Lexus is to the hybrid world as Germany is to the Formula One racing driver scene. Toyota’s luxury brand has been in the hybrid game for some time now and they have quite the selection to choose from. Most have been successful, but nobody would dare argue that these models are the best of the hybrid world. In order to take the hybrid title, Lexus has decided to build a hybrid from the ground out, sort of Lexus’s Michael Schumacher.
Being that Lexus is directly related to Toyota, who currently produces the benchmark hybrid in the Prius, Lexus has a wealth of knowledge at its disposal, but at the same time has one tough act to follow with the new third-generation Prius. With all that in mind, one would hope that this HS 250h would be the pinnacle of what a hybrid vehicle should be.
Lexus’s attempt to create a Schumacher-type vehicle seemed within reach, but the Japanese automaker wound up with a Sebastian Vettel, which isn’t that bad if we’re honest. What Lexus has done was create a luxury Prius, something that is nearly a mirror image of the best selling hybrid and that just isn’t a benchmark in our eyes. After spending a week in the HS 250h, our minds haven’t changed.
Hit the jump to keep reading.
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Lexus is rolling out a whole bunch of hybrids for this year’s SEMA Auto Show and their first luxury hybrid sedan is in the mix with a tuning kit presented by VIP Auto Salon. The Lexus HS 250h
gets a Branew aero styling package, a Huper Optik ceramic-based window film, and Lexus OEM Japan-market window visors.
Other goodies fitted into this luxury hybrid include a Work Gnosis GS4 machined center disk, gloss bronze anodized outer barrel, 20x8.5-inch ET30 A disk front and 20x9.5-inch, ET 35 A disk rear, and a Branew axle back system. As with the LS 600h by VIP, this sedan will also get a custom interior by Vip Auto Salon and Top Stitch, but it will also get exterior and interior premium light packages provided by VLEDS.
Nothing was changed under the hood which shouldn’t be too surprising considering the hybrid engine sitting there, but 187hp should be plenty for the greenies of the world.
Toyotais just making things worse and worse as months pass. Lexus, Toyota’s luxury division, has announced another major problem with its vehicles, just days after halting sales of one of its hybrid models.
The car recalled was the Lexus HS 250h, due to a possible fire risk in a rear end collision. This time, Lexus has announced the recall of 270,000 vehicles already sold worldwide because of an engine-stalling problem. The issue affects seven models and Toyota says that the issue could affect the cars while driving.
Lexus has not announced all of the vehicles that were in the recall, but they did say that 90,000 of them were in Japan, while the other 180,000 were overseas.
Japan’s Nikkei has reported that “tens of thousands” of LS models could be in the recall and the Wall Street Journal cited a Toyota spokeswoman as saying that the LS, GS, and IS models would be included.
The engines in question are the 4.6-liter V8 and the 3.5-liter V6, as they were built using faulty valve springs.
Toyota is at it again. Like the Ford Pinto in the 1970’s, which would leak fuel during a rear end collision, the Lexus HS250h is having the same problem. Lexus fileded a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the recall. Around 17,000 Lexus’s will need to be taken back to the dealer for servicing.
The HS250h could leak fuel in the event of a rear end collision at speeds of 50 miles per hour or greater. Leaking fuel could cause a fire that may threaten the lives of the passengers. Needless to say, Lexus needs to get this issue resolved as soon as possible.
"Even though our own testing of the Lexus HS 250h shows full compliance with federal fuel system integrity standards, we are working intensely to duplicate the noncompliance issue that the NHTSA identified and to determine the reason behind the different test results," said Steve St. Angelo, Toyota chief quality officer for North America.
Lexus has not advised the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about what steps should be taken. Call Lexus Customer Care at 1-800-25 LEXUS or 1-800-255-3987 or the NHTSA for further questions.
Hit the jump for the press release.
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With Toyota embroiled in the biggest crisis in company history, you’d figure that there’s no way to go but up for the embattled auto giant. Unfortunately, it’s becoming more and more apparent that Toyota’s problems are far from over.
After already recalling an estimated 8 million vehicles over sticky accelerator, a new problem has arisen from a number of Toyota units, forcing the Japanese-based automaker to recall about 437,000 more units of the Toyota Prius, the Lexus HS 250h, and the Toyota Sai.
What makes is worse for Toyota is that the recall of these units is completely different from the over 9 million vehicles that Toyota has previously recalled. While those cars suffered from sticky accelerators pedals, this latest batch consisting mostly of Prius and Lexus HS 250h models involve “inconsistent braking during slow and steady application of brakes on rough or slick road surfaces when the ABS is activated in an effort to maintain traction.”
It may sound a little too complicated at first but the bottom line is that these cars have a very serious braking problem, which could end up leading to fatal accidents down the road. While accidents stemming from this problem have been minimal, Toyota isn’t taking any more chances in making irreparable damage to its already hard-hit reputation.
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