By Nauman Farooq

According to a survey by Toyota Canada, 6 out of 10 Canadians want a small, luxury hybrid car. To answer to those needs, Lexus showed its latest hybrid model, the HS250h at the 2009 Toronto International Auto Show.

This four-door sedan is powered by a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine, which when combined with the power from its electric motors, produces an impressive 187hp.

Photo: Isaac Adams-Hands

Only transmission available is a continuously variable automatic.

The HS250h also boasts one of the best drag coefficients of any car on the market, just 0.27, which makes it slipperier than a Lamborghini Murcielago.

However, while its main focus might be fuel-economy, this is a true Lexus, which means it has all the usual Lexus luxury and safety features that customers have come to expect from this brand. New features include a radar-based collision mitigation system and a ʽlane-assistʼ system which keeps a watchful eye on your driving and prevents you from carelessly drifting into the next lane.

The HS250h will go on sale later this year.