A Decade of Excellence for Lexus

As we enter a new decade, let's reflect for a moment on the ten years previous. Sales figures have arrived from 2009 and, for the 10th straight year, our loyal customers have made Lexus the most popular luxury automaker in America. More than BMW, more than Mercedes-Benz, and more than Cadillac, it's the Lexus brand that continues to inspire the American luxury car buyer. 

But we're not satisfied with being the leader--our commitment to innovation will ensure our success in the new decade.  A great example of our bright future is the new RX Hybrid, another bold step toward a sustainable future. It earned the praise of Nancy Dunham at the Washington Examiner, who gushed how "driving green never felt so good." Our engineers have done something remarkable; they've created a luxury hybrid SUV which gets 30mpg in the city and 28mpg on the highway while still delivering 10% more power. How did they accomplish this? One way is that energy typically lost as heat during braking now gets captured as electrical power to recharge the battery. Another is an Exhaust Heat-Recovery system, which traps a portion of the exhaust generated during startup and uses it to warm the gas engine. 

We at Lexus are keenly aware that, now more than ever, we need to be conscious of our energy use. But sustainable energy consumption doesn't mean performance has to suffer. The driver of the RX Hybrid, a certified Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle, will get a 295 horsepower SUV in addition to a clean conscience. This is in addition to the amenities which have made the RX one of our hottest models. You'll get everything from water-repellent windows to dynamic radar cruise control, as well as the knowledge that, when you purchase a Lexus, you receive a vehicle synonymous with style and class. 

Now, with a decade of leadership behind us, we look forward to continuing to redefine the automotive experience of luxury car buyers for many years to come. With models like the new RX Hybrid, there's every reason to believe we'll succeed. 

Lexus Hybrid Leadership

Through the course of our research on consumer buying practices, we learned that 60% of entry-level luxury car buyers would have considered a hybrid if there had been one available. Furthermore, 16% of hybrid buyers (of all makes) already have a luxury car in their household fleet.

As a sign of our continued commitment to this cutting-edge technology, Lexus was not only the first luxury manufacturer to produce a hybrid vehicle, but we have produced more hybrid vehicles than any other premium brand in the world. Our current hybrid product line features four vehicles that have each had a dramatic impact on their segments:

• HS 250h – The world’s first dedicated luxury hybrid
• GS 450h – The first hybrid luxury sport sedan
• RX 450h – The RX was the first luxury hybrid
• LS 600h L – The world’s first hybrid V8

Advanced Braking Systems

Combining Lexus' commitment to building some of the the safest vehicles on the road today with cutting-edge technology, the HS 250h's braking system demonstrates incredible efficiency and safety. Some of the most advanced features of the HS 250h's braking system are discussed below:


Pairing ingenuity with efficiency, the HS 250h employs Regenerative Braking technology. This system converts the energy that is normally wasted on the braking system into electricity that is used to recharge the batteries, which can be used to power the vehicle.

The HS 250h utilizes an Electronically Controlled Braking System which allows for more efficient brake operation, and better coordination with the vehicle’s other electronic active safety features. The new system is lighter, smaller and uses up to 29% less power than our previous regenerative braking system. The benefit is safer braking, and improved overall efficiency.

The HS 250h employs Electronic Brake Force Distribution; a system that dynamically balances braking power to optimally distributes brake force between the front and rear—and between the left and right—wheels in accordance with the vehicle’s driving conditions. This system improves the HS’ braking abilities and reduces stopping distances in emergency situations.

As an added measure of safety, Brake Assist helps apply more force, more quickly to the brake system in emergency braking situations.