Electric-drive rear-end for NX
Lexus has squeezed its electric drive system in the rear of the NX 300h compact SUVThe Lexus NX 300h hybrid compact luxury SUV arrives in Australia this week, introducing the premium brand's E-Four all-wheel drive system to its class.
E-Four debuted on the larger RX hybrid models back in 2006. Available for an additional $4500 on the entry-level, front-wheel drive Luxury variant ($55,000 plus on-road costs) but standard for F Sport and Sport Luxury variants, the system adopts an additional 50kW electric motor located at the rear of the SUV to power the rear axle with no assistance from the petrol engine.
Lexus claims the on-demand system reduces fuel consumption, doing without any mechanical link to the rear wheels and consequently eliminating friction. The E-Four system is deactivated under normal driving conditions, further improving efficiency, and can function as a generator when the NX is in regenerative braking mode.
Up-front, the hybrid powertrain can drive the axle via petrol, electric, or a combination of both as required, via a six-step continuously variable transmission (CVT). The system is capable of splitting drive torque up to 72:28 front-to-rear.
The E-Four system is also capable of sensing traction loss and delivering torque to the axle that has the most available grip. Some rear-wheel drive torque can be applied on startup to assist in making a total-traction getaway.
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