First Lexus electric car to headline rollout of five new models in six months
The first pure electric car to come from Toyota's luxury division is just around the corner.
The first ever pure electric car from Toyota's luxury brand Lexus is due in showrooms later this year as part of a massive rollout of new models.
Lexus says it will launch five new cars in Australia in six months – and discontinue three previously popular models as it embarks on a major overhaul.
The Lexus electric car will be an electric version of the UX small SUV, known as the UX300e – though the brand's first dedicated electric vehicle, previewed in concept form in March (top of story) and due in production form in 2022, will be built on a "skateboard-style" electric platform that could form the basis for a number of different models from Lexus and Toyota.
Starting the new model rollout in August is an updated ES mid-size sedan (pictured above), which adds a more affordable ES250 variant – powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine – that will sell alongside the existing ES300h hybrid.
Nine variants will be offered in the revised Lexus ES range with a choice of two engine options.
The first pure electric vehicle to come from Lexus, the UX300e compact SUV, is due in November.
The Lexus UX300e has a 150kW electric motor that drives the front wheels and is powered by a 54.3kWh lithium-ion battery said to deliver 400km of driving range.
Lexus claims the UX300e can be fully charged in 50 minutes via a 50kW DC charger or in seven hours via a home AC wall-box (at up to 6.6kW).
Pricing for the electric car has not been revealed, but as the ‘flagship’ of the Lexus UX range it will likely be priced in excess of $65,000, putting it in Tesla Model 3 territory.
November will also see the arrival of Lexus’s most important new vehicle, the all-new NX mid-size SUV.
Lexus claims it is more advanced, more spacious and more engaging to drive than the model it replaces. The NX will also be the first Lexus to receive the brand’s new-generation 2.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
Three Lexus NX models have been confirmed for launch in November, the 2.5-litre four-cylinder NX250, 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder NX350, and 2.5-litre hybrid NX350h.
Lexus Australia chief executive Scott Thompson said the new-generation Lexus NX is critical to the company's success given that it is its top-selling model.
"We are forecasting big things for the NX," said Mr Thompson. "Since 2014, it's been our top-selling Lexus and it plays in the higher volume luxury medium SUV (segment)".
Mr Thompson also said the Lexus NX could form the basis of the company's first plug-in hybrid vehicle in Australia.
"We're currently in talks with our parent company about bringing the NX450h+ to Australia to be our first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle," he said.
Lexus declined to confirm the remaining two vehicles in its product onslaught.
However, one is widely tipped to be the successor to the Toyota LandCruiser-based Lexus LX large offroader.
The last of the five models could be the previously-rumoured LS F sedan or LC F coupe powered by an all-new twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8.
– Glenn Butler
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