Lexus NX gets REAL Ice wheels and tyres (video)

Lexus has taken their new NX compact SUV and created a set of wheels and tyres crafted from solid ice before taking it for a spin in London.

Last week we had Jaguar creating an F-Sleigh from an F-Type in solid ice, but this week Lexus has gone one better by creating a set of wheels and tyres for the new Lexus NX before taking to the road top prove they actually work.

Lexus say the creation of the wheels from ice is a world first (why aren’t we surprised?) and has been done to demonstrate its mission of “creating amazing” and was inspired by the craftsmanship that goes in to every Lexus. We’re guessing they were a bit bored, and had budget to play with before the year end.

Still, creating a set of wheels and tyres from ice was something of a challenge, a challenge that was set before Hamilton Ice Sculptors of London who used laser scanning and computer design to create exact replicas in ice, using softened water to make sure the ice was clear. It took four sculptors 36 hours to create each wheel.

After three months working on the design and creation of the ice wheels, they were fitted to the NX which was then deep frozen for five days at -30C before being driven off down a London street (Lexus say that even after five days at -30C, the NX started first time).

Richard Balshaw, Lexus Director, said:

Creating Amazing is what Lexus is about. Projects such as our hoverboard, the origami-inspired cardboard car and now a dazzling set of fully functioning ice wheels, demonstrate how we use advanced technologies and the best craftsmanship traditions to achieve outstanding results. That’s not just for eye-catching one-off projects, but for the cars we deliver to our customers, too.

You can see the Lexus NX on ice wheels – complete with in-wheel LEDs for added effect – in the video below.

Lexus NX Photos

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Lexus NX Ice Wheels Video