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I'm in a bad mood. I'm restless, out of focus and in pain. My back is aching, head is throbbing, and my joints are all out of place. Pain, as they say, are the best lessons, but not like this... not like this.
Yet here I am, facing my laptop, typing words into the screen, hoping it'll make sense to you and me as I secretly pray that the glass of scotch on the table will quietly take away the tormenting pain.
I'm in Valencia, Spain, right now, trying out the all-new Lexus LBX - a luxury hybrid crossover that will make its way just in time for the upcoming Singapore Motor Show. It's exciting and all, undoubtedly, especially when this is one of those rare opportunities where I can sleep in peace without having to wake up in the wee hours to feed a small human being. The only problem is I don't quite know how to appreciate crossovers, premium or not.
Hold it, hold it, hold it! You were saying...?
I reckon crossovers aren't the easiest to understand. They are quite illogical, to be frank. They are mostly without form and function, which sort of defeats the purpose of being a car. See, they are neither fun to drive, nor are they spacious. Plus, they resemble hatchbacks on stilts, which is to say they aren't the prettiest in the business.
Of course, this is the part where I'm supposed to say that the all-new Lexus LBX, short for Lexus Breakthrough Crossover, is an exception... only that I am not.
What I will tell you, though, is the fact that the LBX has a good story going for it. And a good story, mind you, is a crucial element in making a model sell well. From what I've heard from the Assistant Chief Engineer Jun Takahashi here in seductive Spain, the spanking new crossover from the luxury carmaker is inspired by a pair of premium shoes from Maison Margiela. Like the shoes, the Lexus executive wanted a car that was both comfortable yet premium - something that can be used daily without getting tired or bored of it.
And part of that good story is the fact that the Lexus LBX has a couple of 'firsts', which make it quite a compelling vehicle. For starters, the new hybrid crossover is the carmaker's first Category A COE model that will go head to head with cars like the Audi Q2 and the MINI Countryman.
Wait, wait, wait! First Category A COE model...?
See, according to Takahashi, these two cars were used as a reference when developing the LBX, which sort of makes sense, considering Lexus is targeting a new audience that's younger, more stylish and who can appreciate a car that's premium yet casual and fun all at once. This brings me to the second 'firsts', which establishes that the LBX is the first model Lexus has created that will set its eyes on a new group of buyers.
Thankfully for me, although I'm not what you would call stylish, I'm still young enough and can appreciate the Lexus LBX. Yes, the car's 1.5-litre naturally aspirated three-pot powerplant has been detuned from 134bhp to 129bhp to fit our market, but it remains to be right at home around the city of Valencia and punchy enough to keep up with traffic on highways. That alone should make the new Lexus ideal for a small city like Singapore.
Of course, with 185Nm of torque, the LBX won't be setting roads on fire from the word go, but speed isn't what the car is all about. Instead, from the time you walk towards the car and enter it, to the moment you start the car and drive off, it's in the matter of how it makes you feel. And, yes, that's crucial, especially at a time when most of us will have to keep our cars for as long as the full 10 years of its COE life cycle to recognise a linear depreciation of what is a very expensive purchase.
Oh, oh, oh! It makes you feel good...?
On that note, perhaps keeping the Lexus LBX for the full COE cycle and beyond may not be such a bad idea. I may not be into crossovers, but this one is undoubtedly attractive. The overly exaggerated brash grille has been downplayed, making it less in-your-face than models from before.
So instead of a love-it-or-hate-it design, the LBX comes across as something that's easy on the eyes yet immediately identifiable as a Lexus vehicle. Plus, as with all crossovers, it has dimensions that are suitable for city centres, tapered tarmac and tight turns.
During my time with the LBX, there was never a time when I had to second guess any of my decisions, even if I was unfamiliar with the surroundings around town. Start/stop traffic did hinder my opportunity to cast the car around carelessly, but it allowed me to manage a fuel consumption of 20km/L, which is about the stated figure in the spec sheet.
Hey, hey, hey! What about the cabin...?
Space wise, you cannot deny the LBX's crossover genre. At the back, it'll swallow a couple of Asian adults of up to 1.7m tall with ease, but it'll be a bit of squeeze for a party of three, even if the transmission tunnel is down low. You'll also get 400 litres worth of hauling capacity, which will see to your needs and wants.
These aren't boast-worthy, sure, but where the Lexus lacks, it more than makes up for with its fit and finish, top notch materials used as well as the sharp and user-friendly 9.8-inch infotainment system that takes centre stage. It's all very ergonomically sound, and you experience it the most when you're at the helm.
Additionally, the test car has features that obviously position it as a luxury crossover, such as a motorised tailgate, electric driver's seat, semi-suede seats and auto-hold function. But strangely, it doesn't have any ventilated seats. Even more strangely, there isn't a Sport mode function, even though there is an Eco mode to select.
The Lexus LBX will be ready for interested buyers at the upcoming Singapore Motor Show next January.
In the meantime, while we wait for that to happen, my back will continue to ache, head will continue to throb, and joints will continue to be out of place. And I can only hope and pray that the glass of scotch on the table will quietly take away the tormenting pain.
