MOTORING Lexus’s electric UX

MOTORS

A Lexus That’s Positively ELECTRIC

Historically Lexus has been a keen advocate of self-charging hybrid vehicles. Its new UX300e model, though, is the brand’s first dedicated electric vehicle... and it’s nothing short of brilliant!

Words: Rob Davis.

THANKS TO LOCKDOWN, many things were put on the back burner or went almost unnoticed. New car launches, for example, were a more muted affair for car dealerships. And for that reason you might have missed the launch of Lexus’s UX300e.

It arrived with a whisper in every sense because not only did the launch of Lexus’s first all-electric model occur when dealerships were unable to welcome crowds into their showroom, but this 150kW five seater is also whisper-quiet as it glides around the countryside. Lexus has long been an advocate of selfcharging powertrains, but this is the first model powered entirely by volts. Looking a little more closely at the UX300e, it might look quite conventional. It’s smart, certainly, but unlike the BMW i3 or Ford Mustang Mach-E, there’s nothing too gratuitously different or aggressive about its styling. Up close it’s a good-looking car, and there’s a much broader paint palette to choose from beyond the usual 50 shades of silver, as well as five interior colours.

Speaking of what’s happening in the cabin, the good news continues with five decent-sized seats and a boot of 367 litres. For context, a petrol or diesel Ford Focus offers 340 litres, and we make a point of mentioning that because sometimes boot space is compromised in an electric car because that’s where the batteries and motors are usually shoved. Not in this case though! >>

>> The good news continues, too, when you consider the UX300e’s price and the standard kit list. There are three trim levels, with prices of £43,900, £47,400 and £53,500 respectively.

That’s cheaper than a Volvo XC40 Recharge and on a par with the Mustang Mach-E. As standard, Lexus throws in adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, electrically adjustable seats, navigation and mobile connectivity. We think it’s worth stumping up for the Premium Plus pack, to gain leather seats with heating front and rear, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and wireless smartphone charging.

Top spec Takumi models also add a 360° camera, sunroof, and Mark Levinson stereo. Each UX300e shares the same 150kW motor, charging in as little as 52 minutes from a DC charger. The UX’s range is a usable 190 miles. Naturally being all-electric, no CO2 is emitted, meaning company car drivers are taxed just 1% BIK, and the car falls into the cheapest A-band for VED. Performance? That’s brisk too, as you’d expect from the instant power that comes from an electric drivetrain. 60mph is reached in 7.5 seconds for safe overtaking, and the car is limited to 99mph. So far then, it’s all good. Stylish, spacious, well-equipped with good performance. The real kicker, though, is the fact that Lexus consistently ranks top in every driver satisfaction and reliability survey conducted by Auto Express, What Car? and others. Lexus is, by reputation, one of the easiest and most rewarding car brands to live with on a day to day basis, and the UX is a perfect example of why. If you’re looking for a practical, luxurious car ideal for A-roads and cities alike, it’s easy to recommend it. n

LEXUS UX300 PREMIUM PLUS

Price: £47,400 (on sale now). Powertrain: 150kW, 300Nm torque, with lithium ion batteries. Performance: 0-62 mph: 7.5 seconds. Top Speed: 99mph. Electric range of 196 miles. Equipment: Heated, ventilated, leather seats, keyless entry, wireless smartphone charging. n

Three Pronged Attack: Three electric executives...

Jaguar I-Pace S £65,245: There’s a premium to be paid even for the entry-level I-Pace which isn’t as well-equipped as Lexus’s UX300e. The 90kWh battery provides a powerful 400PS and a range of 292 miles, which is formidable. 60mph is reached in four and a half seconds and the car tops out at 124mph. Standard kit includes heated leather seats, cruise and climate but you’ll need to dig into the options list of move up the range to match the adaptive cruise and other features of the Lexus. n

Tesla Model 3 RWD £43,490: For a relatively new car brand, Tesla has certainly gained traction in the industry. The Model 3 is the smallest in the range and is comparable to a Ford Focus in size. Its 278 mile range, top speed of 140mph and 0-60mph time of 5.3 seconds are all healthy, but buyers are still likely to be wary of the lack of dealerships in the UK and by the new brand’s as yet unproven record for reliability. Lexus, meanwhile, tops customer satisfaction and reliability surveys and has a move conventional car-like interior compared to the Tesla’s ergonomically unusual ultra-minimalist interior. n

Nissan Leaf E+ Tekna £32,445: Nissan was one of the first to market with their all-electric Leaf and this is its second generation. In this flagship trim it provides 239 miles of range, 60mph in 6.9 seconds and 217PS. It’s well-equipped but feels like the budget choice against the Lexus with its brand appeal and polished cabin and through its cars are British made, Nissan still doesn’t counter Lexus’s position at the top of reliability and customer satisfaction surveys – the brand achieved a 98.7% reliability scope in the What Car? awards. n

A GOOD SPORT

Bentley has given its large SUV a more dynamic presence and the result of the sporting makeover is the Bentayga S. The sporty V8 model sits below the firm’s Speed model and is set to go head-to-head with Range Rover’s Autobiography Dynamic...

