In hindsight, it seems like a no-brainer. With eco- and image-conscious consumers willing to plunk down a sizeable chunk of change for something with a "Hybrid" badge, it was only a matter of time before Lexus brought forth a hybrid-only luxury car.
Automotive News Europe wasn't able to pry any details from Steve Settle, head of Lexus in the UK, so whether or not the new hybrid will be based off an existing platform is still open to debate – along with what name will be affixed to the boot.
Expect the new hybrid to be priced below the IS, making it the least expensive vehicle in the Lexus lineup, and look for it in dealers sometime in 2009.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
icu812ru469 @ Jun 28th 2007 3:59PM
The Lexux Prius... the current Prius, but $32K.
testa di cazzo @ Jun 28th 2007 4:15PM
hah! that's just what i was thinking. but they'll probably call it something like the ps220 or something (gotta copy bmw's naming patterns after all)
Pouya @ Jun 28th 2007 11:34PM
@ testa di cazzo
Please back up your assertion that Lexus "copies BMW's naming patterns":
ES350 --> 328, 335
IS250, IS350 --> 328, 335
GS350, GS430, GS450h --> 528, 535, 550
SC430 --> 650
LS460, LS600h --> 750, 760
LX470 --> X5
GX470 --> X3, X5
RX350, RX400h --> X3, X5
Because I don't see it.
FrankTheCrank @ Jun 28th 2007 4:26PM
What about a full electric??
what are these guys so afraid of? It was done in California. Give the buyers the option to go full electric. Let me charge it at home.
Barney @ Jun 28th 2007 5:18PM
"What about a full electric??"
They want a bigger market and in more countries. California and the eastern seaboard with it's brownouts, would not be ideal. Alaskan and Canada with their cold winters, wouldn't be much of a market either. Why create a car that few would buy? Your probably one of the few that own an electric car for regular use.
toronado455 @ Jun 28th 2007 5:11PM
How they intend to undercut IS pricing on a hybrid Lexus is beyond me. I'll bet it shares a platform with the next gen Prius, though.
Barney @ Jun 28th 2007 5:19PM
"I'll bet it shares a platform with the next gen Prius, though."
Why?
willem @ Jun 28th 2007 7:33PM
Toy needs to sell those rebadged Crapmy hybrids somehow.
George @ Jun 28th 2007 9:06PM
I'm not sure that Lexus plans to sell a hybrid only model for less than its existing lineup. I'm sure it will carry a premium price tag.
I'm pretty sure that the price is autoblog's opinion and the last paragraph should start with " I EXPECT...."
icu812ru469 @ Jun 29th 2007 1:32AM
Oh "testicle da casing" you... I guess BMW copyrighted numbers and I'm sure MB copyrighted for letters, thus the thought that Lexus somehow copied BMW..
mr friggles @ Jun 29th 2007 12:58PM
#4, they won't offer electric cars because it would sap the oil industry's profit margin. I would definitely buy an electric if I had a chance. Do a search on EV1or Who Killed the Electric car -LOTS of people would buy one if given the option. I could also see this creating a demand for small solar "power stations" where people put panels on rooftops, let 'em soak in the sun during the day, and use that to help charge the car at night. good stuff.
Calguy @ Jun 29th 2007 1:06PM
Very, very smart on Lexus' part. The Prius crosses boundries of the typical car market like only the MINI has. In the driveways of $6million houses (a common thing) in San Francisco, you see as many or more Prius than Mercedes and BMWs. Those people can afford Maseratis, but with the state of the world, the point and the message is as important to those shoppers as the true goodness of a hybrid.
The American market for so long has assumed, unlike Europe, that good mpg must come in a bargain-box econo car. A good recipe for sure, but when Prius chat rooms have endless postings about adding leather, sunroofs, heated seats, it's clear the appeal goes way beyond only the frugal. Lexus grabbing more of the market is just another savvy way for Toyota to dominate.