Lexus NX PHEV Offroad is a mud-loving hybrid | FOS Future Lab

This is a hybridised metropolitan crossover for the 2020s clad in gear otherwise seen on 1990s Land Rovers as they spew black soot out fording a stream in low-range. In Lexus language, it “inspires an adventurous lifestyle with its lifted platform, off-road running all-terrain large diameter tires and beautifully finished customized bronze and matte black paint scheme”.

Underneath the melted penny paint and Land Rover Owner International accessory catalogue paraphernalia lays Lexus’ first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the NX450h+, which went on sale in November last year.

It packs a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine in addition to a pair of electric motors. It provides more than 40 miles of electric-only driving from its 18.1kWh battery. When not conserving fuel and electrons, this 309PS (227kW) crossover is capable of 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 124mph.

Cool though this tricked-out NX, we’d probably prefer a go in its similarly-painted ROV buggy concept sibling. While not as practical, it looks like an absolute riot…

Welcome to FOS Future Lab where we report on the latest visions of future technology. We'll be boldly covering flying cars, hoverboards, jetpacks and spaceships with plenty of down to earth topics in between.