Hybrid Lexus SUV delayed

jkash · 08-03-2004, 10:14 PM

Lexus says it has put off until February the U.S. launch of its RX 400h gas-electric hybrid sport-utility vehicle, originally scheduled to go on sale in December.

The delay, widely assumed but only now confirmed by the automaker, gives Lexus time to:

• Have engineers perform additional checks to make sure the vehicles escape some of the teething problems that have beset other gas-electric hybrids.

• Build inventories. One of the biggest disappointments about hybrids is how long it takes to get them. Toyota dealers, for example, have quit taking orders for the Prius hybrid because the backlog is so great. Lexus says dealers have more than 8,000 deposits for the RX 400h. About 24,000 a year are planned for the U.S. market, or about 10% of all RX sales.

Read entire article from USA Today by clicking this link.

Jeff

eak354 · 08-03-2004, 10:28 PM

i guess that makes it official. dealerships i've asked re: the 400h and highlander a couple of months ago did say an "early next year" release.

LewLasher · 08-03-2004, 10:51 PM

That article also mentions a hybrid version of the Sienna minivan for next year, which I wasn't aware had been announced.

08-03-2004, 10:14 PM	#1
jkash Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 857 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Hybrid Lexus SUV delayed Lexus says it has put off until February the U.S. launch of its RX 400h gas-electric hybrid sport-utility vehicle, originally scheduled to go on sale in December. The delay, widely assumed but only now confirmed by the automaker, gives Lexus time to: • Have engineers perform additional checks to make sure the vehicles escape some of the teething problems that have beset other gas-electric hybrids. • Build inventories. One of the biggest disappointments about hybrids is how long it takes to get them. Toyota dealers, for example, have quit taking orders for the Prius hybrid because the backlog is so great. Lexus says dealers have more than 8,000 deposits for the RX 400h. About 24,000 a year are planned for the U.S. market, or about 10% of all RX sales. Read entire article from USA Today by clicking this link. Jeff __________________ Jeff Mr. Kash's Prius Page

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08-03-2004, 10:28 PM	#2
eak354 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 420 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	i guess that makes it official. dealerships i've asked re: the 400h and highlander a couple of months ago did say an "early next year" release.

08-03-2004, 10:51 PM	#3
LewLasher Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Posts: 156 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	That article also mentions a hybrid version of the Sienna minivan for next year, which I wasn't aware had been announced.