NAIAS – 2010 Lexus HS 250h
January 12, 2009 by Matt Brogan
In its 20th year at the Detroit show, Lexus gave the world premiere of the 2010 HS 250h luxury sedan today at the 2009 North American International Auto Show.
The all-new HS 250h will have a dedicated hybrid, not sold with any other powertrain. It is powered by Lexus’ first four-cylinder engine, the 2.4-litre Atkinson-cycle engine, which uses variable valve timing to increase efficiency. The engine generates 139kW.
“In 20 years, Lexus has gone from question mark to benchmark,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager, “leading to a landmark series of hybrid vehicles, including the vehicle we’re debuting here today, the first ever dedicated luxury hybrid.”
Lexus projects that the HS 250h will be 30 per cent more efficient than any other Lexus and will have the best combined fuel economy of any luxury vehicle in the United States. The company says the city mileage will be higher than that of the two-passenger Smart micro car.
Many features contribute to the HS 250h’s efficiency. An exhaust-heat recovery system aids in engine warm-up and enhances fuel economy. It is very aerodynamic, with a 0.27 coefficient of drag, thanks to standard front spoiler, rear under-spoiler, rear undertrays and diffuser fins.
The gull-wing shaped room adds to the slipperiness of the shape. The brushless electric motor in the steering system adds to efficiency by draining less engine power than a conventional hydraulic system.
The new model, which will go on sale in late summer, fits between the carmaker’s IS and ES models, rounding out its entry-luxury group. The front-wheel-drive vehicle is a little longer than the IS and about the same width.
It has all the luxury appointments: standard 10-way power leather seats, moonroof and premium audio. It has an optional navigation system that can deliver current traffic, weather, stock and sports information in more than 150 cities.
It also has a wide-angle front view monitor that uses a camera in the front grille to allow the driver to check for front blind spots at intersections or when exiting parking garages.
Safety features include 10 airbags; Lane-keep Assist, which alerts the driver of unintended lane departure and adds steering torque to stay in the lane; Safety Connect, while provides automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle locator and 24/7 emergency and road assistance; active front seat head restraints and available LED headlights.
The all-new Lexus Enform system allows access to operators for navigation system and can also be programmed with destinations by the owner through other computers.
Eco-plastics make up 30 percent of the interior and cargo area, and 85 per cent of the HS, including the battery, can be recycled.
In addition to the HS, Templin announced two more launches that Lexus will make this year. A new RX will arrive at dealerships in February and the IS C convertible will arrive in late spring, giving Lexus its first convertible coupe in the entry luxury segment.
Print it: 
i like lexus’…
but not this one!
I love the tech, it’s the honda-ish looks I’m not keen on.
FWD Lexus, no thanks.
Hmm, I’d rather be driving this than a prius, though to me it looks more like a hybrid corolla. And yes, very close to honda styling…
Lexus have invented the current model Honda Civic Sedan.
I respected them more when they slavishly copied The Germans.
Now the Japanese are copying the Japanese?
Where will it all end?
Are they desperately waiting for more Chinese cars to be designed so they can copy them too?
In 3 or 4 generations, Toyota will release The Nano.
Hold up…
FYI, Toyota/Lexus have provided the masses with hybrid vehicles for quite a while now and would you look at that? Just about every other car manufacturer has a “with a hybrid model to be expected” written about them by journos and bloggers such as the great crew from CA.
What’s this? The German’s copying the Japanese? UNHEARD OF!
Yes, and no. It was probably inevitable from the day ‘hybrid’ was discovered (in car terms, two or more engines combined) that all manufacturers would start heading in this direction (we discovered the ‘environment’ *shock* and our limited supply of oil *horror*).
I wouldn’t say they copied Honda, sure aspects of the styling look similar (especially the nose) but who know’s how it’ll drive, comfort levels, build quality, technology etc. is in comparison to Honda’s hybrid.
I don’t see the connection to civic in the design, i actually think it looks like a cross between the corolla sedan and the avensis recently released in europe.
