[mister]

During a presentation earlier this month, Toyota CEO Jim Lentz mauy have given the world a peak at the Lexus NX in its production form. Lentz briefly showed an image of a toned down version of the LF-NX concept that was on display in Frankfurt last September. The spindle grille has been toned down a bit and some of those really intense contours seem to have been smoothed out a it, but the vehicle has kept the same silhouette.

"We don't want to copy BMW and we are certainly not chasing BMW and Mercedes volumes. Our focus is to keep the brand very individual," explained Richard Balshaw, the director of Lexus' British arm.

What do you guys think? Has it lost some of its mojo, or has it just become more mainstream?

 

[Kennedy]

I love everything about it aside from the fog lights. If it was up to me I would black out the chrome ring around it.

 

[mojo]

I dont mind it one bit. I especially like that they kept the aggressive rear fenders and incorporated IS style headlamps. I think we all knew there was no way the concept could transition to production, this is an excellent compromise IMO

 

[vinster2927]

Looks too much like a Lexus GX

It looks too much like the cross between a GX and an IS. The headlights straight from the IS and the grill is definitely from the GX470. They should have stuck with the prototype!! This is definitely a down-grade from the RX450H. Hopefully the interior looks better.

 

[toyotafan]

mini RX350 F sport?

 

[mister]

I don't want the front grille to have those horizontal bars. i want the honeycomb pattern that was in the concept. I wonder if they are keeping the taillights from the concept though. Those were also quite distinctive.

 

[Kennedy]

after seeing this production model image leak it has me thinking what the redesigned RX will look like when it time comes.

 

[mojo]

I think we also need to wait for a hi res picture before we crucify the NX you can see it still has that crease coming of the front quarters into the doors and some of the shadows seem to indicate there is more subtlety hiding than this picture can show us...

 

[toyotafan]

I would be surprised if the front grille was NOT spindle considering all the new lexuses have them

 

[mojo]

check out the video of the live leak, jump to 10:36. They talk a bit about the NX as well..

 

[Kennedy]

Since the Chicago show is coming up and they seem just about ready to release this thing, are our chance good to see this drop next weekend?

 

[mojo]

Since the Chicago show is coming up and they seem just about ready to release this thing, are our chance good to see this drop next weekend?

Perhaps, I won't say no because i dont know, but logically i dont think so. Just because by the time Chicago rolls around all the major reveals have happined either at Tokyo just before year end or Detroit at the start, and is caught in the dead zone between now and Geneva next month.

Plus Chicago doesn't carry the same global media attention as Geneva does, which if im not mistaken is where the NX is slotted for its global reveal...

 

[Kennedy]

Perhaps, I won't say no because i dont know, but logically i dont think so. Just because by the time Chicago rolls around all the major reveals have happined either at Tokyo just before year end or Detroit at the start, and is caught in the dead zone between now and Geneva next month.

Plus Chicago doesn't carry the same global media attention as Geneva does, which if im not mistaken is where the NX is slotted for its global reveal...

Good point! So it should be safe to say by time the tokyo auto show comes around or the 3rd/4th quarter we should eventually see it.

 

[toyotafan]

check out the video of the live leak, jump to 10:36. They talk a bit about the NX as well..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzZA-YhfS7k

interesting. that was so intended though.

they just put that there to stir the pot.

 

[mojo]

Good point! So it should be safe to say by time the tokyo auto show comes around or the 3rd/4th quarter we should eventually see it.

oh definitely, its possible that the NX is actually on sale by 3rd/4th Q '14

 

[toyotafan]

That is what I expect to

Especially since they are saying the production model is already available

Plus this segment is getting very competitive.

 

[mojo]

I think its only logical for the NX to be on sale by year end '14, look around. GLK is getting facelifted, X3 just was, X4 is coming online, MKC is coming online, Q3 is heading to north america...

The segment just got crowded FAST.

 

[Kennedy]

With word if it already being ready for production it's just a matter of time till we hear it from the. Late 2014 on sale as a 2015 model sounds doable.

 

[mojo]

anyone want to make some arbitrary price speculations for NX?

 

[toyotafan]

the only thing he mentioned was how the NX would pave the way for turbos in lexus vehicles.

so guessing more turbo models for lexus?