DETROIT AUTO SHOW PHOTO GALLERY: Lexus Steals Morning Thunder With HS250h Hybrid

Looks nice, I like the front and the interior.
However, it's still rather bland, and from some angles looks reminiscent of a Corolla.
Also don't know the point of this sedan.
The IS, the ES are both entry level sedans. Now this is an entry level luxury hybrid sedan? Wouldn't it make more sense to offer the next IS as a hybrid? Also, if the IS grows next generation (which it likely will considering how much of it's complaints are of how cramped it is), then it likely will be about the same size as this. So Lexus would have two pairs of sedans (The IS and the HS...the GS and the ES) that are similar sizes and all devouring each others' sales.
I think it's a bit of a mess navigating through Lexus' sedans. Sometimes less is more, but who knows, this might be a successful venture for them.
I'm hoping for much better designs for the next generations of cars. (We should be seeing a concept for the GS in about a year or so..hopefully they don't keep L-Finesse, because as much as it has helped Lexus' designs, it doesn't help shake the fact that they still look like Toyota's.)

i have to admit the HS is a bit of a miss. they could have created a car that had the efficiency of a pris, but didnt look like a toyota. i wonder what went wrong here.

I have to agree the front is nice, though there is some Ford grill in there

Ford wants its grill back and besides that it is a nice ride.

FORD GRILL?
EVERYBODY TALKING ABOUT LEXUS GRILL,JUST REMEMBER FROM 2004 AUTOSHOW THE LEXUS LFC GRILL AND OTHER CONCEPTS CARS FROM LEXUS .
FORD COPIED LEXUS GRILL OR NOT?
NOW LEXUS IS USING THE GRILL HE USED IN THE CONCEPTS FROM 2004 RIGHT?

No sir, I am afraid you are wrong, in 2003 Ford came out with the 427 Concept, the first to have the three bar grill. Toyota has once again copied some other company.

It's alright.

It's not mind-blowingly sexy, but I don't think it was ever intended to be either.

Side note, why the hell does Lexus (among others) feel a need to have debuts with silver cars? This new Lexus still wouldn't be confused with a Ferrari, but a black one would look a whold helluva lot better.

Black tends to be a very poor color choice for show cars because it shows every single smudge, finger-print, scrape and scratch, all of which are inevitable for a vehicle sitting on the show floor that people are constantly touching, oogling and fondling.

Silver, and other more forgiving colors like pearl white, are always better choices in these situations.

I would assume that it debuted in silver so it could show its lines better.

Black would hide the vehicles design and lines.

How many show cars were debuted in black?

PS 001-

Are the chicks there hotter this year? It sure looks that way.

HS250h looks like baby IS. Rear end is totally IS and most of the front end like headligths(New RX) and bumpers(LX570) are from various Lexus cars too. Interior is nice too, only the grille is a bit weak. Overall very nice looking and hope it delivers great fuel economy which is it's No.1 purpose.

JUGNU

Yes the question still stands, How did a car that is so bland, steal the show?

If you READ what I said, it stole the morning thunder...

It was the best car shown this morning.

Didn't say best of SHOW.

The new Audi Sportback concept ended up stealing the show this afternoon and in my opinion was the best car of the day.

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its just that awesome, you know?

How fast will it be? (Or is this an inappropriate question to ask while discussing a hybrid car?)

If it's base price is under $30,000, I would buy one.

What the F are they thinking? Take a prius, make the front end look like a ford focus, make the back end look like an IS250, and throw a mouse up on the dash with no arm rest. I will say this though, the chick next to the Fisker... Ooooobaby, now that steals the show.

and what is luxury about A class, B class, CLC, 1 series, A3..etc.
This car from Lexus is meant to compete with those mentioned cars and surely looks more upmarket than those hatchbacks.

Everyone said Lexus doesn't make small cars or it needs small cars, now when they made one people are saying it's no luxury and it's no beauty...etc. Some people no matter what will always bash Lexus.

JUGNU

"and what is luxury about A class, B class, CLC, 1 series, A3..etc."

Those cars are luxurious enough for European luxury tastes. You have a safe, efficient and good quality car in all of those cars you just mentioned. They're available with a wide variety of engine choices, trims and options that SUIT A VARIETY OF BUYERS ACROSS THEIR MARKET. Lexus offering this HS250h won't cut it. If the HS250h is supposed to compete with the 1 series, A3, B class etc., then it pretty much already lost or is in a different class altogether. Because if Lexus really created this car to compete with those aforementioned cars, then they really have to do more than this.

I think Lexi has done it again. Not that anything is particularly noteworthy about this HS. But guess what it has going for it??... Hybrid? Nahh...fuel efficient? No biggy...Looks? Nope...Is it cool? Not really...Come on...its so obvious...Thats it, most of you car smarties guessed correctly!...The answer is...ITS A LEXUS!! Lets face it, in these times who would you trust more than any manufacturer to build and stand behind their quality products?? The HS will be a winner.

