So...

About the HS250h...

 

IMO, I'm sure there are people that buy Acuras despite the ugly grill.

btw, speaking of lame grill wars, remember when Jeep sued Hummer over grill design, they lost.

 

That's my main problem with the HS. Where Lexus is trumpeting the HS as the first full luxury hybrid, how hard would it be for Ford to make a Lincoln MKZ hybrid (based off of the excellent 2010 Fusion Hybrid)? With minimal effort, Lincoln would have a "luxury hybrid" that outclassed the HS in size as well as fuel-efficiency and it would have its share of technology with the smartgauge and SYNC. A hybrid MKZ would come in higher in price than the HS.

Like MPLexus301, I think Toyota should have used the better 2.5 I4 engine in the HS. At the least, IMO, the HS should deliver 40+ MPG City. I just don't think Lexus set the bar high enough with the HS performance numbers.

 

As Phil stated, lets get back to the HS please. We have enough ugly ACura threads right now....

HS comments now welcome!!

 

No argument from me for the most part. Though the MKZ starts at 35k so a hybrid will probably cost 40k or so.
Spy pics of the possible Lincoln Hybrid.
http://jalopnik.com/392654/2009-lincoln-mkz-hybrid

 

agreed that gas mileage is not that impressive. the new Ford fusion hybrid trumps the camry and HS in the hybrid technology

 

Definitely. I mentioned that in my Ford Fusion Hybrid review several weeks ago.

Probably...we don't know that for sure.


I'll save many of my detailed HS250 comments for my review (it still is not available in my area) but, right off the bat, despite its smaller size, it looks like fairly good competition for a possible Lincoln MKZ hybrid, though an ES Hybrid would probably be a better one.

 

And it SHOULD it is the newer vehicle. The HS is a luxury vehicle.
Hybrid tech continues to get better. Amazing how the RX 450h gets 30MPG! Ford has a homerun with the Fusion.

 

I honestly never liked the style of this car to begin with- I do see the ways in which it looks a tad like the Corolla body, but with that said, I see a lot of Toyota design cues in Lexus vehicles (or vice versa). I guess it’s to be somewhat expected, but I wish there were more of a distinct difference in the design of Toyota & Lexus vehicles.

However, I’m sure the car will sell just fine—it’s just not my cup of tea hehe I think I'd get bored with it.

And that grill was the first thing that turned me away

 

so why does the RX with 290 horsepower and all that weight get only 5 mpg lower than the HS which has more than a 100 hp deficit? it has got to be the inefficient 4 banger

 

With that photo, i think they shouldve made the car sit a tad lower and made the car wider. It would make it look less like a corolla and really, when i see luxury cars they are not as narrow as the HS looks in that photo.

 

Yes, but that's the generic dorqy hybrid look that Toyota/Lexus/Honda seem to think is necessary with the super-efficient hybrids, even in the case of the HS being a more luxurious version.

 

Wider and lower would be a nice change on most of the Toyota/Lexus/Scion model lineup


at this angle, it wasn't so bad




but then I moved over a tad and was disappointed hehe




and while I'm at it, I'll just throw this other picture in-- OoOO a closeup of the tire

 

That's too low a profile for a car of this type. Lexus would be wise to make 45's a option, with 55 or 60s standard.

 

is there a reason lexus doesnt put perforations into the brake discs or use ventilated discs on all their models besides cost saving?