Lexus has unveiled its first compact SUV.
The UX made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.
There will be a choice of two powertrain options – a hybrid pairing a 2.0-litre petrol engine and battery power to produce 176hp, and a standalone 2.0-litre petrol engine.
The hybrid will be available with four-wheel drive, while the petrol engine will come with a new direct shift CVT transmission.
The UX is 4,495mm long, 1,520mm high and 1,840mm wide, and has a 2,640mm wheelbase.
Safety features include a pre-collision system that is able to recognise pedestrians at night and detect cyclists during the day.
The UX will also get lane assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights and road sign assist.
It will also include a parking support brake system that detects the risk of the vehicle coming into contact with a stationary object, or another vehicle approaching from behind, and automatically reduces drive force, initiates braking, and triggers sound and visual warnings to help reduce the likelihood of a collision, or lessen the damage if an impact does occur.
UK specifications, prices and an on-sale date are yet to be revealed.
UX chief engineer Chika Kako said: “Right from the start, I focused on the target customer – mid-30s, millennials, men and women – and tried to understand how they would expect a premium compact vehicle to change their lives and enable new experiences.
“That’s what led us to the basic vehicle concept for the UX of creative urban explorer – a new genre of crossover.”
