The Lexus UX 300e is based on the standard UX SUV sold internationally and it is powered by a front axle-mounted electric motor with 204 bhp and 400 km of range.
Lexus has unveiled its first electric production car, the UX 300e, at the 2019 Guangzhou motor show in China. The Lexus UX 300e is an electric version of the regular UX SUV that Lexus already produces. This new electric car is based on the electric Toyota C-HR offered in China. The UX 300e powered by a front axle-mounted electric motor that produces 204hp and 300Nm.
The Lexus UX 300e packs a 54.3kWh under-floor battery. It has a claimed range of about 400 km and offers fast charging at speeds of up to 50kW. The car also features a number of drive modes for better management of performance of the electric motor. It also comes with paddleshifters to control the regenerative braking modes.
In terms of design, the UX 300e does not look all that different from the regular UX SUV. Lexus has retained the large spindle grille upfront and has not desperately tried to give it an EV look by removing a conventional grille from the face. However, the alloy wheels of the standard SUV have been replaced with more aerodynamic units.
The charging port replaces the conventional fuel filler. The UX 300e also sits comparatively lower to the ground as it packs the batteries on the floor. It also gets a new under-body cover to reduce drag. On the inside too, there is little difference between the standard UX and the EV, save for the use of a new instrument cluster.
The Lexus UX 300e is based on Toyota’s GA-C platform. Lexus says that the car has been developed with a focus on on-road performance, and the goal of offering a quiet and refined driving experience. To balance the new powertrain, extra bracing has been added with the dampers reworked to maintain optimum weight distribution. Lexus also claims that this new powertrain in the UX 300 draws on learnings from the brand’s long-running hybrid system. It features a temperature management system that balances power at low and high temperatures.
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Lexus has also particularly focused on the refinement of the car. Lexus claims to have added extra insulation to reduce wind and road noise, with an Active Sound Control system that “transmits natural, ambient sounds to communicate the driving conditions”.
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The Lexus UX 300e will go on sale internationally next year. Lexus hasn’t said anything about this coming to India yet. Currently, Lexus offers five cars in India – four of which feature the company’s petrol-hybrid powertrains. The company recently launched the long-wheelbase seven-seat version of the RX SUV and they are also going to bring the LC sports car to India next year.
