Lexus News - Toyota to Ford: 100,000 hybrids? That’s cute. We’ve sold a million in the U.S.

Toyota to Ford: 100,000 hybrids? That’s cute. We’ve sold a million in the U.S.

Filed under: Hybrid, Lexus, Toyota, Green Daily, USA

Yesterday, Ford announced it had built its 100,000th hybrid SUV. Today, Toyota coyly released a statement that outshines the Blue Oval 10-to-1. Toyota Motor Sales has now sold more than one million Toyota and Lexus hybrids in the U.S. and dominates 75 percent of the hybrid market here. TMS has sold six hybrid models in America, including the Prius, the Highlander hybrid SUV, the Camry hybrid and the Lexus GS 450h, LS 600h and RX 400h models. This summer, the new RX 450h and HS 250h will appear. Oh, and the new 2010 Prius.

The amazing thing is that, through the end of January 2009, 1.7 million Toyota and Lexus hybrids have been sold around the world. In June 2007, Toyota announced it had sold a million hybrids and, last spring, total Prius sales topped the 1m mark. Toyota had said they hope to be building a million hybrids a year by 2020, but they have moved up the date to “early in the next decade.” Toyota will introduce ten new hybrid models globally by 2012.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota to Ford: 100,000 hybrids? That’s cute. We’ve sold a million in the U.S.

Toyota to Ford: 100,000 hybrids? That’s cute. We’ve sold a million in the U.S. originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus News - Doctor’s Lexus hybrid explodes in Arkansas, “explosive device” found

Doctor’s Lexus hybrid explodes in Arkansas, “explosive device” found

Filed under: Etc., Hybrid, Lexus

This is one of those stories that, when you first read the headline, you think, “This will be all over the internet in a matter of minutes.” The details are as follows: A Lexus hybrid belonging to the chairman of the Arkansas Medical Board, Dr. Trent Pierce, exploded this morning outside his home. CNN says he is currently in “extremely critical condition” at a local hospital. Early reports from local media said that, “it could have been a malfunction with the hybrid Lexus SUV” and police did not initially suspect any foul play. Another person was also injured. FOX has since learned that the ATF is investigating and that an “explosive device” was found in the car. The FBI is also involved.

Toyota has told AutoblogGreen that, “At this time we have received no information on the details of the onsite investigation.”

UPDATE: Toyota just sent out the following statement: “We are extremely concerned to hear about Dr. Pierce and are looking into the situation. There have been conflicting reports from officials on the scene and it is too early to speculate on the cause. We will cooperate completely with officials in any investigation. We are not aware of any such incident in which it was determined that Lexus hybrid vehicle components were the cause.”

[Source: CNN, FOX]

Doctor’s Lexus hybrid explodes in Arkansas, “explosive device” found originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus News - Rumormill: Lexus LS could get base V6 model

Rumormill: Lexus LS could get base V6 model

Filed under: Lexus

The trend towards more fuel efficient automobiles is stretching past its expected economy car roots and into the upper reaches of large luxury vehicles. It could be argued that Lexus started this particular trend with its range of hybrid vehicles, especially the GS 450h and the LS 600h premium sedans. Perhaps the biggest hurdle Lexus needs to overcome to sell its hybrids is their price, since all that extra doohickery adds plenty to the bottom line. Perhaps it’s not surprising, then, to hear rumors that Lexus is working on a new version of its LS flagship that will use Toyota’s 2GR-FSE 3.5L V6 engine engine in lieu of the pricey hybrid or thirsty V8 options. We’d assume the new model would be named the LS 350.

This particular powerplant has won accolades by combining both port fuel injection and direct injection to produce up to 311 horsepower (315 PS or 232 kW) and is already used in the automaker’s IS 350 and GS 350. This engine option in the LS would also allow buyers in some countries to avoid high taxes that are based on the powerplant’s displacement.

[Source: Paultan.org]

Rumormill: Lexus LS could get base V6 model originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus News - Detroit 2009: Lexus HS250h live reveal

Detroit 2009: Lexus HS250h live reveal

Filed under: Hybrid, Lexus, Detroit Auto Show, Green Daily

Enough with the renderings and spy photos, let’s move to the big stage. Lexus took the wraps off of the 2010 HS 250h, its first dedicated hybrid - indeed, “the world’s first dedicated luxury hybrid,” as the press release says - this morning in Detroit, just in time for the brand’s 20th anniversary. This is the fourth Lexus hybrid model and is about as close as we’ll ever get to a “Lexus Prius.” The new HS 250h uses a 2.4-liter Atkinson-cycle 187 hp engine with variable valve timing and a exhaust heat recovery system for improved efficiency. All this makes the HS 250h the most fuel-efficient Lexus yet; even the LED headlights save a little bit of power.

Lexus officials talked up the sedan’s 0.27 drag coefficient (Cd), made possible with front and rear spoilers (and a rear under spoiler) and many other aerodynamic tweaks. The HS 250h also uses some bio-plastic throughout the interior, something that Lexus says will result in a 20 percent drop in lifecycle CO₂ emissions. Not a concept vehicle, the HS 250h will be in dealerships this summer. Pricing TBA. There’s a short video after the jump.

Live Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Lexus HS250h live reveal

Detroit 2009: Lexus HS250h live reveal originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus News - Lexus refines hybrid drivetrain for RX450h, 28 mpg city/27 highway

Lexus refines hybrid drivetrain for RX450h, 28 mpg city/27 highway

Filed under: Hybrid, Lexus

A few months back at the LA Auto Show, where Lexus introduced the world to its latest RX450h hybrid crossover, the automaker was not yet ready to reveal its price or fuel mileage ratings. Things are still a bit hazy on the pricing front, but we do have some preliminary mileage data to share, along with an entire novel’s worth of incremental detail changes that all add up to create a better hybrid. First, the mileage: an EPA-estimated 28 mpg city and 27 mph highway (26 mpg for the AWD), which is an 8-12 percent improvement of the old RX400h. We couldn’t possibly cover the minutiae nearly as well as Lexus has already done, so check past the break for the entire press release.

The other salient details include a new exhaust heat-recovery system that helps the hybrid perform better in cold temperatures, a new ECO driving mode and a new EV drive mode that allows the RX to run on electricity alone with zero emissions under certain circumstances. All this and a 20 percent boost in power… sounds like a winner so far. Expect to see the new RX450h on dealer lots in a few months time, and look for pricing information closer to the launch date.

[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading Lexus refines hybrid drivetrain for RX450h, 28 mpg city/27 highway

Lexus refines hybrid drivetrain for RX450h, 28 mpg city/27 highway originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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