Lexus HPX concept
by Gary S. Vasilash

Unquestionably, sport utility vehicles are largely based on the two-box design. Sure, there's a little rounding here and there (think of the Mercedes M-class). Or in other cases, there are some comparatively severe surfaces (front end of the Acura MDX). But by and large, sport utility vehicles are fundamentally boxy.

"We wanted to develop a next-generation SUV concept that would help lead us into the future of luxury sport utility vehicles," says Kevin Hunter, vice president of Calty Design Research. He adds, "Our objective was to look beyond the current SUV formulas and define a vehicle that expresses strong emotional styling with high levels of performance, utility, comfort and luxury. We see the HPX as an intelligent evolution of the SUV."

Having mentioned two of the competitive marques to Lexus, it is time to mention a third, which is certainly brought to mind by the HPX: the Infiniti FX45. Boxes give way to smooth, taut surfaces.

The word is that the HPX represents what is a new design philosophy that has been developed for Lexus, one that has as its key points "innovation, confidence, dynamic posture, intriguing elegance, and the infusion of technology." Apparently, this new approach is meant to provide more of a standard vocabulary among the forthcoming products from Lexus.

To be sure, the HPX has what can be considered a sense of a dynamic posture. According to Hunter, "We strived to convey a dynamic profile that expresses speed and agility." Note, for example, how the rear-to-front ratio resembles a runner crouched in the starting blocks before a race: rear elevated and head down. The arch formed by the A pillar through the increased-width D-pillar is thick, but producing a sense of structural strength, not mass. The grille is comparatively low, echoing the athletic stance.

The head- and tail-lamps, both of which feature a metallic horizontal bar bisecting them, a bar that's quoted by the door handle, are based on LEDs. They are meant to provoke a sense of technology. Inside, however, technology is used to good effect, with traditional gauges giving way to readouts. The side-view mirrors are replaced with small cameras; their input is displayed on the IP's front display monitor. The HPX provides three-row seating, with the first two being buckets and the third a bench that folds flat. Laudably, that third row is admitted to be sized for children.

The HPX is based on the Lexus GS 430 sport sedan. It features a 4.3-litere, 300-hp V8 mated to a five-speed automatic. Being a SUV, there are features like all-wheel-drive and height-adjustable suspension.

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