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MOTORING NEWS - The new Lexus UX is an urban crossover that dares to challenge the limits - art on wheels. It embraces the Japanese architectural philosophy of 'engawa', where the exterior and interior merge seamlessly.

The UX is just the right size for the city. I was extremely impressed with its turning circle of only 5,2 metres and it features the lowest centre of gravity of any vehicle in its class.

Lexus deliberately tried to break the established crossover look to create something more distinctive and dynamic - and they definitely achieved the desired result.

Driving
The driving experience is as close to noiseless as you could wish for and the acceleration smooth as silk. The creators of the Lexus UX obviously believe there is more to performance than speed alone, which puts this vehicle in a class of its own.

The F Sport model comes with adaptive variable suspension providing damping force on each wheel to provide ultimate control on any road surface.

What I liked very much about the Lexus UX is the aero-stabilising rear lights. Not only are they eye-catching, but also aerodynamically designed to help the vehicle with cornering.

Exterior
The Lexus's sharp lines remind one of an arrow in a bow. The 'engawa' philosophy is carried through, from its perfectly designed headlights with their adaptive high-beam system, to its well-designed functional back lights. Everything has beauty and function. The trademark of all Lexus vehicles is certainly its spindle grille defining the character of this perfectly designed vehicle.

Interior
The Lexus UX is built around the driver's comfort. The high quality of the interior struck me as I got in. You can see straight away that only the best was good enough. It provides a tactile experience with a dash that feels like lightly textured washi paper and stitching that proclaims "made with love". The sophisticated interior is driver focused with a large 10,3-inch centre console.

The seat is figure-hugging and very comfortable. The upholstery is inspired by sashiko, a traditional Japanese quilting technique. Seat heating and cooling are available for the comfort of the driver and front passenger on both cold and hot days. Driver comfort is enhanced by up to eight adjustable settings. The steering wheel boasts integrated switches like audio, voice command, telephone, multi-information display, adaptive cruise control and lane departure alert. The Lexus UX also features S-flow climate control.

Technology
The Lexus has all the bells and whistles you can wish for. It has an excellent Mark Levinson audio with 13 speakers inside the vehicle providing great surround sound. The UX also features Optitron instrumentation with a central TFT multi-informational display. The large multimedia display can be operated either by voice or by the new touch pad, which is designed to mimic smartphone operation. A wireless cellphone charger has been incorporated in the centre console.

Safety
The UX prioritises occupant safety with a comprehensive suite of passive and active safety features and driver support systems. The Lexus UX 250h and F SPORT vehicles come fitted with Lexus Safety System+2, a class-leading active safety and pre-crash system. It also features adaptive cruise control. The Lexus uses radar and the camera to detect the vehicle in front of it. If the vehicle in front of the Lexus comes to a sudden stop, the Lexus will automatically be brought to a stop. The lane departure alert warns the driver when he moves out of his lane. Blind spot monitoring is also standard on the vehicle. The UX has a panoramic view monitor that helps the driver to reverse safely, as well as eight airbags.

Engine
The UX 200 EX and UX 200 F SPORT are powered by a 2.0-litre, in-line four-cylinder petrol engine featuring VVT-iE and ultra lightweight pistons, allowing both efficiency and performance. It delivers 126kW and 205Nm.

The vehicle is sophistication and class incarnate. Driving it is only a pleasure. The Lexus is a head-turner that oozes class and performance.

This beautiful Lexus UX can be viewed at Halfway Lexus George. Speak to sales executive Jacques du Plessis or phone him on 082 956 7767. Don't forget to ask more about the demo vehicles, that come with the balance of the seven year or 105 000km full maintenance plan and warranty.

Watch a video below:

The Lexus UX has ample boot space, large enough for a family's needs.

The UX 200 EX and UX 200 F SPORT are powered by a 2.0-litre, in-line four-cylinder petrol engine featuring VVT-iE and ultra lightweight pistons, allowing both efficiency and performance. It delivers 126kW and 205Nm.