The Lexus NX PHEV Offroad concept, a more rugged, off-road orientated take on the company's NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid model, has made its motor show debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon event.
Along with the other vehicles it had on display (more on those in a bit), the NX Offroad concept showcases what Lexus says is the way it intends to balance its environmental goals with its customers' demands for cars that cater to a wide range of differing, active lifestyles.
Off-road mods
As the name suggests, the NX PHEV Offroad concept is based on the new Lexus NX plug-in hybrid model that has just gone on sale in Ireland, as well as being modified to give it more capability when it comes to tackling trickier terrain.
The basic underpinnings such as the drivetrain remain the same, with a 2.5-litre petrol engine combined with an 18.1kWh battery and two electric motors to deliver all-wheel drive, 309hp and an official electric-only range of 74km.
Most noticeable in terms of modifications are the wheels, the standard ones being swapped for black 17-inch off-road alloys shod in knobbly BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres. Those tyres are actually the reason for the Offroad concept's biggest but most subtle modification: the ride height has been raised slightly not just to leave space for the tyres but also to provide a little more clearance when dealing with rough ground.
The rest of the tweaks that Lexus has made are primarily visual, finishing the body in a gold colour called Iron Oxide as well as adding matte black rails and a carrier basket to the roof. Less noticeable touches include black detailing around the body such as the matte black grille and a smoked Lexus emblem.
Lexus ROV
Also on display in Tokyo was the Lexus Recreational Off-highway Vehicle (ROV), which the company unveiled last December. The ROV is an off-road buggy, which is unusual for Lexus in itself, but, interestingly, is also powered by a 1.0-litre hydrogen-fuelled combustion engine.
Instead of using a fuel cell that uses hydrogen to create electricity to power electric motors, the ROV uses hydrogen in much the same way as a conventional car uses petrol. While a hydrogen combustion engine does need a modified tank and injector system to accommodate the high-pressure gas, it works on the same principle as a petrol combustion engine.
Lexus's parent company, Toyota, has been developing hydrogen combustion technology, including running a hydrogen-powered version of its Corolla Sport model in Japan's Super Taikyu endurance racing series. The racing car features a modified version of the same 1.6-litre engine found in Toyota's much-loved GR Yaris, and the company has also begun testing a hydrogen-powered GR Yaris prototype.
Finished in the same body colour as the NX Offroad, the ROV is intended to highlight a luxury off-road experience, but as of yet Lexus has no plans to put either it or the NX Offroad into production.