Exploring the New Frontier in the 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport |
I had the pleasure of driving the 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport for a
week. What a ride! The UX name is derived from the design team’s guiding concept and
describes the vehicle’s mission: Urban + X-over (crossover) = UX.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport |
Originally released as a concept in 2016, the UX was deliberately designed and engineered for the city and the “modern urban explorer” — those seeking a fresh, contemporary and dynamic take on luxury driving; buyers with an imaginative lifestyle who explore, experiment and defy.
Cities
are the new frontier of American culture — a canvas for experimentation and
creativity in all corners, from new ideas in fashion, food and architecture to
artistic expression. It’s a place where pioneering people and ideas create the
inventive and visionary; where exploration of the city is an exploration of
oneself.
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| Move over Fly Boy, if you want to experience amazing check out the 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport. |
Cooper Ericksen, Lexus
vice president of marketing stated, “Combining cutting-edge craftsmanship,
seamless connectivity and bold design, the UX is the perfect intersection of
form and function.” After diving the
2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport, I couldn't agree more. Everything I needed while driving was at my
fingertips.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport at Blessed Acres Farm. |
The 2019 UX is the first Lexus constructed on the new Global Architecture Compact (GA-C) platform. A lightweight yet super-rigid structure, extremely low center of gravity and refined suspension tuning endow the UX with exemplary handling agility and ride comfort, along with a distinctive driving personality.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport in downtown Griffin, Ga. |
Exclusive F SPORT
suspension tuning includes revised springs and stabilizer bars for a tighter
ride. The 18-inch, five twin-spoke aluminum alloy wheels unique to the F SPORT
are even more rigid than standard UX wheels, contributing to responsiveness and
handling agility.
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| Stargazer Lily photo bomb. |
The 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport's exclusive grille design features a mesh-pattern created by individual L-shaped pieces. The front bumper features large LED fog lamp bezels with L-shaped chrome moldings, cornering lamps and the same mesh pattern as the grille. A revised rear bumper and jet-black trim on the front and rear moldings complete the look.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport |
The 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport interior features include front sports seats made with a highly supportive integrated-foaming technique first developed for Lexus F models. The digitally-rendered instrument meter features a movable ring inspired by the Lexus LFA supercar. A perforated leather-trimmed F SPORT steering wheel with paddle shifters, leather-trimmed perforated shift knob, 8-inch TFT color display, aluminum pedals, aluminum door scuff plates and footrest are also part of the package.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport at the Bailey Tebault House. |
The 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport driving experience can be further enhanced with Active Sound Control (ASC), which generates the aural effect of up- and down-shifts like those of a geared automatic transmission.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport at Blessed Acres Farm. |
Lexus designed the UX cabin to evoke the feel of a luxury sedan, but with the higher seating position and versatility experienced in a crossover. The materials and workmanship are pure Lexus, combining Japanese traditions in craftsmanship and hospitality with innovative production techniques.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport at Blessed Acres Farm. |
A traditional Japanese concept called engawa, creates an effect where the upper section of the instrument panel appears to extend out beyond the windshield into the fenders, giving the driver an excellent field of vision and a clear sense of the vehicle’s dimensions and tire placement. The engawa effect makes parking in small spaces an easier task. When viewed from outside the vehicle, the hood appears to connect directly to the instrument panel through the windshield, blurring the boundary between interior and exterior.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport made a date night appearance with Sir Christopher Smith, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Denmark and Lady Lyubena. |
The F SPORT features a larger 8-inch TFT LCD display that varies depending on the powertrain (gas or hybrid) and the selected drive mode. For the F SPORT only, the movable meter ring, which originated in the Lexus LFA supercar and is also featured in the LC premium coupe, allows displayed content to be easily changed. Pushing a switch on the steering wheel moves the ring to the right and enlarges the multi-information display.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport |
Lexus designers created a cabin atmosphere with a “wow factor” and depth of quality that will be especially apparent to those buying a luxury-brand vehicle for the first time. LED cabin lighting is one example; white LEDs illuminate the front footwells, glovebox and console switches, and also serve as the dome light, map lights and cargo area light.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport at Head's Creek Reservoir. |
All 2019 Lexus UX models offer the latest in the brand’s multimedia and navigation technology. The standard Lexus Premium Sound System can play back the highest-resolution digital audio formats (WAV, FLAC, ALAC, and OGG Orbis) from a USB device while dual rear-seat USB ports enable passengers to use and recharge their smartphones or tablets.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport |
All UX models will also come standard with Apple CarPlay®
phone functionality. Once a compatible iPhone® is connected through
a USB cable, drivers can access Apple Music, Google maps, Waze, plus make phone
calls and send and receive messages all through the multimedia display or with
voice control through Siri®.
