Two months ago, Lexus had already started bookings for its India bound ES 300h hybrid electric luxury sedan. And now the company has finally launched the car in India at Rs 59.13 lakh (ex-showroom, PAN India), with deliveries kicking in immediately. The car is based on the company’s all-new Global Architecture – K (GA-K) platform that supports hybrid electric powertrains.
Under the hood, the seventh generation ES 300h features the same Euro-6 complaint hybrid powertrain seen on the previous model, albeit with a minor bump in power. The vehicle’s electric motor is coupled to a 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine to put out a total of 214.4bhp, which is a 14.4bhp increase as compared to the predecessor.
The Lexus ES 300h draws its design cues from the larger, full-sized LS sedan and features the signature Lexus front grille along with LED headlamps, 18-inch alloys and a low-slung stance. Interiors get significant changes as the cockpit features a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system alongside a 7-inch instrument cluster with an analogue tachometer, digital speedometer and an adjustable heads-up display. The car gets three drive modes- eco, normal and sport.
At the rear, passengers will get an extended legroom of 998.6mm thanks to a longer wheelbase. Furthermore, the ES 300h gets 454 litres of cargo space along with an electric tailgate and a spare wheel. On the safety front, the luxury sedan is fitted with 10 airbags, hill start assist, vehicle stability control and an anti-theft system.
On the launch of the new Lexus, N Raja, Chairman, Lexus India said, “We are excited to present the new ES in India, in such a short span after its global launch. The ES offers refinement and luxury, in a sedan that is visually striking, and elegantly comfortable, and we are certain that it will continue to find favour with discerning guests in India,”
With a hybrid powertrain, the ES 300h remains a unique offering in a segment that’s dominated by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5-series and Volvo S90.