Though diesels account for the biggest share of the UK premium executive car market, Toyota’s Lexus brand is plugging for hybrid instead.
Asked why there is no diesel for the redesigned IS the automaker turned the question around and asked why some rivals don’t have a hybrid option?
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The IS has a hybrid option for the first time with the third generation model after the manual-only diesel was dropped from the outgoing model a year ago.
Richard Balshaw, director of Lexus GB said: “Why hybrid? We say why diesel? We believe there are far more benefits from the hybrid set up. For one thing there is the smoother power delivery of a petrol engine along with lower noise, vibration and harshness. If you look at long term legislation, this powertrain already meets future requirements not just on CO2 but also NoX (nitrous oxide) and particulates which are far greater in diesels.
“There are also considerable benefits in kind [tax] considerations for the company car market with a CO2 figure of 99g/km for the hybrid meaning savings on road fund licence, congestion charges and general running costs.”
Could Lexus cave in some time in the future and add a diesel? Particularly as parent company Toyota has a deal with BMW to supply them.
“No,” said Balshaw. “Lexus has made a strategic decision to go down the hybrid route and not have diesels. That sets us apart from everyone else and it also means that across the range we have the lowest CO2 emissions in the premium segment.”
The petrol electric hybrid uses a 2.5-litre, I4 engine based on that in the Toyota Camry hybrid with a claimed combined fuel economy figure of 65.7mpg (imperial). A 2.5-litre V6 is also offered.