Words: Rob Davis.

SIX FIGURE FLAGSHIPS are now common among manufacturers of large SUVs. Range Rover has its Autobiography, Benz has its AMG-spec GLS and now Bentley has this: The Bentayga S. It sits below the Bentayga Speed in the range, and whilst the latter has a W12 engine – with 6.0 litres and twin turbos yielding a hulking 900Nm torque – the S, by contrast, has a more modest powerplant... at least, relatively speaking. With four litres of displacement, eight cylinders and 770Nm torque, there’s still plenty of grunt to spare and it’s still good to reach 60mph in 4.4 seconds and 180mph on a closed track. In fact, if Bentley’s Continental GT is anything to go by, the weight loss with the smaller, AMG-sourced engine may actually be the better option, making the car more nimble and improving the handling of the Bentayga S as a result. Unlike the W12 Speed, the V8 S is also more explicitly sporty in its styling. Dark tint headlights, black brightware, and a new part-Alcantara interior with red highlights plus 22” wheels provide a more muscular look. Meanwhile, bespoke sports tuned suspension and the inclusion of Bentley’s 48v Dynamic Ride system also provides satisfying dynamic precision, too. The Bentayga remains adept at handling rutted roads and country lanes, and there are different terrain settings. In theory it’ll wade through half a metre of water... although it’s unlikely you’ll take it far from its comfort zone, on motorways and A-roads. Bentley’s sector-defining and market- leading luxury SUV is available in four, five or seven seat configurations, and since it entered the market in 2016, more than 25,000 customers have taken delivery of a Bentayga... the S only looks set to built upon the company’s success with its first SUV.

BENTLEY BENTAYGA S

Price: £179,900. Engine: 4.0 litre twin turbo V8. Performance: 60mph in 4.5 seconds, 180mph. Equipment: Air suspension, four terrain modes, Alcantara upholstery, 48v Bentley Dynamic Ride system. n

A Snake in the Grass

Eco-friendly electric motoring is a trend that is rapidly spreading through the performance car market, and now, there’s a snake in the grass in the form of an electric AC Cobra which is attempting to infiltrate the world of muscle cars...

MENTION THE NAME AC COBRA to any car fanatic and they’ll think of hulking 6.2 litre V8 engines barking beneath the bonnet of American muscle cars. Only now, there’s a (slightly) more sensible option, an AC Cobra with an all-electric powertrain. Sacrilege, or a sign of the times? AC has introduced a power system for a new age thanks to the input of its Derbybased technical partner Falcon Electric. There are two versions of the AC Cobra Series 4-electric available. Priced at £148,000, plus any on-the-road charges, the fast 230kW version delivers 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, has an estimated range of 190 miles and weighs just 1,190kg. In contrast the 460kW version, priced at £168,000 plus any on-the-road charges, achieves 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds, has an estimated range of over 160 miles and a weight of 1,240kg. Engineering challenges for both models have included the elimination of excess weight, for a longer range.

That means the car is still rather spartan inside, but it’s thankfully still muscular in appearance and has lost none of the appeal despite the absence of that soundtrack.

The electric powertrain means lots of responsible fun, but if you’re a petrol purist, separately, AC Cars has announced that its AC Cobra Superblower is now being fitted with a 6.2 litre V8 650 bhp, 880 Nm torque engine, as against the previous version of 6.2 litre V8 580 bhp 550 Nm torque engine. The price of the AC Cobra Superblower is £139,500, but if it’s all the same to you, we think the electric option is best! n

AC Cobra 4-Electric

Price: £148,000. Motor: 230kW, 500Nm peak 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds, Find Out More: Call 0330 113 1892 or see www.accars.eu.

More to the Morgan

MODEL UPDATES OFFER BUYERS EVEN MORE SPEC AND GREATER COMFORT

MORGAN Few people choose to put a Morgan on their drive for practical reasons, but now the Great British brand’s Plus Four and Plus Six models are a little easier to live with thanks to a number of 2022 model year improvements. The new model features a n all new hood for greater weatherproofing, all new seats for greater comfort plus the addition of USB ports for connecting mobile devices, enabling music and navigation. The standard-fit Comfort seat has lumbar support whilst the Comfort Plus version has chunkier side and thigh boosters for better lateral support. A new lighting package provides better cabin illumination whilst the USB ports incorporate Bluetooth functionality to add at least something modern to the driving experience. n ISUZU Isuzu’s D-Max has been named pick-up truck of the year by 4x4 magazine and, separately, it has been awarded the maximum five-stars in the Euro NCAP safety awards. In our part of the country, farmers, property developers and estate managers all value the practicality of a pick-up truck, and the new D-Max can be equipped with heated leather seats, adaptive cruise control, navigation, mobile connectivity providing a blend of civilisation and practicality, from £21,000-£31,000. n

D-Max pick-up of the year for farmers and landowners...

