SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Lexus' hotly anticipated RX 400h luxury hybrid will have a suggested sticker price of $48,535 when it comes out April 15, the company said Monday. That's about a $10,000 beyond what consumers pay for the car-based SUV's gas-powered brethren, the RX 330. The buzz surrounding the 400h, piqued by some high-profile placement at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, has already reached a fever pitch. The company says it has taken 12,000 deposits for the 400h and plans to sell 27,000 units annually. "That's a lot of demand -- a staggering number of orders for Toyota and Lexus historically," said Cindy Knight, a spokeswoman for Lexus parent Toyota (TM: news, chart, profile) . In addition to the hybrid engine, which adds about $4,000 to $5,000 to a vehicle's price tag, the upscale 400h comes standard with more than $6,000 in features offered as premium options in the RX 330. Along with a navigation system, moonroof and more high-tech gadgets, the all-wheel drive 400h comes equipped with a 268-horsepower engine that delivers more punch than its gas-powered sibling. In fact, the 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds compares favorably to the rate of acceleration found in many of its mid-size SUV competitors lumbering along with a V8 engine. The 400h logs 27 miles per gallon on the highway and 31 miles per gallon in the city, according to EPA estimates. That represents a 67 percent improvement over the RX 330 and easily tops Lexus' rivals in the crowded segment. Toyota, with its popular Prius model, owns about 60 percent of the hybrid market already, according to J.D. Power and Associates -- that figure, however, is expected to decline as more and more competitors vie for the environmentally-conscious dollar. Some auto industry officials and observers contend that hybrids generally are more hype than substance. Bob Lutz, vice chairman of General Motors, has said they "just don't make business sense," while others label hybrid a "stepping stone" technology as the U.S. moves toward the hydrogen economy. A recent study from J.D. Power suggests that hybrid market share, which is currently under 1 percent in the United States, will top out at 3 percent by 2010. But that hasn't slowed marketing efforts nor has it sated the public's appetite for the next trendy, fuel-efficient vehicle.
It's CDN$62,200 here for the 'base' RX400h, $69,700 for the RX400h with Ultra Premium Pkg. For comparison, the RX330 Premium is $55,780 and for the Ultra Premium RX330, it's $63,335. The difference is that the RX400h gets standard 18" tyres and LED brakelights. On a separate note. Isn't a stepping stone better than no stone at all? It's funny how they all dream of a hydrogen economy, when Honda and Toyota are actually doing something right here, right now. Also, when the hydrogen fuel does come, wouldn't a hydrogen hybrid still make sense? It still uses less fuel and releases less H2O vapour so in the long run, saves you money.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"68709)</div> Yes, and to those who tout diesel over hybrids--what about a diesel hybrid? I mean, diesel or not, why sit at a stoplight with an engine consuming gas and spitting out pollution?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eak354\";p=\"68621)</div> fat chance of that happening if Toyota can meet demand. if they would have met demand earlier, they would be in the "microsoft" category despite consumers having a real choice here. A recent study from J.D. Power suggests that hybrid market share, which is currently under 1 percent in the United States, will top out at 3 percent by 2010. if that aint spin, i'll eat my Prius!!
