There’s another pure-electric luxury SUV preparing to muscle in on Tesla’s turf.
Lexus Australia has confirmed it will be launching its first electric vehicle – the UX300e crossover – around November next year.
Set to become the flagship variant of the compact SUV range late in 2021, the new Lexus UX300e aims to build on the success of the brand’s petrol-electric hybrid vehicles.
Full pricing and specifications for our market will be announced closer to launch, but the Euro-market UX300e is powered by an electric motor on the front axle outputting 150kW and 300Nm.
A “high-capacity” lithium-ion battery – previously reported to measure 54.3kWh – allows for a claimed driving range of up to 400 kilometres on the older NEDC test cycle.
Lexus says the UX300e can be fast-charged in around 50 minutes, or seven hours via a conventional AC socket.
While it shares the basic TNGA-C platform as petrol and hybrid UX models, the UX300e has been “thoroughly tuned” underneath the skin to “target the same high steering response and high-quality ride comfort” as its UX250h hybrid sibling.
To achieve this, Lexus says the shock absorber damping force has been optimised to compensate for the added wright of the larger battery pack. Aero-optimised alloy wheels and an underbody cover help to streamline the UX’s aerodynamic efficiency.
Lexus adds the UX300e has one of the “quietest cabins in its class”, something the company prides itself and its vehicles for.
When the new electric vehicle launches in November 2021, Lexus Australia says it will offer a range of solutions and programs to cater to the unique needs of electric vehicle customers.
Exactly what that all entails hasn’t been confirmed just yet, but the company says these Lexus Solutions will cover recharging and customer service, and be integrated into the Lexus Encore owner benefits program.
It’s unclear as yet, however, whether the lithium-ion UX300e will be covered by the same 10 year, 1 million-kilometre warranty as announced for overseas markets – the longest in the industry.
“Electrified technology ensures the UX300e is both more ‘eco friendly’ and ‘fun to drive’ than ever before, and it is my great honour to offer UX300e as the first Lexus EV for Australian customers,” said Koji Sato, president for Lexus International.
Local Lexus boss, Scott Thompson, said the Australian division will work to make owning an electric Lexus seamless.
“Between now and when the UX 300e arrives in November 2021, we will ensure that all-electric Lexus ownership equals the unwavering standards of owning a Lexus self-charging hybrid electric vehicle,” he said.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest Lexus UX300e updates over the coming months.
Will the UX300e be on your electric vehicle wish list? Let us know in the comments!
