First Photo of Facelifted Lexus NX Leaks Ahead of Debut

The facelifted Lexus NX has been revealed one day ahead of its official debut. An official, uncamouflaged photo of the crossover surfaced on Japanese social media, showing revised lighting and subtle exterior changes.

Lexus NX Is Getting Ready for an Update

Judging by the leaked photo, the Lexus NX will receive only minor exterior revisions. Most of the changes are concentrated at the front and rear of the vehicle, with the most noticeable update being the new headlight signature.

The cabin, however, is expected to undergo a much more substantial redesign. The dashboard could adopt a more symmetrical layout inspired by the latest Lexus ES. A 14-inch touchscreen is expected to sit at the center of the dashboard, reportedly running Lexus' new Arene operating system.

A row of haptic touch controls is expected below the display, while a physical metal dial will handle volume adjustments. The NX will also get a redesigned steering wheel featuring the Lexus name across its surface instead of the familiar L-shaped emblem.

Another notable change will be a redesigned digital instrument cluster with an unusual shape, similar to the setup used in the latest ES.

The powertrain lineup is also expected to change. Lexus has already confirmed that production of the NX 350 will end in Japan, leaving the NX 350h hybrid and NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid as the remaining versions of the crossover there.

There is speculation that the NX 450h+ could adopt a newer hybrid system related to the one used in the Toyota RAV4. The RAV4's plug-in hybrid powertrain produces a combined 308 horsepower and uses more powerful electric motors along with a 22.7-kWh battery pack.

The difference is also noticeable in fuel consumption. Toyota quotes 0.7 liters per 100 kilometers for the RAV4 PHEV on the Japanese test cycle, equivalent to roughly 336 mpg, while the NX 450h+ is rated at 1.3 liters per 100 kilometers, or about 181 mpg on the same basis.

Those figures are based on Japan's testing system and should not be confused with EPA fuel-economy ratings for U.S.-market vehicles.

Full technical specifications for the updated Lexus NX are expected to be released tomorrow, September 1, when the crossover makes its official debut.