Lexus details its first EV
Pioneering battery-powered Lexus UX 300e to arrive next month with claimed 360km driving rangeLexus Australia will welcome its first ever pure-electric model into showrooms next month, when two variants of the Lexus UX 300e compact SUV go on sale.
The Japanese luxury auto brand is keeping pricing for its first EV under wraps until its November arrival, however, it has revealed several key bits of information in the latest update, including a claimed driving range of 360km (NEDC).
The two-variant 2022 Lexus UX 300e range will include Luxury and Sports Luxury grades, both powered by a front-mounted electric motor fed by a 54.3kWh lithium-ion battery.
When it arrives, Lexus says the new UX 300e will be the fastest and most powerful variant in the UX range thanks to combined outputs of 150kW of power and 300Nm of torque.
That will enable the small electric SUV to cover the 0-100km/h sprint in a claimed 7.5 seconds, making it quicker than its petrol and hybrid-powered siblings including the front-drive Lexus UX 250h (8.5sec), the AWD UX 250h (8.7sec) and the base UX 200 (9.2sec), but slower than larger electric luxury SUVs like the Audi e-tron (6.8sec) and the Jaguar I-PACE (4.8sec).
Uniquely, at least in other markets, the electric UX will also offer the longest battery warranty of any EV currently on sale, at a lengthy 10 years or 1,000,000km.
Lexus Australia is yet to confirm whether the same generous warranty, which was revealed for the Chinese and European markets in 2020, will be offered with locally-delivered models.
The range-opening UX 300e Luxury will come standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, electric tailgate, keyless entry, push-button start, LED headlights and wireless phone charging.
Both grades get a 10.3-inch central touch-screen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, digital radio and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, along with a carryover 7.0-inch digital driver’s display that features a range of EV driving info.
The Lexus UX 300e Luxury will also debut a heated steering wheel and heating for the rear outboard seats, as well as ventilated brake discs at the rear.
Moving into the top-spec UX 300e Sports Luxury brings larger 18-inch alloys, tri-beam and adaptive LED headlights, LED front indicators, moonroof, illuminated air-vents up front, a head-up display, leather-accented seats and a panoramic view monitor.
Standard safety gear across the range includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane assist, traffic sign recognition and rear cross traffic alert.
See below for a full breakdown of Lexus UX 300e equipment levels.
Elsewhere, Lexus ensures an ultra-quiet cabin, thanks to more sound dampening for the wheel houses, quarter panels and electric motor unit.
The battery pack is said to be integrated into the chassis to improve torsional rigidity, while an exclusive suspension system has been developed for the electric SUV, including front and rear performance dampers, a hollow stabiliser bar and specific shock absorber tuning for each wheel size.
Meanwhile, aero enhancements for the UX 300e include front grille shutters, extra underbody paneling and a special wheel design.
Nine exterior colour options will be available, including a new Sonic Chrome grey, while several interior trim colour combinations will also be on offer.
Finally, a new gear knob also debuts inside the UX 300e cabin, made up of leather-wrapped satin chrome plating, while drive mode select and audio dials will feature a knurled finish.
Stay tuned for pricing on the 2021 Lexus UX 300e closer to its November arrival.
Lexus UX 300e Luxury highlights:
- Electric motor, 54.3kWh lithium-ion battery
- Maximum combined output 150kW/300Nm
- Drive Mode Select - ECO, NORMAL and SPORT
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Ventilated front disc brakes
- Ventilated rear disc brakes (new to UX)
- LED headlights with auto static levelling and washers
- LED foglights, tail-lights and cornering lamps
- Daytime running lights
- Exterior mirrors with auto power folding and heating
- Roof rails
- Acoustic windshield
- Rear privacy glass
- Power tailgate with kick sensor
- Smart entry and start
- Smart key card
- Illuminated entry
- Alloy scuff plates
- Electro-chromatic interior mirror
- Power adjustable steering column
- Leather-accented steering wheel with paddles
- Steering wheel heating (new to UX)
- Eight-way power-adjustable front seats with two-way driver lumbar adjust
- Front seat heating and ventilation
- Rear outboard seat heating (new to UX)
- 10.3-inch multimedia display with satellite navigation
- 7.0-inch driver display
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
- DAB+ digital radio
- 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio system
- 2x front USB ports, 2x rear USB-C ports, 1x Aux, 12V ports
- Wireless charger
- Lexus Safety System+
- Pre-Collision Safety System with Pedestrian/Daytime Cyclist Detection
- Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Parking Support Brake with Obstacle & Vehicle Detection
- Tyre Inflation Warning System
- Front & rear parking sensors
- Eight airbags
- Antitheft system
Lexus UX 300e Sports Luxury highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Tri-beam LED headlights with dynamic auto-levelling
- LED front turn signals
- Adaptive high beam system
- Moonroof
- Acoustic front-side glass
- Head-up display
- Panoramic view monitor
- Smooth leather-accented seats
- High-grade finish for door garnish, instrument panel cluster finish & console box cover
- Washi instrument panel stitching
- 3D-look illumination inside each front air vent bezel
Related: First Lexus EV confirmed for Australia
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Related: Lexus UX 300e EV revealed
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