Sigh - no folding seats

[w@ntonsoup]

Originally Posted by greg0723

if you have a rx400 you dont need the HS seats to fold. why not just use your rx to haul things?

Might as well buy a one-seater Formula 1 car then, since I the RX has extra seats, too

Originally Posted by TRDFantasy

It's not a "flaw", it's a compromise. If Lexus engineered the seats to fold down in the HS, something else would have to be compromised. With folding rear seats, either the car's height would be different, the rear suspension would be compromised, or interior room would be smaller. That, or trunk capacity would be vastly reduced. Take your pick.

Hooey I tells ya. I've owned probably ten cars with folding seats. There are no compromises in interior room or trunk capacity - it's just a hinge at the bottom of the seatback.

[oldcajun]

Originally Posted by w@ntonsoup

Hooey I tells ya. I've owned probably ten cars with folding seats. There are no compromises in interior room or trunk capacity - it's just a hinge at the bottom of the seatback.

If you hinge the seat, where are you going to put the battery pack. There is no room under the car for a pack this size without compromising something.
The other compromise that would concern me is the loss of body stiffness and the additional noise from the trunk area.

This is not a design flaw, it is just a decision that the Lexus engineers made.

Steve

[w@ntonsoup]

Originally Posted by oldcajun

If you hinge the seat, where are you going to put the battery pack. There is no room under the car for a pack this size without compromising something.
The other compromise that would concern me is the loss of body stiffness and the additional noise from the trunk area.

This is not a design flaw, it is just a decision that the Lexus engineers made.

Steve

Hooey I tells ya. I have had many luxury vehicles with folding seats (in fact EVERY luxury vehicle I've ever owned had them) with no compromises in body stiffness or noise levels. Vehicles from Acura, Audi, Infiniti and even Lexus.

[RXSF]

Originally Posted by w@ntonsoup

Hooey I tells ya. I have had many luxury vehicles with folding seats (in fact EVERY luxury vehicle I've ever owned had them) with no compromises in body stiffness or noise levels. Vehicles from Acura, Audi, Infiniti and even Lexus.

yes...but those luxury sedans didnt have to carry 300 pounds of battery in the rear as well.

While this is a compromise of hybrids, look at it this way. The HS has a bigger trunk than the LSh, so that already is a success.

[ffpowerLN]

Originally Posted by w@ntonsoup

Hooey I tells ya. I have had many luxury vehicles with folding seats (in fact EVERY luxury vehicle I've ever owned had them) with no compromises in body stiffness or noise levels. Vehicles from Acura, Audi, Infiniti and even Lexus.

Good lord...

Which part of the HS250h is a hybrid do you not understand?

For all those luxury cars that you've owned, do any of them have to carry a bunch of battery packs?

READ CLOSELY, no one is trying to say the HS250h doesn't have folding seats is due to body stiffness or noise issues, it's simply that THEY NEED TO PUT THE BATTERIES SOMEWHERE!! Also, the HS is a sedan unlike the higher RX450h which the engineers can tuck the batteries underneath.

[w@ntonsoup]

Originally Posted by ffpowerLN

Good lord...

Which part of the HS250h is a hybrid do you not understand?

For all those luxury cars that you've owned, do any of them have to carry a bunch of battery packs?

READ CLOSELY, no one is trying to say the HS250h doesn't have folding seats is due to body stiffness or noise issues, it's simply that THEY NEED TO PUT THE BATTERIES SOMEWHERE!! Also, the HS is a sedan unlike the higher RX450h which the engineers can tuck the batteries underneath.

4-door Hybrid vehicles with folding rear seats:

Chevrolet Malibu
Honda Insight
Nissan Altima
Saturn Aura
Toyota Camry
Toyota Prius

In fact, the list of hybrids without folding seats is shorter. Like I said, we aren't going to reach consensus here. I think it's a design shortcoming. You apparently can live with it. Such is the reason there is more than one vehicle available to purchase

[(Cj)]

Originally Posted by w@ntonsoup

4-door Hybrid vehicles with folding rear seats:

Chevrolet Malibu
Honda Insight
Nissan Altima
Saturn Aura
Toyota Camry
Toyota Prius

In fact, the list of hybrids without folding seats is shorter. Like I said, we aren't going to reach consensus here. I think it's a design shortcoming. You apparently can live with it. Such is the reason there is more than one vehicle available to purchase

Why don't you get one of those then

[ffpowerLN]

Originally Posted by w@ntonsoup

4-door Hybrid vehicles with folding rear seats:

Chevrolet Malibu
Honda Insight
Nissan Altima
Saturn Aura
Toyota Camry
Toyota Prius

In fact, the list of hybrids without folding seats is shorter. Like I said, we aren't going to reach consensus here. I think it's a design shortcoming. You apparently can live with it. Such is the reason there is more than one vehicle available to purchase

Camry Hybrid battery pack:



And this is the amount of access (or the lack of) that you get from the folding seats with the batteries in the trunk:



Altima Hybrid:

"Hybrid battery eliminates a fold-down rear seat"

http://alternativefuels.about.com/od...maHybrid_2.htm

Malibu Hybrid / Aura Hybrid:

The Malibu Hybrid is a mild hybrid, which means it's a joke comparing to the Toyota HSD system...

Saturn Aura Hybrid uses the same system as the Malibu hybrid.



The black box with the blue cable houses the 36-volt hybrid battery that powers the motor/alternator for engine assist as well as restarting the engine from AUTO STOP mode. Protective cover removed for photo.

http://alternativefuels.about.com/od...id-battery.htm

Toyota Prius:

Toyota Prius is a hatch back, which make it have more room in the trunk area. As you can see from the picture, in that area the cabin is also much taller comparing to the Camry hybrid.



http://alternativefuels.about.com/od...id-battery.htm

Honda Insight:

See Prius.



http://alternativefuels.about.com/od...ht-battery.htm