Lexus HS 250h to make comeback in Japan, new face

Lexus HS 250h to make comeback in Japan, new face

Remember the Lexus HS 250h? The car was introduced in 2009 as an entry-level hybrid, slotting in between the IS and ES, but earlier this year, Lexus discontinued it in the US due to declining sales. It fared better in its home market, however – in its first month, 3,000 pre-orders were recorded, 10,000 units were sold, and the waiting list was six months long.

At the time, the HS 250h‘s exterior did kind of give away its UK-market Toyota Avensis origins, but Japanese blog Minkara Carview has posted some pictures of an updated car that’s reputedly expected to launch in Japan by the end of this month.

As you can see, the JDM car gets the Lexus face, complete with spindle grille. The rest of the exterior appears unchanged, however. The interior seems to have been poshed up with the addition of some wood trim here and there, but otherwise looks the same. The blog states a price range of ¥4.1 to 5.52 million (RM153k-206k) for four variants.

It is not known if there are any changes to the powertrain, but the discontinued HS 250h had a 2.4 litre 2AZ-FXE Atkinson cycle four-cylinder collaborating with an electric motor to result in a combined 187 hp – essentially a Camry Hybrid setup.

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Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • Ah Lexus , showing us toyota can make a decent looking and quite exciting car but sells it at a premium so they can sell us cheaper but boring looking and spec cars

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 5
    • Sam Loo on Nov 27, 2012 at 4:07 pm

      Toyota cars unfortunately have appeal to the uncles only. Most of whom are too old to want to spend money. That is why Toyota resale value is dropping fast because the younger generation prefer more modern designs. Hyundai and Kia know what the younger generations want ie the fluid designs. Koreans have in a mere 10 years come up so much in Malaysia that Toyota is running scared. Toyota took over 50 years to establish marketshare what Hyundai and Kia took only 10 years to do. In 10 years time, every other car would be either a Proton or a Hyundai/Kia on our roads.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 14
      • Now you even said Toyota has low RV..then no cars in Malaysia have RV liao lor

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Sam loo , the Toyota crusader now finally betrayes his king and is rampent spreading rumors and shxx about Toyota, to pave way for the ascending of king gangnam .
      Seriously, is any body that comments on paultan actually moderate thinking and dose’t furiously support or cursed either Gangnam mobiles or Fuji cars

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 6
  • Ngan Tengyuen on Nov 27, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    The front grill reminds me of the alien from the movie predator

    http://cdn.maxim.com/15501-16000/15550_alienGenitalia_predator_l1.jpg

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 1
  • Hikaru on Nov 27, 2012 at 12:56 pm

    Spindle grille is the new trend with Lexus, they are progressively doing this treatment on all their lines. It’s growing on me.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Hikaru on Nov 27, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    Spindle grille is the trend that Lexus is going forwards with all their lines, and it’s growing on me.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • Jimmy on Nov 27, 2012 at 1:18 pm

    When you are looking for a Semi-detached house, 14 point is big. But when you are looking for a detached bungalow, 20 point is just small, alang-alang.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 4
  • 1btgnaik on Nov 27, 2012 at 1:20 pm

    Put the same 1.8 litre engine in the CT200H in this car and sell it as the Lexus HS200h in Malaysia. With the hybrid exemptions in place, this car will sell like a hotcake in Malaysia

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • what hot cake? if really happen, at least RM230k here!!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • alldisc on Nov 27, 2012 at 3:55 pm

        yeah, called CT200h. and underneath it is actually Prius 1.8 albeit with slightly smaller cabin.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
  • Anonymous on Nov 27, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    ES still looks more subtle than this… HS looks so unpolished… The back looks like the prev-gen GS form factor with the current taillights slapped in…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Not many people know what is lexus.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 7
    • alldisc on Nov 27, 2012 at 3:58 pm

      that can be neither bad nor good.

      first, ppl get attracted to the cars without knowing it is actually made by the same Toyota company.

      2nd, ppl who know it is just as like a Toyota may relate its reliability to Toyota cars as well.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 3
    • Agree. They think Lexus and Toyota are the same. Actually Lexus is more than a Toyota. Most of toyota’s interior like a Van.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • The Enthusiast on Nov 28, 2012 at 11:32 am

        Lexus is the luxury brand of Toyota. How Daihatsu is their budget label (in Malaysia, it’s called Perodua). But all of these belongs to Toyota. Meaning the technology and parts are all the same. The same goes to Infiniti and Nissan, Acura and Honda, Lincoln and Ford.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • farghmee on Nov 27, 2012 at 2:23 pm

    mpv-styled dashboard?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Only the idiotic and retarded dude does not know what is Lexus, that includes someone who is a moron.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 6
    • Biscuit on Nov 28, 2012 at 12:18 am

      …….u should explain “what is LEXUS” to Mr Ali…..instead of putting very harsh words like that…..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Gaban on Nov 27, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    Good looking car….but must be overpriced in this bolehland…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Modesto.hann on Nov 28, 2012 at 7:52 am

    Toyota makes long lasting cars. Apart from engine, its design is also more “time proof” and long lasting. If you observe correctly, toyota doesnt go for extreme design, extreme design will look far uglier when it goes out of time compared to moderate design.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • The Enthusiast on Nov 28, 2012 at 11:28 am

    Hybrid or not, this is one good looking car. Hopefully the performance and handling are as good as the look because this new Lexus design looks properly brilliant.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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