What's Wrong With This Picture: Rebadging The Rebadge Edition
Published: October 1st, 2009
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We thought the Lexus HS250h would be a cynical rebadge of the Prius with a little more power. We were wrong. The HS was marginally unique enough, but then ToMoCo went and cynically reabdged it as a Toyota and called it the Sai. Sigh. It hasn’t been confirmed for the US yet, but if it is, there’s not much breathing room between the $22k Prius and the $26k Camry Hybrid. Nor would there be much reason left to buy an HS.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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I've said it before and will say it again: Eco-models in luxury car lines = epic fail. What's the point?
Lexus, until recently, did not exist in Japan. So it makes sense that this would be a badge job in Japan only. Also, Japan does not get the American Camry or ES350. In fact, most Toyota's that are sold in the states are not sold in Japan.
quote: Corolla/Auris/Verso/Avenis/Lexus-HS will all be the same car in all markets in the next product cycle on 2700mm rather than 2600mm. Corolla vs Avensis platforms are in whole different ballparks. They were, are and will be. Corolla/Auris/Verso are competing with Golf class cars in Europe, but Avensis is substatially longer, with longer wheelbase and wider track - direct Passat competitor.
@ Brock_Landers (excellent username - where's Roller Girl) Corolla/Auris/Verso are competing with Golf class cars in Europe, but Avensis is substatially (sic) longer, with longer wheelbase.... The Verso and Avensis have a 2700mm wheelbase not different ones, also the Lexus HS. They were, are and will be. Well, maybe currently. The future is the future. Toyota are reviewing every platform. Where they can combine they will, Prius included. That's my information, so we shall see.