Lexus Australia wants new EV

Will Aussies be offered what could be the most affordable prestige EV thus far? That's the question keeping Lexus Australia chief executive Scott Thompson up at night.

Lexus has already confirmed it will reveal its first-ever production EV next month -- most likely at the LA motor show or Auto Guangzhou in China – following the world debut of the gullwinged Lexus LF-30 concept (pictured) at last week’s Tokyo motor show.

Thompson told us in Japan that he is keen to sell it to Australians, with a few provisos.

"I'd love to take it, but the conversation will still be around timing, infrastructure, regulation, global demand for the car," he said.

However, despite the lack of local green-car incentives like those offered in countries such as the USA and Norway, the Lexus Australia chief said formulating a sound business case to bring the car Down Under is viable.

"If the product is good and the specifications are good and our parent company provides it to us, then yes."

It's understood Lexus has fast-tracked the reveal of its first-ever EV for late 2019 to mark its 30th anniversary.

The Japanese premium brand has previously confirmed its first EV will be based on a current model. Given the only vehicle with a modern architecture in the Lexus line-up is the new UX compact SUV, it's expected something like the Lexus UX 300e will lob in November.

If a battery-powered Lexus UX materialises, it will almost certainly be the most affordable fully-electric luxury SUV offered in Australia, undercutting the Jaguar I-PACE (from $124,100), Mercedes EQC (circa-$140,000), Audi e-tron (circa-$140,000) and Tesla Model X ($116,500).

Given the Lexus UX range spans at $44,450 to $61,450, the Lexus UX EV could potentially arrive for less than $75,000, making the $60,000 Hyundai Kona Electric its closest competitor in terms of price.

Few details are known about the new EV, such as its range, power output or design, and the big LF-30 concept (which measures no less than 5090mm long, 1995mm wide and 1600mm high, rides on a rangy 3200mm wheelbase and weighs a heft 2400kg) is probably no accurate guide.

But for reference, the futuristic Lexus EV concept was powered by a big 110kWh battery and claimed to deliver a massive 400kW/700Nm, 500km range and 0-100km/h acceleration in just 3.8 seconds on its way to a 200km/h top speed.

One thing is certain – Lexus Australia wants to join the EV party in order to stop rival prestige brands led by Mercedes-Benz carving up the dance-floor.

"In November, Lexus will announce the rollout plans and clear model delineation," said Thompson when probed on details of the surprise new Lexus EV.

"But we can't give any more specifics. They want to make the big announcement in November and [you'll get] some timing around PHEV as well," he said, confirming reports that Lexus will have its first plug-in hybrid vehicle online as soon as 2021.

"You'll get a good understanding [of] the vehicles, descriptions and names out to around 2022," he added.

Like its mainstream sister brand Toyota, after making its name with petrol-electric hybrids Lexus is clearly ready to ramp up its EV and PHEV assault.

The premium brand has already sold 1.5 million hybrids, but so far none of them have come with plug-in charging, so the new EV and upcoming PHEV models represent a significant step change for the brand, which plans to electrify every model in its range by 2025.

"Electrification has always been important to us," said Thompson, who observed that one in three Lexus models sold in Australia have a hybrid powertrain.

"If we could be get [more] supply of those vehicles -- the two key ones are NX and UX right now -- our mix would be even higher. The expectation [for EVs] is definitely there.

"We'll be rallying the troops to try and get whatever cars are available globally into our market."