Lexus NX News

Lexus has introduced its facelifted NX this week, with the updated mid-size SUV receiving pricing adjustments, increased equipment levels, revised styling and improvements to its suspension set-up.

Lexus Australia says a worldwide shortage of its key SUVs from the factory has hobbled sales of its strongest performers.

Luxury SUV sales growth continues during first five months of 2016.

Half-time is typically a time for reflection.With six months of 2015 gone — and the official sales results arriving last week — it's time to look at what was hot and what was not in showrooms this year.At a glance, small cars are out and tiny SUVs are in. Diesels and hybrids are out, and turbocharged petrol cars are in. Luxury brands are in demand, local cars are not.Honda and Isuzu sales are surging, Ford and Holden have hit new lows.Sales of baby SUVs are up by 23 per cent in the first half of the year, thanks to the arrival of new offerings from Mazda and Honda. The surprise last month was that Honda's HR-V outsold Mazda's CX-3, despite a get-in price that is $5000 more than the baby Mazda. Buyers are no doubt attracted by the roominess of the Honda's cabin, which shares the clever design of its donor vehicle, the Jazz. Mitsubishi has also benefited from the increased showroom interest in this type of vehicle, with sales of its ASX surging by more than 45 per cent.They share their underpinnings with the new breed of SUVs, but they haven't been hurt by their arrival. Honda again leads the charge, with sales of its City sedan and Jazz hatch surging. Sales of the all-new Mazda2 are also strong and it remains best-selling car in the class. Other models that have captured the imagination of buyers are the evergreen Suzuki Swift and Toyota Yaris, as well as the Volkswagen Polo, which is up by more than 50 per cent thanks to sharp pricing.Low interest rates mean that a luxury badge is now within reach of more car buyers. As a result Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus are all enjoying double-digit growth. Understandably, most of the action is at the lower end of the market, with models high on the shopping list including BMW's Mini (up 59 per cent) and Audi's A3 (up 23 per cent). BMW's new 2 Series coupe and Lexus's NX small SUV have also launched with a bang, but the biggest success story is CarsGuide's 2014 Car of the Year, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which has doubled its sales in the first half of the year.Somebody is cashing in on Australia's property boom, with sales of sports cars costing more than $200,000 rising more than 20 per cent, albeit off a low base. Ferrari and Lamborghini dealerships are busy this year, with Ferrari logging 95 local sales compared with 52 in the same period last year and Lamborghini jumping from just seven sales to 60. The segment's most popular car, the Porsche 911, also enjoyed solid growth. At the other end of the spectrum, sales of affordable sports cars slumped as the initial shine predictably wore off the Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ and Hyundai Veloster. That will change, though, when Mazda's all-new MX-5 arrives in the second half of the year.They're big news in Japan and Europe, but micro cars haven't captured the Australian car buying public's imagination. Despite the arrival of an all-new model in the Suzuki Celerio and a midlife update for the Nissan Micra, sales are down by almost a third.They're still the nation's car of choice, but the arrival of baby SUVs has put a dent in the popularity of the small-car brigade led by the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3. This time last year, the Mazda3 was the top-selling vehicle in Australia, but sales this year are down by almost 10 per cent, cannibalised by the newer and funkier CX-3. Toyota, which has no mini-SUV in its range, fared better with the Corolla, which almost held its own in a market segment that shrank by 10,000 cars.When locally made cars began to slide in popularity, most pundits said it was because they were too big and thirsty, but the figures show otherwise. Large cars are down by 14 per cent this year, but medium and large SUVs have enjoyed solid growth. Toyota's Camry, which has a hybrid version, has fared better than the rest of the locals, but the Holden Cruze small car has experienced a bigger sales slide than Ford's Falcon and Territory. Overall, the prognosis remains bleak. Australians bought almost as many German-made cars as locally-made ones in the first six months.The Europeans are mad for it — and most 4WD utes use it too — but Australians, it seems, don't like getting their hands dirty. After an initial spike in interest in diesel passenger cars and SUVs among private buyers and fleets between 2005 and 2010, the interest continues to wane. Sales of diesel passenger cars grew sixfold from 2005 to 2010, while diesel SUV sales more than doubled. But in the first six months of this year — and on the back of a decline last year — sales of diesel cars fell by more than a quarter. Diesel SUV sales were stagnant despite big growth in overall SUV sales.Honda - up 33.4 per centIsuzu - up 30.3 per centSkoda - up 30.2 per centRenault - up 30.1 per centLexus - up 24.9 per centFord - down 17.6 per centVolvo - down 16.6 per centFiat - down 16.4 per centHolden - down 8.9 per centNissan - down 0.6 per centToyota - 101,714 - up 0.6 per centMazda - 56,591 - up 9 per centHolden - 51,737 - down 8.9 per centHyundai - 50,099 - up 1 per centMitsubishi - 35,866 - up 9.8 per centFord - 34,810 - down 17.6 per centNissan - 32,950 - down 0.6 per centVolkswagen - 32,020 - up 12.1 per centSubaru - 21,659 - up 8.1 per centHonda 20,602 - up 33.4 per centToyota Corolla - 21,750Mazda3 - 20,427Toyota HiLux - 18,781Hyundai i30 - 15,801Ford Ranger - 14,144Holden Commodore - 13,769Mitsubishi Triton - 13,709Mazda CX-5 - 12,489Volkswagen Golf - 11,829Toyota Camry - 10,426

