By on January 11, 2009

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45 Comments on “Lexus Prius. I Mean, $30 – $35k HS250h...”


  • avatar
    like.a.kite

    The interior looks overly futuristified.

  • avatar
    qfrog

    What is it really? Is it based on a platform we don’t normally get? Is it a sexed up corolla? Also, who wants to buy this?

  • avatar

    Apparently it is a Corolla underneath with a hybrid system.

  • avatar
    KalapanaBlack

    Oh my gosh. Lexus’s first Corolla.

    Sure this will be a dud.

  • avatar
    Richard Chen

    Exterior looks awfully similar to the 1st gen IS. So much for L-finesse.

  • avatar
    qfrog

    So this is like an Acura EL but more hybridish.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acura_EL

  • avatar
    RedStapler

    Its not the Lexus Prius, it is the Toyota Cimarron.

    Now if they have it an AWD system it might have some niche appeal. The sloping dash will be a killer on legroom.

  • avatar
    Deepsouth

    Actually, however awful it is, there’s a market for it. Some of the urban yuppies that can’t find themselves lowered to the Prius crowd will purchase it. You can park in your gated high rise, wear your Birkenstock’s, and still save the planet. All without having to deal with the service department of the “icky” Toyota store where the common folk have to go for service.

  • avatar
    mcs

    First the Cadivolt, now this. Sorry, but I’m holding out for the Rolls version of the MINI Electric.

  • avatar
    twonius

    I never thought I’d say this but:

    I’d rather have the Mercury.

  • avatar
    maniceightball

    RedStapler — huh, I like the Toyota Cimarron moniker. I vote we use this from now on.

  • avatar
    Richard Chen

    Priusmarron?

  • avatar
    golf4me

    Well there IS a sucker born every minute…so they’ll sell a few of these, I’m sure.

  • avatar
    Driver23

    Actually, however awful it is, there’s a market for it. Some of the urban yuppies that can’t find themselves lowered to the Prius crowd will purchase it.

    Yep, that’s me. I’d like to own an efficient commuter car, there is nowhere to use performance car on my daily commute anyway. I considered Prius but it was like return to Corolla days – sorry, I am past 2 way adjustable crappy non-heated seats.

    It definitely won’t be a ‘fun’ car but who cares. Price seems to be reasonable to get second [used] car for a weekend fun, two years down the road used 2008 BMW M3 will be available at $30K.

  • avatar
    like.a.kite

    It is for those who want a Prius but can pay more for one. Certainly it makes sense.

  • avatar
    Johnster

    Lexus on the cheap, it sort of looks like a rebadged Toyota Avensis.

  • avatar
    kovachian

    What a heinous turd. That thing makes the Aztek look like an Aston.

  • avatar
    James2

    Is that a mouse Toyota is using as a shifter? Carpal tunnel sufferers rejoice!

  • avatar
    carlisimo

    Johnster, I think it’s mechanically closest to the Avensis, so you’re basically right.

    Who cares if it’s ugly… we say that about all Toyotas and Lexuses and we’re proven wrong every time sales numbers come out. All I’ll say is that I expected something more distinctive because that seems to appeal to hybrid buyers. Only a car enthusiast can tell the HS apart from the IS.

  • avatar
    Droid800

    What a piece of garbage! I mean, seriously Toyota. There’s zero reason to buy this over the Prius now.

  • avatar
    mtypex

    It’s not ugly, just pointless. It’ll sell.

    “Lexus Cimarron” is incorrect because Toyota starts from decent underpinning mechanicals, even if they come in a BOX.

  • avatar
    Hank

    Funny, I see in the comments that I was not the only one to first think “Lexus Cimarron” earlier this afternoon when I saw this on another site. Though, to be fair, I’d drive one of these, a Cimarron, not so much.

    I wonder, is the blatant theft of the new Honda corporate grill (itself a barely less blatant theft of the Fusion grill, itself a theft from Gillette) payback for the Honda’s use of tracing paper and a photo of a Prius in designing the Insight (which does look a tad better than the Prius)?

  • avatar
    dwford

    This couldn’t possibly be more wrong. Talk about wrong for the brand! Yikes!

  • avatar
    ProfessorSlow

    This looks about as distinguishable from a plain old Prius as the original ES250 did from a Camry.

  • avatar
    KixStart

    Who wants this?

    Me. I’d like to know more about it but I’d like a luxury car while I’d like a very fuel-efficient hybrid. It will depend on fuel econoy and price but I would certainly consider it.

  • avatar
    like.a.kite

    I consider this to be not at all bad for the brand.

  • avatar
    PeteMoran

    It’s the next phase/wave that the Bigish3 aren’t ready for; hybrid options in every model at a reasonable price and with (hopefully) no downsides like limited trunk/boot space.

    Surprised? GM/Chrysler might be…..