Connected features include:
- Lexus
Enform allows linking of smartphone apps.
- Apple
CarPlay® allows easy iPhone integration using the vehicle’s
display, expanding multimedia capability. CarPlay supports other apps on
your iPhone — like your favorite audio, messaging, and voice apps as well
as new third-party app extensions.
- A 4GB WiFi
Hotspot allows a user device to become an internet access point.
- Instant
Replay allows the user to capture SiriusXM® content for later
playback.
- Dynamic
Voice Recognition allows natural voice commands.
- USB Video
and RealMedia video formats are supported.
- Favorite Genre for FM and SiriusXM® allow the user to select a preferred music genre to discover new stations.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport |
The available Lexus Navigation system features the brand’s latest graphical user interface for greatest ease of use and access to features. In the US, Hybrid Navigation combines onboard map data with the latest satellite information.
An Electric Power Steering system with a new compact and highly rigid column-assist motor delivers handling with crisp, immediate response to driver inputs, and provides excellent steering feel.
Standard on all UX models are 18-inch run-flat tires designed for excellent handling stability while also contributing to increased luggage compartment capacity. The 18-inch wheels in Machined finish + Dark gray metallic offer a combination of a machined finish and dark gray metallic coating.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport at Head's Creek Reservoir. |
Lexus, the world leader in luxury hybrid vehicles, applied its engineering expertise to the 2019 UX 250h with a new-generation Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain. With 181 total system horsepower, the UX 250h is the fuel-efficient leader with the best MPG of any CUV and SUV without a plug in the U.S. market. This hybrid provides exhilarating driving with high-speed responsiveness and a feeling of smooth, natural acceleration. The UX 250h is equipped with all-wheel drive standard.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport at Blessed Acres Farm. |
Optimizing the level of electric motor assistance and engine RPM produces a linear acceleration feel without the engine having to run at high revs. Engine speed is synchronized with vehicle speed to create an immediate and continuous acceleration feel.
The new transaxle mounts the electric motor-generators (MG1 and
MG2) coaxially rather than in-line. The resulting smaller and lighter package
reduces frictional losses by 25% compared to the previous Lexus hybrids. In
addition, MG2 is now a higher-speed motor, yielding better performance and
efficiency.
The Sequential Shift feature delivers responsive engine braking force in 10 steps with a shift feel similar to a manual transmission, using steering wheel paddle shift switches or the S position on the shift lever.
The Sequential Shift feature delivers responsive engine braking force in 10 steps with a shift feel similar to a manual transmission, using steering wheel paddle shift switches or the S position on the shift lever.
The speed at which the hybrid system can shut off the gasoline
engine, such as when driving on long downward slopes, has been raised from the
43 mph of previous Lexus hybrids to 71mph for the UX 250h.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport at Doc Holliday's Saloon, the site of Doc Holliday's dental office. |
The UX 250h model offers all-wheel drive (AWD) using a
separate, dedicated electric motor-generator with 7hp output integrated into
the rear differential. Power distribution between the front and rear axles is
automatically optimized by the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when
accelerating, cornering, or driving on slippery surfaces. AWD provides stable
driving on uphill slopes or snow-covered roads with lower fuel consumption than
a conventional all-wheel drive system that employs a power split device and
driveshaft. AWD does more than assist traction in slippery conditions; the
system can actively improve stability by adjusting rear-wheel power to help
correct an over- or understeer condition.
UX 250h Hybrid is equipped with Lexus Drive Mode Select, which
allows the driver to tailor the driving experience by selecting from three
different drive modes. Normal mode
provides an optimal balance between driving performance and fuel efficiency;
ECO mode maximizes fuel savings across all driving conditions by smoothing the
throttle response, and by moderating air conditioning operation; Sport Mode
delivers quicker throttle response and increased power steering feel.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport in downtown Griffin, Ga. I had to post a slightly different angle of this again because I LOVE the clock. |
Also operational with navigation, Predictive Deceleration Support technology uses accumulated knowledge about a driver’s behavior to predict when and where the vehicle is likely to slow down or stop.
Predictive State of Charge (SOC) control for the hybrid battery is
a world-first technology that functions on both downhill roads and in congested
traffic. Operating when the UX is following guidance from the navigation
system, it will predict the route for a distance of up to 6 miles ahead to
optimize the conditions under which it can regenerate energy, earning power for
future driving.
The UX, the new gateway to the brand, features the advanced safety technology expected from a Lexus. UX models are equipped with ten airbags: driver and front passenger airbags; driver and front passenger knee airbags; driver and front passenger seat-mounted side impact airbags and front to rear side curtain airbags.
