First plug-in hybrid car signals strategy shift at Lexus

Singapore

THREE months after declaring it would pick up the pace on electrifying its cars, Lexus has unveiled its first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), which can travel around 75km on battery power but has a petrol engine for longer distances.

Toyota's luxury division revealed the NX 450h+ online on June 12 as part of a virtual launch for its revamped NX, a sport utility vehicle (SUV) model. Borneo Motors is planning to put the plug-in on sale here in the fourth quarter of this year. The local Lexus agent will also sell a petrol-electric hybrid NX that doesn't rely on external charging and a 2.4-litre petrol-only version.