What's Wrong With This Picture: Lexus And The Weary Sai Edition

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer
what s wrong with this picture lexus and the weary sai edition

While America gets a Lexus-badged Toyota Sai as our first entry-premium hybrid car, the Europeans will get this CT200h instead. In addition to better differentiation from the Prius (to this blogger, the HS250h smacks of old Buick-style brand engineering), the CT200h is said to be more driver-focused than previous Toyota hybrids. But then, we Americans are all used to not getting the smaller, tauter, hatchback-ier models by now, right? Right?



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  • Kurtamaxxguy Kurtamaxxguy on Feb 26, 2010

    Lexus may eventually have a problem selling their current hatchback-style RX450h in that it's bigger, much heavier, and somewhat oddly designed inside than the previous 400h series. Why they decided to add 450 pounds to a hybrid eludes me. I'd definitely consider a 200h provided Lexus offers an AWD version (extra rear motor driving the rear axle).

  • Tedward Tedward on Feb 27, 2010

    I actually quite like the look of the CT pictured, and do not understand why Toyota wouldn't bring this hatch to the states and offering a sedan version later. It's not as if there's any sort of correlation between Toyota hybrids and 5 door bodies right? right... I agree with the author on the HS as well. It looks cheap and lazy, even if it isn't obviously badge engineered. If they wanted to make a "cheap Buick hybrid" they should have just slapped the drivetrain into an ES. Instead Lexus gets two embarassing cars, and without the Toyota hybrid hatch I bet most people will never guess what it actually is.

  • Tassos Subaru really knows how to take fugly to ever higher levels, and sell every one of the (of course very few) it makes. As if the number of sales negates the fugliness.Don't hold your breath. I bet this will NOT be the vehicle James Bond arrives at the Casino in Monte Carlo with in his next flick. (if any)
  • ToolGuy Government overreach. Park the Ford in your air-conditioned garage on a maintenance charger and this won't be a problem.Here's some (old) general background if you are interested.@ILO, there are 3 Fords, and Ford Proâ„¢ is the one with the bright future 🙂
  • ToolGuy No harm no foul (no one died), business is business, yada yada. Why must everyone pick on dealers?-this post dedicated to Ruggles
  • Hydrocrust Parts
  • ToolGuy The vehicle development process which gave the world the Neon was so amazing (according to the automotive press) that it prompted Rick Wagoner to hire Bob Lutz.Didn't work 🙂
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