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
T
I noticed something weird. In all of the first look videos for the UX, nobody has popped the hatch open. I wonder if Lexus told them not to. There are a few pictures out there showing it, but nothing in video format. I always find the Redline Review videos pretty informative. For instance, he pointed out that the back doors use hard touch plastic on the top part. :(
T
I noticed something weird. In all of the first look videos for the UX, nobody has popped the hatch open. I wonder if Lexus told them not to. There are a few pictures out there showing it, but nothing in video format. I always find the Redline Review videos pretty informative. For instance, he pointed out that the back doors use hard touch plastic on the top part. :(
T
I noticed something weird. In all of the first look videos for the UX, nobody has popped the hatch open. I wonder if Lexus told them not to. There are a few pictures out there showing it, but nothing in video format. I always find the Redline Review videos pretty informative. For instance, he pointed out that the back doors use hard touch plastic on the top part. :(
Yes I saw that review as well and was disappointed by the use of hard plastics on the interior panels of the rear doors. Hopefully that is just a pre-production thing and not something that will make it to production as that would be super disappointing for a Lexus.
Yes I saw that review as well and was disappointed by the use of hard plastics on the interior panels of the rear doors. Hopefully that is just a pre-production thing and not something that will make it to production as that would be super disappointing for a Lexus.
Yes I saw that review as well and was disappointed by the use of hard plastics on the interior panels of the rear doors. Hopefully that is just a pre-production thing and not something that will make it to production as that would be super disappointing for a Lexus.
telithos
I noticed something weird. In all of the first look videos for the UX, nobody has popped the hatch open. I wonder if Lexus told them not to. There are a few pictures out there showing it, but nothing in video format. I always find the Redline Review videos pretty informative. For instance, he pointed out that the back doors use hard touch plastic on the top part. :(
In Geneva, Lexus EU really gave a limited info on UX... Lexus USA gave a lot more info.

And lets mention that the reviewer said that car looks better in person, more interesting than others, that interior blows his mind and that it is like baby LS.
telithos
I noticed something weird. In all of the first look videos for the UX, nobody has popped the hatch open. I wonder if Lexus told them not to. There are a few pictures out there showing it, but nothing in video format. I always find the Redline Review videos pretty informative. For instance, he pointed out that the back doors use hard touch plastic on the top part. :(
In Geneva, Lexus EU really gave a limited info on UX... Lexus USA gave a lot more info.

And lets mention that the reviewer said that car looks better in person, more interesting than others, that interior blows his mind and that it is like baby LS.
telithos
I noticed something weird. In all of the first look videos for the UX, nobody has popped the hatch open. I wonder if Lexus told them not to. There are a few pictures out there showing it, but nothing in video format. I always find the Redline Review videos pretty informative. For instance, he pointed out that the back doors use hard touch plastic on the top part. :(
In Geneva, Lexus EU really gave a limited info on UX... Lexus USA gave a lot more info.

And lets mention that the reviewer said that car looks better in person, more interesting than others, that interior blows his mind and that it is like baby LS.
krew
Video Tour of the 2019 Lexus UX 200 F SPORT

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View the original article post
this is excellent, high quality video that every lexus fan needs to see... congrats to the redline.
krew
Video Tour of the 2019 Lexus UX 200 F SPORT

[​IMG]


View the original article post
this is excellent, high quality video that every lexus fan needs to see... congrats to the redline.
krew
Video Tour of the 2019 Lexus UX 200 F SPORT

[​IMG]


View the original article post
this is excellent, high quality video that every lexus fan needs to see... congrats to the redline.
After seeing that video, UX sales are gonna be on fire.

The NX was an instant hit as well.
After seeing that video, UX sales are gonna be on fire.

The NX was an instant hit as well.
After seeing that video, UX sales are gonna be on fire.

