2020 Lexus UX 300e Luxury Crossover Unveiled

2020 Lexus UX 300e Luxury Crossover Unveiled https://youtu.be/Erfoe_lsgw4

Some would say Lexus couldn’t have picked a worse time to unveil its first electric vehicle as all eyes are on Tesla and its futuristic Cybertruck that just debuted in Los Angeles. Nevertheless, it’s still an important moment in the company’s history and the world premiere takes place today at Auto Guangzhou 2019. Why there? Because China will be a key market for the UX 300e, but the electric crossover will also be sold in Japan and Europe.
It virtually retains the design of the conventionally powered model, right down to the placement of the fuel cap, although we’re noticing its round shape has been changed to an angular and slightly larger cap to make room for the charging port. There are some subtle changes compared to the standard UX, such as the new aerodynamic wheels, 20 millimeters (0.8 inches) lowered ride height, and redesigned underbody cover to make the vehicle as sleek as possible in a bid to enhance efficiency. Inside, the look of the instrument cluster is the only thing that has changed.

Replacing the internal combustion engine at the front is an electric motor developing 201 horsepower (150 kilowatts) and 300 Newton-meters (221 pound-feet) of torque. Underneath the body sits the lithium-ion battery pack with a 54.3-kWh capacity and enough energy to last for 400 kilometers (almost 250 miles) based on the NEDC cycle, with the more realistic WLTP rating to follow. Once depleted, it’ll take approximately 50 minutes to completely charge the battery using a 50-kW fast-charger or about seven hours from a standard 6.6-kW household socket.
It weighs about 1,900 kilograms (4,188 pounds) and features a retuned suspension with revised dampers to handle the extra weight. To make sure the vehicle is heard by those around it despite the lack of a traditional engine, Lexus has installed what it refers to as an Active Sound Control (ASC) system that “transmits natural, ambient sounds.”

The UX 300e represents Lexus’ first EV, but more are to come as Toyota’s luxury division is working on a new platform dedicated to zero-emissions cars. The first car to be developed from the ground up as an EV is due early in the next decade when Lexus will also introduce its first PHEV model.