Lexus will expand its advanced Lexus Connected Services1 technologies in 2022, with the launch of the new Lexus Connected smartphone app to coincide with the arrival of the all-new Lexus NX luxury medium SUV
The all-new NX joins the new ES and LS with complimentary Lexus Connected Services1 - including Automatic Collision Notification (ACN)2, SOS Emergency Call1 and Stolen Vehicle Tracking (SVT)4 - and will now expand this functionality even further.
Customers who purchase the all-new NX will be offered complimentary new convenience and safety technologies accessed through a state-of-the-art new Lexus Connected smartphone app.
Together with the existing Lexus App, which allows seamless access to the renowned Lexus Encore owner benefits program, the new Lexus Connected app will facilitate new connectivity features seen for the first time on a Lexus in Australia.
Lexus Connected Services uses a Data Communication Module (DCM) integrated in the vehicle and connected to a mobile network.
New-functionality highlights include:
• Lexus Remote Connect: allows owners to remotely lock the car's doors and boot; turn the engine on and off; activate the car's horns, headlights and hazard lights; and set the climate control - all at the touch of a button5.
NX 450h+ owners will also be able to access battery charge information and the locations of nearby Chargefox charging stations.
• Lexus Status Connect: allows owners to access a wealth of vehicle information including odometer, tyre pressure, fuel level and distance to empty, recent trip information, last known location, the lock/unlock status of the doors, windows, boot and bonnet and the off/on status of hazard lights5.
It also analyses the acceleration, braking and cornering behaviour to give drivers a "Drive Pulse" rating. If another person is driving the car, owners can set thresholds and receive notifications if parameters for speed, distance, drive time or curfews are breached.
• Lexus Multimedia Connect: synchronises the app with the vehicle's multimedia system to offer cloud-based connected navigation with live traffic, weather, parking and map updates, location searching, and first-mile and last-mile routing.
It also offers personalisation of the head unit display, settings and vehicle preferences; increased voice command functionality; access to notifications; and web browsing through the head unit using Wi-Fi tethering to a user's smartphone (if wireless data is available from the user's smartphone) to be released in the first half of 2022.
For NX 250 and Luxury grades, the new system uses cloud-based maps where a DCM data connection is available, further enhanced through the provision of surrounding area map data that enables temporary offline navigation.
The system allows the driver to ask their Lexus for information about the nearest petrol station, and to receive live directions, live traffic, parking and location services via the DCM.
In addition, F Sport and Sports Luxury grades feature embedded satellite navigation mapping.
For all new NX variants, accessing these features is made available after signing-up to the Lexus Connected Smartphone app and progressing through the setup procedure.
Lexus Australia Chief Executive John Pappas said the Lexus Connected Services updates reflect the Lexus determination to increase technology standards.
"The enhanced Lexus Connected Services follow our expansion of the leading Encore owner benefits program with additional complimentary features, both for the all-new NX and for customers who have already purchased certain Lexus models," Mr Pappas said.
"These additional features will further complement the significant new in-cabin and active safety technologies making their debut in the all-new Lexus NX and increase the delight of owning the most recent versions of the IS, ES and LS."
Lexus Australia can confirm that customers who have purchased a facelifted IS (build date September 2020 onwards), or the latest versions of the ES and LS, will be offered the Lexus Connected smartphone app with complimentary new convenience and safety technologies.
Anticipating customer needs by providing additional no-cost technologies as they become available, new IS and LS customers will be able to enjoy the following features: myGarage (with e-Manual, and remote odometer and fuel level readouts), Guest Driver Settings, Drive Pulse, last parked/last known location and remote vehicle status confirmation with windows open/closed notification.
New ES customers enjoy the above features, as well as remote distance to empty readout, remote confirmation for doors open/closed, locked/unlocked, boot and bonnet open/closed, hazard lights on, tyre pressure information and Trip A/Trip B details. The Lexus Connected smartphone app can also send alerts should the status of hazard lights, door locking, or windows, bonnet or boot opening change.
New features support existing Lexus Connected Services technologies that debuted as standard on the new IS, ES and LS, and now the all-new NX.
This includes the Automatic Collision Notification (ACN) service, where the vehicle will initiate a voice call to a 24/7 Lexus Emergency Call Centre in the event of a crash2. If required, the agent will contact emergency services and provide them with the vehicle's location information.
Drivers can also press an integrated roof-mounted SOS button to call for help3, and can have their vehicle tracked in the event it is stolen, via the Stolen Vehicle Tracking4 function.
Lexus offers three-year complimentary subscription to Lexus Connected Services from the registration date of applicable vehicles.
The three-year subscription to Lexus Connected Services complements the three-year membership of the Lexus Encore owner benefits program standard on the NX, as well as the UX, ES and RX - which is upgraded to the Lexus Encore Platinum owner benefits program for the LS, as well as the LX, LC, UX 300e and now the flagship NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle (PHEV).