Lexus could be about to launch a compact crossover to rival the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, due to be previewed in concept form at the Paris Motor Show this month.

The Lexus UX is likely to feature a hybrid drivetrain with CO2 emissions under 100g/km.

The UX concept was created by the brand’s European Design Centre, ED2, in France, reflecting a priority on sales in a region where crossovers have become big business for premium manufacturers.

There are few details available, but it’s likely that a production version would share its platform with Toyota’s C-HR urban crossover and slot in beneath the NX in Lexus’s line-up.

Expect drivetrains to include a 200h version, based on the 1.8-litre petrol engine used in the CT hatchback and C-HR, which would bring CO2 emissions well under 100g/km.