I LIKE it - a bunch! MPG alleged to be 40mpg One of my co-workers saw a commercial for this last night ... anybody else?
He may have seen the ad for the CT200h instead. I wonder if that's to compete with the 5 Series GT/X6 or the ZDX? I thought Lexus might want to market an SUV below the RX or is that it (it certainly looks as large, if not slightly larger than the RX but it's hard to tell from a picture).
Looks like a lifted Nissan Altima with a large a$$. The git at Lexus who keeps approving these designs needs to be fired immediately... or be set on fire if the next design is as bad as the current new designs.
I'm with 2KToaster 1. I don't like it either. I also find the exterior of the CT 200h. Its rear looks very awkward. From an exterior styling and fuel economy POV, there's no question I'd take a 3rd gen Prius instead. The back reminds me of the rather ugly Accord Crosstour and Acura ZDX (since Tideland mentioned it).
500h that gets 40mpg is impossible without PHEV. The Prius equates to 200h. With its light weight and aerodynamic returns 50mpg. The same 200h in a heavier, less aerodynamic CT barely gets a little above 40mpg. The 250h in the Camry cant even come close to 40mpg. The 450h in the RX gets 30mpg combined. What makes you think a 500h, in a crossover no less, can get 40mpg?
Also keep in mind that the Lexus hybrid drive train is NOT made or marketed to be efficient. It is made to be powerful.
It's a perk, not the reason for buying. The mpg difference between the hybrid and non-hybrid isn't that much. So people don't really look at it for the gas savings. Even driving one, it is humbling to not be able to get 60+ miles per gallon when coasting. It is hard to keep it above 30mpg.
And to top it all off, I can fit more stuff in my Prius's hatch than I can fit in the RX! And the Prius seats fold down easier too.
My co-worker DID say he heard 40 something mpg in the commercial. Based on that, I think you're right tideland - looking at shots like the one below ... it's awfully similar to the japanese ad pictured above at the OP. .
difference seems huge to me... (especially when you flip it around and look at gallons per 100 mi or liters per 100km or whatever) RX350 = 18/23 RX450h=32/28
Real world numbers from our RX350 (2007): 22mpg in the city, 26 highway Real world numbers for our RX400h (2008): 28mpg in the city, 26 highway This is over quite a few miles. The 400h is smoother no doubt with its CVT and nice and quiet at stops. But it was not purchased for fuel economy.
I haven't even heard a substantiated rumor of a 500h. IMHO you are quite correct, this is just an old concept being recirculated. That doesn't mean there will not be a lexus crossover, only that the 500h speculative details are wrong.
Um . . . from the lexus web site - FWD epa: yea . . . I wouldn't have bought our rx-400h if the gas version got 26 highway. That said, "she-who-must-be-obeyed" drives the mpg down to 27 when she goes through a tank. My best? quite a spreation, between lead foot and hyper mile'er. .
from what i've read... and i spend way too much time doing this... the OP might be confused. that was a very early on version of the hs250h or whatever. anything with a 500h or 600h was supposed to be based off the LS. there is another rumor of the IS hatchback coming back.. as the later pictures show. it supposed be be based off the GS frame. (those rumors were over 6 months ago.. or so) then there is the supposed replacement for the SC.. which is the 500h or 600h variant i mentioned.. HERE i'm waiting for the FT-86 (major load time. many pics)
