Giant Cartoon Robots & Japanese Porches Inspired the Lexus UX Crossover Design


With every Lexus model, there are specific ideas and themes that help to shape the overall design. For the new UX crossover, two very different concepts influenced its appearance: an anime robot from the 1980s, and a Japanese-style house verdana called Engawa.

The cartoon robot Mazinger Z was a warning sign in the early design stages of the UX, as chief engineer Chika Kako did not want the crossover to resemble the anime legend — from Cool Hunting:

When Chika Kako, the first woman chief engineer at Lexus, saw designs for the brand’s all-new UX subcompact crossover, she thought of childhood days spent watching anime cartoons with her brother. The SUV’s rear lights reminded her of Mazinger Z, a hulking manga robot on the small screen in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It was a good look for an animated character, she thought, but not on the latest addition to the Lexus line-up.

“The original shape was really unnatural-looking,” Kako tells us via a translator at the vehicle’s global launch in Stockholm earlier this month. Once she told the all-male design team to soften the aggressive exterior, they got the message. “Simply by mentioning Mazinger, they understood what I meant.”

Engawa is essentially a porch that surrounds Japanese homes, extending the living space out into the world — from the Robb Report:

Because of the vehicle’s small size, [chief designer] Suga and Kako wanted to give the interior a greater sense of space. To achieve this, they drew inspiration from Japanese architecture. “We have this concept where you use the outside space as a continuation of your environment,” Suga says.

“Japanese houses are very small, but they have large windows, so the mountains and trees and nature outside are like a picture, an extension of your living space.” Kako adds, “One thing I asked for right away was this line that goes from the dashboard and continues to the outside of the fenders,” she says. The result was not only a sense of openness but also a commanding view of the road, despite the vehicle’s relatively low seating position and center of gravity (no top-heaviness here).

Lexus UX: First Generation
Comments
Going to be interesting... now, ready to see the damn thing!
Very interesting
Very interesting
The C-HR has been selling like crazy in Japan, so it is indeed highly likely to see the debut of the C-HR-based UX in Tokyo IMHO.
The C-HR has been selling like crazy in Japan, so it is indeed highly likely to see the debut of the C-HR-based UX in Tokyo IMHO.
ydooby
The C-HR has been selling like crazy in Japan, so it is indeed highly likely to see the debut of the C-HR-based UX in Tokyo IMHO.
Europe too... it might be sooner than Tokyo.

I can see them offering larger engine for UX, and i hope they will... CHR is already pretty luxurious so it will be much easier transition to Lexus than NX had.
ydooby
The C-HR has been selling like crazy in Japan, so it is indeed highly likely to see the debut of the C-HR-based UX in Tokyo IMHO.
Europe too... it might be sooner than Tokyo.

I can see them offering larger engine for UX, and i hope they will... CHR is already pretty luxurious so it will be much easier transition to Lexus than NX had.
Okay once again we will have a great looking SUV more aggressive than most on the market wil we get a F version of this car...? The first F SUV would be a huge statement.
Okay once again we will have a great looking SUV more aggressive than most on the market wil we get a F version of this car...? The first F SUV would be a huge statement.
James
Okay once again we will have a great looking SUV more aggressive than most on the market wil we get a F version of this car...? The first F SUV would be a huge statement.
That would be great!
James
Okay once again we will have a great looking SUV more aggressive than most on the market wil we get a F version of this car...? The first F SUV would be a huge statement.
That would be great!
I'm so surprised:scream:
I'm so surprised:scream:
C
This is great news though not too surprised. I will be surprised if the UX doesn't make it to N. America seeing that subcompacts are gaining in sales as a genre.

I agree with krew for a Tokyo reveal but as for sale date, my guess is no sooner than late 2018 as a MY 2019 to spread the near-term launches a little:

LC May 2017 / MY 2018
LS Q1 2018 / MY 2018
UX Q4 2018 / MY 2019
C
This is great news though not too surprised. I will be surprised if the UX doesn't make it to N. America seeing that subcompacts are gaining in sales as a genre.

