Flagship Lexus UX 300h in the works
Local trademark suggests Lexus’ 2.5-litre hybrid system is coming to the UX compact SUVIt seems the Lexus UX portfolio could be about to receive a new global flagship in the form of the Lexus UX 300h – a vehicle that would theoretically go straight to the top of the compact luxury SUV range at least in terms of power output.
The intel comes from a new trademark application – submitted yesterday to IP Australia by Toyota’s global headquarters – seeking to secure the rights to the ‘UX300h’ nameplate in our market.
Filed exclusively under Class 12 (automobiles and structural parts thereof), the application is for nothing more than the name – there’s no badging, etc – and suggests a more powerful hybrid powertrain is at least being considered for the Lexus UX.
Lexus follower will know the ‘300h’ designation is the code given to the brand’s circa-160kW 2.5-litre plugless hybrid system as seen under the bonnet of the just-updated Lexus ES sedan.
For number buffs, the internal combustion engine develops 131kW/221Nm by itself and is aided by an 88kW/202Nm electric motor. As with all Toyota and Lexus hybrids, a combined torque figure isn’t nominated.
The same system was also used in the now defunct Lexus IS 300h, in which it delivered 164kW.
Figures like that would comfortably make the hypothetical Lexus UX 300h the most powerful member of its family, including the battery-electric Lexus UX 300e (150kW/300Nm), and would partner well with the athletic F Sport makeover to create a dedicated UX range flagship that could be priced roughly on par with the EV (from $74,000).
With no mention of a Lexus UX 300h anywhere in the global UX line-up or media, it may be quite some time until such a vehicle is revealed publicly, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it was announced as the halo variant for the 2024 model year.
Based on the May announcement and reveal of the MY23 UX line-up, we’d expect the global confirmation to come in the second quarter of next year ahead of a third-quarter 2023 arrival Down Under.
Like most manufacturers, Lexus and Toyota have a strict policy of not commenting on future products so for the time being at least we’ll just have to sit and wait for more news.
That said, we’ll keep our ears the ground and update this article if there are any developments.
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Related: Lexus UX 300e Luxury 2022 Review
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