Lexus UX (UX 200, UX 300h, 300e) Megathread

telithos

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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. :(
 

Benito

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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.
 

spwolf

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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

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Video Tour of the 2019 Lexus UX 200 F SPORT

18-04-04-lexus-ux-ny-auto-show.jpg


A look both inside and out.
View the original article post
 

telithos

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Make sure you watch it with a decent computer/device. 60 fps is glorious :). I can't wait for some actual test drive videos.
 

Carmaker1

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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.
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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.

2019-toyota-prius-v-spy-photos.jpg
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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.
 
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mikeavelli

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^^ 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.
 

spwolf

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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 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.


They probably tested it in C-HR body and nobody guessed it is a Lexus.

Otherwise, that Toyota is likely a Prius SUV, similar to Rav4, maybe 7 seater? And it might indeed replace Prius v. It certainly looks bigger than C-HR and UX.

And Toyota has been testing on ring for quite a while... I remember C-HR was tested there and if my memory serves me, even 2011 Yaris was tested a lot there for high speed stability.
 
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http://www.autonews.com/article/20180408/RETAIL01/180409739/lexus-ux-aims-to-bridge-price-age-gap
Lexus UX aims to bridge price, age gap

NEW YORK — The diminutive Lexus UX crossover has a 17.1-foot turning radius, which is best in segment. That means it could do a U-turn in a standard driveway or a regulation squash court.

Lexus General Manager Jeff Bracken makes the comparisons to drive home a broader point about the entry-level Lexus arriving in December: It's looking for that elusive automotive fountain of youth.

Younger buyers, who are the gateway to a lifetime of brand loyalty, are most likely to be found in vertically oriented neighborhoods where space is tight and a maneuverable "urban explorer"— or UX — could draw them to the brand.

"We are trying to get at an audience that's probably about 35 years old, men and women by the way, and I suppose you could throw in the millennial group as well," Bracken told Automotive News on the sidelines of the New York auto show.

"And that would be a huge win for us because, clearly, with our current average buyer with all our vehicles at 60, we have a ways to go," Bracken said last month.

For Lexus to bridge the age gap, it has to bridge the price gap between its more affordable vehicles and the disposable income of younger buyers. Lexus' German rivals already have entry-level vehicles around $30,000 and are moving lower.

Lexus has said $30,000 is too low for luxury, but there's still some maneuvering room. Lexus' previous entry model, the CT hatchback, has been discontinued, and the compact NX crossover is about 6 inches longer than the UX, an inch wider and 4 inches taller, and starts at around $37,000 including shipping.

Lexus hasn't set prices for the UX, which will come in gasoline and hybrid versions, but clearly Bracken would like to have a competitive entry in a fast-growing segment. Lowering the average age of the Lexus buyer depends on both the younger demographic and on generating enough sales volume.

'The cool kids'

Dave Sullivan, manager of product analysis at AutoPacific, said he'd like to see a UX starting price of around $33,000. That price point would allow Lexus to test how the brand resonates with younger buyers. Sullivan would also like to see the hybrid as a no-cost option, though he doesn't think that's likely.

The UX is the right vehicle for Lexus to experiment with ownership options, such as the subscription pilot the brand is working on, Sullivan said in an email. "A subscription service is what all the cool kids are doing these days," he said.

Bracken said Lexus is still trying to figure out the model, which may not be called a "subscription," but would work like a monthly smartphone payment. It could be an "all inclusive" package that covers everything but gasoline. If that works, additional Lexus models could be included to draw younger buyers.

Not grandma's Lexus

Of course, Lexus has to get those customers through the door first, and that's where the crossover's provocative styling comes in, along with its lower ride height, which moves it away stylistically from the family-oriented crossovers and SUVs living in the suburbs.

"Our take on millenials is that it's really, really difficult to tell them, 'We're building a car for you.' That's almost a turnoff," said Bracken. So Lexus used market research and the expertise of its first female chief engineer, Chika Kako, to get their attention.

Sullivan thinks going bold was the right move. "The styling is polarizing but in a way that people won't mistake it for the Lexus their grandmother drives," he said.

Bracken said the brand has set an initial sales target of 20,000 per year for the UX, which is similar to initial expectations of the NX when it arrived for the 2015 model year. NX sales surprised on the upside and hit nearly 60,000 units last year.

