Photo: Lexus
Lexus has announced they have surpassed the one million mark when it comes to sales of hybrid vehicles.
The Japanese brand started selling hybrids 11 years ago, in April 2005. At the time, they only had one hybrid in their range, the RX 400h.
The premium hybrid SUV was the first of its kind, and led the way for similar models made by other carmakers. Currently, most premium brands have at least one hybrid SUV in their range.
In 2005, Lexus was the first to sell a premium SUV with a hybrid drivetrain. At the time, this was a huge risk, as the hybrid technology brought a price premium over regular models, and also involved impressive development expenses. If hybrids had not caught on for Lexus, the company would not be where it stands today.
Lexus celebrated this milestone, significant for the Japanese brand, by an individual delivery of an NX 300h, which turned out to be their millionth hybrid. A Lexus customer in Milan, Italy, received delivery of his new car from Alain Uyttenhoven, Head of Lexus Europe.
Currently, Lexus sells ten hybrid models and has the widest lineup of hybrid vehicles in the premium segment. The Japanese brand has a hybrid in every segment they enter, and conventionally-powered models are becoming something rare in their range.
Europe was the best market for Lexus hybrid sales in 2015, with over 40,000 vehicles acquired with this propulsion system. North America was close, with a little over 38,500 units. Japan is the most impressive market for Lexus, as they sold over 31,400 hybrids on that market last year. The volume is huge when compared to European and North American results.
The latest hybrid development from Lexus is the LC 500h, which comes with the next generation in hybrid drivetrain technology. The solution is called Multi-Stage Hybrid System, which involves a second gearbox in the case of the LC 500h.
Along with the second gearbox, the system is lighter than its predecessors, provides more power, and comes with greater efficiency. Lexus also mentioned enhanced acceleration and traction, so these two factors should make the LC 500h exciting to drive.
The premium hybrid SUV was the first of its kind, and led the way for similar models made by other carmakers. Currently, most premium brands have at least one hybrid SUV in their range.
In 2005, Lexus was the first to sell a premium SUV with a hybrid drivetrain. At the time, this was a huge risk, as the hybrid technology brought a price premium over regular models, and also involved impressive development expenses. If hybrids had not caught on for Lexus, the company would not be where it stands today.
Lexus celebrated this milestone, significant for the Japanese brand, by an individual delivery of an NX 300h, which turned out to be their millionth hybrid. A Lexus customer in Milan, Italy, received delivery of his new car from Alain Uyttenhoven, Head of Lexus Europe.
Currently, Lexus sells ten hybrid models and has the widest lineup of hybrid vehicles in the premium segment. The Japanese brand has a hybrid in every segment they enter, and conventionally-powered models are becoming something rare in their range.
Europe was the best market for Lexus hybrid sales in 2015, with over 40,000 vehicles acquired with this propulsion system. North America was close, with a little over 38,500 units. Japan is the most impressive market for Lexus, as they sold over 31,400 hybrids on that market last year. The volume is huge when compared to European and North American results.
The latest hybrid development from Lexus is the LC 500h, which comes with the next generation in hybrid drivetrain technology. The solution is called Multi-Stage Hybrid System, which involves a second gearbox in the case of the LC 500h.
Along with the second gearbox, the system is lighter than its predecessors, provides more power, and comes with greater efficiency. Lexus also mentioned enhanced acceleration and traction, so these two factors should make the LC 500h exciting to drive.
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