  • avatar

    What a chintzy looking Lexus (on the outside at least). It’s their Cimmarron.

    Guaranteed it will find its way into dim-witted celebrity driveways.

  • avatar
    billc83

    Semantics, people! “Lexus Cimarron” is wrong. We all know it’s “Cimarron, by Lexus.”

  • avatar
    Durask

    a) hybrid
    b) Lexus
    c) relatively inexpensive

    This thing will fly off the lots (well, in this economy “fly” is relative, but this car will sell very, very well).

  • avatar
    Mark MacInnis

    They’ll be lining up several deep in Hollywood to buy this, to show their commitment to green, but not having to deal with the unwashed masses at the Toyota dealers.

    In the flyover states where the rest of us live, well, if I see one, I’ll-uh–see one.

    What is the mileage, has that been released yet?

  • avatar
    carguy622

    James2

    The mouse is to control the navigation system. Lexus is going to be doing away with their touchscreen navigation systems. This is cheaper to produce. The same thing happened to Acura’s navigation systems. Shame to, the touchscreens were much easier to use.

  • avatar
    Quentin

    Did we get some Autoblog posters over here? Sure sounds like it.

    I don’t think this is Corolla underpinned. It is supposedly longer than an IS (which is 4 to 5 inches longer than a Corolla) and is wider than an ES (which is 3 inches wider than a Corolla). It is shorter than the ES though. Basically, it pretty much fits between the IS and ES size-wise… which is far from the Corolla. It is suspiciously close to the Camry dimensions, though.

    Now, consider that it has the 2.4L out of the Camry hybrid.

    Folks, this isn’t a Lexus Prius. It is a Lexus Camry Hybrid.

    Oh yeah, the little mouse thing is awesome. Supposedly it has a forcefeedback feel when you reach a clickable icon.

  • avatar
    PeteMoran

    Well spotted Quentin.

    Next-gen Camry maybe??

  • avatar
    Driver23

    What a piece of garbage! I mean, seriously Toyota. There’s zero reason to buy this over the Prius now.

    Really? I would never buy Prius. Prius IS Corolla interior quality wise. What’s different in Lexus? Well, maybe you should go and try Camry vs GS and see yourself. Better materials, better leather, better sound insulation, better seats (heated and ventilated), Mark Levinson sound – just to begin with.

  • avatar
    Rix

    This will be my next car if it is halfway decent. Fuel economy has become important to me for political reasons- I don’t want to buy foreign oil from people who hate me. So I will gladly pay extra now to get better MPG. Plus, my posterior is getting more delicate as I age and a soft Lexus suspension starts to look more inviting.

  • avatar
    2Goldens

    ‘My imagination, or does that side shot look almost identical to the new Chevy Malibu? And, man…can you imagine what it’s gonna cost when ANYTHING on the center stack goes South?

  • avatar
    cpmanx

    If indeed this is more or less a Lexus Camry Hybrid, why is it not an ES hybrid? If the styling were wildly unlike other Lexi that might make some sense, but this seems like it will cannibalize other Lexus sales.

    But as with all things Toyota, the worst that they might be facing is a small misfire, like the IS. Lexus image + hybrid cachet will certainly find a decent # of buyers.

  • avatar
    V6

    it looks like one of those cars you fold up from an A4 sheet of paper. the sides and the shoulder line… ugh

  • avatar
    WaftableTorque

    I can put up with the exterior, but L-Finesse it is not. I was hoping for something with an interior more along the lines of a Toyota Progres, not this abomination. Lexus already has touch screen LCD’s, so I see no reason for a mouse-based interface.

    I think this is the end of my Lexus love affair, even Hyundai and Buick are building a more faithful Lexus than Lexus now.

  • avatar
    CaliCarGuy

    yea this really is pointless. you can really see the corolla-ness on the side. it looks like a patch work of corolla and prius wit some lexus is headlights tacked on. but it will sell because it has a lexus badge and a hybrid is a fashion statment now, espically in southern cali where iam at and espically if it has a lexus badge

  • avatar
    boosterseat

    This car just looks gimpy. The new Ford Fusion hybrid however, that looks killer. Optioned up to 31-33k it will get you 40mpg, look great, probably drive noticably better and have similar equipment.

    Ford just beat Lexus at their own game – whoah, this really could all work out for them…!

  • avatar
    John R

    I’m not a Toyota/Lexus fan by any reasonable measure, but let’s be serious guys….

    Toyota. Will. Sell. Every. One.

    You’re dreaming if they don’t.

  • avatar
    TRL

    Lexus will establish the Hybrid drive line as an option decision even those who can spend big money on a car are willing to make. The success of this may convince GM to actually build the Cadivolt coupe.

  • avatar
    Redbarchetta

    Wow that is one ugly Lexus, bravo Toyota you have managed to top yourselves.

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