Racing cars for Germany to be built by VW in Kariega
South Africa is exporting one of its most successful racing formulas to Germany.
- Industry News
- 7 February 2025
Lexus unveiled its newest medium-sized SUV model, the NX, and it is racked up with new technology and a sportier design.
What’s new?
This will be the first Lexus model to be fitted with the e-latch electronic door release system, which replaces the internal door handle with a push-button switch in the door panel. It will feature the Lexus’s Tazuna cockpit design.
Exterior:
The F Sport models, which is the top model in the NX range, emphasise the sheer aggressiveness and symphonic design on the new Lexus NX. At the front, it has a new grille design with dark chrome details to give it a sportier look. Almost 95 percent of all the parts on the body are new. The NX is available in eight colours, and the F Sport is available with two exclusive colours.
It sits on 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels, which form part of the styling package on the Lexus NX F Sport. This Package includes three projector bi-beam LED headlamps as well as restyled front and rear bumper designs with larger side vents on the front bumper.
Interior:
The interior is race-inspired from the sport seats straight to the LFA-inspired instrument cluster. The F-Sport has unique trim finishes on the upholstery, alloy pedals, as well as a perforated leather steering wheel and gear shifter.
Technology:
The new NX features a voice assistant from a new Lexus multimedia platform. The voice assistant responds to natural voice commands making it possible to have a conversation with the car. It has a 14-inch digital display with high definition.
Performance:
The new NX is paired with two electric motors and a new lithium-ion battery pack. Lexus is making good on its promise for its models to be as carbon neutral as possible.
As a hybrid, it is also powered by 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a combined output of 179 kW. Alternatively, the engine in the NX 350h F Sport packs a bigger punch with a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder engine pushing out 205 kW and 430 Nm of torque. The entry-level 2.5 is exclusive to the EX-range, whilst the 2.4 Turbo is available in the F Sport.
The NX range destined for South Africa will come standard with the motor-driven AWD E-Four system incorporated in the rear axle. The system improves the torque delivery on the rear wheels, giving it thrusting performance off the line.
Pricing:
Lexus NX 250 EX (R968 000), Lexus NX 350h EX (R1 000 100), Lexus NX 350h SE (R1 172 900), Lexus NX 350h F SPORT (R1 200 800) and the Lexus NX 350 F SPORT (R1 211 900).
All models are currently available at local dealers.
Volkswagen has added two new derivatives to its T-Cross line-up for the 2025 model year. The T-Cross has been the best-selling Volkswagen SUV with over 36 000 cars sold since its launch in 2019.
Volkswagen found a gap in it SUV line-up between the range-topping Touareg and the Tiguan and will fill it with its new Tayron set to arrive locally in the second half of 2025 when pricing and engine specifications will be announced. The Tayron will launch with two equipment lines - Life and R-Line.
If you think Golf in South Africa, you think GTI or even the quicker Golf R. Volkswagen, however, has just introduced a new entry-level Golf consisting of four models slotting in below its twin performance siblings.