New Lexus HS 250 Special Edition Now Available in Japan

The Japan-only Lexus HS 250h will receive its second special edition of the year with this new Harmonious Leather Interior in Spindle Red: Any exterior color can be chosen (including Atomic Silver), and an exclusive Starlight Black option is available with the package. The HS 250h Harmonious Leather Interior II will launch in November and …

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Kevin · September 19th, 2014

Special Edition Lexus HS 250h Now Available in Japan

Lexus Japan will release a special edition HS 250h in June with the exclusive Harmonious Leather Interior II package. The interior features black & white leather with violet highlights, along with beautiful birds eye maple & ash wood trim — here are some photos: Any exterior color can be chosen, though an exclusive Starlight Black …

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Kevin · May 15th, 2014

Lexus CT 200h Sedan Spotted?

A Motor Trend editor spotted a mystery prototype in Southern California, and noting its similarity to the Lexus HS 250h, believes it to be an early version of a CT 200h sedan.
Kevin · June 19th, 2013

Imagining a Lexus CT Sedan

Upon learning that Lexus was planning to cancel the much-maligned HS 250h, some readers suggested that the model be converted into a CT sedan — interestingly, photochopper Theophilus Chin tried that something very similar a couple of weeks back.
Kevin · November 14th, 2011

Lexus HS 250h to be Cancelled?

According to Wards Auto (by way of Leftlane News), Lexus is considering cancelling the HS 250h after the hybrid sedan failed to meet expectations.
Kevin · November 11th, 2011

Two Lexus Models in US Federal Fuel Economy Top Ten

Here’s something — The US Environmental Protection Agency has released its Top 10 Fuel Economy Leaders for 2011, and two Lexus models made the cut. The HS 250h placed fifth with a 35 mpg average, and the RX 450h FWD ranked ninth at 30 mpg, which is impressive given the SUV’s size and power. The …

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Kevin · November 10th, 2010

Lexus SEMA Video Preview

SEMA starts in an hour, but before the doors open, here’s a great HD video preview of the Lexus SEMA cars: I’ll be at the show today with a plan to update throughout the day and take plenty of photos, so if you have any picture requests, please let me know!
Kevin · November 2nd, 2010

Lexus SEMA 2010 Show Cars in Detail

Here’s a full breakdown of the models along with their descriptions, all courtesy of Lexus: CT200h F SPORT CONCEPT Description How do you take a fun to drive sporty five-door premium compact hybrid that has a combined EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 42 mpg to the next level? Build a CT200h F Sport Concept. Although …

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Kevin · October 29th, 2010

Lexus HS 250h Recalled Over Crash Test Fuel Leak

Lexus has issued a recall and stop sale on the HS 250h after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that too much gasoline leaks in a rear-impact test. The recall, which will affect 17,000 vehicles in the USA, is a result of a test that involves striking the vehicle with a deformable barrier from …

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Kevin · June 25th, 2010

Lexus HS 250h Sales Target Revised

Ward’s Auto has tallied up the HS 250h’s sales to date, and has found that Lexus is on track to sell 14,000 units of the entry-luxury hybrid in its first year, about 6,000 less than previously forecast. Since the HSh’s launch in August 2009, a total of 11,228 units have been sold to date. According …

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Kevin · May 6th, 2010

Lexus Driver Assist Technologies HS 250h Review

Courtesy of Grant Winter from RealWorldTestDrives.com, this HS 250h video review focuses on three Lexus technologies that are increasingly found throughout the company’s lineup: The first technology, Lane Keep Assist (begins at 0:50), is also found on the LS line, and the warning feature is used on the GX. The second technology, the Wide-View Front …

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Kevin · April 30th, 2010

Lexus HS 250h Inside Story

CanadianDriver has put up an interesting piece on the HS 250h interior as part of the website’s “Inside Story” series. Billed as a 7-day “review of interior comfort features, cabin controls, storage options, trunk space and under-hood accessibility,” this review features a non-Remote Touch equipped HS 250h, and describes the storage options available instead: At …