Are they going to sell this in Europe and other markets? That is where Lexus could really use the help of more entry-level products.

Lexus' interiors...confusing?? Ever been in a newer Benz? Now thats confusing!! The levers on the steering column do so many different things you really have to stop and think to do simple stuff. I heard Benz has a new one...push the turn signal or is is pull, and you get 3 blinks...can someone explain that one please? BMW's I-Drive,tho now improved, was the most universally critisized gadget ever invented. I have to disagree...Lexus interiors are not really busy or confusing, are they? One more comment/question...Do these modern/hybrid diesels stink, as in smell, like diesels of old? If they do, they'll never sell bigtime in the U.S.

the 3 blinks if for lane changes. that way you only have to touch once...not once to turn on and once to turn off. of course, turn signals seem to be used seldom by west coast US drivers (who can't drive).

also, I-drive isn't confusing unless you're really dumb. could it be better, sure. and it's improving with each generation. sit down and learn it the first week you own the car and you're good for the next few years of ownership.

That one at the bottom with the "three bar chrome grille" is the nicest looking toyota product I have seen in a while. They must have drawn some inspiration from some pretty smart people to design that one.

Horrible, just horrible. A tarted up Corolla with the side doors of the Lexus IS attached to it comes to mind. The interior looks terrible from a design standpoint.

Lets take a poll here sports fans! Lexus vs. Benz...interior ergonomics! Thanks for the explanation on the signal stalk...sounds similar to what most manufacturers have used for the last 30 years or so. What about the 3 blink thing was my question! How long have you been driv'n anyway?...sounds like you just completed driver ed.

I read something about a new turn signal feature on Benz's where you push the stalk somehow, release, and the signal blinks 3 times. I assume its for highway lane changing, but it sounds like its messing with basic ergonomics and that can be dangerous.

My 2003 Audi A4 Avant had that. The 3 blink is not new at all. Mitch

Ricks2Dogs, the three blinks thing is not new for Mercedes. It was a feature as early as on the S-Class from the 1970's. With Mercedes, if you lightly tap the turn signal stalk and don't fully engage it, it will blink 3 times, allowing you enough time to perform a lane change.

The one ergonomics problem I have with Mercedes controls is with the cruise control. it is located above the turn signal stalk. You push it to activate cruise control standby, push down to set speed, push up to accelerate, pull back to cancel, etc... Toyota/Lexus has a simpler setup on the lower right side of the steering wheel.

I meant push forward to cancel. You see how confusing it is? I don't like to use it because I usually fat finger the stalk and hit the turn signal down which then blinks 3 times for a left side lane change that I didn't intend to make.

The Euro Ford Focus has this feature...so do nearly all VWs, and probably any car with an electronic indicator system rather than a mechanical connection. It's not big news.

The new Lexus H250 is based on the 2010 European market only Toyota Avensis.

it is, but it looks somewhat like an upscale Corolla. The IS and ES have much better styling. The powertrain is out of the Camry hybrid.

This is a Lexus? Only seeing the pics I thought it was a Ford Focus....yikes.

I think they messed this one up badly! There is nothing new about this car. Not one thing! The headlights remind me of the Subaru Impreza, mixed up with the current corolla! The grill is taken straight off a ford! The rear is a copy of the IS, but + the bling effect. The side reminds me so much of the latest toyotas, and the interior is just extremely plain and dated. Very boring from a design standpoint. I wouldn't be lieing if I say it's uglier than a prius!

looks like an IS with a ford front-end glued on. and what's with those cheap and tacky blue badges?

Ford Focus w/ ugly iDrive-imitating Lexus "mouse"

btw the console that "hangs" in the air looks a bit cheap
the 1-series looks upscale compared to this

WHEW, that is ugly! I don't know what the hell they were thinking with that front end--it's a very strange combination of the Prius (hood slope), Ford (grille) and Subaru (headlights) with no resemblance to any Lexus beyond the emblem. The rear is OK but the side profile looks like a Chinese bootleg of the IS250... and also like a Corolla. I'm not even impressed by the interior--it looks cheap and dated! How disappointing! Every other recent Lexus product has looked much more polished than this, even the new RX!

I honestly thought it was a Ford Focus too. I am not a Lexus hater at all but that is just horrific. It seems to me like a gaudy and failed attempt to leave their "Lexus is bland" image behind.

I'm seriously appalled. It's just so unattractive and not in a sort of "cute" manner like the Honda Element or Prius.

People that buy this should be assaulted by their loved ones.

