Lexus NX450h+ Trademark Could Hint At Plug-in Hybrid Model

Lexus might launch more versions of the NX, as the recent trademark filings suggest. The most interesting one by far is the NX450+, which was filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) on April 14.

Discovered by a member of the MachEClub forum, it’s still under examination and can be used on “automobiles and structural parts thereof”. So, what are we looking at here? The ‘h’ stands for hybrid, but the clue could be in the ‘+’, as it might signal the arrival of a plug-in hybrid version of the premium compact SUV.

Driven: 2019 Lexus NX300 F Sport Is An Engaging Drive Crying Out For An Update

As Lexus has chosen to focus on regular hybrids and electric vehicles, this might be its first PHEV. And some believe that the actual powertrain might be shared with the Toyota RAV4 Prime. The plug-in hybrid RAV4 uses a 2.5-liter petrol engine and a rear-mounted electric motor for a total output of 302 horsepower. It has a WLTP-rated range of more than 40 miles (65 km) on electric power and a top speed of 84 mph (135 km/h) in the zero-emission mode.

Since it was filed in Europe, we don’t know whether the rumored plug-in hybrid version of the NX will make its way to this side of the pond. And we’re not sure about the NX350h either, which is another nameplate that’s in the process of being secured on the Old Continent. This could be another hybrid version of the vehicle, if the designation gets put to use.

Another two monikers were filed as well, this time with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). These are the NX250 and NX350, and are also marked as “automobiles and structural parts thereof”.