Lexus may be one of the manufacturers to first embrace electrification – it’s been selling a wide range of hybrids for well over a decade – in recent years other manufacturers have taken the lead on electrification from the Japanese manufacturer. Even though it still sells regular non-plug-in hybrids, it still offers no plug-in hybrids and just one fully electric vehicle.
But it seems that might change soon because it was recently reported that Lexus filed a trademark application in Europe for several new variants of its NX crossover. The first is the NX350h, yet the more interesting one is the NX450+.
It’s been suggested that the plus in its name indicates the fact that it’s planned to be a PHEV and there is a high chance it will be motivated by the same powertrain found in the Toyota RAV4 Prime. Power comes from a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder with 176 horsepower, but thanks to two electric motors, the system’s peak power output is 302 horsepower, thus allowing the RAV4 PHEV to sprint to sixty in 5.8 seconds.
Pure-electric range is quite impressive for the RAV4 Prime, thanks to its large 17.8 kWh battery pack (of which 16 kWh is usable). With a full charge, it can be driven a claimed 39 miles (62 km) before the gasoline engine starts up to replenish the battery.
The Lexus NX is roughly the same size and weight as the RAV4, so its range and performance would be very similar. The RAV4 Prime costs from $36,500, while the current NX300h model starts at just under $40,000 – the NX450h+ will probably cost closer to $50,000.
It’s also worth noting that Lexus filed the trademark application for the NX450h+ in Europe, not the US. In the States, the manufacturer applied for trademarks for the NX250 and NX350 nameplates.