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Kevin · April 18th, 2010

Lexus HS 250h Wins Ward’s Interior Award

The results of Ward’s Interior of the Year Awards for 2010 have been announced, and the Lexus HS 250h has come away with the award for best Hybrid Car interior—here’s how Ward’s described the judging process: A team of eight Ward’s editors evaluated 40 vehicles that have either all-new or significantly upgraded interiors this year. …

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Kevin · April 13th, 2010

CNN Comparo: Lexus HS 250h vs. Audi A3 TDI

It may be a class-defying comparison (probably should’ve waited till the CT 200h comes out), but CNN put up a comparison of the 35 mpg HS 250h and the 34 mpg Audi A3 TDI. While a sportier character and fold-down seats work in the A3’s favor, the HS has a more techno-rich cabin, produces 15% …

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Kevin · April 5th, 2010

Lexus Hybrid Braking Safety Video

In response to media stories of vehicle acceleration, Lexus has released this video clarifying the stopping procedure for hybrid models: From this video, it is made clear that: 1) All Lexus hybrids have a brake override system, which cuts power to the engine when the accelerator and brake pedals are simultaneously pressed. 2) Lexus vehicles …

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Kevin · March 31st, 2010

Lexus HS 250h “Good” in IIHS Frontal Crash Test

In the latest round of crash safety tests conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), the Lexus HS 250h has received the agency’s highest rating of “Good” on its first evaluation, the frontal offset crash test.  In this test, vehicles are accelerated towards a barrier at 40 mph. Approximately 40 percent of the …

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Kevin · March 10th, 2010

Lexus Hybrids Commercial: Milestones

Lexus heralds its expanded hybrid lineup with this commercial featuring a synchronized display of the Lexus hybrid models: The 5.5 billion mile figure quoted in the video is based on an average of 10,000 miles per year, which is less than the typical figure used in the U.S.  It’s also worth noting that the luxury …

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Kevin · March 4th, 2010

Lexus CT 200h Size Comparison

Even with all the photos of the Lexus CT 200h at the Geneva Auto Show, it’s hard to get a good idea of just how big it really is, so I put together this chart showing the newest Lexus as compared to the IS, HS & ES: Put into perspective, the CT 200h looks bigger …

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Kevin · March 2nd, 2010

Lexus HS 250h Voluntary Recall Announced

A voluntary recall of the 2010 Lexus HS 250h has been announced by Toyota USA—from the press release: The ABS, in normal operation, engages and disengages rapidly (many times per second) as the control system senses and reacts to tire slippage. Some 2010 model year Prius and 2010 HS 250h owners have reported experiencing inconsistent …

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Kevin · February 8th, 2010

Lexus HS 250h to be Part of Toyota Prius Brake Investigation

Taking the upmost caution in the face of increasingly ridiculous media attention, Toyota has announced that the Lexus HS 250h will be investigated alongside the 2010 Toyota Prius for a software glitch that is causing problems with Toyota’s hybrid braking—even though the two models don’t even use the same software: The mechanical parts that make …

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Kevin · February 5th, 2010

VIP Auto Salon Lexus HS 250h @ The Detroit Auto Show

The modified Lexus HS 250h at the Detroit Auto Show was the centerpiece of the entire Lexus exhibit. Put together by Clark Ishihara and VIP Auto Salon, the HSh is decked out in Branew—front under-spoiler, side skirts, rear under-spoiler, trunk spoiler, stainless steel muffler, and the 20” wheels all come from the Japanese tuning company. …

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Kevin · January 18th, 2010

Two Lexus HS 250h Commercials

Here’s two Lexus HS 250h commercials—the first is from Japan, and involves saving the world: This second commercial shows the HSh’s Heads-up Display in greater detail: The HUD isn’t available in the HSh in Canada, so this is the first time I’ve seen the upgraded graphics and display information. Very impressed to see the steering …

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Kevin · November 9th, 2009

Lexus Announces Drive HS Winner

Lexus USA has announced the winner of their Drive HS promotion: Mr. Michael David Valletta who resides in Pleasant View, Utah, and is currently stationed at Fort Rucker, Ala., is the Grand Prize Winner of the promotion which encouraged people to post a profile and a statement about why people should vote for them on …

