Super Street – October 2019

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DARE TO EXPLORE

WE SNAGGED A 2019 LEXUS UX AS A PROJECT CAR, AND

WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED MIGHT SURPRISE YOU

It’s hard to believe, but the lowest-priced Lexus you can buy off the

lot right now is the UX—a small SUV that honestly feels more like a

hatchback than an actual sport/utility vehicle. The UX’s name is derived

from “Urban eXplorer,” however, with its underwhelming powerplant (169 hp

2.0L inline-four or a 183hp hybrid model), you’re unlikely to see one beyond a

Whole Foods parking lot. So why in the hell did we pick up a ’19 UX 200 F Sport

as our new toy? Well, let’s just say we love a good challenge, and we dared to

explore further with the UX than what Lexus intended.

First Impressions

After a few months of getting to know our lil’ UX, we received several

compliments in regard to its bold and modern design language. We can’t help

but agree. It looks at home on the streets of downtown Los Angeles, and we

especially dig the rear tails (they’re made up of 120 LEDs!). The interior doesn’t

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disappoint, either, as every design element is well thought out

and driver-centric. We did notice the back seats and trunk are a

little tight, meaning it’s not the ideal ride for a family of four or to

transport a set of wheels and tires (I tried and had to make two

trips). But its handling is up to par, as it shares DNA with the Toyota

C-HR, a crossover we previously modified two years ago and even

took out on the track. And speaking of modifying...it’s finally time to

say goodbye to stock!

Throw Out the Playbook

Our initial plan was to do the obvious: lower it, import a lip

kit from Japan, throw bigger wheels on, and wrap it in a brighter

color. However, at the end of the day, it just felt like we were going

through the motions. We didn’t want to do the same thing (even

64 SUPERSTREETONLINE.COM

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