreen dominates the dash.

The Japanese brand has made improving the driving experience a focus for the new NX with extensive testing and development at the company’s technical centre.

Lexus has also made some big tech upgrades with a giant 14-inch touchscreen dominating the interior. The brand has moved away from the fiddly laptop-style trackpad in favour of more familiar touchscreen controls for the infotainment tech.

Bold styling helps the NX stand out from the crowd.

Takeaki Kato, Lexus’ chief engineer says: “The powertrain line-up is diverse, including Lexus’ first PHEV, a newly developed 2.4-litre turbocharged engine, and a newly developed electronically controlled full-time AWD, as well as a number of advanced technologies and a new generation of multimedia.”

“In terms of driving, professional racing drivers conducted an evaluation test drive at the Shimoyama test course to thoroughly train the car’s body structure and control the driving force to inherit and evolve the Lexus Driving Signature.”

There are 64 colour options for the ambient lighting.

New tech can alert the driver if there is a car or bicycle approaching and can stop the door opening if it senses a collision.

Ambient interior lighting with 64 colour options gives the NX a luxe feel.

Originally published as 2022 Lexus NX SUV revealed: The brand’s first plug-in hybrid revealed