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Lexus RX 400h Hybrid
Lexus long-term outlook for hybrids is bright

The hybrid car continues to be on the minds of carmakers and consumers alike. With the weak economy and high gas prices, the hybrid car owner is in a position to save on fuel costs and possibly even get a tax break.

Many luxury carmakers are getting into the green segment with luxury cars using some sort of electric boost to aid fuel economy, and Lexus is one of them. Lexus raised a few eyebrows in the luxury car ranks when it unveiled the LS 600h L Hybrid in 2006.

Motor Authority reports that Lexus is eyeing a transition to a hybrid-only line of vehicles in the medium to long term. Reports say that Toyota managing officer Toshio Furutani told Nikkei business daily that hybrid vehicles are being fast tracked for development.

Lexus currently offers three hybrid vehicles in the U.S. including -- the GS 450h, LS 600h, and the RX 400h crossover. A forthcoming Lexus hybrid based on the Toyota Prius has been confirmed and a new hybrid RX crossover is expected to break cover sometime next year.

According to Motor Authority, Toyota is currently testing a plug-in version of the Prius for launch in 2010, which would mean any Lexus based on the Prius would likely get the plug-in works as well. Lexus has a super car in the works called the LF-A and one option for the vehicle is expected to be a gas-electric system.

Support for a sports car from an electric motor makes sense considering that all of the torque produced by an electric engine is ready immediately.


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hybrids
By Masospaghetti on 10/10/2008 10:28:12 AM , Rating: 5
I hope that, even if Lexus does go all-hybrid, that they do not qualify for any additional tax breaks. Why? Because thus far, all of their hybrids have done little to nothing to save fuel and is simply a status symbol. Case in point is the LS600h - 20/22 mpg compared to 16/24 of the non-hybrid LS460L. Keep in mind also that the LS600h is tens of thousands more expensive to purchase and is has no faster acceleration.




RE: hybrids
By vapore0n on 10/10/08, Rating: 0
RE: hybrids
By mmntech on 10/10/2008 11:10:32 AM , Rating: 5
Vary little. For a while there, automakers were grossly overstating the MPGs fuel efficient cars, especially hybrids. They were claiming at one point the Prius got 60mpg when it actual tests it only got 40mpg. That's not a heck of a lot better than my Civic at 33mpg (self tested) which features a more powerful gas engine. 7mpg gain for something like $5000 more, the car really isn't that economical. That's the fundamental flaw of hybrids, tax break or no.

As for Lexus, I do like their cars. They've represented style and performance for Toyota. Going all-hybrid would kill the latter. It would become no more than a status symbol for wealthy greenies. I guess Hollywood types got board of the pedestrian Prius.


RE: hybrids
By JoshuaBuss on 10/10/08, Rating: 0
RE: hybrids
By AnnihilatorX on 10/10/2008 1:06:14 PM , Rating: 5
I personally slow way away from a traffic light at red and slowly 'drift' (not the maneuver) towards it. If lucky enough the light just turn green, I beat all other cars in accelerating when they had to start at 1st gear, and using less fuel. I can also minimize brake wear doing this.

I am surprised not many people do that. In fact, many people speed towards the traffic light, and brake harshly for no reason, as if the lights will turn green faster if they do that.

Of course if there are junctions before traffic light I won't do that in case I block someone from behind me trying to reach the junction.


RE: hybrids
By jRaskell on 10/10/2008 2:32:13 PM , Rating: 2
If there's little or no traffic, and the lights are triggered, then the quicker you get to the intersection, the quicker the light will in fact turn green.

If there's traffic, then the only thing you should be concerned with is going with the flow of traffic and not becoming an obstruction to it.


RE: hybrids
By exanimas on 10/10/2008 10:36:44 PM , Rating: 2
Your first statement is technically true, however, if he is slowly rolling towards the red light the sensor may trigger in time that he can stay in 2nd and not have to come to a complete stop. If he comes flying in by the time the sensor detects his car and the light turns green he would have already mashed his brakes and stopped completely. I do the same this he is talking about, but unfortunately my automatic isn't always as smart as I'd like it to be and downshifts to 1st anyways.


RE: hybrids
By Kuroyama on 10/10/2008 1:16:35 PM , Rating: 2
The mpg of course depends on driving habits. To compare similar driving habits note that Consumer Reports (2006) says the Prius averages 44mpg and the Civic automatic gets 28mpg (manual is 31mpg). So for an automatic the Prius averages over 50% better mpg, not 7mpg. I personally average 50mpg (about 75% highway driving).