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Kevin · October 27th, 2009

Lexus HS250h Photos from Winnipeg

Given the short time frame, I wasn’t able to take too many photos during the Lexus HS 250h event in Winnipeg, but what I lacked in quantity I made up for in quality: {embed=“site/gallery” gallery_id=“1389”} I found the HS 250h in Matador Red very easy to photograph—unlike the Aurora White Pearl that absorbed all light. …

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Kevin · October 19th, 2009

2010 Lexus HS 250h Canadian Preview

To mark the Canadian release of the Lexus HS 250h, Lexus Canada invited media from across the country to test drive the new hybrid sedan in Winnipeg, Manitoba, one of the most environmentally friendly cities in Canada. The event took place over two days, where we were blessed with some exceptionally wonderful weather and plenty …

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Kevin · October 15th, 2009

Four Lexus HS 250h Print Ads

Along with its run of commercials, Lexus USA will also be promoting the HS 250h in four print ads (click for larger images): These print ads are similar in tone to both the 2010 RX & Power of H commercials, and the equal-parts emphasis on technology and eco-friendly works very well with the HS. (John …

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Kevin · September 25th, 2009

2010 Lexus HS 250h Commercials

Lexus has just released four mini commercials for the HS 250h that highlight the sedan’s non-hybrid technologies: Additionally, there’s a full length commercial that touches on all of the technologies at once (the sound seemed clipped, though): Drawing attention to the driver aids in the HS 250h is very smart—after all, even if you subtract …

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Kevin · September 10th, 2009

Lexus HS 250h with LX-Mode Wheels

It was only a matter of time before a modded Lexus HS 250h would show up on the Internet, and appears Japanese tuner company LX-Mode is first out the gate with new wheels on a dropped HSh (click for a larger version): It’s amazing how a minor drop and wheel swap can have such an …

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Kevin · September 4th, 2009

Popular Mechanics Compares the 2010 Lexus HS 250h vs. BMW 335d

Popular Mechanics has posted a rather awkward fuel economy comparison between the hybrid Lexus HS 250h and diesel BMW 335d—what starts off as a fuel economy showdown ends up being a driving contest that’s over before it even begins: Our drive took up through the Santa Monica Mountains high above Malibu to test the handling …

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Kevin · September 4th, 2009

Lexus USA August 2009 Sales Report

Lexus USA has reported their August 2009 sales, here’s the model-by-model breakdown: August Year to Date 2009 2008 % CHG 2009 2008 % CHG IS 4,855 6,318 -20.2 24,565 37,328 -33.5 HS 543 0 543 0 ES 5,629 7,881 -25.8 30,385 46,600 -34.2 GS 669 1,686 -58.8 4,776 12,042 -59.9 SC 34 187 -81.1 576 …

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Kevin · September 2nd, 2009

Spending Time with the 2010 Lexus HS 250h

Recently, I had a chance to get a quick look at a Lexus HS 250h prototype that was being used to develop dealership training materials by the people at Lexus Canada.  Glenn Alkema of the Lexus Academy was nice enough to give me a tour of the new hybrid, which will be introduced here in …

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Kevin · August 31st, 2009

Lexus HS 250h Japanese Success to Affect U.S. Launch?

While nothing has been confirmed, Automotive News is reporting that the US supply of Lexus HS 250h sedans to the US may be affected by the hybrid’s massive success in Japan: In its first month in Japan, the car racked up 10,000 orders or about 20 times Toyota Motor Corp.‘s initial sales target of 500 …

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Kevin · August 25th, 2009

Lexus Japan Hits 10,000 HS 250h Orders in First Month

Even after tripling production, Lexus will have a hard time keeping up with the HS 250h demand in Japan: Orders for Lexus’ first dedicated hybrid, the HS250h, reached 10,000 units in its first month, smashing its sales target of 500, parent company Toyota Motor Corp. said. The waiting list for the HS250h is now six …

