2024 Lexus LBX: A New Compact SUV Targeting European Market Unveiled

• The GA-B underpins the Yaris and other vehicles supporting the fact that it will not be sold in North America.

• It will be offered with a hybrid powertrain only, like the current UX.

Lexus, the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota, has announced its latest offering, the all-new 2024 Lexus LBX – an acronym for ‘Lexus Breakthrough Crossover.’ Designed and engineered primarily for European customers, the compact SUV is poised to make a new market breakthrough for Lexus with its innovative design and high-end features.

The Lexus LBX will carry forward the brand’s reputation for quality, luxury, and refinement, showing no compromise in any aspect. Drawing on the legacy of Lexus’s renowned engineering, the LBX is built on a modified version of the GA-B global architecture platform, which lends itself to a more compact yet robust framework.

One of the distinguishing features of the 2024 Lexus LBX is its exterior design that showcases the new ‘Resolute Look’ front identity. This design statement is a significant deviation from the brand’s existing front-end designs and reaffirms Lexus’s commitment to innovate and redefine standards.

The LBX is equipped with a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder self-charging hybrid electric powertrain, an exciting update for Lexus enthusiasts who value sustainability and efficiency. The hybrid system also includes a new, more powerful bi-polar nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery. The combination of this advanced powertrain and the new battery technology aims to improve driving range and overall performance. Optionally, Lexus’ E-Four all-wheel drive, which introduces an additional electric motor on the rear axle, will improve all-season driveability.

Inside the cabin, the LBX features a fully digital user interface, which includes a standard 9.8-inch multimedia system. Options includes a 12.3-inch driver’s display, head-up display, remote parking, digital key, Mark Levinson premium surround sound audio, and more.

What sets the LBX apart is the choice of four “atmospheres,” each presenting an individual theme designed to suit different customer preferences. This customization allows buyers to create a vehicle ambiance that reflects their personal style and lifestyle needs. As well, ambient illumination enhances the Omotenashi experience, creating a welcoming atmosphere and fostering a sense of comfort within the vehicle. By accentuating various cabin areas, the lighting design offers a selection of 50 color choices, organized into themes that elicit diverse emotions.

The new Lexus LBX is an attractive, efficient, and smart premium small crossover. It’s a glimpse into Toyota’s premium brand’s future especially where design and HMI are concerned. Sadly, and despite its appeal, Lexus has no plans to introduce the LBX to North America.