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The Lexus HS is a dedicated hybrid vehicle introduced by Lexus as a new entry-level luxury compact sedan in 2009.〔(Lexus HS 250h: A Prius For The Country Club )〕 Built on the same platform as the Avensis and Scion tC,〔http://www.autotrader.com/research/article/car-reviews/168684/2012-lexus-hs-250h-new-car-review.jsp〕〔〔http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/automobiles/autoreviews/13lexus.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0〕 it is classified as a compact under Japanese regulations concerning vehicle exterior dimensions and engine displacement. Unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January 2009, the HS 250h went on sale in July 2009 in Japan, followed by the United States in August 2009 as a 2010 model. The HS 250h represented the first dedicated hybrid vehicle in the Lexus lineup, as well as the first offered with an inline four gasoline engine.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Detroit 2009: Lexus HS250h, world's first dedicated luxury hybrid ) 〕 Bioplastic materials are used for the vehicle interior.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Lexus launches first "dedicated luxury hybrid" )〕 With a total length of 184.8 inches, the Lexus HS is slightly larger than the Lexus IS in terms of size,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Lexus Unveils 2010 HS 250h Hybrid; Second Hybrid-only Vehicle in Toyota Line-up )〕 but still smaller than the mid-size Lexus ES. Like the smaller Lexus CT, the larger Lexus ES and the Lexus RX FWD (which has also shared the same production line), but unlike other vehicles in the Lexus lineup, the HS features front-wheel drive, and as such has been offered as IS's front-wheel drive counterpart. In the U.S., sales for the HS 250h lagged other models, and dropped by nearly three-quarters in 2011, despite its success in Japan.〔 Between late May and early June 2012, Lexus removed the HS 250h from its U.S. sales lineup,〔(Lexus Quietly Kills HS 250h Hybrid )〕 while a larger front-wheel drive hybrid sedan, the ES 300h, went on sale for the latter half of 2012.〔 , the HS continues to be sold in Japan, where the ES is not offered for sale. According to Lexus, the HS designation stands for Harmonious Sedan.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Driving Impression: 2010 Lexus HS 250h (5/2009) )〕 ==Development== Lexus displayed the HS 250h for the first time at the North American International Auto Show in 2008, with plans to launch the vehicle in major world markets including the U.S. and Japan. According to division officials, the HS was produced in response to consumer interest in dedicated hybrid models, with many stating that they would purchase such a vehicle if a luxury make offered one.〔 The success of the Toyota Prius with upper-income buyers was also a consideration.〔 The resulting HS 250h would become the most fuel-efficient in the Lexus lineup at its debut.〔 At its launch, the HS 250h was also claimed to be the most fuel-efficient luxury vehicle in the U.S.〔 The CT 200h, launched in 2011, later surpassed the HS 250h's fuel economy ratings.〔(Automobile Magazine – 2011 Lexus CT200h )〕 To cater to environmentally conscious buyers, the HS 250h design included carbon footprint-reducing considerations, including the adoption of plant-derived "eco-plastic" (bioplastic) materials for the interior, cargo space, and foam injected areas.〔 Bioplastic plant sources included kenaf fibers and castor seeds.〔 〕 Kenaf-based material was previously used in the Lexus ES rear interior. According to the manufacturer, 85 percent of the vehicle was fully recyclable.〔 For the Japanese domestic market, the HS 250h featured a Harmonious Driving Navigator system which monitored efficient driving characteristics and compared them with others to determine the 'greenest' overall driver, for which charitable donations could be made.〔 The HS 250h's platform was based on the third-generation Toyota Avensis, itself related to the traditional gasoline engine Toyota Allion sold from 2001 to 2007, and was based on 2.4-litre-engined Corolla with electric motors. Other related models included the Toyota Premio, Toyota Vista (5th gen), Toyota Opa, Toyota Wish, and Toyota Caldina (3rd gen). In July 2009, the HS 250h made its sales launch in Japan, with 1,500 pre-orders logged at its introduction.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Report: Lexus HS Hybrid Pulls in 1,500 Preorders in Japan )〕 This figure was reportedly three times greater than originally forecasted.〔 The Toyota Sai, a sister model sharing the same platform and hybrid drivetrain, was launched in Japan in October 2009.〔(Toyota is adding another hybrid sedan—the Sai—for the Japanese market ).〕 However, HS 250h was not slated for the European market, where the similarly sized IS 220d and Toyota Avensis were sold.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Lexus rules out HS 250h dedicated hybrid for Europe )〕 The HS has a . 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Lexus HS」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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