The Pre-Collision System uses an integrated forward-facing camera and grille-mounted radar system designed to help mitigate or avoid a frontal collision. LSS+ 2.0 enhances this system with the addition of low-light detection for pedestrians, plus daytime detection of bicycles. Under certain conditions, if the Pre-Collision System determines that the possibility of a frontal collision with a pedestrian or bicyclist is high, it prompts the driver to take evasive action and brake by using an audio and visual alert. If the driver notices the hazard and brakes, the system may use Brake Assist to provide additional braking force.
The UX, the new gateway to the brand, features the advanced safety technology expected from a Lexus. UX models are equipped with ten airbags: driver and front passenger airbags; driver and front passenger knee airbags; driver and front passenger seat-mounted side impact airbags and front to rear side curtain airbags.
The standard Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 includes:
- Pre-Collision
System (PCS) with Pedestrian Detection
- All-Speed
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Lane
Departure Alert with Steering Assist
- Lane
Tracing Assist
- Road Sign
Assist (RSA)
- Intelligent
High-Beam headlamps
The Pre-Collision System uses an integrated forward-facing camera and grille-mounted radar system designed to help mitigate or avoid a frontal collision. LSS+ 2.0 enhances this system with the addition of low-light detection for pedestrians, plus daytime detection of bicycles. Under certain conditions, if the Pre-Collision System determines that the possibility of a frontal collision with a pedestrian or bicyclist is high, it prompts the driver to take evasive action and brake by using an audio and visual alert. If the driver notices the hazard and brakes, the system may use Brake Assist to provide additional braking force.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport at University of Georgia's Research and Education Garden. |
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control uses a front grille-mounted radar and a forward-facing camera to detect vehicles ahead and automatically adjust the vehicle's speed to help maintain a pre-set distance. DRCC operates between 0-110 mph but must be initiated at speeds above 19 mph.
Lane Departure Alert is designed to use the vehicle's
forward-facing camera to detect lane departure when traveling on relatively
straight roads with clear lane markings, road edges or curbs when DRCC is
operating and when two visible lane lines are detected. The system's current
operating status is indicated through colored lane marking illustrations on the
vehicle's Multi-Information Display (MID). If Lane Departure Alert determines
that the vehicle is starting to unintentionally deviate from its visibly marked
lane, the system alerts the driver with an audio and visual alert. In addition
to the alert function, all UX vehicles are equipped with Electronic Power
Steering (EPS) also include Steering Assist. When this functionality is enabled
and Lane Departure Alert senses that the vehicle is unintentionally drifting
from its lane, the system may automatically make small corrective steering
inputs to help the driver keep the vehicle in its lane.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport is so hot the City of Griffin's Fire Department was needed. |
Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) is designed to work with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control to keep the vehicle centered in its visibly marked lane and preemptively avoid unintended lane departures. LTA uses a forward-facing camera to monitor lane markings – as well as the path of the vehicle ahead, if needed – and is designed to automatically make constant steering inputs to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane. LTA does require the driver's hands to remain on the steering wheel.
Road Sign Assist is designed to read certain traffic signs and
display them on the vehicle’s Multi-Information Display (MID). The system can
read Speed Limit, Stop, Yield, and Do Not Enter signs. Intelligent High Beam is
a safety system designed to help the driver see more clearly at night – while
reducing glare for other drivers. By using high beams more frequently, the
system may allow earlier detection of pedestrians and obstacles.
When activated, Intelligent High Beam is designed to rely on an in-vehicle camera to help detect the headlights of oncoming vehicles and taillights of preceding vehicles, then automatically toggle between high and low beams.
When activated, Intelligent High Beam is designed to rely on an in-vehicle camera to help detect the headlights of oncoming vehicles and taillights of preceding vehicles, then automatically toggle between high and low beams.
Other available safety systems include Parking Support Alert(PSA)
and Parking Support Brake (PSB). PSA can detect crossing vehicles from the
sides and static vehicles in front of or behind the UX when parking over a
broader range of conditions than previous clearance sonar or rear cross traffic
systems, and uses digital camera images on the center display along with
audibles to alert the driver to potential risks.
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| 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport reflective selfie with special members of the City of Griffin's Public Works team. |
The PSB system adds active drive force (throttle) and braking control to audible and visual warnings to reduce the possibility of contact with moving objects ahead or behind the UX when parking.
I absolutely LOVED driving the 2019 Lexus UX
250h F Sport around the City of Griffin and surrounding areas. Sincerest appreciation to the City of Griffin
Fire Department, City of Griffin Public Works - Stormwater, Blessed Acres
Farms, Sir Christopher Smith and Lady Lyubena for contributing to the
photographs included in this article.
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| Goodbye 2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport ... |
Photography - www.bonniemoret.com.
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