The interior, as is the design of the entire car, is from a futuristic perspective. It is not supposed to be like anything you have ever seen before. They accomplished this quite well, apparently, judging from the comments. Personally, it does look like a Subaru from the front, but the grille Lexus ripped from themselves. Their early L-finesse concepts from 2004-2006.

What the hell are you talking about (interior)? It looks like a bunch of scraps from early '00s Lexus interiors. The center console doesn't look futuristic (think Volt, Prius)... just oddly cheap. The wood looks more fake than on any other Lexus car ever. The buttons themselves look poorly made. I don't even like the look of their controller thing.

Now that you mention it the grille is from their LF-A/LF-C/LF-S cars. I just didn't think that it would ever make it to a real car.

For what it is supposed to be, an entry-level luxury hybrid, I guess it works. After viewing some real-life high resolution photos, I would say the interior looks rather upscale, and the exterior is not as bad as the stock photos seem. The technology available on this vehicle puts other manufacturers to shame.

I wouldn't think twice about buying this car.

Next...

It's hard enough for you to think once about something so don't even try twice you might overload something.

The HS is based off the European Avensis...possibly the blandest car on sale today.

The HS interior looks somewhat odd...but,but,but,but not all that different from the #1 luxury SUV in the UNIVERSE: The LEXUS RX!!...so go ahead...rip it apart...it'll still sell

I think that adding hybrids cheapens the brand. If you're in the luxury market, you're not so concerned with fuel efficiency. With hybrids, you're attracting a less-elite crowd, especially with an entry level car. I personally wouldn't have done this if I was Lexus. Especially since it's a corolla. Bad move.

Well Kut17, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. Unless you actually sell them, and even then, you probably know little about the buying motives of hybrid buyers. Hybrids hardly attract a less than elite crowd since they cost a few grand more than their gas powered counterparts. But unless it's a performance inspired hybrid, the more "entry level" you keep it, the more effective and fuel efficient it will likely be. BMW is going diesel and hydrogen, lexus is going with electric hybrids, a renewable energy source vs a high yield fossil based fuel. Two different approaches which leaves you wondering who's right? Truth is who knows. But rest assured, adding a hybrid will hardly cheapen a brand. The only issue I will concede is THIS particular hybrid, I would have preferred Lexus develop a dedicated product as opposed to re-badging a prius, regardless of how different they may be Lexus needs to distance themselves from Toyota to shore up the premium brand.

Right. I should have clarified. The LSh and the RXh don't affect Lexus' image. But a Corolla Hybrid? That can't be good.

not bad

LMAO @ Toyota for making a home run, this car didnt steal the show but im sure it will outsell every car in the AUTOSHOW....FACT

When I first heard about it and saw some initial photos of the Lexus HS looking like a Toyota Prius, I thought no way. After seeing these photos (and if the price point is upper $20K's) I think the Lexus HS will sell. They need to go with a vertical grill like on the RX. I'm not sure that Ford Fusion look will cut it for Lexus buyers. Is that a mouse for the nav controls on the center console a la 2010 RX450? Anyway, everyone knows it's a Prius underneath and it's kind of a sloppy job by Toyota to cover up its origins - especially the cumbersome interior. Overall, you overlook those things and get Lexus L-Finesse design in a small package with Hybrid technology to save gas. This sounds like a future sales leader to me.

Definitely an interesting vehicle and it appears that most of you either love it or hate it.

Regardless of what many say on here it does exactly what Lexus always does right; they've built a conservative vehicle for conservative buyers.

Looks like a Corolla on steriods

For all you Toy/Lex haters out there: It"s only obvious the big Toy does not respond to negativity or unrealistic demands. Absolutely yes I can simply see how and why Lexus stole the show. To the opportunist,the realist,the prudent and the media, yes Lexus steals the show once again. You see, Toyota has this niche marketing thing going on and they have become masters and opportunist in their strategy to achieve success where their is demand. I do believe they hear and observe the negative comments but, more importantly they respond to realistic inputs which are favorable. Truly, they are the worlds #1 automaker without a doubt.

So is this an excuse for them making this car ugly?

The Lexus HS will appeal to buyers who want to move away from Toyota dealership. Same strategy for upmarket buyers of Camry/Highlander, hence ES/RX. Will it work? Probably. The interior is boring.

Lexus was actually doing a good job of moving away from the "bland Toyota style". Their cars looked different from Toyotas on the outside and they were sort of developing their own design language. THIS car is a complete step backwards in terms of styling. It reminds (pay attention to that word, REMINDS) people of a Toyota Corolla or an Avensis (for those of us who live in Europe). Here's a high resolution image of the interior. It looks pretty poorly done compared to other Lexus interiors.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/hs250h-1280-10.jpg

You will never see a guy driving that Lexus.

Good lord !!