There has been talk over the years that Lexus would go all hybrid eventually, but now there's word Toyota wants to make a dedicated hybrid (or two) for the Lexus brand.
A dedicated hybrid would not have a gas-only counterpart, as most hybrids today do. As of today, only the Toyota Prius is a dedicated hybrid, which is part of the reason hybrid and Prius have become synonymous.
Honda has plans to bring a dedicated 'global' hybrid out in 2009, to replace the Insight and Accord hybrids they retired. At times, Honda has been rumored to say the new dedicated hybrid will be a Prius killer, so that would be something.
In the meantime, Lexus is going to expand the hybrid line-up with a premium version of the Prius (possible price tag in the $30,000+ range), as well as a midsize crossover. A new Lexus hybrid may be at the Detroit Auto Show in 2009, but it's unclear which one it will be, if either of them. It may feature a lithium-ion battery pack, which would be something new for Toyota, since the next generation Prius will arrive with Nickel Metal Hydride battery packs.
The dedicated hybrid from Lexus may be arriving in 2010, with the other one coming in 2011.
Source: IL Insider: Lexus Mulls Two Dedicated Hybrid Vehicles
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Lexus May Get a Dedicated Hybrid or Two
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