Unofficial: Lexus gets a mini-SUV ready to rumble on Yaris Cross tech

According to reports of Japanese mass media, premium carmaker Lexus is busy developing a small crossover SUV based on the later Toyota Yaris Cross (shown here).

The newcomer will allegedly be marketed as a cheaper alternative to the UX and have GA-B underpinnings. It will likely go on sale in the same regions as its donor, namely Europe, Japan and Australia.

The sources claim that the car will inherit its powertrain from the Yaris Cross, which implies a 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric add-on. As for the name, Lexus registered the trademark ‘LBX’ in Europe a year ago; naturally, we cannot say for sure if it is related.

In May 2020, rumors used to circulate that a new compact crossover SUV named the Lexus BX would arrive on the market in 2023 priced from the equivalent of U.S. $30,000.