2027 Lexus NX

• The 2027 Lexus NX grows 30mm longer than its predecessor to 4,690mm, and arrives with three grades — 450h+, 350h and 300h — spanning 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter hybrid setups.
  

• The range-topping 450h+ plug-in hybrid gets a redesigned battery with 8 percent more output and 30 percent more capacity in North America, plus a 6.0-second 0-100km/h time.
  

• A new Sensory Concierge system pairs cabin lighting, climate and five distinct fragrances to shift the interior mood across three selectable modes.

Lexus pulled the wraps off the next-generation NX on September 1, calling it a reimagining of the "Urban Sport Gear" concept the model has represented since 2014. What's shown remains a prototype, with the finished car scheduled to reach global markets from the end of 2026. Lexus has sold roughly 1.9 million examples of the outgoing NX across more than 90 countries, and this update is built to keep that momentum going rather than start from a blank sheet.

Exterior design observations

Styling evolves the existing "VITAL TECH" theme rather than replacing it. The grille is now a mesh design that Lexus says improves aerodynamics and cooling, while the headlamps fold turn signals and daytime running lights into a dual-line signature. Outer mirrors and moldings switch from chrome to black, a change Lexus frames as reinforcing the car's sportier stance. Around back, the NX gets what Lexus calls its first "Double L Signature" tail light design, paired with an illuminated brand logo. Nine exterior colors are offered, including two new additions: an ash-toned shade called Sonic Tellus, and a Titanium Carbide Gray reserved for F SPORT models.

Vehicle proportions and stance

The new NX measures 4,690mm long — 30mm longer than the outgoing model — while width (1,865mm), height (1,660mm) and wheelbase (2,690mm) stay unchanged. Curb weight varies significantly by grade, from around 1,690kg for the base 300h up to as much as 2,130kg for the 450h+ plug-in hybrid, reflecting the added battery hardware in the range-topper.

Interior space and technology

Inside, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster sits alongside a 14-inch navigation and multimedia display, arranged horizontally to keep the driver's eyes closer to the road. Lexus has added what it calls Responsive Hidden Switches with translucent panels, along with ambient lighting that runs continuously from the dashboard into the door trim. Models with the Mark Levinson audio system get perforated speaker grilles with an illuminated ring around each unit. Five interior colors are available, including a new shade called Abalos and an F SPORT-exclusive Prominence red. The standout addition is Sensory Concierge, a system that coordinates lighting, climate, seat temperature and one of five cabin fragrances across three modes — Inspire, Radiance and Revitalize — to shift the mood of the cabin.

Powertrain or performance details

All three grades use a redesigned hybrid system built around an e-Axle that integrates the transaxle, motor and power control unit, plus more efficient silicon carbide power semiconductors. The 450h+ combines a 2.5-liter engine with all-wheel drive for a system output of 215-240kW and a 6.0-second 0-100km/h time, while the 350h uses the same engine layout for 140-180kW, and the front-wheel-drive 300h splits between 2.5-liter and 2.0-liter engines for 145kW. The 450h+'s new plug-in battery gains 8 percent more output and 30 percent more capacity in North America, aided by a shift from a longitudinal to transverse cell layout that also lowers the car's center of gravity.

Practical usability features

Body rigidity improvements — a 25 percent increase in floor rigidity and 30 percent in suspension tower rigidity — were tuned partly at Germany's Nürburgring alongside Lexus's home test track. The E-Four all-wheel-drive system now keeps the rear motor engaged during straight-line driving rather than only during launch or slip, and the latest Lexus Safety System+ adds features like a Driver Emergency Response System capable of pulling the car onto the shoulder, plus a Blind Spot Monitor that now detects bicycles and motorcycles.

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