Lexus NX 200t Offers Fuel Efficiency Without Losing Speed or Power
Lexus has added a faster, more fuel efficient engine to its line of luxury performance vehicles. First revealed at the 2014 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, the Lexus NX 200t offers a new 2.0-liter turbo direct injection gasoline engine mated to a specially made, six-speed automatic transmission.
While competitors like Mercedes and BMW were some of the first automakers to utilize the turbocharger, the NX 200t’s engine is bringing up the rear with its fair share of power and performance.
By comparison, Lexus’ new compact crossover kicks out 235 hp at 4,000rpm, while the BMW TwinPower Turbo ‘28i’ engine creates 245 hp at 5,000 rpm.
The Japanese automaker went through great pains to test its new small SUV over some pretty extreme conditions. The result is an all-new torque demand logic technology. This allows the NX’s turbo engine to estimate the amount of torque it needs for responsive acceleration and fuel efficiency.
What makes a turbo direct injection gasoline engine so beneficial, is its cost-effectiveness. A turbocharged engine takes the energy expended by a vehicle, recycles it, and converts it into power. This way, it creates less heat and friction. Also, whenever the car is being driven at high altitudes, the potential to lose power is not as great.
More and more, governments are pushing automakers to design engines that meet the strict emission regulations they set. At Lexus of Highland Park, we believe developing a smaller engine also provides emissions control and better fuel economy without sacrificing performance.
Turbocharged engines are not only safer to drive, but can put out almost 7 times more power than their naturally aspirated counterparts.
Many of these same engines receive more air through the turbocharger and produce about half of the emissions traditional engines do. This makes fuel combustion cleaner and easier.
The NX 200t will also offer an industry-first integrated water-cooled head exhaust manifold and twin scroll turbo charger combo, adding two exhaust gas inlets and two nozzles.
For the driving enthusiasts, one of the most exhilarating aspects of this Lexus NX, is the ability to produce more torque, while creating less noise.
The all-new compact crossover is sure to be in competition with the likes of the Audi Q3, BMW X3, and Range Rover Evoque once it makes its U.S. premiere in the Fall of 2014.
So whether you choose the turbocharged NX 200t or the super efficient NX 300h, Lexus of Highland Park believes you’ll find aggressive performance in a beautifully sculpted design that is undoubtedly Lexus.
Image source: Edmunds.com
