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Hot Springs, Arkansas — More than just a punchline in a Jay Leno monologue, the birthplace of President Bill Clinton and Billy Bob Thornton was a perfectly decent, albeit reasonably inexplicable locale to sample what may be the world's most self-conflicted vehicle, the new Lexus HS 250h.
With no offense to the great, green and very friendly state of Arkansas (that box located on top of Louisiana, if you're unsure), the automobile itself — billed as the world's first dedicated luxury hybrid — has a lot of strange, seemingly diametrically opposed things going on at the same time.
Is it a large Prius, with more passenger room, and more technological doodads and affectations than a Mercedes-Benz? Does its significant share of earth-friendly and recycled components help it overcome the slightly gauche title of “luxury hybrid?”
And, most importantly, did no one in the entire development process not calmly whisper in the designers' ears, “Uh, dude, did you notice you made a Lexus that totally looks like a Ford Fusion?”
Ah, well. Despite the hell-in-a-handbasket nature of the current economy and auto industry, Lexus continues to do boffo business, and therefore the creation of a smaller but still fantastically appointed vehicle that was to be the most hybrid-y hybrid on the market seemed in order. You can even add the car as a Facebook friend, if that's any indication of the affluent, smart-ass consumer the company's trying to reach.
Green-wise (and this presumes that you believe that hybrid technology is indeed the best step toward a less wasteful automotive future, which is itself a controversial topic), the HS is indeed precedent-setting: With mileage figures of 35 city and 34 highway, it generates 70 percent less emissions than a standard vehicle, earning it a SULEV rating of zero which, I think, means you get a huge tax break and maybe your own dedicated lane on the freeway in Los Angeles.
Various technologies including infrared glass, a heat-recovery system, an improved 2.4 liter, four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine (which, in combination with the batteries and electric motors, puts out 187 horsepower) do combine for some earnest green-ness.
Lexus has also very consciously tried to incorporate plant-derived, eco-friendly materials in the construction of the vehicle, with plastics and seat cushion fillings evidently derived from non-petroleum sources.
On the technology end of things, the company has completely outdone itself with a range of new information and entertainment tools that might require an online engineering degree from the University of Phoenix.
These include a lane-assist program that will, creepily, slightly steer the vehicle for you if you veer a bit (and will use a facial feature recognition monitor to, I kid you not, tell if you are drowsy or distracted); there's also Lexus' new Windows mouse-styled controller thingie, rather than a reach-and-poke touchscreen, which I guess would count as a distraction.
Probably the coolest innovations are the new Lexus Enform and Insider systems, essentially the company's version of OnStar — call a live operator while you're on the road and he or she will not only find your destination, they'll download it to your navigation system — plus the Insider, which provides podcast-styled audio, traffic, weather and stock reports. Again, not in the least distracting, whatsoever.
On the road, the HS has moved the once herky-jerky world of early generation hybrids in a more traditional automotive direction, with smooth, powerful starts, seamless shifts between electric and gas-powered modes and a comfortable driving experience.
Again, there's just a bit of overkill in the driving options: you can go all-electric for about two miles at a time, you can use the Eco Mode to alter your acceleration for better economy, or you can kick in the Power Mode for faster starts.
The HS is also more passenger-friendly, with a higher roofline meaning actual headspace in the rear seat (and innovative curved front seatbacks allowing more back seat leg room); a substantial, green material-lined trunk will fit four golf bags.
Green, serene and pristine, the HS will go on sale in mid-August.
With no offense to the great, green and very friendly state of Arkansas (that box located on top of Louisiana, if you're unsure), the automobile itself — billed as the world's first dedicated luxury hybrid — has a lot of strange, seemingly diametrically opposed things going on at the same time.
Is it a large Prius, with more passenger room, and more technological doodads and affectations than a Mercedes-Benz? Does its significant share of earth-friendly and recycled components help it overcome the slightly gauche title of “luxury hybrid?”
And, most importantly, did no one in the entire development process not calmly whisper in the designers' ears, “Uh, dude, did you notice you made a Lexus that totally looks like a Ford Fusion?”
Ah, well. Despite the hell-in-a-handbasket nature of the current economy and auto industry, Lexus continues to do boffo business, and therefore the creation of a smaller but still fantastically appointed vehicle that was to be the most hybrid-y hybrid on the market seemed in order. You can even add the car as a Facebook friend, if that's any indication of the affluent, smart-ass consumer the company's trying to reach.
Green-wise (and this presumes that you believe that hybrid technology is indeed the best step toward a less wasteful automotive future, which is itself a controversial topic), the HS is indeed precedent-setting: With mileage figures of 35 city and 34 highway, it generates 70 percent less emissions than a standard vehicle, earning it a SULEV rating of zero which, I think, means you get a huge tax break and maybe your own dedicated lane on the freeway in Los Angeles.
Various technologies including infrared glass, a heat-recovery system, an improved 2.4 liter, four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine (which, in combination with the batteries and electric motors, puts out 187 horsepower) do combine for some earnest green-ness.
Lexus has also very consciously tried to incorporate plant-derived, eco-friendly materials in the construction of the vehicle, with plastics and seat cushion fillings evidently derived from non-petroleum sources.
On the technology end of things, the company has completely outdone itself with a range of new information and entertainment tools that might require an online engineering degree from the University of Phoenix.
These include a lane-assist program that will, creepily, slightly steer the vehicle for you if you veer a bit (and will use a facial feature recognition monitor to, I kid you not, tell if you are drowsy or distracted); there's also Lexus' new Windows mouse-styled controller thingie, rather than a reach-and-poke touchscreen, which I guess would count as a distraction.
Probably the coolest innovations are the new Lexus Enform and Insider systems, essentially the company's version of OnStar — call a live operator while you're on the road and he or she will not only find your destination, they'll download it to your navigation system — plus the Insider, which provides podcast-styled audio, traffic, weather and stock reports. Again, not in the least distracting, whatsoever.
On the road, the HS has moved the once herky-jerky world of early generation hybrids in a more traditional automotive direction, with smooth, powerful starts, seamless shifts between electric and gas-powered modes and a comfortable driving experience.
Again, there's just a bit of overkill in the driving options: you can go all-electric for about two miles at a time, you can use the Eco Mode to alter your acceleration for better economy, or you can kick in the Power Mode for faster starts.
The HS is also more passenger-friendly, with a higher roofline meaning actual headspace in the rear seat (and innovative curved front seatbacks allowing more back seat leg room); a substantial, green material-lined trunk will fit four golf bags.
Green, serene and pristine, the HS will go on sale in mid-August.