"It would be wonderful if the UX heads down that same path," Bracken said.
 

ssun30

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$33k would be a great starting point for the 250h AWD, definitely not for the FWD 200. At that point the 250h could potentially steal some Subaru buyers (and better-off young people in general).
 

spwolf

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$33k would be a great starting point for the 250h AWD, definitely not for the FWD 200. At that point the 250h could potentially steal some Subaru buyers (and better-off young people in general).

As we wrote about previously, CT200h was $33k starting price (little bit less than that), so there is no way UX200 will start lower. CT200h will be at least 35k, and probably more like $36k but with AWD standard.

Lexus does not need to steal Subaru buyers in the US, it is Lexus. They certainly wont undercut Volvo either.

But yeah, this is why they also estimate 20k sales per year, 3x less than NX. It is not vehicle targeted for the US.
 

Carmaker1

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^^ 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.

Most likely under the radar...hopefully. However it is not about "spy shots" for the sake of it. Toyota tries to replicates many situations in the real world at their facilities but they can only get so close and have trial their vehicles in environments where will truly be used the most.

They probably tested it in C-HR body and nobody guessed it is a Lexus.

Otherwise, that Toyota is likely a Prius SUV, similar to Rav4, maybe 7 seater? And it might indeed replace Prius v. It certainly looks bigger than C-HR and UX.

And Toyota has been testing on ring for quite a while... I remember C-HR was tested there and if my memory serves me, even 2011 Yaris was tested a lot there for high speed stability.

You still need to test it in the final body sufficiently, well in advance of pilot production or there are things that can go wrong during that stage and then POSSIBLY delay mass production start-up, which is set for October.

I understand the need for privacy but unless they're doing night testing it still needs to be done as needed and a CHR body is not going to achieve that fully. They likely also used a lifted CT as well, as I already posted. Surely it has been seen by the eyes of people testing in its final body, but not photographed most likely and maybe at night.

I trust they got enough feedback with internal facility testing and will not discover problems later. I only mentioned this as it reminds me of the era where Toyota never built any physical prototypes and relied too much on virtual testing, which led them into a period of quality control issues.

It's not about seeing staged photographs as "spy shots", but some evidence they are putting it through the paces and not just controlled scenario testing which has its negatives in the long run. Which probably might explain the typical deficit in driving ability against competitors.
 

ssun30

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Is there a possibility that they are trying to combine a lot of tests with winter testing? It is usually for drivetrain calibration (e.g. to meet cold start emission standards). That could make spotting a lot harder since the cars will be tested in less accessible areas that attract little attention.
 

spwolf

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I understand the need for privacy but unless they're doing night testing it still needs to be done as needed and a CHR body is not going to achieve that fully. They likely also used a lifted CT as well, as I already posted. Surely it has been seen by the eyes of people testing in its final body, but not photographed most likely and maybe at night.

I trust they got enough feedback with internal facility testing and will not discover problems later. I only mentioned this as it reminds me of the era where Toyota never built any physical prototypes and relied too much on virtual testing, which led them into a period of quality control issues.

It's not about seeing staged photographs as "spy shots", but some evidence they are putting it through the paces and not just controlled scenario testing which has its negatives in the long run. Which probably might explain the typical deficit in driving ability against competitors.

they probably used that lifted CT for C-HR development too, and now using C-HR for UX. Since its main market is Europe, I bet it was driving a lot there and nobody noticed :). They share the same wheelbase, so I dont see why they could not test it properly when it comes to handling, etc.

These days even 2020 Corolla is tested on Nurburgring.
 

telithos

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I'm not too worried about whether they tested it enough. Lexus generally does a more than adequate job to make sure their vehicles are reliable, as evidenced by the excellent resale values. Any chance they'll trickle out some more information at the Beijing auto show at the end of the month? It's already guaranteed that there will be a new ES reveal.
 

spwolf

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I'm not too worried about whether they tested it enough. Lexus generally does a more than adequate job to make sure their vehicles are reliable, as evidenced by the excellent resale values. Any chance they'll trickle out some more information at the Beijing auto show at the end of the month? It's already guaranteed that there will be a new ES reveal.

best part about UX is that C-HR and TNGA are already very competent drives... When I had extensive test of C-HR, it felt like best handling car in the class, with good balance between ride and sportiness, something that most other cars I tried in same category could not match. My problems with it were different - I drive on long highways at 100mph, so C-HR was too noisy at those speeds, and tad underpowered. Both things that UX and 2.0l hybrid can solve.