Lexus hints at HS 250h dedicated hybrid for Detroit show
by John Neff on Dec 23rd 2008 at 4:30PM 
Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe informed us at least year's Detroit Auto Show that his company would be bringing two new hybrids to this year's show in D-town. The first is the much anticipated next-gen Prius and the second is the first dedicated hybrid model for Lexus. This week the Japanese luxury automaker made it official with a page on its consumer website heralding the debut of the Lexus HS 250h on January 11, smack dab in the middle of press days for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.
Not much else is known about the vehicle, other than that it will be available to buy in the Fall of 2009. We suspect the HS 250h will be a Lexus-badged version of the Prius in much the same way that the ES350 is a version of the Toyota Camry. Thus, the HS 250h will also use the same next-gen Hybrid Synergy drivetrain that will debut in the new Prius, both sporting nickel-metal hydride battery packs for the time being until development work on advanced lithium-ion packs is completed. Stay tuned for more info on these two hybrid models from Toyota and Lexus as the 2009 Detroit Auto Show draws ever closer. Thanks for the tip, DJ Pearce!
[Source: Lexus]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
why not the LS2LS7? 4:36PM (12/23/2008)
I thought the ES350 was a version of the Avalon?
Reply
James 4:42PM (12/23/2008)
Sort of. The ES has been Camry-based since its introduction in '89, and the Avalon, introduced in '95, is itself based on a stretched Camry platform. Don't quote me on that but I think all that info is on Wikipedia.
G-Meister 7:57PM (12/23/2008)
you can call it a russet, but it's still a potato.
LM 8:55AM (12/24/2008)
The ES and Avalon are both Camry derivatives. The Avalon was introduced in 1995 as a stretched Camry while the ES rides on the same platform. I believe it's more closely related to the Camry than the Avalon is at this point.
The Highlander/RX, Sienna and now Venza are also Camry derivatives. Obviously the Solara is the coupe version.
Kumail 4:41PM (12/23/2008)
i think it will be a spin-off of the venza. and as always, lets pray it looks good.
Reply
Raffi 6:26PM (12/23/2008)
No it's a spin-off of the Prius.
Mobius_1 7:54PM (12/23/2008)
Physical death by smog or mental death by smug, it's our choice.
mtema99 2:44AM (12/24/2008)
i think it may spin-off of the new generation Avensis
see how it look so close in the photo above
Cialowicz 4:46PM (12/23/2008)
The Lexus HS250h: so damn hybridy, we gave it two 'H's. Prepare for the smug.
Reply
aaron 4:50PM (12/23/2008)
I don't think we can be prepared enough for the smugness.
G-Meister 8:02PM (12/23/2008)
perhaps it should receive a warning label [Warning, those not holding graduate degrees in the arts should proceed with caution] or [Caution- Driving this vehicle outside of Ann Arbor does NOT entitle you to rights different from conventional modes of travel]
Bob 8:15PM (12/23/2008)
I heard that Toyota only makes at most $100 for every Prius they sell. Hmmm...why can't GM...errr...ummmm...Toyota be more profitable.
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Jonathan 4:51PM (12/23/2008)
There are enough uneducated yuppies that the HS will undoubtedly sell like hot cakes, but I'd be much more impressed if it had lithium batteries like the Volt or Tesla. Lexus has enough brand cache to swallow the price increase, too.
Reply
LM 6:02PM (12/23/2008)
exactly why are they uneducated? most yuppies I know tend to actually have college degrees, something your comments indicate you lack.
Jonathan 6:38PM (12/23/2008)
Obviously, anyone in the market for a luxury car is (statistically) incredibly likely to have graduated college. My use of the word "uneducated" refers to Lexus customers' general knowledge about cars. And this college student laughed at the notion you thought he's uneducated. Don't get upset you didn't understand the original comment.
Gary 11:54PM (12/23/2008)
Not uneducated... I think that "ignorant" might be the word we're looking for.
Or maybe I should be asking: what's the word for "a person who blindly follows trends just to be chic"?
It's like: "I bought a new hybrid. I'm better than you. My SUV was oh-so six months ago. Oh wait, gas prices are back down again. I'll be buying an SUV again if that's what my friends and neighbors are doing. I am unable to make a decision on my own--I do what marketing and advertising tells me to do"
static 1:56AM (12/24/2008)
like the rest of autoblog, i agree with jonathan
tekd 6:20AM (12/24/2008)
Your use of the word uneducated was clearly wrong there. Gary's right that you should have used ignorant instead, and probably put the word car in front of it as well.
Laughing at other people for not understanding your poor use of the English language is just proving them right in assuming that you're pretty uneducated yourself.
Most yuppies are indeed pretty car-ignorant, but you should pay more attention in English class because you're pretty English-ignorant.
LM 8:40AM (12/24/2008)
I have two master's degrees and drive a bmw 328xi stick. I'm not ignorant. I'm just an educated guppie car-fan.
LM 8:47AM (12/24/2008)
I didn't say J was uneducated, I said he lacked a college degree, which he admits in his post. So you all can 1 star me all you want, but I was right.