Lexus has confirmed a new 300h Sport grade will join its NX SUV line-up, leading a series of changes for the 2017 model year.

The NX 300h Sport is distinguished by its “black pack” exterior features, including the spindle grille and mirror housings, along with black, five-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels.

On the inside, the cabin features black Tahara upholstery which contrasts with aluminium trim inlays. Lexus Navigation and heated front seats are also fitted as standard. Other key features include a Pre-Crash Safety system, all-speed adaptive cruise control, eight-inch Lexus Media Display, eight-speaker audio system with DAB/DAB+, CD player, Aux-in, USB and Bluetooth, parking monitor, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, dusk-sensing headlamps and auto-folding door mirrors. The Lexus NX 300h Sport will be priced at £33,995 OTR.

Lexus also says it is making it 'simple for its SUV customers to combine F Sport styling and performance with top-of-the-range equipment specifications' with the introduction of new Premier Pack options for both the RX and NX F Sport.

For the NX the pack provides Lexus Premium Navigation, 14-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system, a head-up display, heated steering wheel, 360-degree panoramic camera and Adaptive Variable Suspension. It also increases the car’s safety features, adding Automatic High Beam, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert functions.

For the RX F Sport the pack provides a similar array of comfort, safety and convenience items, including Mark Levinson audio, head-up display, 360-degree camera, a card key and heated steering wheel. It also offers customers the choice of a panoramic roof or sunroof.

New colour options include Azure Blue and Solar Flare which have been added to the NX range, the latter shade exclusive to the F Sport. Azure Blue is also available for the RX F Sport, with Graphite Black and Cadoxton Slate introduced to the RC F and GS F respectively.

The packs, which must be specified at the time of ordering a new vehicle, are available now, priced at £5,750 for the NX F Sport and £4,500 for the RX F Sport.

Lexus has upgraded the Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Intelligent Parking Sensors fitted to the RX 450h Premier to include an automated braking function. When the systems detect an obstacle in the vehicle’s path, or sudden acceleration when manoeuvring, the brakes will be automatically applied to avoid an impact. The upgrade also applies to the systems included in the new Premier Pack option for the RX F Sport.

Finally, both the RC F and GS F performance models are now fitted as standard with Adaptive Variable Suspension, rounding out the updates for 2017. Further developing the ride and handling performance, to accommodate the new technology a number of changes have been made to vehicle systems including the Torque Vectoring Differential (where fitted) and Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM). If Lexus’s Pre-Crash Safety system is fitted, AVS control is used to adjust the damping force of the shock absorbers, improving responsiveness if a high collision risk is detected.