Lexus LBX is here in Malaysia, priced from RM238,888

It’s been a while since Lexus Malaysia has introduced a small model, the last one being the UX in early 2020. Unfortunately, that was the period of the COVID-19 pandemic which affected the car market severely and the model’s presence was diminished.

Now the luxury brand has a new model – the LBX – as the starting point for the Lexus family. Smaller than the UX, the LBX is a compact SUV with a hybrid electric powertrain. Available in Premium and Luxury versions, the new model is priced from RM238,888 and Lexus Malaysia is accepting orders from today.

First model on GA-B platform
As with many of the latest Lexus and Toyota models, the LBX uses TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) which has been adapted for the model as the GA-B compact car global platform. It is the first Lexus model to use this platform and architecture which allows for a lightweight, highly rigid body with a low centre of gravity.

Next Chapter design philosophy
These elements lay the foundation of the LBX’s nimbleness and fun-to-drive character which are integral to the Lexus Signature. At the same time, the TNGA and GA-B platform gives designers more freedom to fully present the brand’s Next Chapter design philosophy.

This philosophy has already been adopted for the latest NX, RX and RZ and is further evolved for the LBX (which stands for Lexus Breakthrough Crossover). It gives strong visual appeal with a new take on some of the brand’s most familiar design elements.

The most significant aspect of this new thinking can be seen in the new frontal arrangement that ‘breaks’ the spindle grille, a Lexus signature for the past decade. Yet even being ‘deconstructed’ to create a new front face identity that’s completely different from before, there is instant recognition that this is a Lexus.

The grille has been unified in a single trapezoid shape, positioned below a narrow aperture that runs beneath the leading edge of the bonnet, linking the slim headlight units. The design draws on the heritage of the brand’s ‘Resolute Look’. Introduced with the LF-S concept car of 2003, this became a signature styling feature for Lexus production models from the early 2000s.

The new headlight design creates a strong visual signature, with the daytime running lights and turn indicators integrated in bi-functional LED units. With this new arrangement, the lights’ distinctive L-shape has been changed to face out rather than inwards, matching the direction of each indicator light.

The compactness of the LBX can be seen in the LBX side profile with short overhangs front and rear, with large wheels and oversized fenders giving a muscular image that indicates the crossover character of the model.

The styling at the rear was inspired by the Kagami-Mochi rice cakes that are a traditional Japanese offering at New Year. These are made of two discs – a small one set on top of a larger one. When viewing the LBX from the rear, this balance of shapes is reflected in the car’s compact cabin, providing the sense of a low centre of gravity and stable handling.

An example of the high quality of the design can be seen in the rear pillars where there is a subtly patterned film of stripes (LBX Luxury only), while the aero parts at the front (LBX Luxury only) and rear have silver accents that draw the eye to the strong underbody.

The ‘L’ logo has been discontinued for the new Lexus models and replaced with the brand-unifying LEXUS wording for a simple and easily recognizable modern image. The location of the number plate has also been repositioned to the bumper, giving the LEXUS name on the rear door more prominence.

Slightly smaller than UX
The dimensions of the LBX – 4190 mm long, 1825 mm wide and 1550 mm (Premium) / 1560 mm (Luxury) high – make it a slightly smaller vehicle than the UX. It has a wheelbase of 2580 mm and with a turning radius of 5.2 metres, which is useful in urban driving. And with 220 mm of ground clearance, the LBX can also be taken off-road.

Hybrid electric powertrain
Toyota is already well established as a leader in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) technology, having been the pioneer with the world’s first mass-produced car with such a powertrain in the late 1990s. For the LBX, the cumulative experience and expertise has gone into the hybrid electric powertrain which uses a new M15A-FXE 1.5-litre 3-cylinder engine.

The 12-valve DOHC petrol engine, besides being compact and lightweight, has world-class thermal efficiency, supported by high-speed combustion and using technologies evolved from Formula 1 engineering.

The technological advancements enable the powertrain to generate up to 100 kW (136 bhp) with peak torque of 185 Nm. There is also the possibility of driving purely on electric power (depending on energy levels in the battery), allowing for zero-emission motoring for short distances like an EV.

Lexus engineers have improved on the Hybrid Control system to give sharp response at start-off and a feeling of continuous acceleration. Compared to earlier hybrid systems, responsiveness is said to be increased by about 30% and initial acceleration by around 20%.

Engine power and electrical power are utilised intelligently, with priority on electric. Long experience in hybrid technology has enabled the engineers to refine the operations as one power source switches seamlessly to the other, or when both are in use for maximum output when required.

The LBX has a newly developed transaxle with an Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (eCVT) with 8 ‘virtual’ speeds. Though it has lower weight and more compact dimensions, it delivers 17% higher output than conventional units of the same size.

The Ni-MH (nickel-metal hydride) battery pack’s service life has been prolonged with a redesigned cooling system. As the HEV system is self-charging, it recharges while on the move, so no worries about looking for a charging station when going long distances.

The cost of a battery pack is one of the concerns of buyers of both HEVs and battery EVs. For peace of mind, Lexus Malaysia provides an 8-year warranty for the battery pack of the LBX. This not only covers the battery but also related components such as the inverter and power management control ECU.

