Lexus Yaris: Entry-level Lexus LBX teased for Europe, debuts June 5

Quite a lot of years in gestation, the Lexus LBX is sort of able to greet the world — in Europe, not less than. Throughout the Atlantic, most anticipate the LBX to go on sale as the posh model of the Toyota Yaris Cross. Frankly, with the Yaris Cross already squat and chunky, Lexus would not have a protracted row to hoe in effecting the traces we’re used to seeing on the compact UX and NX. Lexus’ subcompact crossover would be the new entry-level car within the lineup there and the successor to the CT 200h. That is proper, the CT 200h, the compact hybrid hatch that left our market in 2017 however remained on sale in different components of the world till exiting manufacturing in 2022. 

Rumors have it the automaker will use the LBX to introduce a revised design language. Lexus Fanatic picked the LBX out of a crowd of ideas when the model confirmed its plans beneath the Lexus Is Electrical banner in December 2021. That rendering and this grille teaser present a brand new entrance fascia is a doable final result. The spindle is gone, swapped for what some are calling a “bowtie.” The teaser reveals a standard decrease consumption, no higher consumption, and the Lexus “L” brand moved to the hood. A full-width decorative piece throughout the entrance makes a beauty connection to the full-width LED taillight.

If the Yaris Cross donates its powertrain as effectively, the LBX’s clamshell hood will cowl a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine with a small electrical motor including 79 horsepower. Output would get despatched from there to a repeatedly variable transmission.

Lexus will debut the LBX on June 5 from Milan, Italy. Some observers have taken the meager updates given to the Lexus UX for 2024 as an indication that the UX is on borrowed time, and that the LBX will substitute the UX as effectively. We’ll discover out extra from Italy. Now matter how a lot work the LBX has to do for the house workforce, its competitors can be premium subcompact crossovers just like the Volkswagen T-Cross and loaded trims of the Honda HR-V. 

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