Lexus’ relationship with performance vehicles continues to be perplexing: Retirement of the F performance brand and discontinuing the LC and the infamous 5.0L V8 engine, but spy shots of a high-performance Lexus RX prototype appeared last month, and now fresh spy photos of the updated LBX Morizo RR have surfaced from the Nurburgring.

While we try to understand what Lexus is – or isn’t – doing with performance vehicles, fans of Lexus’ smallest crossover have some good news: The hot hatch LBX Morizo RR is getting an update.

While the camouflage makes it challenging to determine what is different in this prototype, here is what a tipster provided to Lexus Enthusiast:

“The roof is made of carbon fiber and the spoiler has also been revised and features an additional lip, which – like the bumper – might also be made of carbon fiber. The prototype features functional lower air vents positioned between the dual exhaust outlets.”

We say more carbon fiber is always a good thing when it comes to performance cars, so hopefully as the camoflauge is stripped away, these new details make their way onto the production LBX.

The LBX Morizo RR has been something of a bright spot for Lexus performance vehicles, it’s just a shame it isn’t offered in more global markets. Sharing parts with the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, the LBX Morizo RR has been heralded as a fun, fast hot hatch that still delivers on Lexus hallmarks of luxury and quality. Similar to the exterior, interior updates are harder to decipher from photos:

As more spy photos are shared or an official production announcement is made, check back to Lexus Enthusiast for the details.

Lexus is moving quickly on the all-new, all electric TZ: Pricing has been announced and the Lexus.com configurator is live.

The 2027 TZ is available in three grades:

TZ 450e Premium AWD: From $64,050
TZ 450e Premium Touring AWD: From $72,050
TZ 450e Luxury AWD: From $80,550

The TZ brings a host of new features, technology packages, and options, so head over to the Lexus.com configurator to build and spec your ideal TZ.

Lexus’ new interior design language continues to evolve with the TZ, and the available Acorn Nuluxe with Ultrasuede accents and Forged Bamboo trim looks like one of the nicest new Lexus interiors in quite a while.

• Lexus Japan has quietly confirmed that production of the UX will end in February 2027
• The LBX, while smaller than the UX, will carry on in select global markets as Lexus’ subcompact crossover
• No plans for a second generation model have been confirmed thus far

The Lexus UX has nearly reached the end of the line. The official Lexus UX model page in Japan was updated to reflect a production end-of-life notice, meaning the tiny subcompact crossover is completing its final months in the lineup.

The notice reads:

UX Production End-of-Production Notice
Thank you for your continued interest in our products. We regret to inform you that production of the UX will end in February 2027.

Depending on when you are considering purchasing, the planned production volume may have already been reached, and sales may have ended. Furthermore, orders for the “version C” and the body color Sou (1M9) are no longer being accepted.

For more information, please contact your Lexus dealer.

That is about as direct as an automaker will be without a formal press release, similar to what we saw with the LC 500 earlier this year. Lexus is not just winding down a UX trim or a color option, it is telling shoppers outright that the clock is running out on the nameplate entirely and some configurations are already gone.

A Slow Fade in the Showroom

The UX’s discontinuation aligns with declining sales numbers that are well behind competitors like the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. In fact, in markets where the UX and Lexus’ even smaller LBX are both offered, the LBX is outselling its bigger sibling.

The UX has not had a major redesign since it launched, and with the LBX covering similar ground, Lexus has less reason to keep investing in it.

No Confirmed Successor Yet

What is missing from Lexus’ production announcement is any word on what replaces the UX. No second-generation model has been announced and it is possible that Lexus lets the nameplate lapse entirely.

Some speculation has pointed to a next-generation UX going fully electric and sharing its underpinnings with the current Toyota C-HR, which would fit with Lexus’ plans to be fully electric by 2035. That is speculation only. Lexus has not shown a concept, no test mules have been spotted, and nothing about a second-generation UX has been confirmed by the company in any form.

For now, the safest assumption is that the UX ends its run in February 2027 without a direct replacement lined up, and that the LBX will carry the small SUV torch for Lexus until, or unless, that changes.

We will keep an eye out for any test mules or trademark filings that might tell us more.

• New spy shots capture the high-performance Lexus RX prototype we first showed you last month, this time running laps at the Nurburgring
• New photos show less camouflage on the hood, revealing what looks like a functional intake, as well as a look inside the cabin for the first time
• Moving from a static sightings to repeated Nurburgring testing is a strong signal Lexus is treating this as a real production program, not a one-off exercise

Last month we shared the first photos of a high performance Lexus RX prototype – possibly called the Lexus RX Morizo RR – caught parked close to the Nurburgring and clearly outfitted for serious performance with dual exhaust tips, Brembo brakes, aggressive Michelin Pilot Sport tires wrapped around lightweight Ray’s wheels, additional venting, and wider body work.

