While Lexus has long been associated with hybrid motoring, it’s only now taking a bigger stride into electrification.
Launching this year will be the brand’s first plug-in hybrid, and this will be followed in 2022 by a “completely new model dedicated to BEVs”.
Likely based on the Toyota e-TNGA architecture, this as-yet unnamed car will probably share a lot in common with the upcoming Toyota BZ4X and Subaru Solterra twins.
While the automaker has yet to provide any details about the BZ4X’s drivetrain, we do know its external dimensions will broadly mirror the RAV4’s, but will have more interior room thanks to its underpinnings.
Toyota BZ4X 
Although Lexus hasn’t specified which model will have the brand’s first plug-in hybrid drivetrain, we suspect it will be the next-generation NX.
The mid-size crossover is due for replacement soon, and the Toyota RAV4, its twin-under-the-skin, is already available overseas with a 225kW 2.0-litre PHEV system.
Lexus says future electrified models will be available with steer-by-wire, and its torque vectoring Direct4 all-wheel drive setup.
These two new vehicles will form part of a model onslaught claimed to include “20 new or improved [vehicles], including more than 10 BEVs, PHEVs, and HEVs” by 2025.
New models will use the company’s latest design philosophy as previewed by the LF-Z Electrified concept.
2008 RX400h
Toyota’s luxury brand has steadily grown its hybrid offerings since it introduced the RX400h in 2005, with every model in its lineup available with a hybrid drivetrain option.
Despite this, the luxury marque has yet to offer a plug-in hybrid. It did however launch the electric UX300e last year, which is scheduled to arrive Down Under at the end of 2021.
According to Lexus, it sold its two millionth electrified vehicle at the end of April 2021. The company provided a break down of its hybrid sales both by region and model.
| Region | Sales |
|---|---|
| US | 540,000 |
| Europe | 480,000 |
| Japan | 401,000 |
| China | 387,000 |
| East Asia | 138,000 |
| – Australia | 31,526 |
| Other | 74,000 |
During the first four months of 2021, 38.5 per cent of all Lexus cars sold in Australia were fitted with a hybrid drivetrain.
That’s ahead of the global average of 33 per cent.
| Model | Sales |
|---|---|
| RX | 518,000 |
| ES | 384,000 |
| CT | 372,000 |
| NX | 285,000 |
| UX (includes UX300e EV) | 137,000 |
| Others (IS, LS, RC, LC, HS, etc) | 324,000 |
