2018 Lexus NX facelifted

Lexus peeled the wraps off the updated 2018 NX crossover at the 2017 Auto Shanghai motor show in China.

The front end is reworked to make the upper portion of the grill and front bumper to “more fluidly blend into the hood and the front doors.” AHS-equipped LED headlights and triple projectors from the LC luxury coupe are available with the facelift as optional extras. The back has been revised with new taillights and a diffuser. The tail pipes now come integrated into the diffuser. A new set of 18-inch wheels are also offered for the higher trims. The NX F Sport will sport a mesh radiator grille and black machined wheels.

Inside, the display on the centre console replaces the current 7-inch unit. The ergonomics is also worked on, as Lexus revamped the HVAC panel by replacing all the small buttons with toggle switches that are easy to operate. Almost all switches inside the cabin now receive a metallic satin finish. The interior of the NX F Sport model will be specced with a special Naguri Aluminium ornamentation and a black-and-white seating colour combination.

The model range has been retouched a bit too. The turbocharged NX200t will be renamed to NX300, essentially copying the mumbo-jumbo badging on BMWs and Benzes nowadays. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine will continue to do duty in it. The NX hybrid will also retain its powertrain, a 2.5-litre unit backed up by two electric motors.

The suspension of the NX has received an upgrade as the springs, stabiliser bars and bushings have been retuned to aid cornering and to provide a smoother ride. An Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) based on the system in the LC500 is now available on the NX. This system offers a range of 650 instantaneous compressions and damping adjustments for more precision in handling.

Expect the new model to debut in the UAE and GCC by the end of the year.