Lexus UX 300e unveiled as brand’s first all-electric model

Alvin Lee November 22, 2019 News 432 Views

Lexus has unveiled its first battery electric vehicle (EV), the UX 300e, today at a special media event in Guangzhou, China.

Signifying the brand’s next-generation investment in performance and battery technology, the UX 300e will join the current UX 250h petrol-electric hybrid and UX 200 petrol model from next year.

Incorporating an electric motor and lithium-ion battery that deliver up to 400km of driving range, the all-electric UX 300e offers a maximum power of 150kW and torque of 300Nm, promising ‘impressive level of smooth performance’.

The UX 300e takes about 50 minutes for quick charging and about seven hours for household AC charging, from empty.

Based on Lexus’ GA-C platform that also underpins the petrol-powered UX models, the UX 300e is claimed to have received specific suspension tune to target the same sharp response and plush ride comfort as the UX 250h. Shock-absorber damping force has been optimised to match the additional battery capacity.

A Drive Mode Select function is designed to assist the management of acceleration and deceleration. Paddle shifters can be used in a similar manner to engine braking, providing four levels of deceleration regeneration.

Compared with the UX 250h, the roof of the UX 300e has a 5mm higher peak while its ground clearance is 20mm lower.

Lexus engineers have kept the distinctive design and the utility characteristics of the UX SUV intact, while the aerodynamic performance of the UX 300e benefits from the application of special wheels and an underbody cover.

The world premiere of the UX 300e occurs just one month after Lexus unveiled Lexus Electrified, its global electrification strategy that targets a fundamental leap in vehicle performance, handling, control and driver enjoyment.

Lexus also announced it will launch its first plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle in select markets in 2021. It is developing a dedicated platform for battery-electric vehicles and will offer an electrified variant for each model in its global line-up by 2025.

The UX 300e is scheduled to go on sale in China and Europe next year and in Japan in early 2021. It is yet to be confirmed whether the UX 300e will be available in Australia.

Lexus UX 300e motor specifications