Lexus' newest hybrid

	View online  | Share on Facebook	May 29, 2009

	This week in Car Tech Wayne Cunningham CNET.com Lexus' newest hybrid We always look toward driving a new hybrid with anticipation, so getting into the Lexus HS 250h, Lexus' first dedicated hybrid, was a treat. We found plenty of tech in the cabin as well as in the power train. Lexus has been badly in need of a cabin tech update, and the HS 250h uses the new system we saw earlier in the RX 450h. That means hard drive-based navigation with traffic reporting, iPod integration, a new controller, and a voice command system with some natural language components. Unlike the RX 450h, the HS 250h is a relatively small car, not something you would expect from Lexus. But that small size and hybrid power train, borrowed from the Toyota Camry Hybrid, means the HS 250h will get the best fuel economy of any Lexus model. Although no sports car, we enjoyed the driving experience, as the hybrid system provides enough power while delivering smooth acceleration, along with gas-saving electric drive in heavy traffic.  Check out our first look at the Lexus HS 250h Lexus HS 250h Most popular products Garmin Nuvi 265WT  Check prices Garmin Nuvi 880  Check prices TomTom ONE 125 - GPS receiver  Check prices Navigon 7200T  Check prices Garmin Nuvi 255W  Check prices Latest reviews and features 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL320 BlueTEC 4MATIC While its cabin tech feels dated, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL320 BlueTEC delivers very good fuel economy for a vehicle of its size. Read more  Check prices 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 You would be hard-pressed to find a better everyday sports car at the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track's price. Excellent audio features are just icing on the cake. Read more  Check prices TomTom GO 740 Live The TomTom GO 740 Live puts a tremendous amount of information at your fingertips and makes it easy to access and process it all from the driver's seat. Read more  Check prices 2009 Lexus IS 350 w/ F accessories Putting tuner components on the 2009 Lexus IS 350 gives it a more sporting character, with only a minimum sacrifice of luxury. However, outdated cabin electronics suggest waiting for the next model update. Read more  Check prices Car Tech blog Concept car flashback: Ford 021c (1999) Antuan Goodwin Associate Editor, Car Tech Way back in 1999, Ford put Marc Newson, a furniture designer who'd never designed a car before, in charge of developing a concept vehicle for the Tokyo Motor Show. The resulting vehicle, the 021c concept, was hated by all. It was just too quirky, too unlike anything else on the road, and maybe, just maybe, ahead of its time. Read more Blog comment of the week Re: Lexus HS 250h first drive Posted by streamline35 I like it. I always thought that the luxury car market was pretty lacking for someone who wanted a small, fuel efficient vehicle with a real luxury interior and features. Just because someone wants a fancy car, doesn't mean they care about going 0 to 60 in some pointlessly short amount of time.  Read more  Top 5 seven-seat people movers 1. 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 2. 2009 Ford Flex LTD AWD 3. 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid 4. 2009 Mazda MAZDA5 Grand Touring 5. 2009 Honda Pilot EX-L 2WD   Related Newsletters Stay informed on the tech topics that matter to you most CNET offers a wide variety of newsletters on everything from tech industry news to the latest games and gear. Browse the entire list now. Manage newsletters More Car Tech resources  Car Tech forums  Green car buying guide  Car Tech videos  Car Tech podcast  All new car reviews  Past car shows
	The e-mail address for this newsletter is  techmails79758@gmail.com To update your account, please visit our Newsletter subscription center.  Become a fan | Unsubscribe from this e-mail | Newsletter help | Privacy policy Copyright 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. CBS Interactive Inc. 235 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, U.S.A.