29
March
2024
|
10:00
Europe/Amsterdam

NEW UX 300h: MORE POWER AND WIDE-RANGING REFINEMENTS IN 2024

UX300h_EXTERIOR_01
UX300h_EXTERIOR_01
  • New, self-charging hybrid UX 300h replaces UX 250h 
  • Greater total power output and faster acceleration for hybrid model 
  • Rear electric motor for e-Four all-wheel drive system is 5.6 times more powerful 
  • AWD driving dynamics enhanced by optimized front/rear torque distribution and more rigid body 
  • Large 12.3-inch digital instrument display now available 
  • Extended bi-tone colour scheme available for F SPORT and F SPORT Design models 
  • Lexus Safety System + with more functions 


 The Lexus UX urban crossover, one of the brand’s best-selling models in Europe, will bring a substantial powertrain upgrade and other refinements in 2024. These changes further enhance the on-road dynamics of a vehicle designed and developed to combine the secure feeling and practical flexibility of a crossover with the enjoyable driving characteristics of a hatchback. The UX is available as a self-charging hybrid model and a battery-electric model, and as such plays an important role in the brand’s global electrification strategy.

The new UX 300h also produces greater total power to 146 kW (199 hp), an 8% increase over the UX 250h’s 135 kW (184 hp). This gain is made possible by a fifth-generation hybrid system which replaces the previous 180-cell, 216-volt nickel-metal hydride battery with a more efficient, 60-cell, 222-volt lithium-ion battery. As a result, 0-100 km/h acceleration is reduced in the front-wheel drive model from 8.5 to 8.1 seconds, and in the all-wheel drive model from 8.7 to 7.9 seconds. Fuel consumption has also improved, thanks to a more efficient powertrain and weight reduction, to 5.0 – 5.2 l/100km in the combined WLTP cycle for the front-wheel drive model and to 5.3 – 5.7 l/100km for the all-wheel drive model.

In the most significant development, the self-charging hybrid UX 250h is replaced by the new UX 300h. Like the UX 250h, the UX 300h is powered by a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine coupled to two electric motors – but the rear electric motor for the new model’s e-Four all-wheel-drive system is 5.6 times more powerful than its predecessor. In place of the UX 250h’s 5.3 kW (7 hp) induction motor, there is now a 30 kW (41 hp) permanent magnet motor. This sharpens throttle response and makes the car even more satisfying to drive.

Faster acceleration is complemented in the all-wheel drive UX 300h by more composed driving dynamics. Body roll is better-damped during hard cornering; the car’s posture is even more stable under heavy braking; and when the road surface is more slippery on one side of the vehicle than the other, the car can accelerate more strongly, and brake hard and turn sharply with greater controllability.  

These improvements have been achieved by fine-tuning the e-Four all-wheel-drive system’s dynamic axle weight distribution control, which continuously checks the driving environment in order to optimize front and rear torque distribution. Driving dynamics also benefit from greater body rigidity, attained by introducing a radiator support stability brace and stiffening the trunk door.

Comfort and convenience are also further refined for the new UX 300h, as well as the UX 300e Battery Electric Vehicle.

In the cockpit, a new 12.3-inch fully digital multi information display is now optionally available. This digital cockpit can be customized both in terms of look and feel and type of information delivered, creating a seamless and intuitive user experience for accessing information, entertainment, and connectivity. Its appearance changes according to the selected drive mode and its layout can be customized to suit the driver’s personal preferences. The 8-inch multimedia touchscreen has also been updated.

UX buyers can now also choose a new interior colour, Ammonite Sand, and a leather-free interior pack with fabric or synthetic leather seats, and with synthetic leather for the heated steering wheel and shift knob. The steering wheel is updated to integrate a Driver Monitor camera. This constantly checks for driver alertness and recognizes if the driver has lost concentration through tiredness or being unwell. If the driver fails to respond to alerts, the monitor initiates Driver Emergency Stop, bringing the vehicle to a controlled halt and activating the hazard lights.

Two more features are added to the latest iteration of Lexus Safety System +. Proactive Driving Assist uses the car’s front camera to spot hazards at lower speeds around town, such as pedestrians about to cross or walking along the edge of the road, parked cars, and cyclists. Automatic Rear Flashing Hazard Lights operate at high speed if there is collision-risk from a following vehicle. And another additional feature, Safe Exit Assist, helps prevent collisions between vehicles approaching from the rear when a door is opened.

For the UX’s exterior, a new colour, Sonic Copper, is available for all model grades. For the F SPORT and F SPORT Design models, there is an additional variation of the bi-tone colour scheme, with a dedicated set of exterior colours, which now extends from A-pillar to C-pillar, connecting the end of the rear glass with the rear doorline.

The front-wheel drive UX 300e continues to employ a 72.8 kWh lithium-ion battery. In the new model, DC charging time from 0% to 80% has been significantly reduced, from 80 to 60 minutes. Wide-ranging upgrades were made to the UX 300e in spring 2023, when its range was increased by more than 40% to 450 km and its cockpit equipped with a new multimedia system with greater functionality and bigger 8- and 12.3-inch touchscreens.