The luxury car brand's sports utility vehicle is sophisticated and beautifully built. Jasper Spires reports

Lexus, Toyota's luxury division, is a 'hybrid-tech stalwart, says Richard Ingram in Auto Express. Aside from its V8-engine RC and LC sports cars, every model is available exclusively with electrified powertrains.

This new NX SUV is no different. Made for cruising in exceptional comfort, of the car is 'smooth and refined, beautifully built, and Jag even without a usable zero-emissions range, could genuinely slash your fuel bills.' The NX is Lexus's bestselling model in the UK and 'on this evidence, will continue to be for some time to come.'

It's a car built for comfort over raw power, but int it is no slouch, with a combined engine and electric motor panch of 244bhp, delivering a 0-62mph time of just 7.7 seconds, says Rory White on YesAuto.

It's grippy through the bends too, and the ride smooth, the suspension absorb-ing the bumps nicely, int says Tyler Duffy in Gear Patrol Magazine. It is exceptionally quiet at low speeds, too: 'I didn't notice I was driving through 30mph wind gusts until I looked up and saw a flag pole'. The car can glide along at low-speeds on battery power alone, allowing you to trickle along in slow-moving traffic at very low cost, says Neil Winn in What Car. In good conditions you can expect a fuel consumption of around 47mpg. The NX may not be as flashy as Jaguar's or Mercedes's rival offerings, but there's a subtle charisma to its aesthetic that can't be found elsewhere, even in older Lexus models.

Inside, the cabin has been significantly updated, says Jonathan Crouch in RAC. The interior features a 9.8-inch screen - which can be upgraded to a 14-inch Lexus Link Pro set-up - and touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel, and is all modelled according to Lexus's Tazuma design philosophy - a 'human-centric' principle intended to make driving cars as straightforward as possible, using high-quality materials and a dashboard that curves towards the driver's seat.

In short, the Lexus NX offers a sophisticated and grown-up driving experience that few rivals can match. Prices start at £48,800.

IFC partners Jo'burg Auto Makers on Spare Parts
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has partnered with the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAA-CAM) South Africa to develop a database to help local parts makers more easily meet the procurement needs of global car manufacturers.

IFC is helping NAACAM design and develop an online platform where local component manufacturers can track and respond to the inventory needs of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), manufacturers whose goods are used as components in the products of another company, which then sells the finished item to end users. The database when operational would closely link car part buyers with suppliers, supporting business opportunities for local manufacturers and encouraging investment into the sector.

As part of efforts to deepen local supply chains and drive economic growth, the South African Automotive Master-plan (SAAM) aims to increase the market share of local component manufacturers in its automotive sector by about 21 percent to 60 percent by 2035. The new partnership closely aligns with the SAAM.

'NAACAM members are heeding the call to deepen localization. This not only delivers much needed employment and other economic benefits, but also reduces suppliers' risks as they become less reliant on imported components and contribute to greater stability in local OEM value chains,' said Renai Moothilal, NAACAM Executive Director.

'South Africa's automotive sector is a key catalyst for job creation and economic growth in the country. IFC is pleased to partner with NAACAM to develop a platform that will lead to more business opportunities for local component suppliers and that will facilitate the transfer of technology, competencies and skills from global manufacturers to local suppliers,' said Adamou Labara, IFC's Country Manager for South Africa,

The partnership agreement was signed in the presence of automotive industry stakeholders at battery manufacturer Auto-X's Germiston facility in Johannesburg. Through the partnership, IFC will also provide local component manufacturers in South Africa with capacity building services and access to peer learning opportunities from countries advanced in auto-parts manufacturing.