ON THE ROAD – IAN LYNAS DRIVES THE LEXUS LBX

When a new arrival from Lexus was announced just over a year ago I penned a preview and now I am able to report on my time behind the wheel of the new LBX. With this newcomer, it enters a new market for Lexus throughout Europe; one that no doubt can swell Lexus ranks.

The LBX is the smallest Lexus to date, a self-charging hybrid crossover designed to be accessible and easy to live with, in tune very much with the times we live in. The market has grown at quite a pace for small SUVs and crossovers and this newcomer is certainly in a very competitive sector of the market. I like its contemporary style which combines high quality; styling which is not too distant from its Toyota cousins. Those who decide to purchase a Lexus have high demands and the good news, the LBX offers much more than might be expected from a vehicle in this class. Advanced technologies with Lexus qualities of luxury craftsmanship were evident the moment I took to the road. As it is the new entry point to Lexus’s model range, it will have an appeal to a younger audience and those who may not have considered a Lexus previously. True to a point but after having driven the LBX, its appeal I reckon will be to a wider audience. For me it did all that I would require, parking in town with ease and satisfying on the open road. More and more drivers I speak with have either downsized or are considering a move in that direction and it certainly has a role even as a second vehicle in the family.

Kunihiko Endoh was the chief engineer in bringing the LBX to market and amongst his aims was to challenge the conventional concept of a luxury car. With his team he pursued a driving experience that enables a natural dialogue between the driver and their vehicle and a design that has a refined presence. To the heart of the matter, a new 1.5 litre self-charging hybrid powertrain, a compact lightweight three-cylinder engine with world class thermal efficiency and the new bi-polar hybrid battery offers greater power density and output, supporting responsive, linear acceleration. With this new self-charging full hybrid powertrain provided me with responsive acceleration, very much characteristic of battery electric power. The total system output is 134bhp/136 DIN bhp/100kW with peak torque of 185Nm, giving rest to 100kph (62mph) in 9.2 seconds for the front wheel drive model, and 9.6 seconds with all-wheel drive. Okay not exactly shattering performance, but very satisfying and that is what most of use desire when we take to the road. The LBX becomes the second Lexus model, the RX was the first, to benefit from a new high-output bi-polar nickel metal hydride hybrid battery; this allows for a higher power density to be achieved from a more compact and lighter battery unit and response delay is reduced by half, which aids performance, giving the kind of high torque delivery at low speeds that’s normally associated with EVs and there is a redesigned cooling system to help prolong battery life and performance. The entire battery pack is accommodated beneath the rear seats, avoiding any loss of cabin or load space.

With a small crossover like the LBX, owners still desire to have reasonable load carrying capacity. Handling is well up to the standard for a vehicle in this class; the suspension system has been designed for steering response and turning ability. The front has a new MacPherson strut-type design that is rigid and lightweight to give agile handling and a high-quality ride, while at the rear there is a torsion beam on the front-wheel drive LBX, the version I tried, and a double-wishbone set-up with trailing arms to accommodate the E-Four system on the AWD model.

While this may be the baby so to speak of the Lexus range, it comes with a high level of standard equipment, bang up to date in the technology department and for music on the move a top rate entertainment system. I certainly enjoyed my time behind the wheel and for existing Lexus customers they will be happy with the LBX, which I think will bring a lot more sales to the brand.

Ian Lynas