Battery electric flagship unveiled
Lexus has announced its first battery electric model will arrive in New Zealand at the end of 2021.
The UX 300e, pictured, will give the model’s line-up a petrol, hybrid and full battery electric option.
“Lexus has chosen the UX platform as the first of its range to carry the much-awaited pure electric technology,” says Andrew Davis, general manager of the marque in this country.
“As our smallest SUV, this makes the UX300e an accessible luxury battery electric SUV.
“The UX 300e is the first of many new electrified Lexus models that will ultimately contribute to the decarbonisation of our national vehicle fleet – a key objective of the New Zealand government.
By 2025, Lexus globally plans to introduce 20 new or improved models, including more than 10 electrified BEV, PHEV or HEV models, all based on “offering the right products, in the right place, at the right time”.
“We don’t see an immediate jump to BEV for all drivers,” says Davis. “We expect that as Lexus drivers upgrade over time, they will continue to purchase vehicles that meet their needs.
“Our role is to be able to provide these vehicles in the most fuel efficient and low carbon-emitting way.”
The UX 300e will become the flagship variant. It will build on the luxury compact UX 200 petrol and UX 250h self-charging hybrid electric variants that have been on-sale in New Zealand since early 2019.
The all-electric UX 300e will offer maximum power of 150kW and torque of 300Nm, incorporating a high-output motor and high-capacity lithium-ion battery.
It can deliver up to a 400km range in certain driving conditions and takes about 60 minutes for DC fast-charging.
Maximum efficiency for the motor, inverter, gears and battery has been advanced from the development of the UX 250h hybrid-electric variant.
The 300e also benefits from the high body rigidity and low centre of gravity provided by the luxury compact SUV’s GA-C platform to maintain handling stability.
Its suspension has been tuned to target the same high steering response and ride comfort as the UX 250h. Shock-absorber damping force has been optimised to match the additional battery capacity.
A drive-mode select function is designed to assist the management of smooth acceleration and deceleration.
Paddle-shifters can be used in a similar manner to engine braking, providing four levels of deceleration regeneration.
About 4,000 self-charging hybrid electric Lexuses have been sold in New Zealand since the brand's first electrified vehicle arrived in 2006.
Lexus hybrid-electric sales have increased by 168 per cent since 2018. This year, 70 per cent of the marque’s customers in this country have chosen a hybrid-electric model.
