Should We Expect a Lexus Prius?

[krew]

Toyota reinvented an icon last week with the debut of the fifth-generation Prius. The sedan sees a radical redesign, with an exquisite silhouette and the personality of a spaceship.
The Prius does remain a hybrid instead of going full-electric, but it’s a practical decision — Toyota remains constrained by a lack of batteries, and a hybrid allows for more sales. Not only that, the Prius Prime plugin has 220 horsepower and 58 miles of EV range. Impressive numbers.
Given the high profile debut and an impressive overall package, it’s only natural for the eye to drift toward a Lexus version — the CT 200h was based on the third generation Prius, and it’s still on sale in Japan.
It’s even possible Lexus teased this very vehicle at last year’s “EV by 2030” announcement — there was a new hatchback buried in one...

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[Och]

Wasn't the HS essentially a Prius?

 

[LS500-18]

I’d 100% buy a Lexified Prius Prime, although I'd prefer an ES PHEV if it was available.

 

[Ian Schmidt]

Wasn't the HS essentially a Prius?

Right, the HS was exactly a Lexus Prius.

 

[qtb007]

Wasn't the HS essentially a Prius?

The HS was a 2.4L hybrid and closely related to the Avensis. It roughly shared platform with the Prius, but that's about it. The CT200h, on the other hand, shared at least the drivetrain with the Prius, but had a double wishbone rear suspension rather than the Prius torsion beam. At the time, the HS was dragged for being a Lexus Corolla because the proportions where very corolla-like.

 

[LS500-18]

What is "HS"?

 

[qtb007]

What is "HS"?

Lexus HS 250h. It was out around the late 00s in the US. Never really achieved any popularity.

 

[Sulu]

What is "HS"?

The HS 250h ("Harmonious Sedan" according to Wikipedia) was Lexus' first entry-level (FWD) hybrid sedan, introduced for the 2010 model year (predating the CT 200h by a year) and built on a platform shared with the Prius, Corolla and larger, mid-size Avensis. It had awkward styling both inside and out.

It never sold well, was cancelled in 2012 and replaced by the ES 300h for 2013.

 

[F1 Silver Arrows]

I would rather buy the Prius itself tbh.

Unless if there is a solid power upgrade I don't see it.

 

[ssun30]

HS was a rebadged SAI and both were popular in Japan thanks to it's small size but large space and hybrid tax breaks Japan had back then.

Today it makes sense to build a Corolla-LWB based FWD sedan. After all Acura makes one.

 

[spwolf]

Nope.

Will it have TNGA2 vehicle that is a small CUV and shares a lot of technology with Prius? Probably.