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Lexus is hedging its bets with the British cops. At the annual National Police Fleet Managers conference that will take place in early September in the UK, the luxury automaker wants police fleets to seriously consider its hybrid vehicles - the RX 400h and the GS 450h, both of which will be presented in police livery - but is also bringing along the standard (i.e., non-hybrid) line-up. The company is trying to sell this as a way to demonstrate "the strength in depth of the Lexus brand," but I can't help but think that this is really just and admission that Lexus' hybrid prices are a bit too high. Lexus' PR release is after the jump, but the only worthwhile line is this one:

For police and other public and emergency service users, Lexus hybrid power delivers premium quality and proven reliability with more attractive running costs and better environmental performance than many of its premium segment rivals.

It's not that law enforcement and alternative fuels can't go together (see the E85 Interceptors), but do police really need a premium, luxury vehicle to do their duty?

[Source: Lexus]

It's become a truism in the new auto market: sales of big vehicles are down. The details are different for each country and automaker, but the gist is the same and fuel efficiency of the oversized SUVs and trucks is partly to blame. In this bleak environment (well, bleak if you're an automaker that's used to relying on sales of big vehicles to prop up the bottom line), Lexus is announcing a bit of good news: sales of the RX 400h - which gets 29 mpg U.S. on the combined cycle but still emits 192 grams of CO₂ per km - in the UK were up almost 28 percent compared to the same month a year ago. You can almost see the gloating faces of the Lexus PR team when you read this part of the announcement of this increase:

That growth stands in stark contrast to the fortunes of rival luxury brands, which suffered an average decline of 30 per cent in SUV sales. And for some famous names, new registrations have tumbled by as much as 50 per cent.

Somebody's pretty pleased.

[Source: Lexus]

Click on the photo for a gallery of high-res images of the Hybrid-X Concept

So, we already know that Toyota will be showcasing its new third-generation Prius hybrid sedan at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show early in 2009. It's long been assumed that this new third-gen Prius would spawn a Lexus vehicle using the same platform and a similar hybrid system. Differences would include a higher price, obviously, and lithium ion batteries in place of the nickel metal hydrides installed in the Prius. What may be more interesting to some, though, is news that Toyota will also be displaying a third hybrid vehicle at the same show. Without giving away too many details, Masatami Takimoto, a VP in charge of research and development, indicates that this third hybrid will be a totally new car based on a larger platform than the current and next Prius. As has been widely reported, including on this very blog, Toyota's first plug-in hybrid is expected to debut in 2010.

In other green news, Toyota will be adding new gasoline-burning 1.3 liter and 2.5 liter engines along with stop/start technology, which is becoming increasingly popular in these days of high gasoline prices. Also on the docket is a new six speed manual transmission which will be kept compact for use in small cars. We look forward to seeing what else Toyota's got up its corporate sleeves.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

While it's no surprise to hear that Lexus will be showing off a more luxurious version of the Prius hybrid sedan, Inside Line is reporting that the upcoming model will be priced over $30,000 and possibly have an older brother in the form of a dedicated hybrid crossover utility vehicle. Based on Toyota's midsize sedan architecture, the crossover vehicle would be similar in size to the hybrid RX that Lexus already sells in pretty good numbers. We have no information on whether Lexus plans to offer both hybrid utility vehicles at the same time.

According to IL's sources, the un-named Lexus Prius model will appear sometime in calender year 2010, which should be about a year after the third-generation Prius arrives. The hybrid CUV would follow a year later in 2011. Again, rumor has it that the Lexus hybrids could be the first application of lithium ion batteries in a Toyota-built hybrid vehicle.

[Source: Inside Line]

A pair of student teams from opposite ends of the country, both literally and figuratively, have won the Lexus Environmental Challenge. A pair of $75,000 grand prizes are going to a team of 6th graders from Academy 1 Middle School in Jersey City, NJ and a group of high school students from W.R. Farrington High School in Honolulu. The New Jersey team's project involved teaching other students in the city about the dangers of dumping trash in the oceans. They also stenciled storm drains near all the schools in Jersey City with warnings not dump anything because those drains empty out into the ocean.

The Hawaii-based team's effort involved educating people around the world about the benefits of renewable energy. The students used social media to help spread the word. They created videos, blogs and websites in various languages to inform people about wind, solar and hydro-power. In addition to the grand prize winners, 14 other teams won first place prizes of $50,000. Each of the 16 winning schools also received a sculptural cistern to promote the idea of collecting rain water.

[Source: Lexus]

Over on the VWvortex Forums, forum member DoctorNo says that what you see above is a rendering of the new Lexus Prius. This new hybrid (in more than one sense) will feature lithium-ion batteries, all the luxury amenities one would expect from the brand and should be available in late 2010 or early 2011. This redesigned Prius would blend elements that made the Prius so popular (the hybrid synergy drive, of course, and some of design language) while moving into a Lexus look and a $30,000+ price tag. If li-ion batteries are included, then that's not too bad. No rumors about a plug, though.