New Bugatti’s £2.7m price tag

JUST 300 EXAMPLES OF BUGATTI’S CHIRON SUPER SPORT WILL BE MADE, EACH WITH AN EYE-WATERING PRICE TAG BUGATTI If you’re sufficiently well-heeled, if you value exclusivity and if you’re in a hurry, good news. Bugatti will make just 300 examples of its new limited edition Chiron Super Sport model, each with a price tag of £2.7m. The cars will utilise an 8.0 litre W12 engine and two enormous turbochargers to yield 1,578bhp and 1,600Nm torque, providing enough grunt to shift the thing to 124mph in 5.8 seconds. The car’s top speed? You’ll need a trip to the Nürburgring to get close; the Chiron will do 273mph flat out... and 60mph is reached in just two seconds. n

MOTORING NEWS

In Brief

MOST RELIABLE CARS

WHAT CAR? NAMES 2021’S MOST RELIABLE CAR BRANDS FROM READER SURVEY

What Car? magazine has named the UK’s most reliable car brand after surveying 13,000 car owners who have suffered faults with their vehicles over the past 12 months. The survey included information from 178 models and 31 different car brands.

The UK’s 10 Most Reliable Car Brands:

10. BMW: 95.2% reliability rating. =9. Mazda: 95.2% reliability rating. 8. Honda: 95.3% reliability rating. 7. Kia: 95.9% reliability rating. 6. Hyundai 96.3% reliability rating. 5. Skoda: 96.4% reliability rating. 4. Mini: 96.8% reliability rating. 3. Toyota: 97.7% reliability rating. 2. Mitsubishi: 97.9% reliability rating. 1. Lexus: 98.7% reliability rating.

The UK’s 10 Least Reliable Car Brands:

3. Tesla: 88.6% reliability rating. 2. Renault: 87.6% reliability rating. 1. Land Rover: 78.2% reliability rating.

The Right Protection for YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

The past year has been difficult for everyone, but NFU Mutual believes that having the right insurance cover in place for your home or business provides peace of mind for unforeseen circumstances...

Slowly, we’re getting back to normal. And after a time of disruption, that’s a good place to be. But having the right insurance in place can also help you get back to normal should the worst happen. That’s why it’s important to consider the quality of your cover and the value for money you’re receiving. When choosing insurance, it can be tempting to use comparison sites and go for the cheapest option, especially if there’s a strain on finances. However the quality of your cover is equally important. At NFU Mutual we continue to work hard to help make sure our customers have the right amount of protection for their needs. “At NFU Mutual, 100 years of insurance experience has taught us a lot; established in 1910 to provide insurance for the National Farmers Union (NFU), we’re now the UK’s leading rural insurer with over 300 local offices and more than 850,000 customers, and underwriting premium in excess of £1.7bn,” say Ashley Oxer and Miles Baker. “And NFU Mutual isn’t just for farmers. It’s for private households, businesses, for those in towns or cities as well as those who live and work in rural communities.”

“But despite our size, our business model still focuses on retaining customers through delivering excellent service and building long lasting relationships. We offer car, home and landlord insurance, plus policies that can cover your business, commercial vehicle, farming and equine insurance needs. NFU Mutual were also proud to be named Which? Insurance Brand of the Year 2020.”

“What makes us different is our local presence. With an office nearby, we’re able to visit our customers to help ensure they are properly insured for their individual circumstances.”

“Our continuity of contact means you speak to the same person who can visit you in person to understand your needs, or your own dedicated account handler, so you always deal with a familiar face; a real person.” “As well as our insurance services, within the office we also have a dedicated NFU Mutual Financial Adviser who specialises in pensions, investments, life cover and income protection, as well as Inheritance Tax planning. So we can also provide financial advice for your business. This means our office can offer products and services that can protect you, your family and your business all in one place.” “Those services dovetail well with our insurance products in the sense that it enables us to look after our clients holistically and provide comprehensive protection for all stages of your life.” “The past two years have shown the benefit of planning for uncertain times, and though a global pandemic is an exceptional circumstance, the idea of protecting yourself and your business against all of life’s uncertainties is one that remains at the heart of everything we do.” NFU Mutual Financial Advisers advise on NFU Mutual products and selected products from specialist providers. They can explain the advice services and charges. Financial advice is provided by NFU Mutual Select Investments Limited.” “As we slowly begin to return to normal, this means we’re very much open for business. In addition to telephone and video consultations, we’re also resuming our face-to-face meetings and site visits (restrictions permitting); a more personal way to provide our clients with the protection they deserve.” n

Find Out More: NFU Mutual is now based at 41 St Mary’s Street, Stamford, PE9 2DS. For more information call 01780 762421 or visit nfumutual.co.uk. A Oxer & M J Baker is an appointed representative of The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No.111982). And an introducer to NFU Mutual Select Investments Limited, a member of the NFU Mutual group of companies.