First ever Lexus electric vehicle lands in Singapore, with the UX 300e priced at S$255,800 with COE; launched in conjunction with new Lexus car-sharing scheme

Photos: Lexus

SINGAPORE

Lexus has launched its first ever full battery electric vehicle (BEV) in Singapore, with the UX 300e being unveiled at a virtual launch event on Facebook tonight. At the same event, Lexus also announced the introduction of a new car-sharing scheme, where users can book an electric or hybrid Lexus online on demand.

The UX 300e was first announced at the 2019 Guangzhou Motor Show, and as our news story detailed then, the car develops an output of 201hp and 300Nm of torque from its electric motor that drives its front wheels. The sole version of the UX 300e on sale in Singapore retails for S$255,800 with COE, making it the most affordable EV available from a premium brand here. As a small SUV, it’s also the smallest luxury BEV available too.

The UX 300e is also the smallest premium crossover EV currently in the market, as the UX competes with the likes of the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA, none of which currently have an electrified version. However, Mercedes’ own EQA crossover EV is expected to arrive later this year to provide the UX 300e with some competition.

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Fully charged, the UX 300e is claimed to have a range of 300km, which Lexus says is more than adequate for five days worth of driving for the average Singaporean driver. Oddly, Lexus did not mention any figures with regards to the battery’s charging time, but the company says that it has leveraged its expertise in developing batteries for its hybrid vehicles to come up with a system that can best optimise the EV battery’s operating conditions, and maximise the system’s efficiency.

Borneo Motors, Lexus’ official dealer here, also promised a seamless EV ownership experience for UX 300e customers, with the car featuring an eight year/200,000km warranty which Borneo claims is the longest in the industry, and whose coverage includes the car’s battery. UX 300e owners will also enjoy complimentary charging at the Lexus showroom at Leng Kee Road, as well as complimentary car swaps to a Lexus hybrid model for temporary usage if requested.

Like most EVs, the UX 300e features regenerative braking, which four different levels of intensity, selectable via the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. Other tweaks to the UX 300e over the ICE-powered car include a rejigged suspension setup to account for the heavier weight of the batteries and electric drivetrain, and extra insulation to suppress wind and road noise that would be otherwise be masked by the engine.

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Local versions of the UX 300e come highly specced, and standard equipment include a 13-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, as well as Lexus’ Safety System+ suite of driver assistance features. The latter includes stuff such as pre-collision assist, dynamic radar cruise control, and lane departure alert.

Also announced at the same event is the introduction of Kinto Share, a new on-demand car sharing service offered by Lexus Singapore and their financial services arm. Lexus did not go into full details about the service, but said that users can book a Lexus vehicle online via their website in just three easy steps, and pick up the car at the Lexus showroom. Available models include the UX 300e, UX 250h, IS 300h and ES 300h, but pricing rates would only be announced at a later date.

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