BMW and Audi’s success in the small crossover segment has luxury automakers of all stripes rushing to field their own entrants. The latest is Lexus.
Automotive News has uncovered patent filings revealing that the Japanese automaker will actually kill two birds with one stone — not only is it working on a compact crossover, it will also feature its first-ever 2.0L, four-cylinder turbocharged engine in said crossover. In fact, the new engine initiate both Lexus and Toyota’s participation in the brewing 2.0L turbo race.
Why is the automotive industry all of the sudden so crazy about turbos? The answer is simple — turbocharged engines can offer levels of power and torque on a par with larger engines, saving weight without necessarily sacrificing fuel economy.
Said to be named the NX 200t, the crossover will go on sale at the end of 2014 or early 2015. The engine will likely proliferate across Lexus’ lineup, possibly replacing the 2.5-liter V6 as the entry-level engine in the Lexus IS sedan lineup. It will also be offered in the Toyota RAV4.
Unsurprisingly, Lexus will offer a hybrid version of the new crossover, calling it the NX 300h.
courtesy of autotribute.com
No comments:
Post a Comment