Touted by Lexus as the ‘world's first dedicated luxury hybrid', the HS 250h will launch next year as a bridge between the company's IS and ES sedans and provide its most fuel-efficient offering to date when it hits US showrooms this summer.

At first glance, the HS appears to be a modified IS - the rear end is very similar indeed, with slightly larger two-piece light clusters behind clear lenses (very much an eco design cue these days) and a finned undertray that rises up and cuts into the rear valance. On further examination, however, you can see that the HS has a much more cab-forward design than the IS, with longer rear doors, a taller, longer glasshouse and an A-pillar that sits much further forward, almost above the centre of the wheel. From this the hood rakes down quite steeply to a front end that bears quite a striking resemblance to the new Honda Insight's, made up as it is of a covered grille consisting of three horizontal silver bars and framed by a pair of diagonally slanting lamps, forming a single strip that visually joins the two front fenders.

Given that the HS is front-wheel drive (a first for Lexus) and bears an identical wheelbase and proportions to Toyota's Avensis sedan, it seems safe to assume that this is not a bespoke platform.

The interior neatly divides the IS and ES in terms of passenger space, and sports carbon-neutral eco and biological plastics that make up around 30 per cent of the visible trim. Gadgets include a pop-up satnav screen and a customisable ‘remote touch' controller situated on plinth that extends from the bottom of the center console - a setup common to the latest RX hybrid 4x4. This aside, the dashboard and other hardpoints are of a conventional appearance and clearly derived from the Avensis.

Chinese brand BYD (Build Your Dreams) is doing just that, and in short order. From a standing start back in 1995, BYD is now the second largest rechargeable battery manufacturer in the world and chose Detroit to unveil its first fully electric vehicle, the e6.BYD plans to put the five-seat EV into production in China in mid-2009 for taxi fleets, selling to private customers half a year later before entering the US and European markets in 2011.

With a high roof and long body, the e6 has the look of a supermini-sized MPV in the vein of an old Mitsubishi Spacestar. Exterior design features include a grille with a solid 'closed mouth' (as found on the Mercedes BlueZero concept), a central crease on the hood pointing back to a raked windscreen, and a shoulder line situated unusually close to the belt line.

Inside, the car is dominated by beige with a shiny dark grey upper IP and a dash-mounted auto transmission. Locating the batteries under the floor has resulted in a rather cramped rear footwell, but the car's high ceiling means six-foot-plus passengers can still get comfortable.

The exterior is passable if unremarkable, but the sharp edges to the center armrest cover are representative of the generally poor quality of the interior fit and finish. Still, this car is not really about styling, but rather affordable electric motoring. BYD says its ferrous battery technology is safer, more durable and cheaper than the equivalent lithium-ion design currently being touted as the future by the rest of the car industry. With 30 percent of the world's cell phone battery market already in the bag, BYD looks set to cause a shake-up regardless of its design shortcomings.

More 2009 Detroit Auto Show Highlights coming soon...