Also, according to what DoctorNo translates from the scanned Japanese magazine text, Toyota's next Prius will use the 1.8L 2ZR engine instead of 1NZ.

[Source: VWvortex Forums]

Click the Lexus LS600h for a high res gallery

We don't often get the chance to be chauffeured around in the backs of super-luxurious cars. Sure, we occasionally have ridden around in the belly of a limo for weddings and what not, but those rentals are nothing like the real thing. According to The Chauffeur magazine, the best £50,000 to £100,000 car to be driven in is a hybrid, the Lexus LS 600h L to be exact. Powered by a hybridized V8 engine, the long-wheelbase Lexus flagship's rear seat is surely a nice place to sit back and relax, but one of the reasons the vehicle was chosen has to do with its economy... fuel economy that is. Sure, the reclining rear seats with shiatsu massage may have had something to do with the choice, but it's the fuel economy that really seals the deal in Lexus' favor, right? Anyone?

Be sure to check out our review of the extended-length Lexus hybrid. The full press release from Lexus is after the break.

Lexus is taking hybrid hype to the next level, the penthouse. For $869, the well-heeled (or expense-account laden) can spend a night living the "new eco-luxury lifestyle" in a "Lexus Hybrid Living Eco-Chic Suite" at the Fairmont Hotels in San Francisco and Washington DC. Along with the the bamboo, organic mattress and "custom coffee table...utilizing pieces of leather recycled from Lexus vehicles," the package includes "complimentary use" of a Lexus LS 600h L. This $100,000, 21 mpg, 12 cylinder sedan is no Tesla when it comes to emissions. According to the EPA, the LS 600h L emits an annual 8.7 tons of CO₂ and has an air pollution score of 8 out of 10. (For comparison, a 2002 RAV4 EV emits a worst case 3.9 tons of CO₂ with an air pollution score of 10.)

At one time Toyota was content to let the Prius subliminally lower consumers' green expectations from electric cars to hybrids which use gasoline-generated electricity to raise efficiency. Lexus has gone literal - "h" is the new green lifestyle. Instead of actually manufacturing and marketing the greenest vehicles, Toyota has already proven they could produce, the company is hyping the move "From eco-friendly bath amenities to mini-bars stocked with local biodynamic wines, organic farmstead cheeses and other delicious treats from each region, the Lexus Hybrid Living Suite will provide an unforgettable taste of the "green life."' Read all about it after the jump.

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Lexus would like to remind drivers who frequent the city of London that the GS450h is a credible sports sedan which falls well below the maximum penalty which will be in effect as part of the upcoming Congestion Charge. Emitting 185g/km of CO₂ will allow for a daily charge of £8, as compared to the £25 maximum penalty which many performance and luxury vehicles will be subject to.

We're not going to dispute the facts as presented by Lexus, but we'll also stop well short of suggesting that the GS 450h is the eco-friendly choice (there are certainly other options). Still, its comparatively low emissions, along with its 35.8mpg in the combined cycle, give a possible reason to choose it over some of its rivals, if for none other than to save some extra cash.

After the break, Lexus provides a chart comparing the power, acceleration, CO₂ emissions, combined fuel economy and congestion charges of the BMW 540i, Jaguar XF and Audi A6 4.2 V8 FSI against its own GS450h. Very thoughtful of them, wouldn't you say?

When I (an American) think about the Lexus brand, the first thing that comes to mind is not its hybrid option. In Europe, it seems Lexus and hybrid are synonymous because a Lexus official told the BBC, "Hybrid is Lexus brand defining technology." We have written about the increasing Lexus hybrid sales in Europe over the years and even the shocker that hybrid Lexus vehicles were outselling the gas versions 4-to-1 in Europe. Sainsbury's chief executive, Justin King, gave up his Maserati Quattroporte for a hybrid Lexus. Overall, though, Europeans still love diesel and aren't big fans of hybrids. Also, and you might find this hard to believe (he wrote sarcastically) but Europe already has one (or two?) luxury car brands.

So, why is the Lexus hybrid doing well in Europe when hybrids and even Lexus is not doing well? Complete lack of competition! "Only Lexus has hybrid, and we have three while others have yet to launch one" the Lexus company official said. Lexus was the only hybrid we could recommend to Yoko Ono when she lamented the lack of a comfortable hybrid because, as the BBC notes, Audi, BMW and Mercedes don't currently sell a hybrid.

So, word to GM and Ford (two companies apprehensive about hybrids in Europe), here's how you get hybrids to work in Europe: make them high-end. Diesel is "a more honest technology" than the hybrid system, said BMW's outgoing sales and marketing director, Stefan Krause. Still, we'd rather see a hybrid BMW on the sales lot than more concepts.