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Kevin · August 20th, 2009

Lexus to Triple HS 250h Production

In order to keep up with the Japanese demand for the HS 250h, Lexus will be tripling production of the new hybrid. As reported by the Nikkei (by way of The Green Car Congress), even after producing 2,000 units in July, there are still 8,600 pre-orders for the hybrid sedan. This is seventeen times the …

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Kevin · August 8th, 2009

2010 Lexus HS 250h Now on Lexus USA Website

The Lexus HS 250h is now on the Lexus USA website, which means plenty of information along with full option & package pricing. There are standard and premium variants, starting at $34,200 and $36,970 respectively. From there, it gets a little confusing: There is a $1,600 Touring package, with 18” wheels and a sport tuned …

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Kevin · August 5th, 2009

Conan O’Brien Giving Away a Lexus HS 250h

Last night, Conan O’Brien announced a contest on The Tonight Show to give away a Lexus HS 250h, here he is to explain it: The contest runs until August 21st, 2009, and is only available to US residents. Visit the Tonight Show website for full details. (Thanks Stan!)
Kevin · August 4th, 2009

Lexus Enform Subscription Pricing

Also covered in the HS 250h pricing announcement was the cost of the new Lexus Enform telematics subscription: Complimentary one-year trial subscriptions of Lexus Enform and Safety Connect are included with all new HS 250h purchases. One-year renewal subscriptions to Safety Connect alone will be available for $139.95 and to Lexus Enform with Safety Connect …

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Kevin · July 20th, 2009

Lexus HS 250h US Pricing

US Pricing for the 2010 Lexus HS 250h has been announced, from the press release: The 2010 HS 250h, Lexus’ first dedicated hybrid and the fourth offering in its lineup, is available in standard and Premium models.  The standard version will have an MSRP of $34,200, while the Premium model will carry an MSRP of …

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Kevin · July 20th, 2009

Lexus HS 250h Launches in Japan with 1,500 Pre-Orders

The Lexus HS 250h has been launched in Japan, where it has racked up an astounding 1,500 pre-orders, three times the expected monthly sales. One interesting fact from the Lexus press release: Based on the brand’s core principle of “pursuing the essence of luxury”, Lexus aimed to develop a luxurious “harmonious sedan”, hence the “HS” …

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Kevin · July 14th, 2009

Edmunds Reviews the Lexus HS 250h (Again)

Edmunds may have been lukewarm on the Lexus HS 250h at first, but it appears some additional time behind the wheel has changed that opinion—their full review is extremely positive: The creamy propulsion fits right in with a very solid structure and smoothly suppressed ride motions delivered by the sport suspension settings that accompanied our …

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Kevin · July 8th, 2009

My.IS Reviews the Lexus HS 250h

With the release of the Lexus HS 250h coming closer and closer, there will be more and more reviews of the new hybrid sedan to pore over, but it’s unlikely any of them will touch the depth and detail shown by My.IS editor Joaquín Ruhi. Weighing in at over 5,000 words, his review has plenty …

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Kevin · July 8th, 2009

Win a Lexus HS 250h for a Year!

To promote the release of the HS 250h, Lexus USA is having a contest to give away two full-year test drives of the new luxury hybrid, along with 100 week-long test drives—here’s Lexus Vice-President of Marketing, David Nordstrom, with the full details: Entering is simple, just visit drivehs.com, sign up for a profile and then …

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Kevin · July 2nd, 2009

Lexus HS 250h Video with Mark Templin

This latest video from Lexus USA features General Manager Mark Templin talking up the new HS 250h: A quote from the video: “I like being at Lexus because we get to try new things, we get to change the world, we get to do things the right way instead of the same old way they …

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Kevin · June 25th, 2009

Jalopnik Reviews the Lexus HS 250h

Considering the site’s general tone, Jalopnik’s review of the Lexus HS 250h is surprisingly light on insults and quite heavy with praise: If you ignore the proclivities of the CVT, the car is actually not a total dud, accelerating to 60 MPH in about 8.7 seconds, handling corners in a way we didn’t think a …

