- lexus announces its first all-electric vehicle, the ux300e, which will be available in china and europe starting next year.
- the ev touts around 248 miles of driving range by non-epa measurements, according to lexus.
- lexus does not currently have plans to bring the vehicle to the u.s.
lexus is joining the ever-expanding list of all-electric vehicles in 2020 with the ux300e. the crossover will go on sale in china and europe markets starting next year, and then will arrive in japan in early 2021. lexus didn’t announce plans to bring the ev to the u.s., and it’s unlikely to do so.
the ux300e is based on the gas-powered ux small crossover sold in the u.s. the ux300e is front-wheel drive and has a front-mounted electric motor that produces 201 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. it sources power from a relatively small 54.3-kwh lithium-ion battery pack that provides a claimed driving range of 248 miles by the nedc standards, which are typically more optimistic than the epa range estimates for the u.s.
there are a few exterior changes for the ux300e compared to other ux models, including special wheels and an aerodynamically optimized underbody. the interior features a different shifter design that uses a shift-by-wire system.
lexus says that the car offers four levels of brake regeneration that are controlled by paddle shifters. as is typical among evs, the company is claiming that the underfloor battery pack lowers the ux's center of gravity, improving handling. the ux 300e also comes with the ability to control many of its functions through an app, including air conditioning and seat heaters; the app can also monitor battery levels and charge rates.