Luxury marque to revolutionise Indian car market with three hybrid models initially; high performance naturally-aspirated models to follow up
After endless speculations about its arrival, Lexus has confirmed they will enter the Indian market in August 2016, with a humble line-up of three models to usher their Indian operations to begin with. Tentatively, plans are afoot to open dealerships in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.
After endless speculations about its arrival, Lexus has confirmed they will enter the Indian market in August 2016, with a humble line-up of three models to usher their Indian operations to begin with. Tentatively, plans are afoot to open dealerships in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.
All three models to inaugurate Lexus India are hybrid models; no naturally-aspirated petrol powered engine will be offered in the beginning. The models concerned are the Lexus RX 450h, Lexus GS 450h - both of which are widely believed to target the growing affluent demography, while the flagship LS 600h is aimed squarely at environment-conscious Indian Bollywood stars, captains of industry and cabinet members of the second-most populous country in the world. The latter will be made available in standard and 'L' wheelbase configurations.
The RX 450h and GS 450h share the same 3.5-litre V6 engine paired to an electric motor, although outputs vary a little, with the SUV gaining a healthy advantage: 308 bhp for the GS 450h and 338 bhp for the RX 450h. The LS 600h gets a 5.0-litre V8 engine also paired to twin electric motors, pushing out 438 bhp.
Dealer prices typically have a direct correlation with how many units a brand can shift. Having said that, while Lexus haven't confirmed pricing for these individual models, they have set their sales targets for the next four years. True to Lexus, they aren't going for volume. Anything between 1,000 - 3,500 cars a year by 2018 and 5,000 units or more by 2020 is enough by their standards, thank you.
It isn't surprising that the ageing CT 200h isn't part of the opening act, but the absence of the NX 300h quite frankly is. But the main question on my mind is this: Given India's commitment to reduce national carbon emissions and strengthen its standing on the environmental debate, will the Lexus LS 600h L finally win over the President and Prime Minister of India, both of whom are currently driven in the Mercedes S600 Pullman and BMW 760iL respectively as their official state cars?
For a list of Heads of States who have made the shift towards Lexus as heir official state cars, click here for Part 1 and here for Part 2. At last count, over twenty Prime Ministers, Presidents, Kings and Queens all over the world have chosen flagship Lexus models as their official state cars. If the leaders of India need a second opinion, I'm sure they could get their peers on the phone and ask for a recommendation.
Cheers!
All Lexus
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