The NX was an instant hit as well.
T
Make sure you watch it with a decent computer/device. 60 fps is glorious :). I can't wait for some actual test drive videos.
T
Make sure you watch it with a decent computer/device. 60 fps is glorious :). I can't wait for some actual test drive videos.
T
Make sure you watch it with a decent computer/device. 60 fps is glorious :). I can't wait for some actual test drive videos.
One thing that puzzles me about the 100B program was, we never really saw it in testing. Why was this never spotted in prototype (final design) nor mule form within the last 2 years? The last sight of this was, the CT based mules in May 2013, June 2013, July 2015, and August 2016.
[​IMG] fff
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I have never seen spy shots of the actual UX once, save for this mysterious Nurburgring spy shot of the supposed Prius v in October 2017.


I think the original source for that shot claiming Prius v, was an idiot and it was most likely the UX250h. I suggested this last year but didn't have enough evidence to prove it. No way it was worth anytime to be testing a Toyota hybrid nameplate on the Ring, unlike say a Lexus. Whoever came up with that silly rumour should ashamed, as this is how adequate news flow is weakened, by uninformative reporting.

Not sure what Lexus was so desperate to hide, compared to the LS and ES being spotted testing. Heck, even LC was spotted testing in mule and prototype form. It is really in their best interest not to do soley digital prototyping like a dozen years ago with some cars rushed into production.
One thing that puzzles me about the 100B program was, we never really saw it in testing. Why was this never spotted in prototype (final design) nor mule form within the last 2 years? The last sight of this was, the CT based mules in May 2013, June 2013, July 2015, and August 2016.
[​IMG] fff
[​IMG]
[​IMG]
[​IMG]


I have never seen spy shots of the actual UX once, save for this mysterious Nurburgring spy shot of the supposed Prius v in October 2017.


I think the original source for that shot claiming Prius v, was an idiot and it was most likely the UX250h. I suggested this last year but didn't have enough evidence to prove it. No way it was worth anytime to be testing a Toyota hybrid nameplate on the Ring, unlike say a Lexus. Whoever came up with that silly rumour should ashamed, as this is how adequate news flow is weakened, by uninformative reporting.

Not sure what Lexus was so desperate to hide, compared to the LS and ES being spotted testing. Heck, even LC was spotted testing in mule and prototype form. It is really in their best interest not to do soley digital prototyping like a dozen years ago with some cars rushed into production.
One thing that puzzles me about the 100B program was, we never really saw it in testing. Why was this never spotted in prototype (final design) nor mule form within the last 2 years? The last sight of this was, the CT based mules in May 2013, June 2013, July 2015, and August 2016.
[​IMG] fff
[​IMG]
[​IMG]
[​IMG]


I have never seen spy shots of the actual UX once, save for this mysterious Nurburgring spy shot of the supposed Prius v in October 2017.


I think the original source for that shot claiming Prius v, was an idiot and it was most likely the UX250h. I suggested this last year but didn't have enough evidence to prove it. No way it was worth anytime to be testing a Toyota hybrid nameplate on the Ring, unlike say a Lexus. Whoever came up with that silly rumour should ashamed, as this is how adequate news flow is weakened, by uninformative reporting.

Not sure what Lexus was so desperate to hide, compared to the LS and ES being spotted testing. Heck, even LC was spotted testing in mule and prototype form. It is really in their best interest not to do soley digital prototyping like a dozen years ago with some cars rushed into production.
^^ I assume that some vehicles go under the radar as they are not something that really appeals to a spy photographer. Looking at those Nurburgring pics it could be confused with a number of vehicles.

Personally I was very happy to see a nice reveal without 100,000 spy photos and theories. The UX in pics exceeded my expectations.
^^ I assume that some vehicles go under the radar as they are not something that really appeals to a spy photographer. Looking at those Nurburgring pics it could be confused with a number of vehicles.

Personally I was very happy to see a nice reveal without 100,000 spy photos and theories. The UX in pics exceeded my expectations.
^^ I assume that some vehicles go under the radar as they are not something that really appeals to a spy photographer. Looking at those Nurburgring pics it could be confused with a number of vehicles.

Personally I was very happy to see a nice reveal without 100,000 spy photos and theories. The UX in pics exceeded my expectations.

M