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Kevin · June 16th, 2009

Lexus HS 250h Press Presentation Videos

This Lexus HS 250h video press presentation posted by The Auto Network is quite dry, but it’s hard to beat in terms of information if you’re interested in the upcoming hybrid sedan. Of special note is the second video, which is a technical overview of the vehicle’s mechanical and electrical systems—too bad there’s an audio …

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Kevin · June 9th, 2009

Lexus Hybrid Family Portrait

One of the photos taken for the HS 250h press launch was this family portrait of all the Lexus hybrids together (click for larger image): 1680×1050 | 1440×900 | 1280×800 Whether it’s the angle or the arrangement, the HS 250h looks like a much better fit in the Lexus lineup. At the very least, it’s …

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Kevin · June 4th, 2009

Lexus Enform Video Demonstration

This video preview of the Lexus HS 250h by The First Lemming has something we haven’t seen before, an actual demonstration of the new Lexus Enform telematic system: The demonstration is obviously a simple case—the drivers could have entered the destination directly into the navigation—but it’s hard to discount the exceptional convenience that this voice …

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Kevin · June 2nd, 2009

Lexus HS 250h US Sales Expectations

Lexus USA has their sights set on selling 25,000 HS 250h a year, according to a new report from Bloomberg. 25,000 units, or approximately 2,083 per month, would put the HS 250h just below the IS lineup in current sales, and is down from the initial expectation of 30,000 units sold given at January’s Detroit …

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Kevin · June 1st, 2009

Car & Driver Reviews the Lexus HS 250h

With all the reviews of the Lexus HS250h coming out, there was bound to be one that took the negative view—and surprise of surprises, it’s Car & Driver: The good news is that the HS250h offers a lot more luxury fitments than we usually associate with hybrids. Problem is, so does the 2010 Prius. The …

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Kevin · May 27th, 2009

Edmunds Reviews the Lexus HS 250h

The Lexus HS 250h reviews keep coming—next up is Edmunds, who have heavy praise for the interior of the new hybrid: When it comes to cutting-edge features, the 2010 Lexus HS 250h leads its class. And it doesn’t hit you over the head with its hybrid nature. There’s no freakish space-pod Prius-esque dashboard. The numerous …

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Kevin · May 27th, 2009

Autoblog Reviews the 2010 Lexus HS 250h

Autoblog has published an absolutely fantastic review of the 2010 Lexus HS 250h, full of new information and details—and it also tells a different tale in terms of how the hybrid handles: The steering rack is not mounted on rubber bushings to keep the line of feedback undulled, and the electric power steering is speed …

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Kevin · May 26th, 2009

Next Autos Reviews the 2010 Lexus HS 250h

Next Autos has published one of the first reviews of the 2010 Lexus HS 250h, and it’s a mostly positive affair. There’s the expected praise of the interior, but what I was most interested in was the driving performance: The suspension gives a super smooth ride, and aimed totally at comfort. It’s still firm, and …

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Kevin · May 26th, 2009

New Lexus HS 250h Videos

Lexus has published some new HS 250h videos: These videos give a better insight into just how important the ecological aspect was in the design and production of the HS—I’d say it’s the very definition of the vehicle, right down to how it looks.  Speaking of which, take a look at this new photo of …

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Kevin · April 21st, 2009

Lexus Enform Service to arrive with the Lexus HS 250h

Arriving late this summer, the Lexus HS 250h will be the first vehicle offered with the new Lexus Enform + Safety Connect telematics system. Safety Connect, a service that will be offered on both Toyota and Lexus vehicles, provides a support network in the event of an emergency—offering automatic collision detection, locating a stolen vehicle, …

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Kevin · March 25th, 2009

Lexus Dedicated Hybrid to Debut at Next Year’s Detroit Auto Show

During a media reception last night at the Detroit Auto Show, Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe announced that a dedicated Lexus hybrid will be introduced at next year’s convention: “Next year here in Detroit, we will expand our conventional hybrid line-up by staging world premiers of two all-new, dedicated hybrids, one for Toyota and one for …

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Kevin · January 14th, 2008