Must say i was expecting this to be a lexus version of prius, i.e. in a hatchback form, not a hybrid sedan of this size. They may as well make the hybrid IS instead. I do wonder what kind of fuel consumption will it actually achieve and what platform is this car based on.
Why has it got a North American Ford grill?
What an ugly boring turd of a car! Why on earth would you buy this instead of a 3 series diesel?
I’m not a fan of this car. Firstly don’t like that it’s FWD, although I don’t think there is a RWD hybrid out there, though they make them in 4WD. it doesn’t look nice at all. It doesn’t look like a luxury car. Why couldn’t they just chuck in a hybrid engine into the IS? IS250 is a good looking car, and much much better looking than this one, and RWD…
Dan, what about the GS450h? that’s RWD. Yes they should have used the IS for a hybrid.
Looks like a Corolla to me. And yeah, what was wrong with the IS donating itself to a hybrid model? Why make a new one..
I like Lexus, although I agree I do not like this Lexus. I think it 97% reflects the current Corolla. It isn’t as pretty as it should be, you can’t lure in customers just by saying “this is an only hybrid car!”
The track should’ve been widened, it looks out of proportion and that wannabe body kit sucks! Sorry Lexus, but aren’t your cars mean’t to be sleek? Where is the L-finesse in this? Maybe it will grow on me.
Steve
It does look like a Corolla at the back and it has updated Subaru Tribeca lights at the back and at the front it does look like the new Honda Insight. It’s a very ugly car, horrible. Another car where anybody who buys one looks like a tasteless wanker. You can call a BMW or Mercedes owner a badge snob but at least they are good cars. A diesel will still be better for the environment in the long run anyway, or better yet, try Hydrogen Toyota/Lexus, you’ve got the money.
could it look anymore like a Honda Accord from the front?
Setting new standards in fugly.
Looks like it has to be fugly if is a Toyota Hybrid.
That centre consul would be at home behind the counter at MacDonalds.LOL.
Fries with that?
Crossed between the Civic and the Volt?
And the price to replace the batteries??
laurie
Definitely parts bin…..look at that obvious IS profile…i.e doors…..etc!
Yep looks a lot like the Toyota Avensis launh here in Euroland. Similar styling to some Mitsubishis from the 90’s.
Got to give it to Toyota they are league ahead of the Hybrid game and conning loads of folk all the time cost its just not worthy unless you only drive in the city, even then the engine will still run to charge the batteries. Its another farce. Stick to s diesel instead which are far more fun to drive.
Hmmm. FWD? Hybrid? Future crap styling? Right…..
Not much excitement outside but I’m sure plenty improvement inside. When it comes to Oz, test drive to find out.
if oz lexus markets this cheaper than the IS then lexus could potentially doulbe its sales in oz maybe say a 45-50k starting price
I like the idea of having a camera to help drivers see round corners particularly when entering an intersection or leaving a car park is mounted in the grille at the front of the car..
However for the camera which is mounted in the grille of the car it must either be able to turn/pivot or have at least a 270 degree view on it.
Even if it does rotate left/right the view will most likely be blocked by the bumper bar or distorted due to the curvature of the front of the car.
A number of other car companies have similar technology however; their cameras are mounted in the indicators or the side of the bumper bar. The view changes depending upon which direction the car is turning according to the indicator.
BTW If the new IS C is to be lexuses first convertible in the entry level luxury car market.. what was the SC430 then
Please no Lexus – keep the overpriced FWD cars relegated to Audis please.
Up until now their designs were starting to take momentum too…
Wonder what the new RX will look like??
As far as I am aware Audis don’t make a FWD. they do however make All Wheel Drive Cars right throughout their range – A3 A4 A6 A8 TT S5 Coupe and Q7 …. nope no
Front Wheel Drive
Wheelnut, yeah they do!!
Majority of Audies are FWD, it’s only the Top of the range variants that are AWD!!
Mmmm…. You learn something new everyday – Although I’m not that much of a Audi fan.. it’s just that if i was going to buy an Audi I [and I suspect most peiople] would opt for the AWD models as that’s what Audi are known for plus AWD gives you more assurity and stability
As it turns out there isn’t really that much difference in price between the FWD and AWD models.