Toyota’s dominance in the hybrid car game (which seems to be a game that they invented) continues unabated. Take the Lexus HS 250h. It’s hugely popular in Japan, so popular in fact that Toyota is going to triple production output for the car. But Toyota didn’t triple production just for the home market alone, no. It would seem that the Lexus HS 250h will soon be seen on the streets of America as well.
The good news for gearheads put off by the somewhat unconventional styling of the segment leading Prius is that the Lexus HS 250h looks like a more traditional car. It’s got an engine compartment up front and four doors and a trunk out back; the traditional three-box design, in other words. It seems to be a look that’s working well, because they’re Hoovering them up in Japan.
The home market saw a huge spike in demand for the 250h. The plans from Toyota were for the car to sell around 500 units a month when the car rolled out on June 14 of this year. It turns out that Japanese hybrid buyers have been lining up around the block to get their hands on one of these things. Toyota planned on 500, but buyers have put in nine-THOUSAND orders in only two months.
Toyota, under the guise of Lexus here in the states, is looking for the same kind of success over here, because the Lexus HS 250h is heading our way. You’ll be able to pick one up by this fall (if all goes according to plan) with prices starting at $34,200. There’s no word on trim levels or what packages will be available, but no doubt those details will soon be released.
Will the Lexus HS 250h be as big a hit here? That depends. A lot of the cars huge sales demand can be attributed to the heavy incentives currently in place in Japan to spur the sales of hybrid vehicles. Similar forces might be at work here as well – think CAFE standards, cash for clunkers etc.
One way or the other, there will be another hybrid choice on these shores by the time Halloween decorations are going up.
Source: AutoBlogGreen
Photo from Flickr user TechShowNetwork
“There’s no word on trim levels or what packages will be available, but no doubt those details will soon be released.”
Yes there is, just go to http://www.lexus.com and all the options and prices are already there…do some research!!!