Toyota's luxury brand Lexus launched its hybrid SUV the Lexus NX300h on Friday, as the company tries to take the hybrid route to distinguish itself from the German luxury car brands.

Lexus, which entered Indian market only about six months ago, has launched four models, three of which are hybrid cars, including the NX300h.

The new NX300h will be available for deliveries starting February and will be priced around ₹60 lakh, the company said.

While hybrid cars command a price premium due to the technology cost that it entails and the higher taxes, Lexus believes that customers are getting more environment-conscious and are willing to pay the premium.

“We’ve seen customers demand hybrid cars as these cars are seen as more technologically-advanced and environment-friendly. Besides, they are best suited for the Indian conditions as they do not require any external charging,” Arun Nair, Vice-President, Lexus India, told BusinessLine .

“Our focus is not to rake in volumes but to create a better experience for our customers. None of our competitors here have a hybrid vehicle, which gives us a big differentiation in the Indian market,” Nair said.

The Lexus NX300h will be available in two variants – the F Sport and Luxury models.

The Lexus NX300h offers an all-wheel drive and a new adaptive suspension that packs in a 2.5 litre, 4-cylinder in-line engine, which produces 145 KW max power, delivering an ARAI-certified mileage of 18.32 kmpl.

Safety features include eight airbags, ABS plus vehicle stability control and an anti-theft system.

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Published on November 17, 2017