- Possible Lexus BX would be more affordable than Lexus UX
- Could arrive on the market as a 2023 model
- Could be a competitor to the Buick Encore GX
A Chinese publication is reporting that the Toyota Yaris Cross unveiled a few weeks ago could spawn a new Lexus entry-level model called the Lexus BX.
Although Lexus has said it wouldn’t go any lower in pricing and segment than the Lexus UX unveiled two years ago, the potential for an even more affordable Lexus utility vehicle called BX is there. The Buick Encore GX unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November and an eventual Volkswagen T-Roc could be eventual competitors.
2019 Lexus UX250h | Photo: Lexus
The fact of the matter is that there’s potential for an affordable vehicle sporting an upscale logo and a Lexus priced at around $30,000 would likely do very well. If the Japanese luxury automaker intends to go that route, the aforementioned Toyota Yaris Cross could be a great starting point.
The report suggests power would come from the same engine in the Yaris Cross, a 1.5-litre engine paired with an electric motor that delivers 116 horsepower. The Buick Encore GX features two small turbocharged engines that deliver either 137 horsepower or 155 horsepower.
Again, this is pure speculation so we’ll have to wait and see. First, Toyota needs to bring the Yaris Cross to North America and then it needs to research the potential for an even more affordable Lexus utility vehicle.
