Lexus has launched a new area on its consumer Web site for its upcoming HS 250h Hybrid car that is set to debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month. The new car, which we've yet to see any actual pictures of (the rendering above is from a Japanese magazine), will break cover on January 11.
Ever since rumors first surfaced that Lexus would be bringing out a new hybrid, speculation has been rampant about where the vehicle's platform would come from. Most agree that it will use the same Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain found in other Toyota and Lexus models, but the application is a mystery. There have been rumors for some time now that Lexus will get its own version of Toyota's popular Prius hybrid, but in far more luxurious trim in keeping with Lexus' image. To that end, some have speculated that the HS 250h could be that Lexus-ized Prius.That would be all well and good, but during the presentation of the new Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h at the Los Angeles Auto Show last month, Lexus executives told journalists that the HS 250h would be a full-size car. While technology from the 2010 Prius, which will also be debuting at Detroit, could certainly be used in the HS 250h, the platform is likely too small to build a full-size car on. In fact, Japanese car publication Mag-X claims that the HS 250h will share the underpinnings of Toyota's SAI project. That project will use the Prius drivetrain in a larger vehicle and with a larger engine, reportedly the 2.4L engine found in the Camry Hybrid. Of course, the 250 designation is used on the IS line for Toyota's 2.5-liter V-6, so that could also be a remote possibility as the engine for the HS, but best bet is on the 2.4L four as well as its gas engine. The new Toyota-branded hybrid will reportedly slot between the Prius and Camry in size, which means it won't be a fullsize sedan, but Lexus could build a larger car on the same platform. The car is also rumored to have a dual luggage lid system wherein you'll be able to open rear end like a trunk or like a hatch.At this point, all we really know for sure is that the HS 250h will be at Detroit. Will it be Lexified Prius, or something more?