Lexus's latest hybrid: HS250h

January 11, 7:27 PMDC Car ExaminerBrady Holt

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 The Lexus HS250h is the first luxury-brand hybrid that
 doesn't have a standard non-hybrid version.

Although the hybrid Toyota Prius has succeeded as one of the few mainstream-priced cars that don't look out of place in any premium setting, it doesn't offer the extra sense of refinement many buyers look for. Toyota has offered hybrid versions of its Lexus LS and GS sedans and RX SUVs, but none offered unique "I'm driving a hybrid" styling or the extreme fuel savings of the Prius.

Later this year, Toyota hopes to go after the buyers of luxury cars who want to go green without giving up the comfort and amenities they're used to with the new HS250h sedan, unveiled today at the Detroit Auto Show.

The HS shares many components, including the hybrid system, with the upcoming 2010 Prius. As such, it's unlike previous Lexus hybrids in that it's its own distinct vehicle -- there's no version with a standard gasoline engine.

There are also more fuel savings than in previous Lexuses. Those "performance hybrids" used the electric motor to offer extra acceleration performance while eaking out relatively small fuel economy gains. Toyota hasn't released details on the new Lexus HS gas mileage, but promises fuel economy will be "more than 30-percent better than the most fuel-efficient model currently in the Lexus lineup."

That would be the Lexus IS250 sedan, which has an EPA fuel economy rating of 24 miles per gallon in mixed driving, indicating the HS will get an impressive 31 miles per gallon or more. That's better than most economy sedans, but shy of the Prius's 46 mpg rating. The HS250h uses regular gas, unlike most luxury-branded cars, though they do offer more than this Lexus's 187 horsepower.

Like the Prius, the HS will achieve its fuel savings by including a battery that lets the vehicle run on electric power or with electric assistance in some circumstances. A conventional gas engine recharges the battery as needed, and powers the vehicle at higher spees and under hard acceleration.

The HS250h is only the third hybrid-only car model, after the Prius and the Honda Insight. 

The HS resembles Lexus's IS sedan on the outside, but has a unique interior. The color scheme and materials appear to be standard Lexus fare, but the dash layout is less conventional. Also, Toyota promises many of the interior's materials will be particularly eco-friendly.

Distinctions from the cheaper Prius include extra insulation from sound and vibrations, as well as extra equipment. Leather seating is standard, as are larger wheels than the Prius offers. The HS can also come equipped with a lane-departure warning system, as offered on other Lexuses.

Prices haven't been set yet, but Toyota said the HS will slot above its current entry-level car: the IS250, which starts at $31,155. Toyota hopes to sell 30,000-35,000 HSs per year once it goes on sale this summer.