Lexus has introduced its latest ES 350h hybrid sedan in Kerala, with prices starting at ₹66.10 lakh (ex-showroom). The Kerala launch at Grand Hyatt Kochi also saw 20 Lexus cars handed over to customers in a single evening, which the company said was the first such mass-delivery event for Lexus India.
The ES 350h is available in two variants. The Exquisite is priced at ₹66.10 lakh, while the higher-spec Luxury variant costs ₹71.80 lakh.
One of the ES 350h's standout features is its fuel efficiency. The car combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery in a self-charging hybrid system. It has an ARAI-certified fuel efficiency of 25.22 km/l, a notable figure for a luxury executive sedan.
Since it is a self-charging hybrid, the ES 350h does not have to be plugged in to charge its battery. The hybrid system recovers energy while the car is being driven and uses the electric motor alongside the petrol engine to improve efficiency.
Lexus is also offering an eight-year or 2,00,000-km vehicle warranty with the ES 350h, an unusually extensive warranty in India's luxury car segment.
The hybrid battery carries an eight-year warranty as well.
Lexus said its ownership package also includes doorstep service support, spare-parts availability and access to its service network. The company has appointed 20 Lexus Relationship Managers across Kerala to provide personalised assistance to customers.
The new-generation ES gets Lexus' latest design language with twin L-signature LED headlamps, aerodynamic bodywork and 19-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, some of the main features include a 14-inch full-HD touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, touch-sensitive controls and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.
The cabin also features nanoe X climate technology, while the Lexus India app allows customers to remotely access certain vehicle functions.
Safety equipment includes eight airbags, Pre-Collision System, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist and a 3D Panoramic View Monitor as part of Lexus Safety System+.
The ES 350h joins the Lexus ES 500e, the all-electric version of the sedan that was introduced earlier. The ES 500e is priced at around ₹91.2 lakh ex-showroom.
The Kerala launch also served as the venue for Lexus Kochi's delivery of 20 vehicles simultaneously to customers.
The line-up handed over during the event included the ES 350h and models from Lexus' ES, NX, RX and LM ranges, including the flagship LM 350h luxury MPV.
Lexus' current portfolio in India spans sedans, SUVs and luxury MPVs, with ex-showroom prices ranging from around ₹66.10 lakh to ₹2.92 crore.
The launch event at Grand Hyatt Kochi was attended by senior representatives of Lexus and Nippon Motor Corporation, including Ryosuke Tawara, Executive Vice President, Lexus India; Ashish Lomesh, General Manager; M.A.M. Babu Moopan, CMD, Nippon Motor Corporation and Lexus Kochi; and Naeem Shahul, MD.
