At the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show later this month, Lexus will preview its first turbo engine, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The new engine will be previewed in the LF-NX concept that we saw at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show back in September, where it had a hybrid powertrain. The reason is that the production version of the LF-NX, which is due out next year, will be the first Lexus to offer the new engine.
The turbo engine is said to provide the LF-NX with a lower center of gravity than the previous hybrid version, suggesting the engine may be a ‘boxer’ unit similar to that featured in the Scion FR-S. Lexus designers have also added a front lip spoiler to the LF-NX to emphasize the sporty new engine fitted to the concept. The rear diffuser and exhaust tip design is also new.
The production version of the LF-NX is likely to be called the Lexus NX. A previous filing made by Toyota with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office revealed the “NX 200t” and “NX 300h” names, with the former expected to be used for the NX crossover equipped with the turbo engine. Beyond the NX, the turbo engine may make its way into the IS as a replacement for the IS 250 model’s aging 2.5-liter V-6, which delivers just 200 horsepower.
Source: Motor Authority
