Lexus has introduced its first battery electric vehicle (BEV), the UX 300e, at the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition in China.
The UX 300e’s high-capacity batteries, located directly underneath the floor of the cabin, deliver a low centre of gravity and 400km-driving range.
It also boasts that it has one of the quietest cabins in its class.
Lexus says: ‘Engineers (also) focused on sound while driving to provide a natural feeling. Active Sound Control (ASC) transmits natural ambient sounds to allow for understanding of driving conditions, and provides a natural feeling for the cabin’s occupants’.
It offers new connected car technology. By linking to a smartphone using the LexusLink app, drivers can check the battery state of charge and driving range.
The UX 300e is part of Lexus’ global electrification strategy, called ‘Lexus Electrified’.
Talking at the Tokyo Motor Show, Yoshihiro Sawa, the President of Lexus International, stated: “Lexus is already at the forefront globally as a leader in hybrid technologies. We are confident that Lexus will continue to be cutting-edge, backed by core technologies, including batteries, motors and power controls, that are essential components for electrified vehicles. Based on this idea, we came up with the name ‘Lexus Electrified’ to define our brand’s electrification vision.”
The UX 300e is scheduled to go on sale in the Chinese and European markets in 2020, and in Japan early in 2021.
Lexus is expecting to offer an electrified variant of each model in our line-up by 2025.
