2008 Lexus LS 600h L First Impressions

Phoenix, Arizona - Sometimes, life is just too... perfect. And I mean too perfect. This is exactly how I felt after my first contact with the all-new hybrid limousine from Japanese automaker Lexus, the LS 600h L.

First, this particular model is based on none other than the LS 460, which offers surreal levels of luxury, technology and performance. You probably know it as the car with the executive rear seats complete with massage settings and a retractable ottoman. Obviously, these are also found in the hybrid variant.

Could there be a more perfect location for a test drive than right in the middle of the Arizona desert, on Toyota's Proving Grounds? On the menu: a 3-lane oval speedway with steep banking. The 16-km track is actually the longest in the U.S., allowing drivers to reach unfathomable speeds. Of course, we were told not to exceed 160 km/h, a limit that some of my colleagues cheated with -- but not me.

And if I say too perfect, it's because this serene hybrid, unlike its gas-powered sister, is only available with extended wheelbase and, by selecting all the high-luxury options, the price skyrockets to no less than $158,700. In "base" trim, the LS 600h L will retail for $132,000.

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