#LexusHS250h

One wouldn’t normally think of the Lexus hybrid compacts as “tuner cars”, but if there’s one thing that SEMA proves, it’s that you can make anything a “modified vehicle” by throwing wheels and other bolt-on modifications onto a car.

Lincoln‘s MKZ Hybrid will be priced identical to the least expensive V6, giving consumers a strong incentive to opt for the 2.5L four-cylinder hybrid. The hybrid retails for #35,180, the same sticker as the front-drive V6 model, and a few hundred dollars less than a Lexus HS250h.

The MKZ, based on Ford’s much acclaimed Fusion Hybrid, gets 41 mpg in the city, 6 mpg better than the Lexus, while coming in a more conventional looking wrapper. The fuel economy bump is a definite advantage, but the lack of a distinct look for the hybrid may be a detriment – after all, many people choose the Toyota Prius just so they can let the world know that they are driving a hybrid.

Hit the jump to read the official press release

[Source: Ford]

Lexus is recalling their 2010 Lexus HS250h hybrids because of the possibility of an excess amount of fuel leaking out of the back in the event of a rear end crash.

Readers might recall another famous case of fuel leaking during a rear end crash, and with Toyota’s recent spate of quality problems, you can bet that the company is eager to take car of this issue before it becomes any worse. Lexus claims that as many as 17,000 vehicles could be affected, and has yet to announce what it will do to remedy the problem.

Hit the jump to read the official press release: