Japanese carmaker Toyota has halted the production of Lexus HS 250h hybrid sedan in January,claiming that the sedan has never came hit the sales targets set following its launch in 2009.
The Japanese carmaker stressed that the new 2013 ES 300h,which is scheduled to arrive in August is not a replacing model for the earlier model.
Toyota said that the production of the HS 250h was ceased in January 2012.
"Lexus continues to monitor sales for each product and we make adjustments to make sure that we meet market demand,and the discontinuation of HS was part of that adjustment,the company said.
"The ES 300h is not replacing HS in our lineup.It's merely part of the hybridization of many of our existing vehicles in the Toyota and Lexus lineups.
The sales of Lexus HS250h declined 73%in 2011 to about 2,864 units,from 10,663 registered in 2010.
HS 250h was powered by a 147hp 2.4-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor,and was priced from$37,905.
According to Toyota,the new ES 300h will be powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine,but is expected to deliver higher EPA fuel-economy ratings when compared to the earlier HS 250h model.
