Lexus Hybird nears

TOYOTA’S upmarket brand Lexus is on track to introduce the innovative 400H hybrid engine into the RX all-terrain wagon next year.

Toyota Australia executive chairman John Conomos said Australian engineers were finalising testing for the vehicle and, providing the outcome was successful, the 3.3-litre V6 petrol-electric engine would arrive – along with a mid-cycle refresh of the popular current car – in the first quarter of 2006.

He said Toyota/Lexus Australia was also considering introducing the engine in the recently released GS series.

"Almost all the popular cars, at some point in the future, will have a hybrid version," Mr Conomos said.