The Toyota luxury division has released pricing for its new 2010 Lexus Hybrid car. The Lexus HS 250h is one of the most affordable and economical luxury cars on the market. The vehicle will debut late summer with a starting price of $34,200.
The automobile can achieve an impressive 35 mpg combined EPA rating. Standard equipment on the base model includes leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a ten-speaker sound system with subwoofer, and USB, iPod, and Bluetooth phone and audio interfaces. The car rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and includes rain-sensing wipers, heated mirrors, wood trim, and a comprehensive key fob memory system for each driver.
2010 Lexus Hybrid Dashboard
The vehicle features a great dashboard that projects speed, fuel economy, dynamic laser cruise control warning, an image of the steering wheel-mounted controls and turn-by-turn directions in the lower part of the windshield. The display is well designed and easier to read than some competitive systems. This system doesn't seem to interfere with the driver's forward vision like most.
The car can drive zero to 60 mph in just 8.4 seconds, according to the automaker. If this is true, it is approximately 1.5 seconds faster than the Toyota Prius. However, you really can't compare this vehicle to something like the Prius, because this car includes all the luxury components you would expect from Lexus conventional counterparts.
Luxury items in cars add weight, and therefore, you can't achieve the same mileage as compact cars such as the Prius. Even so, the 35 mpg rating is still impressive for a vehicle in this class. The HS250h could attract new customers if the automobile is perceived as the most affordable and economical Lexus.
The vehicle offers real-time adjustment of torque that helps improve fuel efficiency. In addition, a rear-mounted electric motor-generator enables all four wheels to perform regenerative braking while charging the battery. The automobile is certified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) in California, which means that it produces almost 70 percent fewer emissions than other vehicles.
To achieve greater mileage, the Lexus has a unique gull-wing-shaped roof panel design to reduce mass and to reduce wind drag. The front spoiler, rear spoiler, rear under spoiler, and diffuser fins all reduce turbulence. It is also the first Lexus vehicle to utilize carbon-neutral Ecological Plastic materials in a new futuristic cockpit and interior design.