Today we have a new batch of photos, and this time the car is out actively testing on the Nurburgring with some of its camouflage peeled back to reveal new details.

New Hood Scoop: This RX Requires Serious Airflow

The most visible change is on the hood: A mesh-covered air inlet now sits front and center, ahead of the windshield, cut into camouflage that otherwise still covers the rest of the front end.

It is the kind of scoop or intake you would expect to feed an intercooler on a turbocharged, high-output engine, and it lines up with last year’s report that this RX would pair a four-cylinder engine with front and rear electric motors for a combined output somewhere around 600 horsepower.

Lexus has used hood scoops sparingly across the lineup, so seeing one here reinforces that this variant is meant to be taken seriously as a performance model, not just a styling exercise. In fact the only other Lexus model to have a hood scoop is the high performance RC F coupe, so whatever is under the hood of this RX needs cold air to breathe – and lots of it.

A First Look Inside: Part Production, Part Race Car

This round of photos also gives us our first glimpse of the interior, and it looks far more finished than you might expect from a car that is clearly still deep in validation. The driver’s seat is a heavily bolstered bucket with red contrast stitching that looks half race car and half luxury vehicle.

The center console tells a different story: it is stripped down with exposed wiring and a diagnostic tablet mounted where the infotainment would normally be, displaying an “Engine Start Procedure” screen.

Unfortunately we can’t make out additional details from the screen but the combination of production elements, prototype test equipment, and race-style seats is a good reminder that even a well-disguised prototype like this one is still very much a work in progress underneath.

Repeated Testing Means Lexus Is Serious

What stands out most about this second round of photos is that just weeks after seeing the prototype parked, Lexus is actively testing it on the Nurburgring, which is the same proving ground Lexus uses to validate its most performance-focused models before they ever reach a dealership. Automakers do not send prototypes to the ‘Ring for fun, and they do not keep sending them back for repeat sessions unless there is a legitimate development program in progress.

Taken together with the Morizo RR name recognition Lexus built with the LBX, this looks less like a rumor and more like a vehicle working its way toward production. We will keep watching for the next round of spy shots as more camouflage inevitably comes off.

Full exterior gallery

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• The 2027 NX brings a new hybrid system, stiffer chassis, and fresh design language ahead of its global rollout starting at the end of the year
• The NX lineup now runs three hybrid variants, the 450h+ plug-in, 350h, and 300h, as the NX 350 model is retired
• NX adds a new “Sensory Concierge” system pairing ambient lighting, climate, and five selectable fragrances with three driving-inspired modes

Lexus premiered the redesigned NX on September 1 and it is the first major refresh for the second generation NX since it launched in 2021. Since inception, the NX’s success is hard to ignore: roughly 1.9 million units sold across more than 90 countries and regions, making it a core pillar of Lexus’ global SUV lineup.

The new model is scheduled to reach global markets by the end of 2026.

View the full gallery of the 2027 NX here.

“For the new model, the theme ‘DISCOVER YOUR EDGE’ guided us in our goal of keeping the NX an exciting and inspiring presence,” said Kunihiko Endo, Chief Engineer for Lexus International. “We developed the NX with the desire to create a vehicle that, from the moment you get in and start driving, makes you feel as though your world and possibilities are beginning to expand.”

Sharper Exterior Details, Two New Colors

The NX keeps its “VITAL TECH” design language but pushes it further, with a wider, lower stance and a mesh grille that integrates the headlamps and cornering lamps for a cleaner look. Mirrors and moldings switch from chrome to mostly black accents for a more cohesive appearance.

The headlamps pick up a new dual-line daytime running light signature, and around back, the NX gets Lexus’ first-ever “Double L” taillight signature, with illuminated L-shaped elements at each end of the rear.

Nine exterior colors are available, including two new additions: SONIC TELLUS, an ash tone Lexus describes as harmonizing with nature, and TITANIUM CARBIDE GRAY, which is exclusive to F SPORT models.

F SPORT Gets Its Own Look Inside and Out

The F SPORT model adds exclusive front under-spoilers, side pontoons, and rear corner devices for a more aggressive stance, along with Piano Black trim on the roof rails, roof spoiler, and rocker panels. It rides on exclusive lightweight 20-inch wheels with red brake calipers, and inside, an all-black instrument panel with contrast stitching keeps the focus driver-centric.

A Completely Redesigned, More Modern Interior

Inside, the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 14-inch infotainment display are now aligned horizontally to minimize eye movement while keeping the road in view. A redesigned steering wheel and “Responsive Hidden Switches” with translucent surface panels round out the cockpit, and a continuous light bar runs from the instrument panel into the door trim to reinforce the horizontal theme.

