Lexus To Offer Small Displacement Hybrid Version Of GS To Combat Diesels In Europe

Lexus is developing a small hybrid engine to allow its new GS luxury car to compete with its economical European rivals.

Speaking to Auto Express Koji Sato, deputy chief engineer, product planning said: "We are working on a number of solutions to offer low CO2 emissions and these include a small hybrid."

The new GS launches in the UK in the summer but the only models will be a range topping GS450h with a 338bhp 3.5-litre V6 hybrid and an entry-level GS250 with a 206bhp 2.5-litre V6.

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1BadMan - 11/18/2011 4:09:41 PM

-3 Boost

"Lexus" cannot develop any kind of engine since they don't make anything. If there are editors they need to correct this as misleading. Here let me help you, Toyota's "Lexus" brand To Offer Small Displacement Hybrid Version Of GS To Combat Diesels In Europe. See not that hard!

thetruth01 - 11/18/2011 5:49:32 PM

+6 Boost

o so clever comment. I suppose one could say the same about Audi and VW. Even Bentley uses VW engines.

tango - 11/18/2011 11:19:12 PM

-2 Boost

I fail to see the point of this. Lexus already offers a fairly competent diesel in Europe. But what is happening is a failure on their part to accept that Europeans want their own garbage, not one provided by a Japanese company. Am I calling Lexus garbage? Am I calling European cars garbage? Absolutely. Am I calling Lexus garbage? Not really...but in the eyes of many Europeans it is simply because it's Japanese and because they see Lexus as being dull and boring. THAT'S what's preventing sales from being where Lexus wants them.

Wimmer - 11/19/2011 9:29:20 AM

+1 Boost

Tango, terrible post. Terrible.

If you don't live in Europe and understand how our car market and car buying habits work then please shut up. I mean that in the nicest way possible. We want features in our cars that Lexus doesn't offer here. Wagons, convertibles, coupes, diesels, different trims etc. Lexus is a very UNAPPEALING brand in Europe just like Cadillac. They stuff they offer might work in the US, but not here. Period.

The IS200d/IS220d is one miserable diesel. Guess what? You can get a range of diesels in any A4, C-Class or 3-Series and they're constantly updated, improved with each generation/facelift. The IS200d/IS220d is OUTDATED, rough and unrefined - always has been since day one. In fact Lexus hasn't done any major updates to it. It's a half-hearted effort on Lexus part.

I'm in the market for a replacement for my 2007 BMW 118i A/T for my photography business and I NEED a wagon to haul all my stuff/people and a diesel engine since I do a lot of driving. Lexus offers neither an IS wagon nor a competent diesel engine and you can't even get an automatic transmission for an IS200d/IS220d.

I've pretty much decided to go with a used Mercedes S204 C220 CDI T-Modell A/T (wagon) - I'm getting a nice car with all the things I'll ever need.

And you're calling European cars "garbage"? Geez, that's exactly how we Europeans feel about Lexus: garbage. Why should we buy a Lexus? What does Lexus stand for? Brand prestige a la their European rivals? None. Efficient engines? None. Motorsport heritage? None. Body styles on cars that we want? None. Priced the same as their European rivals? Yes, even more expensive in some cases. Add to that poor resale value, poor dealer network distribution and a general lack of adapting to the European market.

jtz7 - 11/20/2011 4:07:40 PM

+1 Boost

"that's exactly how we Europeans feel about Lexus: garbage. "
"Gasp" Huu76 you taking notes?

"Add to that poor resale value, poor dealer network distribution and a general lack of adapting to the European market."

Really? I thought Lexus was better than BMW? I thought BMW, Audi and Mercedes wanted to be Lexus. Huu76 you're missleading.