HomeCar NewsMade in India Lexus ES 300h BS6 launched alongside LC 500h

Made in India Lexus ES 300h BS6 launched alongside LC 500h

Lexus ES300h India launch
Lexus ES300h India launch

The new BS6 Lexus ES 300h is the Japanese luxury brand’s first locally-assembled product.

Lexus India has launched the 2020 BS6-compliant range of the ES 300h sedan and NX 300h crossover, alongside the exclusive LC 500h grand tourer (GT). The Japanese luxury car manufacturer under Toyota also announced its commitment to the Indian market with the introduction of the locally-manufactured version of the Lexus ES 300h (available from February 2020). All prices mentioned below are ex-showroom.

Prices for the Lexus ES 300h start at Rs 51.90 lakh for the base Exquisite trim while the higher Luxury trim costs Rs 56.95 lakh. The ES 300h is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine coupled to an electric motor. Put together, the mid-size luxury sedan delivers around 218bhp and 221Nm of torque while mated to a 6-step e-CVT that sends power to the front wheels. It primarily rivals the 2.0-litre petrol avatars of the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Jaguar XF.

Lexus LC500h electric hybrid launched in India
Lexus LC500h electric hybrid launched in India

The 2020 version of the bigger Lexus NX 300h crossover is available in three formats: Exquisite (Rs 54.90 lakh), Luxury (Rs 59.90 lakh) and F Sport (Rs 60.60 lakh). The all-wheel-drive NX gets the familiar 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol motor coupled to an electric motor on either axle. Output figures stand at 194bhp and 210Nm. Transmission is the same 6-step e-CVT as in the ES 300h. The NX 300h is a rival to the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Volvo XC60 and Range Rover Evoque.

Finally coming to the top-of-the-line two-door hybrid grand tourer (GT), the Lexus LC 500h is priced at Rs 1.96 crore ex-showroom and caters to a niche luxury/performance-focused market. The CBU (Completely Built Unit) GT model comes only with a 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated V6 engine that runs on the Atkinson cycle. In the global market, there is a bigger 5.0-litre NA V8 on offer.

Lexus India BS6Price Rs ex-sh
ES 300h Exquisite 51,90,000
ES 300h Luxury56,95,000
NX 300h Exquisite54,90,000
NX 300h Luxury59,90,000
NX 300h F Sport60,60,000
LC 500h1,96,00,000

The V6 petrol engine alone makes 295bhp and 348Nm of torque. Combined with the two 110kW electric motors, the power figure jumps to 355bhp. The rear-wheel-drive power train gets a state-of-the-art 10-speed transmission that combines a 3-step CVT with a 4-speed torque converter. There are no direct rivals to the LC 500h in India, but a lot of expensive alternatives.

Lexus India also utilised the venue to announce the opening of four new exclusive dealerships (or ‘Guest Experience Centres’) in the coming months: Chandigarh, Chennai, Kochi and Hyderabad. At present, Lexus India has exclusive outlets only in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, while the remaining sales network is formed by major Toyota dealerships spread across the country.

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