17 Votes

Lexus Developing Dedicated Hybrid

Agent009 submitted on 6/28/2007 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 11:18:09 AM

24 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.motorauthority.com

Lexus is currently developing a dedicated hybrid model that’s set to go on sale in 2009.

The new car will be Lexus’ most affordable hybrid and will be positioned above the current IS sedan. The hybrid will be priced in between the IS and RX 400h SUV and will be initially offered to the Japanese and UK markets. It’s still undetermined whether or not it will be sold in the US.

“Hybrid is the brand-defining technology for Lexus,” said Steve Settle, the head of Lexus in the UK, during an interview with Automotive News.

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Bring it here, I'll trade in my Prius for it, and I'm sure many others will as well.
— 1970toyotamarc (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 11:38:18 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

There are no words to describe what an idiot you sound like with comments like that.
— 1970toyotamarc (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 3:58:10 PM | | Votes: 2

loool 1970toyotamarc, I love your response to Wi11. So polite and to the point. lool

I love this site, thanks AutoSpies!
— Designer1 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 7:54:02 PM | | Votes: 3

Can u or they afford it? Prius to Lexus seems like a huge leap. And its not an economy car like the Prius. Its a tree huggers way of faluting they care for what they believe is helping the environment.
— w209w114 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 12:07:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Flaunting***
— w209w114 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 12:08:26 PM | | Votes: 0

The Prius is not an economy car. Many Prius owners are quite well to do and have made the choice to purchase a Prius over much more expensive vehicles. People are much more likely to cross shop a Prius to an entry level luxury car than to a Honda Fit, for example.
— 1970toyotamarc (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 3:57:17 PM | | Votes: 3

This is what I think about today's hybrid technology.

A hybrid injected car acts like having a small turbo added to your engine, but a smarter turbo, it gives you some extra power and at the same time saves you some gas, unlike the real turbo does that gives you lots of power and sucks lots of gas. So for someone who's ok to have some power added to the car + some gas saving, hybrids will do the job.

Of course the smaller the engine the greener the car, for those that want to go green, but at the same time I think in the near future hybrids should be positioned to compete with turbo/super charge technologies, and to unleash the full batteries potential so it would get closer to turbo's power. And then the competition will be real. Take for example the batteries that are in the LS600h, they output over 200 hps, but they're detuned to get only 40 or so.
So imagine, a smart turbro that gives you 200 hps and yet saves you some gas.

So although I'm not fan of hybrids, because it costs too much for what it offers, but I would prefer and go for it instead of buying a turbo powered car.
— Designer1 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 8:07:22 PM | | Votes: 4

1970Toyotamark

Youre absolutely right. How could I forget that Toyota Prius and Lexus IS are basically the same brand. People are most likely to cross shop a Camry and a Lexus than a Camry and a BMW or Mercedes.
— w209w114 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/29/2007 9:53:51 AM | | Votes: -1

"How could I forget that Toyota Prius and Lexus IS are basically the same brand."

What are you talking about? The Lexus IS is not a hybrid, unlike the Prius. The Prius is not rear-wheel drive, unlike the IS. They're not the same cars.
— norak (View Profile)

Posted on 7/6/2007 11:29:55 AM | | Votes: 1

Wonder why takes them so long to do it
— SupraNeverBack (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 12:15:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Lexus is sure pushing the hybrid, just like the Europeans are pushing the diesel.

Will be interesting to see in a couple of years which will find more acceptance.
— Willis (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 12:36:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

Lexus also makes diesels. E.g. the Lexus IS200d. Many German companies make hybrids too, e.g. Peugeot hybrid-diesel and the Mercedes S-Class hybrid.
— norak (View Profile)

Posted on 7/6/2007 11:31:50 AM | | Votes: 1

If they bring this out, how will it affect the rest of the model line up here in the US? How will the GS sedans sell? It sounds like it will be a nitch car to fit in between the size of the IS350 and the GS. There is not that much space in between the two.
— BMW4me4ever (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 2:58:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

ZZZZZ
— xj13 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 8:40:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

Lexus ALWAYS understates their 0 - 60 times by at least .5 seconds. Here are the results of the 5 Top Luxury Cars in this test which was reported in the January Issue of Car and Driver. Please note these tests were all done on the same day at about the same time and at the same altitude. The results reflect the average of 3 runs and all cars are the 2007 vintage.

Mercedes S550 5.6, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.1 (Benz show 5.4 in their specs)
BMW 750iL 5.7, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.2
Jag XJ Super 6.0 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.5
Lexus LS460L 6.2 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.6
Audi A8 6.8 0 - 60 quarter mile 15.2

Note that Lexus, as usual, is more than the 5.4 the manufacturer CLAIMS to get by .8 seconds.

Also note the LS430 (prior model the LS460 replaced) was rated at 295 HP and was actually 278 when Lexus corrected their rating. And there were no refunds or apologies from the so-called "quality" car company. ABC - Always Be Careful what you buy from the (REPREHENSIBLE) Toyota/Lexus people.....
— bevisroy (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 10:18:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4

How often are you going to paste the same comment in different forums?
— mitchatlexusofmarin (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 10:25:20 PM | | Votes: 6

effin retard.
— mitchatlexusofmarin (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 10:27:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6

These posts need to be made to show everyone what the Toyota Motor Company is all about. They are basically dishonest and disingenuous at best. The world needs to know!
— bevisroy (View Profile)

Posted on 6/28/2007 10:31:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6

Yeah, It would be nice to see what the Japanese would rather drive. Their own cars or German cars. Hmmm
— w209w114 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/29/2007 9:57:45 AM | | Votes: -2

The Lexus brand wasn't introduced into Japan until very recently. As such, most luxury cars in Japan are Mercedes and BMWs. Lexus dominates mainly in America, the world's biggest car market.
— norak (View Profile)

Posted on 7/6/2007 11:35:11 AM | | Votes: 1

A hybrid car is designed to be green. A turbo makes good to your pocket, but it is not a green choice.
— silent_power (View Profile)

Posted on 6/29/2007 10:47:41 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Lexus ALWAYS understates their 0 - 60 times by at least .5 seconds. Here are the results of the 5 Top Luxury Cars in this test which was reported in the January Issue of Car and Driver. Please note these tests were all done on the same day at about the same time and at the same altitude. The results reflect the average of 3 runs and all cars are the 2007 vintage.

Mercedes S550 5.6, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.1 (Benz show 5.4 in their specs)
BMW 750iL 5.7, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.2
Jag XJ Super 6.0 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.5
Lexus LS460L 6.2 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.6
Audi A8 6.8 0 - 60 quarter mile 15.2

Note that Lexus, as usual, is more than the 5.4 the manufacturer CLAIMS to get by .8 seconds.

Also note the LS430 (prior model the LS460 replaced) was rated at 295 HP and was actually 278 when Lexus corrected their rating. And there were no refunds or apologies from the so-called "quality" car company. ABC - Always Be Careful what you buy from the (REPREHENSIBLE) Toyota/Lexus people.....
— bevisroy (View Profile)

Posted on 7/5/2007 6:12:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

If you're taking the average of 3 runs, do your 0-60 results have a large enough sample size to make the differences in 0-60s statistically significant?
— norak (View Profile)

Posted on 7/6/2007 11:43:56 AM | | Votes: 1

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Lexus Developing Dedicated Hybrid

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