Europe gets the new Lexus LBX - Smallest Lexus Yet

WORLD PREMIERE OF THE ALL-NEW LEXUS LBX
The Lexus LBX (Lexus Breakthrough Crossover) is a hybrid only crossover for Europe only, based on the GA-B (Lexus version of TNGA) platform.



Features:

• 1.5L 3-cylinder (3/4 of the 2.0L 4-cylinder in the new Prius)
• bi-polar NiMH (size unknown)
• 100 kW (134 hp) total system output
• Curb Weight: 1,280 kg (2822 lbs)
• Length: 4190 mm (165 inches)
• Width: 1825 mm (72 inches)
• Height: 1545 mm (60.8 inches)
• Wheelbase: 2580 mm (101.6 inches)
• Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h (62 mph): 9.2 seconds
• Panasonic’s nanoe™-X air purification technology
  
• Power back door
• AWD and FWD

This vehicle is way shorter by 5 inches (127 mm) than even the Lexus CT 200h but still wider by 2 1/2 inches (64 mm). Should be a well planted, agile small car with the exact same power output as the old CT 200h 1.8L 4-cylinder but lighter by a little over 300 lbs (138.3 kg). Stands a little higher than the Lexus UX but with a shorter wheelbase. I can tell some people will want this here in the US. Probably gets awesome gas mileage but no details yet.

 

https://newsroom.lexus.eu/download/796dfc76-3999-4c22-b80c-9d0682ef4599/lbxdplcarspecifications.pdf

Highlights for the Lexus LBX Specifications:

• The AWD version has the same 5 kW (7 hp) rear induction motor found in the 2022 Prius e-AWD and 2023 Lexus UX 250h.
• While the rear motor helps with initial traction at low speed, it puts a drag on both gas mileage and acceleration.
• Gas mileage for the FWD version is 4.4 to 4.7L/100km (53.5 mpg to 50 mpg) using WLTP combined cycles of low and high respectively.
• Gas mileage for the AWD version is 4.6 to 5.0L/100km (51.1 mpg to 47 mpg) using WLTP combined cycles of low and high respectively. AWD is also a bit slower at 9.6 seconds to 100 kph (62 mph).
• 3-cylinder 1.5L naturally aspirated gas engine puts out 67 kW (91 hp) @5500 rpm and 120 Nm (89 lb-ft) of torque between 3600 and 4800 rpm. This is about 11 kW (15 hp) higher than the gen 2 Prius' 1.5L 4-cylinder power rating and 9.5 Nm (7 lb-ft) higher for the torque rating. Power output is not that much lower than the gen 3 Prius' 1.8L 4-cylinder 73 kW (98 hp).
• MG2 output is 69 kW (93 hp) making slightly more than the gen 2 Prius' MG2
• The bipolar NiMH battery is rated at 1 kW (5.0 Ah by 201.6V) - ironically the same voltage as the gen 2 Prius
• Height was increased to 1560 mm (61.4 in) in the production model
• Ground clearance is 170 mm (6.7 in)

So where does this sit in the Lexus lineup? Below the UXh obviously but while the LBX is 305 mm (12 in) shorter than the UX, the LBX is 40 mm (1.6 in) higher and ground clearance is 10 mm (.4 in) higher. Comparing apples to apples the UXh AWD gets 5.8 L/100km combined WLTP low cycle (40.6 mpg, EPA is 39 combined) which would give the LXB about 48 mpg combined EPA.