Anyways, a Prius and Civic are not comparable. My choice when buying was between a Prius and a Camry, not a Civic. The wife was particularly in favor of the Prius as she wanted the traction and stability control for winter driving. Last year I drove 500 miles through a blizzard (the storm and I were going the same direction). The stability control light came on plenty of times, but the car didn't slide even once. In contrast, I saw multiple Corollas & Civics that had been driven off the road. Thank god I had a Prius. Back in '05 a Camry with traction control (but not stability) was only about $1000 less than a Prius, and it was definitely worth the extra $1000 for the Prius.


RE: hybrids
By Cypherdude1 on 10/10/2008 2:02:06 PM , Rating: 2
I always thought Prius's, and electric cars in general, were less dependable in the winter because of their battery packs. As the weather gets colder, a battery's cold cranking amps (CCA's) go down.


RE: hybrids
By JoshuaBuss on 10/10/2008 2:07:39 PM , Rating: 2
you really think toyota would overlook this?

the prius works fine in even the harshest U.S. climates.


RE: hybrids
By Cypherdude1 on 10/10/2008 2:18:26 PM , Rating: 2
Do you remember the movie "Fargo"? Imagine getting stuck in N. Dakota in the middle of nowhere with your new-fangled hybrid which isn't tough enough to stand the coldest of winters screaming "WHY??!!".

B ^D
quote:
you really think toyota would overlook this?
the prius works fine in even the harshest U.S. climates.


RE: hybrids
By Spuke on 10/10/2008 2:44:15 PM , Rating: 2
The batteries still function but the charge held by them will be reduced. There are limits to the efficiency of the batteries in extreme climates but I think the car will still function in those situations. Remember you're operating primarily on the gas engine.


RE: hybrids
By Dystopic on 10/10/2008 4:36:37 PM , Rating: 2
in cold weather, or hot weather for that matter, the prius is propelled by the GAS Engine, so unless your main battery for running the starter is dead, you will have no problem.

My garage is heated, so it wouldnt matter either way


RE: hybrids
By jRaskell on 10/10/08, Rating: 0
RE: hybrids
By stonemetal on 10/10/2008 3:22:06 PM , Rating: 4
Prius is a mid size car so why are you trying to compare it to a small car? From edmunds:
camry = EPA Class: Midsize Cars
Civic = EPA Class: Subcompact Cars
Prius = EPA Class: Midsize Cars

as the song goes, one of these things is not like the others...


RE: hybrids
By TimberJon on 10/10/2008 3:54:07 PM , Rating: 2
What you really pay for is your Feet per second acceleration. Because the OEM can advertise all they want whatever the horsepower is.. but they are talking at the crank and even then approximating a little. Whats your Wheel HP? What are the gear ratios? final drive? Etc?? All those factors, especially the weight of the vehicle and the rolling radius, have ALOT to do with where your MPG's are going. Want to put 22" rims on your Altima? good job killing your mileage.

Do a search for a Feet per second calculator, or car acceleration calculator, and punch in your numbers. That way, you can compare your car to others. You will quickly find out where your money will be well spent, and where you will be dishing out cash for nothing but more frequent trips to the pump.

Oh yea LOL, check out Nozzlerage.com


RE: hybrids
By Dystopic on 10/10/2008 4:19:40 PM , Rating: 2
IS300 overpriced corolla? what corolla do you know of with rear wheel drive.

Lexus are toyotas.

In Japan

GS = Aristo
RX = Harrier
LS = Ceria
IS = Altezza
ES = not sure, may have been Camry/Avalon

Lexus was created to market more expensive toyotas in the US where toyota was know for lower priced / non luxuty vehicles.


RE: hybrids
By Dystopic on 10/10/2008 4:44:03 PM , Rating: 2
Lexus are expensive, but considering my '98 with 180K on it, in immaculate condition is still worth approx 1/3 of its original price 10 year later, money well spent. My GS looks as good as the day I got it, runs even better (due to some engine work to increase HP), and is a blast to drive.

The IS is a great car, alotta fun with the stick, easy to throw around. Comparing an IS to a Corolla is like comparing steak to hot dogs.


RE: hybrids
By xsilver on 10/11/2008 1:34:16 AM , Rating: 2
some guys like hot dogs over steak - the OP might have been one of them.

not me...

the IS is usually compared to a similarly priced bmw 3 series and some reviewers tend to like it better than the 3.


RE: hybrids
By MarcLeFou on 10/10/2008 11:08:37 AM , Rating: 2
Some electrical engines in hybrid cars are geared toward faster acceleration rather than fuel economy.

I haven't looked at the numbers so I may be off base here but I'd wager its the case with the model you mentioned.