Official: Toyota Sai, the new sister model to the Lexus HS 250h

As you may know already we announced the new car last week in this post, but today this was confirmed by Autonews and it became official: Toyota will build its first dedicated hybrid sedan, a sister model to the 2010 Lexus HS 250h.

The new car, dubbed Toyota Sai, will carry a more powerful engine than the Prius hatchback and is set to go on sale in Japan on Oct. 20 according to the manufacturer and it will be the second model marketed as a hybrid-only offering under the Toyota badge. According to other sources, we found out that the new car will share the same platform and hybrid drivetrain as the Lexus HS 250h. under the hood we will find a 2.4-liter petrol engine, which is bigger than the 1.8-liter powerplant found in the Prius.
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LexusKindaGuy12 - 10/1/2009 11:06:12 AM

+5 Boost

interesting...

toyota hybrid only by 2020?

GTR1 - 10/1/2009 11:22:35 AM

-4 Boost

After all this time they are still rebadging cars. I thought they were suppose to be unique and completely a separate entity????????? Guessss not!.. It's a shame and a scam to make people believe a Lexus is on its own developing new engines for itself and platforms as well. That is why Lexus is not respected globally. Only for it's value on the dollar. I can see all the bandwagoners start hating very quickly. Sorry to offend all those Toyota owners but at least if you're a Toyota owner you have something to be proud of. At least if you had recalls you didn't pay so much it makes you think twice.

The Toyota vehicles involved are 2007 to 2010 Camrys; 2005 to 2010 Avalons; 2004 to 2009 Priuses; 2005 to 2010 Tacomas and 2007 to 2010 Tundras. Lexus models are 2007 to 2010 ES 350s and 2006 to 2010 IS 250s and IS 350s

GTR1 - 10/1/2009 2:17:40 PM

-1 Boost

its inevitable. anything to do with hybrids will hit US soil that's a given. the prius eventually did so why not the sai?

XYZZ - 10/1/2009 10:36:34 PM

+2 Boost

even if it differed from the lexus HS only by a badge, is that anything to be ashamed of?

if anything, it will make it EVEN MORE ATTRACTIVE to toyota buyers!!!

MSP6 - 10/1/2009 1:39:41 PM

-5 Boost

Is it supposed to help the already weak HS250h upmarket image ?

Joe_Limon - 10/1/2009 2:35:42 PM

-4 Boost

Isn't the HS250h already a rebadged prius? That would make this thing... extra inbred?

LexusKindaGuy12 - 10/1/2009 4:09:23 PM

+6 Boost

no, the HS is on a completely different platform (Avensis model) and shares powertrain with the Camry. If anything, it is more camry than it is prius

Argelius - 10/1/2009 6:12:11 PM

-1 Boost

I wonder if it will look like a Corolla with a Ford Fusion grill just like the 250h does...

XYZZ - 10/1/2009 10:47:40 PM

+2 Boost

truly SMART people in japan and the rest of the world know it doesn't really make a HUGE difference if a car is badged lexus OR toyota. both are made by the same company to the HIGHEST STANDARDS of mechanical reliability. everything else is secondary.

so even 'ordinary' toyotas, cosmetic trimmings and fittings aside, are mechanically SUPERIOR to any other makers' cars, regardless of 'heritage,' 'prestige,' and whatever other factors that are SECONDARY to being an AUTOMOBILE. whose basic job is reliable transport, with minimal fuss and bother.

further, there are even some TOYOTA models more luxurious and prestigious than even the Lexus LS600 and LX470. namely, the v12 Toyota Century.

85bmw745i - 10/2/2009 12:52:43 PM

+1 Boost

How many domestic cars are like that? Lincoln MKZ/Mercury Milan/Ford Fuzion. Cadillac Escalade/GMC yukon/Chevy Tahoe. Ford F150/ Lincoln MKT. Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator. Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger. Chrysler Aspen/Dodge Durango. Japan. Nissan Armada/Infinity QX56. Infinity M45/Nissan Fuga 4.5gt. You have some luxury car companies that have parent companies then you are going to have badge engineering. At least wit Audi/VW it isn't so obvious because the styling is so different. Even though in some cases they are on the same chassis, you can't tell because they don't share the same overall design. sheetmetal overall shape etc are drastically different.