• The all-new 2022 Lexus NX is now in Malaysia, but you can't drive it
• Some parts are missing
• What happened to this Lexus NX?

Surprise, surprise. The all-new TNGA-based 2022 Lexus NX has landed in Malaysia, but it’s not exactly what you had in mind.

As seen on a local half-cut shop’s Facebook page, a half-cut 2022 Lexus NX has landed in Malaysia, albeit in pieces, not too dissimilar to a CKD pack.

This particular unit is the NX 250 variant, as evident from the model plaque on the tailgate. This naturally-aspirated mill does 206 PS and 243 Nm. This engine is mated to an 8-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission.

Also Read: All-new 2022 Lexus NX: Malaysia could get 2.5 NA and 2.4 Turbo

Speaking of engine, this particular NX’s engine bay looks rough, to say the least. While the engine and air filter box look largely intact, the same cannot be said for the rest of the hardware. The brake fluid reservoir, fuse box, and ECU are missing, as well as a bunch of wiring.

While some bits of the engine are missing, the body panels of this half cut NX 250 appear to be intact, including the front bumper, doors, rear bumper, and tailgate.

Also Read: Spied: All-new 2022 Lexus NX spotted in Malaysia, launch imminent

Why did this NX end up like this?

At this point of time, it’s hard to say what exactly happened to this particular Lexus NX. Seeing that body of the body panels are relatively intact, it would rule out the possibility of it being in a crash.

​The most likely explanation is that this particular NX 250 is a pre-production unit. Prior to putting a new model into series production, manufacturers typically do trial runs with pre-production units, to calibrate machine tools and to do fitment tests, amongst others.

Some later-stage pre-production cars can be refurbished with production car parts and registered as a company car, but earlier stage cars are typically wrecked as they lack a VIN and therefore are not road legal. 

If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s a similar story with the W223 Mercedes-Benz S-Class prototype that was spotted at a wrecking yard in China.

What about the road-legal Lexus NX for Malaysia?

​Fret not, sources familiar with the matter (not official by Lexus Malaysia) mentioned that the all-new 2022 Lexus NX will be debuting in Malaysia real soon.

The turbocharged Lexus NX 350 is expected to launch in Malaysia by Q2 2022, while the naturally-aspirated NX 250 is expected to arrive by Q3 2022.

Hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants could be offered on special order basis, mirroring a similar arrangement with the previous-generation Lexus ES, Lexus RX, Lexus GS, and Lexus LS.

In terms of pricing, don’t expect the all-new 2022 Lexus NX to be cheap in Malaysia, as Malaysia’s import and excise tax structure is based on engine capacity. The outgoing model is priced between RM 306,117 to RM 339,018. When the new generation Lexus NX arrives in Malaysia, expect prices to start from the RM 350k mark, higher than its segment rivals.

Also Read: Malaysia-bound all-new 2022 Lexus NX to launch with 2.4 Turbo, 2.5 NA to come later