The Lexus NX 450h+ and Its Electrifying Entrance

Lexus has decided to play superhero in the premium mid-SUV segment with their new cape-wearing, electricity-wielding marvel: the NX 450h+. Drawing on 15 years of hybrid tech wizardry, they’ve unleashed this plug-in hybrid beast in South Africa. Just think of it as the eco-friendly Transformer you didn't know you needed but now can't live without.

Class-Leading Efficiency and Performance

Meet the latest in the NX family, the NX 450h+ — a car that’s basically the poster child for efficiency and performance. This bad boy comes equipped with a four-cylinder 2.5-liter hybrid Atkinson cycle engine, a couple of electric motors that sound like they’ve been pulled from a sci-fi flick, and an 18.1 kWh lithium-ion battery that recharges faster than your coffee machine on a Monday morning.

The battery is tucked away neatly without cramping your style or your luggage space. It’s like Lexus found the secret to fitting a 3-bedroom apartment into a studio flat. And for those of you who like to play road warrior on the weekends, the 55-liter fuel tank ensures you won't be left drinking fumes halfway to the in-laws.

The engine’s stats read like the CV of an overachiever at a tech startup, boasting a high stroke, an intelligent variable valve-timing system, and enough acronyms to keep a car enthusiast up at night. It’s a swift performer too, hitting 0-100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds. With emissions so low you could probably invite it to a climate change conference, the NX 450h+ is making other SUVs look like they’re living in the Stone Age.

With an EV driving range of about 66.5 km and a whisper-quiet highway demeanor, the NX 450h+ is the strong, silent type. And when it finally runs out of battery? It doesn’t just give up and turn into a fuel-guzzling brute. Oh no, it gracefully transitions to full hybrid mode while its rivals are left wheezing in its eco-friendly dust.

Flexible Driving Experience

The NX 450h+ comes with enough driving modes to make you feel like you’re in a video game. Want to go all-electric? Hit the EV mode. Feel like channeling your inner race car driver? Sport S+ is your jam. Need to remind yourself you’re an adult who needs to conserve energy? There’s Eco mode for that. And if you’re just plain indecisive, Auto EV/HV mode will do the thinking for you.

This SUV even has an AWD system that uses an extra electric motor to power the rear axle, giving you the kind of control that might make you feel like a rally driver — just maybe don’t take it off-road unless you want to explain to the dealership why the bottom of your car looks like a Jackson Pollock painting.

More Convenience, More Kit, More Safety, More Style

Inside, the NX 450h+ is as plush as a luxury hotel suite, minus the room service but with way better gadgets. The digital makeover Lexus has given it is subtle and classy, like a tuxedo with Wi-Fi. There’s a customizable digital instrument panel, a massive 14-inch touch screen for all your gadget-loving needs, and enough ambient lighting options to keep you entertained on those long drives.

Safety features are so advanced they might as well include a personal butler. The Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 is on the job, ensuring you and your passengers stay out of trouble, even if you aren’t entirely sure how you got into it. And don’t worry about accidental door-swinging into traffic – the Digital Latch with Safe Exit Assist has your back.

For those in the F SPORT fan club, the NX 450h+ proudly dons its sporty flair with unique styling cues that scream sophistication without the need for a bullhorn. The 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels and the Poseidon Blue paint job make a statement loud enough to drown out any doubts about this SUV’s sporting credentials.

Pricing and Warranty

The NX 450h+ is yours for R1,336,200, which includes a 7-year/105,000 km warranty and full maintenance plan, plus an extra 8-year/195,000 km hybrid battery warranty. That’s Lexus making sure your wallet doesn’t get shocked along with the car.

In the end, the NX 450h+ is the kind of car that makes its presence known without a fuss. It's elegant, efficient, and ready to lead the charge into the future, one electric mile at a time. So, plug in, buckle up, and prepare for an electrifying ride into the future.

Specifications:

• Engine: 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid Atkinson cycle

• Front Electric Motor: 134kW

• Rear Electric Motor: 40kW

• Battery Capacity: 18.1 kWh

• Total System Output: 227kW

• 0-100 km/h: 6.3 seconds

• CO2 Emissions: 20-29 g/km

• Fuel Economy: 1.3 l/100km (NEDC)

• EV Range: 66.5 km (NEDC), 69-76 km (urban cycle)

• Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 liters

• Drive Modes: EV, HV, Auto EV/HV, CHG

• Price: R1,336,200

• Warranty: 7-years/105,000 km, plus 8-years/195,000 km hybrid battery warranty