Omotenashi interior
The interior of the LBX has a simple, minimalist image but is very refined to give the feel and atmosphere of a model in a higher segment. As with all other Lexus models, there is the Lexus Omotenashi approach which uses the art of Japanese hospitality.

Thanks to the compact body size, almost every part of the vehicle can be seen from the steering wheel. The contouring of the bonnet and the shape and position of the front pillars also help reduce the blind spots and allow for an extended downward view that helps the driver guide the vehicle more precisely through corners and curves.

The driver’s area is an interpretation of the Tazuna concept, first introduced on the NX. This Lexus-conceived design concept takes its name from the Japanese word for ‘reins of a horse’, focusing on direct yet intuitive control.

The concept positions principal controls and information sources immediately around the driver, so their operation only requires minimal movements of the hand or eyes. This helps keep the driver focused on the task of driving, with least distraction.

The position and angle of the steering wheel were precisely calculated to give the driver a rewarding sense of control. With focus on ease of force application, the steering wheel angle is more upright and moved closer to the driver.

For the LBX Luxury, the Tazuna concept is enhanced with a new, 12.3-inch fully digital instrument display (7-inch for Premium), featured in a Lexus for the first time. The layout and prominence of the meters and data change according to the 3 drive modes. A head-up display is also provided with the LBX Luxury.

Ambient lighting adds to the Omotenashi effect, highlighting different parts of the cabin with 64 colour options, curated in themes that evoke different moods. The indirect illumination (rather than direct lighting) shows off the beauty of both the forms and materials.

The LBX also features new Tsuyasumi charcoal trim ornamentation, created using a new film technique that uses multiple layers to give a highly textured appearance with a sense of depth. This complements the black theme with metallic and woodgrain film ornamentation that creates a modern and dignified space.

The seats are covered with black synthetic leather with strong visual from the highly saturated red elegance that gives a sporty signature, evoking an active atmosphere.

While the LBX Premium has Lexus Premium Audio with 6 speakers as standard, the LBX Luxury comes with Mark Levinson Premium system with Quantum Logic Surround sound technology. Mark Levinson has been supplying audio systems in Lexus models for decades and customises the placement of the 13 speakers around the cabin for the best sound reproduction.

The LBX is a 5-seater, with the rear seats for 3 persons having a 60:40 division to allow extension of the boot floor as required. When the rear seats are in use, the boot volume is 315 litres, expandable to 992 litres with both backrests folded down.

Lexus Safety System+
The Lexus Safety System + (LSS+) is the latest generation of the brand’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) system. It uses a millimetre-wave radar sensor and monocular camera to scan the vehicle’s surroundings for active systems such as the Pre-Collision System, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Active Cornering Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Tracing Alert and Lane Departure Alert.

Sensors around the rear half of the vehicle constantly monitor the area behind and to the sides, particularly the blind spots. If a vehicle is detected in the blind spot, the driver will be alerted. Additionally, the sensors also scan both sides when the vehicle is reversing out of a parking spot. If a vehicle is approaching, the driver will be alerted of the danger.

The same sensors for the Blind Spot Monitoring system are also used for the Safe Exit Access system. This system detects vehicles or cyclists approaching from behind as the doors are about to be opened. If there is a vehicle or cyclist, an alert will be shown and if there is a high possibility of a collision when the door opens, an e-latch will prevent it from opening.

The Panoramic View Monitor or PVM (LBX Luxury only) provides the driver with a simulated view of the vehicle from all sides and even from above. Various cameras on the vehicle body provide views of all sides, enabling the driver to spot any obstacles and position the vehicle properly when parking.

The PVM also has a unique Underfloor See-through View which shows the driver the ground conditions below the vehicle and the angle of the tyres. The Underfloor view will be particularly useful when driving off-road as it will allow the driver to spot rocks or other obstacles and manoeuvre around them.

The compact size of the LBX makes it easy to park but if the driver still finds it challenging, there is the Lexus Parking Assist Monitor to help guide the vehicle into a parking bay. The driver in the LBX Luxury can also use Lexus Teammate Advanced Park to assist in parking manoeuvres. While some automatic parking systems require the driver to manage the power, Lexus Teammate Advanced Park handles steering, accelerator, brake, and shift operations.

When the LBX is travelling in EV mode, its movement is so quiet that its presence might not be apparent to pedestrians ahead. For safety, a sound is generated from a speaker mounted near the front bumper. The sound from the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System will be generated when the vehicle is moving at speeds up to 25 km/h when in EV mode. A speed-linked control adjusts sound volume and frequency of the notification sound in accordance with vehicle speed.

“As a new entry point to the Lexus family, the LBX carries a strong appeal to younger audiences as well as those who want a vehicle to meet their evolving lifestyle requirements,” said Datuk Ravindran K, President of Lexus Malaysia. “With an efficient and responsive hybrid powertrain, sporty design as well as class-leading features, it is undoubtedly an attractive proposition to those seeking a compact crossover with zero compromise on luxury, refinement and comfort.”

Click here to locate an authorised Lexus showroom in Malaysia

Lexus Malaysia to launch RZ, orders now accepted