[Source: BBC News]

Jumper, the #1 movie last weekend, includes the theft of an AMG-tuned Mercedes-Benz SL (you can watch the trailer after the jump). Samuel L. Jackson's character in the movie asks Hayden Christensen's character if he thought he could get away with it. In real life, though, it seems Hayden may be very considerate of his impact on world.

Christensen has been spotted in a Ferrari 360 Modena, but it turns out the actor might have a little bit of a green streak in him. According to a recent interview with Details, Hayden is planting trees on his farm and last September he was caught driving a hybrid Lexus owned by Rachel Bilson, his Jumper co-star.

Related:

• Brad Pitt thinks BMW's Hydrogen 7 is perfect for Ocean's 13 premiere
• Leonardo DiCaprio's newest ride? Vectrix, a very cool electric scooter
• Will Ferrell gets first BMW hydrogen 7 for regular use on US roads
• Entourage stars drive like movie stars - in Priuses

[Source: Details via Ecorazzi, Just Jared]

I was watching Lost on ABC last night and caught a TV commercial for the Power of h, Lexus hybrid's new ad campaign. The spot actually had nothing to do with hybrids, it (you can watch it for yourself below) was all about missing letters of h, somehow gone from key boards, news papers, etc. The only way you would know it was a commercial about hybrids, cars even, was the last few seconds of the commercial: the letter h has found a better place in the Lexus hybrid moniker. Call me crazy but why not mention hybrids get good fuel economy or something informative? Oh, right.

Related:

• VIDEO: Three years before Job 1 and GM is already advertising the Volt
• Video: Toyota's "EV mode" TV commercial
• Video: Toyota apologizes for Prius ad after it appears on Digg
• Kia TV ad: Spectra is so fuel efficient, you will forget which side the car the gas tank is on

[Source: ABC]

Lexus hybrids are green in name only. The battery power offered by the hybrid drivetrain is used mainly for a power boost instead of making a serious dent in emissions or greatly increasing the mpg ratings of the vehicles. Given that a green image is more important to Lexus than actually going green, it's not surprising that the Project GreenHouse event the company is sponsoring at the Sundance Film Festival in January in Park City, Utah is more style than substance.

As the Lexus press release (available after the break) itself says, "Eco-luxury lifestyle options, eco-fashion, and carbon-offset programs highlight this year's initiatives." Eco-luxury? Give me a break.

Lexus calls Project Greenhouse, now in its second year, "a unique platform that brings awareness to global environmental issues through a lifestyle event showcasing responsible eco-luxury living." The show will feature a performance by musician John Legend (pictured) and "complimentary rides to the exclusive site in the world's first luxury hybrid vehicles, including the Lexus RX 400h luxury hybrid utility vehicle and the Lexus LS 600h L luxury hybrid sedan." Well, isn't that special?

Luckily, not many of us can afford Lexus hybrids because if we all went "green" the way Lexus advocates, the project greenhouse would be the earth's atmosphere. That's not good.

[Source: Lexus]

USA Today asked 90 CEOs what they drive and thirteen percent said they drive a hybrid. Here are the some of the reasons the CEOs gave for choosing a hybrid:

• Phil Libin, CEO of the Sunnyvale, California technology company EverNote, says his Lexus GS450 is like "driving a giant Bluetooth headset. ... Hybrid-ness means several extra screens of status indicators."
• Bob Peterson, president of Melton Truck Lines, does not think his Camry hybrid is as "manly" as the GMC Yukon Denali SUV he traded in but he was tired of sending oil money to Venezuela and Iran.
• Bert Hancock, owner of Robert Hancock property management, says "this is Warren Buffett country, where people are suspicious of those with flashy jewelry and big cars." Bert says his employees will think he is a "pompous jerk" if he drove a black Hummer.

Ralph Bianculli, CEO of supply distributor Paradigm Group (and driver of an '07 BMW) says before you object to CEOs "prancing about in a gas-guzzling foreign car" ask yourself: if you needed a surgeon, would you want one that drives a '07 Mercedes or a '95 Chevy Malibu? Pictured above is Patrick Sweeney, CEO of Odin Technologies, with his Prius. That's an airport in the background. He is also a pilot.

Related:

• Video: 12 consumers consider buying a hybrid
• 100 Silicon Valley executives to drive plug-in hybrids

[Source: USA Today]

Toyota has just released their hybrid vehicle sales results for the year through October and the results are mixed. The Prius continue on a strong growth path with global sales up twenty-six percent although Japanese sales were stagnant. The Camry Hybrid is up forty-seven percent and the new Lexus LS600h is off to a strong start. Lexus dealers have already moved 6,093 examples of the $104,000 hybrid luxury sedan. The other two Lexus hybrids, the RX400h and the GS450h, are both down significantly, as is the Highlander hybrid. Highlander sales are probably due to lack of availability as production of the new 2008 model only recently started. Overall Toyota hybrid sales are up fourteen percent through October. Stay tuned here at AutoblogGreen in the next few weeks when we'll have a full review of the new 2008 Highlander hybrid in the ABG Garage.

[Source: Toyota]