Lexus has trademarked both the UX 250 and UX 250h nameplates in Australia, giving us the first concrete evidence that a new crossover is coming.
As it stands, there are two crossovers that have been rumored for some time — a large three-row model that will slot above the RX, and a smaller sub-NX model that is reportedly based on the CT.
Judging from the engine codes, the subcompact crossover seems more likely — let’s break it down:
- UX 250: Likely a 2.5L four-cylinder engine, perhaps the 178 horsepower 2AR-FE used in multiple Toyota applications.
- UX 250h: The 250h designation is a mystery, as the 2.5L 2AR-FXE hybrid engine is classified as a 300h in the Lexus lineup. The 2.4L 2AZ-FXE engine found in the HS 250h is an option, but seems unlikely. We could be looking at a new hybrid engine with this trademark.
There’s a fair amount of speculation here, but one thing’s for sure — the reveal of the production Toyota CH-R subcompact crossover in Geneva just became a lot more interesting. The new model could confirm or discard much of the thinking outlined here.
(Here are the actual Australian trademarks — the UX 250 is filed under #1754520, and the UX 250h is #1754522. Both were registered on February 24th, 2016.)
Tip of the hat to Autoguide for finding these trademarks!