Above: Mr Takeaki Kato (R) Chief Engineer of the NX, & Mr. Hideshi Yoki (L) Plant Manager of Toyota Motor Kyushu 

Lexus and its dealer for Singapore, Borneo Motors, unveiled the new NX SUV at the KF1 Karting Circuit in a launch event on the evening of October 29.

The theme for the launch event was the ‘The Next Exceptional’ and, grammar aside, it does underscore the significance of the car’s launch here. Singapore’s been a roaring market for crossovers and SUVs as of late – if sales of the Mercedes-Benz GLA and Porsche Macan are anything to go by, Lexus has a sure fire best-seller on its hands.

Earlier this year, CarBuyer drove nearly all the NX variants announced for sale here and abroad (delve deeper into CarBuyer.com.sg to find out our verdict), including the long-awaited turbocharged, 2.0-litre variant, the NX 200t.

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Lexus NX 300h review: Electric Sharpener

For Singapore, the turbo model will only launch in the first quarter of 2015 – so for now, the sole powertrain option on sale is the hybrid offering, the NX 300h.

It’s powered by the same powertrain as found in other, newer Lexus models, such as the IS 300h and ES 300h, with a transversely-mounted 2.5-litre inline-four engine that runs a special valve timing system for better fuel efficiency (via an Atkinson Cycle operation).

It makes 155bhp, but is equipped with two electric motor-generators (143bhp and 68bhp) for a total of 194bhp system output. A 1.6kWh nickel-metal hydride battery pack resides under the rear benches and allows for short bursts of travel in EV mode.

Like the RX 450h, the NX features an extra motor that drives the rear wheels for hybrid all-wheel drive capability, although the NX’s engineering implies it’s quite a firm 95-percenter, which refers to the number of SUV owners that don’t go off-road.

The NX 300h nabs a $10,000 CEVS incentive thanks to its efficiency – 133g/km of CO2 and 5.7L/100km. Performance wise, final figures have not been released but it should do 0-100km/h in 9.2 seconds on to a 180km/h top speed.

The NX 300h has two trim options – Executive and Luxury. The latter is the upper-crust choice adding numerous additional equipment with its $12,000 premium. This includes  full LED headlamps, a full-length sunroof, automatic folding rear seats, a panoramic 360 degree camera, ventilated seats and a blind spot monitor.

Standard on both cars are LED main beam headlights and cornering lights, qi wireless charging for smartphones, powered tailgate, a Lexus 10-speaker premium audio system, keyless entry and start. Of particular note is the fact that the NX also debuts the latest version of the Lexus infotainment interface, Remote Touch, which abandons the old ‘trackmouse’ style control for a haptic-feedback enabled touchpad.

The NX 300h Executive currently retails for $247,000 with COE, while the Luxury version retails for $259,000 with COE.

Currently there are no plans to offer the F Sport version of the NX 300h, but it’s understood that the package will definitely be offered for the NX 200t. Like other recent Lexus models, it includes active suspension, improved chassis components such as steering, suspension, brakes and wheels, cosmetic additions like an F Sport grille, and an additional Sport+ driving mode.

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