2010 Lexus HS 250h @ 2009 NAIAS

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http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/autoshows/detroit/2009/2010lexushs250h.html

Lexus has determined that those of you shopping in the entry-level luxury sedan class are underserved by hybrid cars. "Research has shown that more than 60 percent of entry-luxury car buyers would have considered a hybrid if available," the company reports. Come late summer of 2009, the 2010 Lexus HS 250h will be that hybrid.

Although the five-passenger, front-wheel-drive HS 250h sedan unveiled today at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show shares a few basic styling cues with the Lexus IS 250 and ES 350, it doesn't share much, if anything, beneath the skin.

Like the Toyota Prius, it rides on a 106.3-inch wheelbase, but at 184.8 inches overall, it's a lot longer from nose to tail. It's 4.5 inches longer than an IS sedan but 6.3 inches shorter than the ES 350. The 2010 HS 250h also owns the distinction of being the tallest (59.3 inches) and narrowest (70.3 inches) passenger car in the Lexus lineup.

Since the 2010 Lexus HS 250h is focused more on fuel economy than performance, it's not surprising to see that it has the same Atkinson-cycle, 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine used by the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Lexus says total horsepower is 187. In the Camry, 147 hp is coming from the 2.4-liter engine, with a nickel-metal hydride battery pack contributing the remaining 40 hp. It's a fair guess that in the HS 250h it's the same. To get this power to the front wheels, there's a transaxle with the electric motors and a planetary-type continuously variable transmission built into it.

Like the 2010 Lexus RX 450h, the HS 250h incorporates an exhaust heat recovery system to hasten warm-up time for the gas engine and allow it to shut off sooner. This benefits fuel economy, though Lexus has not made any miles-per-gallon predictions for the 2010 HS 250h.

The suspension consists of struts in front and a space-efficient double-wishbone setup out back. Lexus notes that the HS 250h has antiroll bars in both the front and rear. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels with P215/55R17 tires are standard, with 18s and P225/45R18 rubber optional.

As in all hybrids, the power steering system is driven by an electric motor, but in the 2010 Lexus HS 250h it works with an optional lane keep assist system. This bit of technology uses camera imaging of your progress down the freeway and "adds smooth steering torque to help the vehicle stay in the center of the lane," according to Lexus. If that somehow isn't enough to keep you from drifting, the system activates an audible lane departure warning feature.

Inside, the 2010 Lexus HS 250h becomes the third Lexus, after the Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h, to adopt the Remote Touch hard-drive-based navigation system. This optional system dispenses with the usual touchscreen and puts a mouselike controller on the center console. Voice control, nav traffic and nav weather are included.

You'll also enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing the Lexus HS 250h's door scuff plates, seats and cargo bay are trimmed in Ecological Plastic, which blends plant-based material with the usual petroleum. Lexus calls it "carbon-neutral" and says it lowers the HS 250h's CO2 emissions by "approximately 20 percent." Aside from that, the windshield is optimized to reduce infrared-ray penetration to lessen the need for air-conditioning use.

On the options list for the 2010 Lexus HS 250h, you'll find an LED head-up display, the Lexus Pre-Collision system, adaptive cruise control, a wide-view front monitor to aid in parking, and the Lexus Enform and Safety Connect telematics system. Lexus Enform not only allows owners to get directions from an operator, but also to pull up points of interest on a computer and send them directly to the nav system.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 2010
• Lexus
• HS
• 250h
• 2009
• NAIAS
• Detroit
• Auto
• Show
• Edmunds
• Inside
• Line
• Toyota
• hybrid
• car
• motor

[LawBoy25]

If the Corolla and Lexus IS mated this is what their child would look like!

[adamY2K]

THEY SHOULD HAVE MADE A IS HYBRID INSTEAD.

THE DESIGN IS RUBBISH. ALTHOUGH QUALITY IS GOOD.

I LUUV THE IS's LOOKS.

[tnguyen318]

About your comment over 2 years ago. The BMW 1 series is the best entry level luxury car in the market. Its time to see luxury companies build cars for people instead of for name. Mercedes and Lexus are also heading to that approach. As a matter of fact, their interior designs even look better.

[BykaheZypomec]

I saw a hot crew just like this at tiny[dot]cc/mygfsucksyou

[TheZachalope]

How is buying a Toyota hybrid patriotic? Buying a car engineered and built in Japan, where the profits go to Japan.

I'll go with the Escape Hybrid which is engineered and built in the US and the dollars stay in the country.

[MrCarowner]

Thieves can easily break into Lexus ! ! !.

Check it out at YouTube "5 seconds break into 2009 Lexus ES350 part 1 " .

&

YouTube  "5 seconds break into 2009 Lexus ES350 part 2 "

You will be SURPRISED!!

Like what you saw, Lexus " ALARM" was so

stupid when the thief broke into.......

What a Lexus!!

What a piece of JUNK! Hahaha ! ! !

[JRG921]

if I wanted to save money on gas I would buy a Prius. Not a $35,000 underpowered Lexus..

[JRG921]

looks like a Toyota Corolla

[bliglum]

slot above the IS!?!? and below ES? I would rather have an IS over this. by far! IS better than ES too.

[aguzmanNY]

The money you spend on gas = more money going outside the US to the Saudis and other f'kd up countries with no moral values, so put it this way, hummer= Anti-American, tesla/toyota hybrids = Patriotic, surprised how many people feel Patriotic driving their gas guzzling SUVs around with all that extra gas money going outside the US. It's not about the cost of the vehicle is about changing who benefits from them once people buy them. - wake up people

[JUKIO01]

its not 30,000 its 50,000! liar

[JUKIO01]

are you talking about the 2 seater? how is that a family car?