2010 Lexus HS 250h Hybrid Preview and Pricing
The Lexus HS 250h will be the brand’s first dedicated hybrid sedan when it reaches showrooms in the fall of 2009.
Lexus’s three gas-electric hybrid vehicles currently on sale were originally developed as gas-engine models, then converted or updated for hybrid operation. The HS 250h, based closely on the familiar Toyota Prius, is a hybrid vehicle exclusively, no gas-engine-only version is available. Think of the HS 250h as an upscale Prius with Lexus-style amenities and dealership experience and you won’t be far off the mark.
The HS 250h has similar exterior dimensions to the Prius, on an identical 106.3-inch wheelbase. Whether the two cars share an underlying platform or foundation we don’t know. The HS 250h certainly looks different than the Prius: more stylized, perhaps, with a formal rear deck and trunk rather than a hatchback. And Lexus’s figures confirm what an educated eye might guess. With a drag coefficient of 0.27, the HS 250h is slightly less slippery in the air than the Prius (0.25 Cd). That means that, other things equal, the Lexus will deliver slightly poorer fuel economy than Toyota’s Prius in exchange for flashier exterior design.
Like the Prius, the HS 250h will run on its electric motor whenever travel speed, conditions or driving demands allow. The gasoline engine will charge the battery pack and provide extra power for maximum acceleration or high-speed travel, switching off and on automatically whenever the car stops or demands full power.
The HS 250h engine is larger than that in the 2010 Prius (1.8 liters), and it’s Lexus’s first four-cylinder to date. This 2.4-liter inline-4 operates on something engineers call the Atkinson-cycle, which tends to improve fuel efficiency at the expense of peak power. The company claims that this new engine was developed with an emphasis on noise, vibration and harshness control, with premium features such as piston-cooling oil jets and balance shafts that counter vibration generated by the pistons’ movement in the cylinders. We expect that means smooth and quiet.
Lexus hasn’t released horsepower or torque ratings for the HS 250h gas engine, but the company says that the engine and electric motor will deliver combined peak horsepower of 187. That’s substantially more than the Prius (134 hp). It suggests the HS 250h will have more uumph under hard acceleration, but it also means that the Lexus should deliver at least slightly lower fuel economy than the Prius. Still, Lexus claims the HS 250h will provide at least 30 percent better fuel mileage than any of the other three hybrids in its lineup.
Underneath, the HS 250h will use a sophisticated, fully independent double-wishbone rear suspension, compared to the Prius’s solid torsion beam rear axle. That should improve both ride quality and handling. The HS 250h will come standard with 17- inch aluminum wheels, and optional 18-inch wheels. And in the Lexus tradition, the HS 250h will feature a host of noise and vibration dampening features not typically expected in a Toyota, including active dampening engine mounts, special sound-dampening material inside the body panels and more costly seals around the doors and hood.
Inside, the HS 250h will be the first Lexus with carbon-neutral ecological plastic materials. These plant-based plastics emit less carbon dioxide during their lifecycle than plastic made solely from petroleum, and they account for 30 percent of the panels inside the LH 250h. A windshield with infrared-ray reduction properties will keep the interior cooler, and it should reduce the amount of energy required to operate the air conditioning.
The HS 250h will also offer a host of premium options, including low-energy LED headlights, a Lane Keep assist system that warns the driver if the car is drifting out of its lane and then helps steer it back between the lines, and a next-generation navigation system with built-in hard drive.
The nav system features a new casual-speech voice recognition program, as well as XM NavTraffic, NavWeather and Sports and Stock information. Its telematics system allows communication between the car and a remote home computer, storing information on possible destinations.
In Lexus fashion, the HS 250h will come standard with a class-leading 10 airbags, and active safety features such as Vehicle Stability Control and advanced antilock brakes (ABS). The optional Dynamic Radar Cruise Control includes a pre-collision safety system that can load the brakes and tighten the seatbelts before the driver even steps on the pedal. An optional wide-view front monitor will show a 190-degree image of what’s close in front of the car on the navigation screen.
The first HS 250h sedans should trickle into Lexus dealerships by late summer 2009, with widespread availability by the fall. Lexus says this car will slot between its least expensive sedan, the IS 250 ($31,305) and the ES 350 ($34,470). We’d project the LH 250h’s base price at about $33,000, but that’s just a guess.
Until now, Lexus’s hybrid models have been pitched as much for improved performance as fuel economy. Expect the dedicated hybrid HS 250h to be the mileage king among luxury brands.
On Sale: Fall 2009
Expected Pricing: $33,000-$43,000