I agree with krew for a Tokyo reveal but as for sale date, my guess is no sooner than late 2018 as a MY 2019 to spread the near-term launches a little:

LC May 2017 / MY 2018
LS Q1 2018 / MY 2018
UX Q4 2018 / MY 2019
At least everyone here has the same views........
At least everyone here has the same views........
spwolf
Europe too... it might be sooner than Tokyo.
Indeed, 2017 being an odd-numbered year, I'd say it's 50/50 whether UX debuts in Frankfurt (Press days: September 12 & 13, 2017) or in Tokyo (Press days: October 25 & 26, 2017)
spwolf
Europe too... it might be sooner than Tokyo.
Indeed, 2017 being an odd-numbered year, I'd say it's 50/50 whether UX debuts in Frankfurt (Press days: September 12 & 13, 2017) or in Tokyo (Press days: October 25 & 26, 2017)
After having seen the concept UX, I hope that the styling is toned down big time for the production version.
After having seen the concept UX, I hope that the styling is toned down big time for the production version.
Can someone tell me at Toyota why the C-HR was there much earlier than the UX?
This was supposed to be the other way around, and a few years previously. The competition is huge these days.
So, don't wait too long...
Can someone tell me at Toyota why the C-HR was there much earlier than the UX?
This was supposed to be the other way around, and a few years previously. The competition is huge these days.
So, don't wait too long...
corradoMR2
This is great news though not too surprised. I will be surprised if the UX doesn't make it to N. America seeing that subcompacts are gaining in sales as a genre.

I agree with krew for a Tokyo reveal but as for sale date, my guess is no sooner than late 2018 as a MY 2019 to spread the near-term launches a little:

LC May 2017 / MY 2018
LS Q1 2018 / MY 2018
UX Q4 2018 / MY 2019

The UX in Q4 2018 ? I guess a little bit earlier here in Europe, in Q2 2018, otherwise Lexus can forget. But that's not the first time....
corradoMR2
This is great news though not too surprised. I will be surprised if the UX doesn't make it to N. America seeing that subcompacts are gaining in sales as a genre.

I agree with krew for a Tokyo reveal but as for sale date, my guess is no sooner than late 2018 as a MY 2019 to spread the near-term launches a little:

LC May 2017 / MY 2018
LS Q1 2018 / MY 2018
UX Q4 2018 / MY 2019

The UX in Q4 2018 ? I guess a little bit earlier here in Europe, in Q2 2018, otherwise Lexus can forget. But that's not the first time....
C
OlFius
Can someone tell me at Toyota why the C-HR was there much earlier than the UX?
This was supposed to be the other way around, and a few years previously. The competition is huge these days.
So, don't wait too long...
It's a strategy that works with Toyota Motor Corp that I suspect to iron out any kinks with the platform as a Toyota model first.

Some recent examples:

'10 Prius -> '11 CT
'14 Highlander -> '16 RX
'13 Rav4 -> '15 NX
'18 CH-R -> ~'19UX

A less likely strategy IMO is it could also be to stagger product releases of "like" models even though they are not in the same price point/customer base.
C
OlFius
Can someone tell me at Toyota why the C-HR was there much earlier than the UX?
This was supposed to be the other way around, and a few years previously. The competition is huge these days.
So, don't wait too long...
It's a strategy that works with Toyota Motor Corp that I suspect to iron out any kinks with the platform as a Toyota model first.

Some recent examples:

'10 Prius -> '11 CT
'14 Highlander -> '16 RX
'13 Rav4 -> '15 NX
'18 CH-R -> ~'19UX

A less likely strategy IMO is it could also be to stagger product releases of "like" models even though they are not in the same price point/customer base.
corradoMR2
It's a strategy that works with Toyota Motor Corp that I suspect to iron out any kinks with the platform as a Toyota model first.

Some recent examples:

'10 Prius -> '11 CT
'14 Highlander -> '16 RX
'13 Rav4 -> '15 NX
'18 CH-R -> ~'19UX

A less likely strategy IMO is it could also be to stagger product releases of "like" models even though they are not in the same price point/customer base.

Maybe you're right, but not for the RC --> GT86.
And about the CH-R, I think that must be '17 CH-R, they're already on the road here in Europe. That's why I think that the UX is for Q2 '18.
corradoMR2
It's a strategy that works with Toyota Motor Corp that I suspect to iron out any kinks with the platform as a Toyota model first.

Some recent examples:

'10 Prius -> '11 CT
'14 Highlander -> '16 RX
'13 Rav4 -> '15 NX
'18 CH-R -> ~'19UX

A less likely strategy IMO is it could also be to stagger product releases of "like" models even though they are not in the same price point/customer base.

Maybe you're right, but not for the RC --> GT86.
And about the CH-R, I think that must be '17 CH-R, they're already on the road here in Europe. That's why I think that the UX is for Q2 '18.
C
OlFius
Maybe you're right, but not for the RC --> GT86.
And about the CH-R, I think that must be '17 CH-R, they're already on the road here in Europe. That's why I think that the UX is for Q2 '18.
Could be Europe might get the UX earlier...

As for RC -> GT86/FT86 ? No no... Both ride on their own unique and very different platforms. Nothing shared whatsoever.

C