Articles by Nick Wong

Never say never – at least at Rolls-Royce. In just months the luxury brand has backflipped on the statement they’d never build an SUV, announcing the reversal at Frankfurt motor show."We are intensively thinking about entering the SUV segment," Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said at the event. The competition for the best concept design will heat up at the company, now in a catch-up race with rival Bentley who has already pre-empted this move, leading the charge with the ultra-luxurious EXP 9 F concept.Production of the high-riding Bentley will begin in 2016, at least a full year before Rolls-Royce can respond in the showroom.  Even so, Rolls-Royce and its parental conglomerate in Bavaria will likely use this opportunity to develop a large SUV platform that will give buyers an alternative to the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. Just another sweetener for venturing into what has become a lucrative market segment.While every Rolls-Royce is hand-built in their UK Goodwood factory, the British brand has access to BMW's extensive parts bin, so that could help fast-track a future concept into reality. However, with the cheapest Roller starting at about $600,000 here, expect the SUV to be similarly priced if it hits our shores.

Lexus has issued a challenge to the prestige crossover market with the unveiling of the LF-NX concept at the Frankfurt motor show this week. If built – and we’ve no doubt the concept is leading to the showroom floor – the LF-NX concept will face off against the likes of Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA Class.The LF-NX at the show is powered by a new evolution of Lexus’ Hybrid Drive technology specially tuned for crossover performance, and features a razor-sharp new look that takes the “L-finesse” design language to a new level. Finishing it off is a novel brushed-metallic silver finish, accentuating the strikingly angular body.With a wide stance that amplifies an aggressive attitude, the sleek exterior of the LF-NX takes cues from the revamped 2014 Lexus IS sedan, it is also equipped with the same independent Daytime Running Lights (DRL). The front of the car draws into the signature Lexus spindle grill, with jagged contours tessellated all around.Production versions of the LF-NX will undoubtedly be toned down significantly, but we expect proportions and the majority of design details to be retained in the road-going variants, likely to be offered as a new turbocharged four-cylinder NX200t and a hybrid sibling NX300h.Lexus has clear intentions of luring younger buyers with the LF-NX. "The new LF-NX concept explores the potential for a compact crossover within the Lexus model range. This concept is youthful, confident and innovative,” executive vice president of Lexus Mark Templin said at the unveiling.The younger demographic will be switched onto the next generation of in-car technology in the LF-NX’s cockpit-like cabin. Touch-sensitive electrostatic switches and a central Remote Touch Interface (RTI) allow the driver to dynamically configure display features on the dashboard.