AMAZING DETAILS OF LEXUS NX

14 May 2019

Lexus designers, engineers and master craftspeople have invested exceptional efforts in creating the Lexus NX, a signature Lexus crossover. Showcasing brave Lexus design, the NX certainly stands out. Here we focus on four stand-out features that exemplify Lexus’ intricate attention to details.

SUNROOF - ENGINEERING OPENNESS

One of the most popular options for any vehicle is the sunroof, as it allows passengers to enjoy open-air driving without having to fuss with a moving top. In the NX, the sunroof opening is larger than any of its competitors, providing a motoring experience much closer to that of a genuine convertible without any sacrifice to structural integrity.

In conventional designs, the mechanism and latch that powers the roof occupy about 30 percent of the roof opening. However, by creating the world’s first Forward Transfer Latch that moves the moon roof forward when it tilts up (not back as in conventional systems), Lexus engineers have succeeded in maximizing the opening (30 percent larger than conventional designs) without the need for creating a larger hole in the roof.

WIPER BLADES - NOTEWORTHY FORM AND FUNCTION

Unless it’s raining, no one pays much attention to a vehicle’s windshield wipers, but at Lexus, no detail goes ignored when it comes to the pursuit of perfection. The NX features new windshield wipers that not only perform better in the rain, they improve the vehicle’s overall appearance and driving character.

In contrast to conventional wiper blades, which feature four support points, the NX wipers have a single support point that eliminates the need for support arms, which in turn lowers the height of the blade. This results in reduced wind noise when driving and a clean appearance from both inside and outside the vehicle when not in use. And, a new fin design reduces lift along the entire blade ensuring excellent wiping performance during high-speed driving.

 

 

CUP HOLDER - SMALL, YET SPECIAL

With a total of six cup holders inside its spacious cabin, every one of the NX’s occupants has a place to store their drinking bottles, but unlike conventional cup holders, those for the driver and front-seat passenger are lined with elastomer, a high-friction material commonly found in the sole of athletic shoes.

Such front cup holders are specially developed for the vehicle that keeps plastic bottles from moving while the cap is being screwed on or off, thus allowing the driver to twist off the cap with only one hand. The rubber-like material does not deform when in contact with oils or grease (such as sun-bathing lotion) and is resistant to dust accumulation. It can also be removed and cleaned easily.

WOOD FINISHING - GORGEOUS DETAIL

There’s wood trim, and then there’s Shimamoku wood trim, which is a special treatment developed by Lexus where dark and light wood veneers are combined to create a truly unique and natural-looking surface.

The Shimamoku wood trim in the NX is finished with a treatment called “steel kenma”, where the wood shine is slightly taken off the finish by deliberately putting microscopic scratches onto the surface. This method, executed by Yamaha, can only be performed by a master craftsman and was previously used only on its finest grand pianos.

The tiny, twinkling studs on the knee bolsters are indeed the same as the ones on the LFA supercar.