Rendered speculation: 2010 Lexus HS250h, 2011 Toyota Camry hybrid
by Sam Abuelsamid on Nov 11th 2008 at 1:40PM 
click to enlarge
We've known since last January that Toyota will debut a pair of hybrid cars at the next Detroit Auto show. One is the replacement for the current Prius, while the other is a Lexus-badged car sharing the same architecture. Japanese magazine Mag-X has renderings of what they expect the Lexus HS250h to look like. If they are correct it will be a sort of mini version of the current IS with the short deck and sloping nose of the Prius. The magazine is claiming the Lexus will use a 2.4L four cylinder with the hybrid drive system rather than the 1.8L in the Prius. While the Lexus would likely get a larger engine. it's not known if the company will go that large. Meanwhile Toyota is apparently not ignoring the challenge posed by the new Ford Fusion hybrid which the Dearborn automaker is claiming will beat the current Camry's fuel economy by 5 mpg. A redesigned Camry is due for 2011 which will inherit the updated hybrid hardware from the new Prius, reducing the cost and improving mileage. If the image is accurate it too will also get a bolder looking front end than the current Camry.
[Source: VW Vortex]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Paul 4:13PM (11/11/2008)
I'm guessing it'll look a little better than the VERY bland, somewhat CIVIC-like renderings imply. If it does look more like the IS, if it is priced at the IS level or below, and if it has heated and cooled seats as an option (I'm a p**sy, I know, but it GA summers are hot as the devil and I'm very much addicted to them in my GS350), then I'm sold.
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MikeW 6:00PM (11/11/2008)
Where is Toyota's US applications of Valvematic?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_ZR_engine
1.8 for the Prius, 2.0 for the Lexus Prius
sounds good.
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TIMMAH! 6:49PM (11/11/2008)
Wow, looks like a Prius, now there's a shocker...
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Sasparilla 2:43PM (11/12/2008)
The front end view of the Lexus, its lights etc. is a dead ringer for the Honda Accord. The side view of the Camry really does look like the front profile of the Honda Civic - but I think that is a big improvement over the high hood and high trunk line of the current Camry. Be interesting to see how these turn out.
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Sasparilla 2:58PM (11/12/2008)
Sorry for the double post, just wanted to reverse what I associated the looks with in the previus posts (I mixed them up). The lexus front side looks like a Civic front profile and the Camry front looks very similiar to the Accord front.
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