Europe won't get the Lexus HS250h
Click the HS250h for a high res gallery
It looks like Japanese and American consumers will be the only ones that get access to the new Lexus HS250h, at least through normal distribution channels. Toyota's European communications chief Serge Gachot told Automotive News after the reveal of the HS250h that the new hybrid will not be imported into Europe. Apparently, the HS does not have a significant advantage in CO2 emissions over the diesel-powered IS220d, which is already available there. The IS220d is rated at 163 g/km and the new hybrid model, which is similar in size, would be in the same ball park. Given the tough market right now and the fact that Toyota is expected to post its first loss in seven decades this year, the cost of certifying a redundant model doesn't make sense. With the greater appeal of hybrids in North America and Japan, the HS would probably do better here.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GoodCheer 9:42AM (1/19/2009)
Nah nah-nah nah nah
A cool low-consumption car that WE get that the Europeans don't... finally! ;-)
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Anthony 11:59AM (1/19/2009)
Actually, this shows that we're *still* not getting the best in the US. The diesel version is just as good, costs less & probably gets betters MPG.
I'd say Europe should be the one saying "na, na..." to us (again).
why not the LS2LS7? 1:51PM (1/19/2009)
If they have roughly the same CO2 emissions, then they have roughly the same fuel economy overall. So how do you say the Europeans are probably gets "betters MPG".
The Prius gets 50% better mpg than the IS 220d (like to like comparison), so I think we're doing okay. Although the IS probably has a bit better interior.
Kristijonas 11:16AM (1/19/2009)
But we have Lexus IS220d :) which gets better MPG then this hybrid :)
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lexurious 12:42PM (1/19/2009)
But lexus diesels are unreliable and by far not smooth enough to be in lexus cars. So the fuel economy is not worth having a lexus diesel engine :D
Double-J 1:02PM (1/19/2009)
The Europeans don't need this vehicle, they already have the very similar looking Toyota Corolla :) But really, in Europe Diesel is the way to go. Now if one of the car companies could make a cost effective Hybrid Diesel, that would be good. The Hybrid would help reduce Diesel emissions. The overall fuel economy should be pretty impressive. It'll probably PSA (Peugeot / Renault) who'll commercialize it first.
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why not the LS2LS7? 1:49PM (1/19/2009)
I can see why Toyota wants to save money right now. But these aren't really equivalent vehicles.
The hybrid will do a lot better in the city and the Diesel will do better on the open road. So if the majority of hybrid sales are in high population, congested areas, the hybrid would save more fuel and emit less CO2 and pollution than the Diesel.
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DummyBear 11:52PM (1/19/2009)
Wait, Prius makes 104g/km. 160 g/km for a hybrid? BMW 335d produces 177g/km and 325d 153g/km. Even gasoline 325i makes 170g/km (data from www.bmw.co.uk)
Why would I buy HS250h again?
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Rick 3:10PM (1/20/2009)
Keep that ugly thing in Japan. Along with the new Prius, I don't care for Toyotas new design language regardless of the efficiency.
I thought diesel was the king in europe anyways, why would they want a hybrid?
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Mirko 6:47AM (1/22/2009)
They don't. At leats in Germany, the Prius is outsold by the Volkswagen Phaeton. And pretty much everything else. Toyota sells 300-400 Prii in Germany, which is not even enough to appear in the list of the 100 best selling cars.