Is Lexus planning a hot NX F to menace the BMW X3 M, Mercedes AMG GLC 6 S, Audi SQ5, Volvo XC60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio?
This tantalising question has been thrust to Lexus Australia operating chief John Pappas, and his response not only leaves hope for fans of fast luxury mid-size SUVs, but also for mainstream buyers yearning for a Toyota GR RAV4.
“F for us… performance is part of our DNA at Lexus,” he told the Australian media at the launch of the second-generation Lexus NX luxury mid-size SUV in Melbourne earlier this month.
“At the global announcement at the end of last year, you would have seen many vehicles that looked very exciting, and one of those was a very nice performance electric car.”
The latter admission points to Lexus following rivals like Volvo’s XC60 PHEV in pursuing a petrol-electric course to achieve its high-performance goals.
Further expanding the new NX’s burgeoning electrification specification, it may build on the newly introduced NX450h+ PHEV’s performance credentials, which is the quickest and most powerful model in the range for now.
Fitted with a 136kW/227Nm 2.5-litre engine mated to a 134kW/270Nm electric motor up front and a 40kW/121Nm motor on the rear axle, the NX450h+ manages a respectable peak power output of 227kW; while that prioritises high economy and low emissions with a WLTP EV-only range of around 70km and just 29 grams of CO2 pollution per kilometre, it can sprint from zero to 100km/h in 6.3 seconds.
Of course, Lexus’ engineers still have much work to do to match the 375kW BMW X3 M’s 3.8s 0-100km/h result, but with Toyota’s $100 billion shift to mainstream EV blanket coverage by 2030, the resources and scale are there, particularly as the NX is so closely related to the RAV4.
Which begs the inevitable question: if the NX is going F, will there be a RAV4 twin?
Toyota is also pushing its GR (Gazoo Racing) agenda with the GR Supra, successful GR Yaris and soon the GR86, and it is likely that a GR Corolla will be with us sooner rather than later, so why not by extension the RAV4?
While nobody at Lexus Australia mentioned any relationship between a potential NX F and a possible GR RAV4 spin-off, the two vehicles’ sharing of the Toyota New Global Architecture and most powertrains certainly raises may tantalising probabilities.
Returning back to a high-performance Lexus luxury mid-size SUV, Mr Pappas refused to elaborate exactly how far away any future performance NX would be from local showrooms.
However, he did suggest that the Australian arm is already in discussion with head office about the potential of going up against rivals like the SQ5, Mercedes-AMG GLC63 S 4Matic, Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Volvo XC60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid.
“We’re looking at and talking with Lexus international,” he revealed, “including (about) the whole F series and performance models (future)… and even though I have nothing to announce today specifically, I’m very excited by what’s ahead of us. Really exciting.
“It’s part of our DNA. We’re very passionate about performance.”
A sub-5.0s NX F? The fastest and most exciting RAV4 in history thanks to GR’s greatness? Start believing it.
Keyword: Hot Toyota GR RAV4 inches closer: What Lexus' plans for the Mercedes AMG GLC 63 S and BMW X3 M-menacing NX F mean for Australia's favourite SUV