NXs equipped with Mark Levinson audio get perforated metal speaker grilles with an illuminated ring around the door speakers.

Interior color options expand to five, including two new choices: ABALOS, inspired by the sand dunes of Mars’ northern hemisphere, and PROMINENCE, an F SPORT-exclusive red that Lexus says goes even more vivid than the outgoing Flare Red.

A Redesigned Hybrid System, Now Standard Across the Board

The gas-only NX 350 is officially gone. The 2027 lineup is entirely hybrid, split across three variants: the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid (2.5L, AWD), the NX 350h (2.5L, available in AWD or FWD), and the NX 300h (2.0L, FWD). System output ranges from about 194 horsepower on the 300h up to 288 to 322 horsepower on the 450h+, with the plug-in hybrid capable of 0-60 mph in roughly 6.0 seconds.

The core of the update is a new e-Axle that integrates the transaxle, motor, and power control unit into a more compact, lighter, lower-center-of-gravity package. Lexus also switched to low-electrical-loss silicon carbide power semiconductors in the inverter, which the automaker says improves both efficiency and dynamic performance.

Sensory Concierge: Lighting, Fragrance, and Mood

One of the most interesting additions for the 2027 NX is Sensory Concierge, a system built around the idea of turning the cabin into a living-room-like space. It coordinates lighting, music, climate, seat temperature, and fragrance across three modes: INSPIRE, for a more exhilarating, stimulating feel; RADIANCE, for a crisp, focused atmosphere with shimmering light effects; and REVITALIZE, for a calmer, nature-inspired ambiance.

The fragrance side is its own feature: five scents, TENKO, KEIFU, SEIYO, HANYA, and SHINMEI, each tied to a specific time-of-day concept, are available through a cartridge-based generator in the glove box, with up to three cartridges installed at once. Drivers pick a scent from the touchscreen, and it diffuses through the speaker grille behind the instrument panel, optionally paired with matching visuals, music, and lighting.

Bigger Battery, Faster Charging for the 450h+

The plug-in hybrid gets the biggest powertrain news: a newly developed battery delivering an 8% increase in output and, for North America, a 30% increase in capacity, which translates directly into more EV-only range (Lexus is citing more than 40 miles in North America). DC fast charging is now supported, and a power-operated charging lid is a small but welcome convenience touch.

Lexus also flipped the battery’s cell layout from longitudinal to transverse, which lowers the mounting position and improves lateral rigidity across the body, both of which the automaker credits with better handling and stability.

A Stiffer Chassis and a More Direct Steering Feel

Body rigidity is up significantly: floor rigidity increases roughly 25% thanks to a new floor cross member and reinforced tunnel ridge, while redesigned suspension towers with integrated structural components pick up about 30% more rigidity. New shock absorbers with ultra-low-speed valves are tuned to respond to even minor suspension movement, and Lexus says the NX was tuned not just at its Shimoyama test facility but at the Nürburgring and on surrounding public roads.

The steering wheel itself shrinks by 10mm to 360mm in diameter, and a Variable Rack Gear with a more responsive steering ratio is now standard across every package.

The E-Four all-wheel-drive system has also been revised to keep the rear motor engaged during straight-line driving, not just at launch or in low-traction conditions, and a new brake control system applies subtle braking mid-corner to help stabilize yaw and roll during quick maneuvers like sudden lane changes.

Overall length grows by 30mm to 4,690mm (about 184.6 inches), while width, height, and the 2,690mm wheelbase carry over unchanged.

Updated Lexus Safety System+ and Driver Technology

The 2027 NX also picks up the latest version of Lexus Safety System+. Radar Cruise Control now decelerates earlier when a car ahead slows or cuts in, and adds an Eco Drive Mode along with map-linked deceleration for stop signs, intersections, roundabouts, toll booths, and curves. Lane Change Assist has been refined for smoother, better-timed lane changes, and the Pre-Collision System now covers a wider speed range at intersections.

Elsewhere, the Driver Monitor system expands its drowsiness-detection scenarios, the Driver Emergency Response System gains the ability to bring the vehicle to a stop on the shoulder during highway driving, and Blind Spot Monitor now detects bicycles and motorcycles in addition to cars. The Panoramic View Monitor adds a swipeable 3D view, and towing safety improves too, with Lane Tracing Assist, the Driver Emergency Response System, and Blind Spot Monitor’s trailer coverage all now available while towing.

What’s Next

Lexus hasn’t released pricing or a specific on-sale date yet, only confirming the new NX will begin reaching global markets by the end of 2026. Given how central the NX has been to Lexus’ SUV lineup for over a decade, expect more detail, including market-specific specs and trims, in the weeks ahead.