Last year the vehicle market notched up a record with 1,136,227 sales, busting the previous zenith by about 24,000 and confirming that in Australia, one million-plus is the norm.Figures for November, released last week, show sales have already passed the million mark, and when the final tally emerges in early January the industry will congratulate itself on another bumper year.In reality, it has spent most of 2014 in reverse and it would take a freak December to even approach last year's total.If the trend holds, then the overall decline will be about 2 per cent - equivalent to 500 fewer buyers a week. But it's a mixed picture for the 50 or so brands, with the gap between winners and losers larger than ever.With one or two exceptions, the winners by a substantial margin are luxury brands. Their share of the market now approaches 9 per cent, up from 7.7 per cent last year, and it's reflected in some impressive numbers.The German luxury trio dominates but Australia bucks the trend by favouring Mercedes-Benz ahead of BMW and Audi.With its small car range - the A, B, CLA and GLA - flying out of showrooms, the three-pointed star is stretching its lead over BMW and rubs it in by selling more of its expensive performance variants as well.Its bestseller, the C-Class, has been available for only a few months but will finish the year as the third most popular mid-size car at any price - behind only the Toyota Camry and Mazda6.Audi's ambition is to overtake its German peers and become No 1 here, replicating its position in Europe and China. After slowing in 2012, its growth spurt has resumed and it's catching BMW on the strength of its award-winning A3 small car.Some of the second-tier luxury brands are powering ahead even faster. Thanks to its new-generation Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, demand for the British SUV specialist is up 22 per cent. It will finish as the fourth most popular luxury marque.Ironically, SUV demand is also powering Porsche. It cannot get enough of its second SUV, the Macan, and waiting times are stretching the patience of buyers. Without the Macan, Porsche was on track for a record. With it, sales are up almost 50 per cent. When Maserati adds an SUV, the Levante, in 2016 it can expect to get a comparable boost.Super-large, super-expensive SUVs are what the elite badges lack but they are all working on one. Even so, Maserati's push for volume is yielding results. The new-generation large sedans Ghibli and Quattroporte have almost tripled sales this year.Even among the luxury brands there are losers. Volvo lacks the deep pockets of the Germans and is struggling to keep its product pipeline full. Its dealers will doubtless breathe easier when the overdue replacement for its XC90 SUV arrives in the second quarter next year, with sales down 7 per cent in 2014.Lexus is another that has waited too long for fresh product and its NX mid-size SUV arrives too late to prevent it treading water.Among mainstream brands, losers are much easier to find than winners. Over-optimism and the pressure to grow meant many ended 2013 carrying too much stock, with Nissan the standout - but far from sole - example.The traditional solution to this problem, and one by no means limited to mainstream brands, is for the distributor and/or dealers to register cars themselves.It's a way of meeting sales targets but it simply saves up trouble, not the least of which is an excess of ageing 'demonstrator' models that sooner or later have to actually be sold. When they are, the sales have already been counted.Combine that with an assault on their traditional territory by the luxury brands and everyone from Toyota to Honda, Holden to Ford, has seen their numbers go south.But the biggest losers in 2014? Cheap Chinese brands, with Chery sales down 35 per cent and Great Wall almost 60 per cent.

