Lexus is changing the SUV scene with its new NX compact crossover. Turning away from the usual slab-sided 4x4s, the luxury marque has decided to give the NX a styling more akin to sports cars.

The NX is Lexus' first attempt at a mid-sized luxury SUV, and it aims to make a big visual statement through a combination of muscular curves and agile angles, representing the latest development of Lexus' L-finesse contemporary design language.

The high-impact exterior presents a low, sloping roofline, a cab-forward silhouette, powerfully flared wheel arches and defining bodywork lines that flow directly from the signature Lexus spindle grille.

It was also the designers' aim to make the NX appear as though it's forged from a single piece of metal. And Lexus took no shortcut - the design is formed by actually pouring molten metal over the die used to make the grille and studying the natural shape the flow created. 

The result is a distinctive front facet that is nothing like its competitors in its segment. In fact, the NX also has the most prominent 'face' in the current Lexus lineup, thanks to the iconic Spindle Grille flanked by new LED headlamps and daytime running lights.

So far, two variants of the NX have been announced - a hybrid NX300h and a turbocharged NX200t. The NX300h is slated to arrive in Singapore in October this year, with the sportier NX200t to follow soon.