First Testdrive Lexus GS 450h

the lexus name isn't for fuel economy. I laugh at people who think the lexus name should be a fuel economy car. The only plans they have for lexus is to dominate the BMW and Mercedes name. While the new LS models will take on the V8 Compeditors of BMW and Mercedes, the 450h model was supposed to take on the V12 category of cars.

If you want economy, look at the new Camry. The hybrid model is supposed to get high 30's low 40's. not bad for a car of it's size. At the same time that car has to compete against every other car out there.

 

It's an interesting strategy, if that is what they're doing. I'm not sure what BMW/Audi the 450h would slot against, but if you compare it to an M3 at 48K (which is a guestimate of where the 450h would be, based on the cost of the non-hybrid 430 at 51K) the 450h still falls a bit short. The M5 has a 3.2 V6 which pumps out 355hp, handily beating the larger displacement 450h. The 450h will obviously crush it on fuel economy, but I doubt many buyers in that range really care.

 

I did mean M3, my bad. And I looked up the HP from edmunds, which did say 355.

I'm not sure if the next M3 will have a V8 or not. Audi went to the V8 instead of the twin-turbo V6 in the S4, which is kind of a shame IMO.

Now, to take this theoretical discussion in a completely different direction, look at the current Impala SS. It has a 5.3L V8, pumping out over 300 hp and 300 lb/ft of torque, but it still gets 18/28 mpg, which is pretty incredible considering it's displacement. The trick there is the DoD feature, which I'm willing to bet if it were implemented in the 450h would boost it's mpg up even higher (similar to the accord hybrid).

It does, to me at least, seem that the 450h and the Accord hybrid have a similar purpose: Boost power and provide a slight economy gain. Footnote here tho... the AH became the first hybrid V6 to achieve AT-PZEV for the upcoming model year.

 

It was listed as the rating for the 3.2L 6 cylinder. And my bad, it's 333hp. :huh:
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/bmw/m3/100650029/specs.html

 

I think it's a Bosch thing - They really are like Delphi meets NAPA in Europe. They make the motronic and tiptronic computers that are in Benz, BMW, Audi, VW, and I've heard of the term applied to all these cars...

Dave

 

Yep - that's the whole point of Tiptronic - flip back and forth between automatic and pseudo-manual. The manual mode allows you to rev higher, burn more gas, and go much faster. It doesn't just make it "feel" like you're going faster, it does - and I'm pretty sure that this will be the same thing even with synergy-drive involved.

It does sound like an interesting car.... Too bad it doesn't seem "built from the ground up" to be a hybrid like the Prius is...

Dave

 

That's wrong. It's the LS600H that would compete with the big sedans with V-12s.

The GS competes with the E-class, 5 series, A6, etc.

 

First off.. my error.. i did mean the LS600h.. was sick and a little tired. hehe.. gotta love those typos

One little correction to Jonnycat26. the new M5s are supposed to have a V10 rated at 500hp. I'm not sure where toyota is going to compete with that.. maybe the LS600h? we'll see. Reviews said the new M5 handles as if it was designed for every road they took it on.. hmm...

So maybe Toyota will be charging a little more. I think people are ready to pay for reliability.

 

its all in press releases already, I know its too hard to read everything .

- it is HSD
- it can operate on electric alone (HSD)
- it has PSD - it simply has more advanced software to make it emulate gears IF YOU WANT. The difference is that "gears" will give out better impression of speed.
- 3.5l GR engine is not detuned mechanically, unlike engines in RX400h, Prius and Camry. It still has double VVTI and dual port fuel injection. It is just tuned a bit differently. Also, it revs a bit lower than GS350 which also makes up for some power loss. Engine itself makes around 280-290hp, with extra 60hp as battery maximum output from HSD, with electric generator probably around 160-180hp strong.

 

So is there no rev limits anymore? If the engine is a little more fuctional, with a little more power coming from the engine... not just the set speeds.. then the electric half is only assisting most of the time till the battery is full? the way i'm picturing it, the battery should be getting more of a charge than before. I read an article.. which.. i'm not sure which form it was on. They tested the car on the Autoban. They said it never ran out of electric help. They were surprised since the 400h ran out of electric help.. and the prius, etc.

Anyone else get what i'm saying?