The mid-size Lexus NX SUV will start at $55K and carry the hopes for sales growth.The key to Lexus' growth in Australia turns from $55,000. That's the starting price for the coming NX, a mid-sized SUV that's set to become the Japanese brand's bestseller Down Under.Similar in size to the RAV4, and sharing some parts under the skin, the NX is planned to continue growth which hit 8 per cent through the first half of 2014 and is predicted to continue at 5-10 per cent for at least the next five years.The first of the aggressively styled NX models for Australia is the 300h, with the front-drive model opening the batting. An all-wheel-drive version is $59,500 and the flagship Sports Luxury version is $75,000. The NX petrol turbo, with a 2.0-litre engine also set for the IS sedan, follows but Lexus is not revealing prices until closer to its arrival next year. It is, however, talking big on the impact of the NX."To grow the business we have to attract new customers. Our indication right now is that around 75 per cent will be new customers. In our world, that is significant," Lexus Australia boss Sean Hanley says. "I think there will be, naturally, some existing customers that will come down from RX because it sits in a sweet spot. But it won't be huge numbers." Standard equipment on the 300h runs from predictable 18-inch alloys, reversing camera and satnav to the more surprising powered second-row seats and "inductive" phone charging, a first for the Toyota group although it is an option at Jeep. The charging works through a touchpad in the centre console, although it is not suitable for all brands."There are a lot of good things. Already we have over 100 orders in the system, just for the hybrid," Hanley says. He says Lexus has concentrated on getting the price right for the hybrid, because it is becoming the dominant force in Lexus models."We're seeing more acceptance as the premium on hybrid reduces. If you look at the IS 300h, the only thing preventing that outselling the IS 250 is production capacity." Hanley says Lexus is doing well this year, even though it's nowhere near threatening Mercedes-Benz for luxury-class leadership in Australia."My expectation is we'll grow 5-10 per cent year-on-year. IS is doing very well and the NX will give us extra growth opportunities, and RC coupe is another opportunity for us," he says. 'I would hope to (sell about) 7000 cars this year."

Lexus NX SUV arrives in NX300h hybrid form in October, priced from $55,000.

Want the sound of a V8 but the fuel economy of four-cylinder car? You could soon be able to make any car sound like something it’s not, like a Formula One racer, even if it’s a hybrid.

Top design awards showcase new Lexus SUV due in October.

Lexus has confirmed the engine lineup for Australian versions of its new NX SUV, which made its public debut at the Beijing motor show this week.Arriving locally in the fourth quarter of this year, the RAV4-based luxury SUV will arrive first in 2.5-litre petrol hybrid NX 300h guise, with an NX 200t version equipped with the brand’s new direct-injected 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine set to follow in early 2015.The naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol option destined for some overseas markets will not be available in local NX models.The NX 300h’s drivetrain is closely related to that found in the existing Lexus 300h models, and puts out a combined output of 145kW. However, the NX 200t is set to be the performer of the duo, with 175kW/350Nm, and max torque on tap from 1650-4000rpm.Lexus is yet to specify local consumption figures for either drivetrain, but the NX 200t will be helped by the brand’s first non-hybrid stop-start system.Both front and all-wheel drive will be available with either engine, with the hybrid sending power to the rear wheels via a unique E-Four drive system.The NX is the Japanese luxury brand’s first mid-size SUV, and will compete with the likes of the Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Range Rover Evoque and BMW X1."NX arrives at a time when Lexus is on the ascendancy - growth driven by an expanding product range and strong hybrid sales," Lexus Australia Chief Executive Sean Hanley says.At 4630mm, the NX is 60mm longer than its RAV4 basis, but is 70mm lower at 1645mm. Overall width is the same at 1845mm along with a 2660mm wheelbase.Adaptive dampers will be available, along with all-speed adaptive cruise control, Lexus’ first panoramic view monitor, and a host of driver alert functions.Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed, and it remains unclear which engine will form the range-topper. Hybrid variants command a premium in most current Lexus model lines, but the ES uses the hybrid ES300h as its price leader for its two-tier range.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn