#DAS09 You can read all sorts of serious and informed observations on the 2010 Lexus HS 250h in our full story.
The HS doesn't photograph all that well, but at the press conference today in Cobo's Riverview Ballroom, it looked far more like the sporty Lexus IS than expected. Well, aside from the fact that it is much taller and narrower.
And aside from the fact that it's front-wheel drive. Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president, told us the 2010 HS 250h is built on Toyota's global small-car platform and that its closest relative is the European-market Toyota Avensis. The HS has the same 106.3-inch wheelbase as the Prius, so it's all in the family, you know. The HS 250h does differ by its double-wishbone rear suspension, but we're guessing this has more to do with opening up trunk space than anything else.
Templin also tells us that Lexus hopes to sell 30,000 HS 250h sedans in a full 12-month calendar year. Since the car doesn't go on sale until late summer of this year, you can probably cut that in half for 2009. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
1487 says:
09:19 AM, 01/11/09
They should not have done this. It doesnt look premium at all. Leave the full hybrids to Toyota. Lexus owners are not going to be buying a car strictly on mileage. What about performance? This car is going to be slow and FWD. Its not going to seem like a true luxury vehicle. Again, Toyota insists on expanding at all costs and competing with itself. The type of people who buy a PRius shun luxury brands because they are not into excess. They dont want a compromised Prius with leather and all these other luxury features that will drive the price to $45k or so.
roar02ram says:
10:27 AM, 01/11/09
Oh please, 1487. The Prius is already close to $30k with the nav & leather (the latter of which was added in response to consumer demand). The Camry's engine has been shown to be anything but slow, and this car's smaller than the Camry, from the looks of the initial specs. Your generalization about Prius owners is a bit too broad, too.
Remember they only want to sell 30k/year. I think they can get that many sales easily through move-up Prius customers and ES350 customers who go for the car with better gas mileage. Plus, even if the car is $45k with all options (about where the IS, ES, and RX lines end with all options), I think the starting price will be closer to $35k (Erin, any word from Lexus at the debut?). The only question is whether these customers will be new ones or buyers cannibalized from other model lines.
roar02ram says:
10:29 AM, 01/11/09
But I might add that those who are cannibalized from other model lines wanted something like the HS but it didn't exist; this car meets a need, is my point. It doesn't mean that Toyota's competing with itself.
billt9 says:
10:59 AM, 01/11/09
... no.
What happened to L-finesse.
Ths is BS.
This is a Civic Hybrid.
bennb says:
11:19 AM, 01/11/09
I'm gonna have to trust Lexus here, they know their Prius demographic ... I know a lot of studies have shown that Prius buyers tend to have significantly higher salaries than the general Toyota buyer.
I know I had a Lexus RX and switched to the Prius b/c of economy, so if this is close to the 2010 Prius in terms of economy I might go the Lexus route. I get the feeling the fuel economy on the 250h will be a slight bit better than the Camry Hybrid however and still below the Prius a significant amount.
Anxious to see one in person!
1487 says:
11:49 AM, 01/11/09
"Oh please, 1487. The Prius is already close to $30k with the nav & leather (the latter of which was added in response to consumer demand). The Camry's engine has been shown to be anything but slow, and this car's smaller than the Camry, from the looks of the initial specs. Your generalization about Prius owners is a bit too broad, too."
I dont think this car is going to be close to $30k with options. The camry hybrid is good for an 8sec 0-60 run which is respectable. I doubt this car will be as light with all its luxury options. Even if it is that fast that is hardly premium performance in 2009. Luxury owners are not interested in compromise. Those who want value and savings are not going to flock to a $35k Lexus hybrid when a Prius is over 10 grand cheaper.
This car will most definitely not match the Prius in mileage. They are saying its 30% more efficient than the most efficient gas Lexus. The IS gets 21/29 I believe.
Toyota keeps on growing and when you get too big you start competing with yourself. Lexus should not be trying to do everything that Toyota does.
bennb says:
12:33 PM, 01/11/09
It's the same wheelbase as the Prius, but is longer overall ... I think this is a smart stragegy ... yes, they may cannibalize from Toyota, but the growing trend will be better economy overall as gas won't stay this low for too long.
If it's not up around 40mpg though, I probably won't consider it since the new Prius should easily be around 50mpg.
honorsystem says:
08:59 PM, 01/11/09
Anyone else see this as a ploy to help meet CAFE standards? This thing looks like a glorified Corolla with a grille that looks mildly derivative of the first-gen Fusion (three-bar-ish with logo in the middle).
I don't know where Toyota/Lexus thinks they are going with the styling on this and the new vehicles they are releasing, but bland and/or ugly seem to be the only recurring themes...
stovt001 says:
09:14 PM, 01/11/09
Cool, an uglier, more expensive Pious. Of course its reliability will be unquestioned no matter how many recalls. Its quality will be hailed as benchmark no matter how far material quality declines. It will be heralded as the car that will save us all from gas and oil. How exciting.
billt9 says:
10:49 PM, 01/11/09
Autoblog has much better pictures, and the inside is a really nice place to be.
Outside... it could have had a better shape.
This car has a Head-Up Display. nice.
I wish HUDs are standard on all vehicles.
iancar says:
12:40 AM, 01/12/09
It looks like a Corolla with batteries.
iancar says:
12:41 AM, 01/12/09
It looks like a Corolla with batteries.
hemi_ownz_u says:
12:42 AM, 01/12/09
It looks like a Corolla! The interior design is blocky and not befitting a luxury car. Or is it? Mercedes seems to think so. I love how edmunds goes easy on the ugly Japanese cars but harps stupid little details on the domestics.
Also, Honda called and wants its grill back.
1487 says:
06:08 AM, 01/12/09
Interior is OK but its what you expect from Lexus, nothing more. The exterior is not upscale at all. Also the front overhang makes it seem like a lower end car.
Consumer Reports and others will love this car regardless of price. I dont think its going to be any more efficient than the camry hybrid since it has the same powertrain.