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First Drive: Lexus LS600h L

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Tideland Prius, May 5, 2007.

  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Phoenix, Arizona - Arizona is a popular place for manufacturers to introduce their latest vehicles. You get smooth roads, brilliant light, exotic scenery and posh hotels - all great for showing off a new car.

    The 2008 Lexus LS 600hL fits right in. It's the new flagship for the Lexus brand, with a long wheelbase, innovative hybrid powertrain, all-wheel drive (AWD), more safety features than you can imagine, and an interior that uses leather from special cows that are only found in Germany (more on that later, of course).

    Priced at $132,000, or $158,700 for the Executive version, the LS 600hL is the pinnacle of Lexus manufacturing and design, and with only 120 available for Canada each year, it will be an exclusive car indeed. It is, as Lexus points out, "the world's first V8-powered, full hybrid AWD vehicle."

    This is a car with so many significant features and thoughtful detail touches that an introductory article such as this is challenged to do the LS 600hL justice.

    Full Article

    Note the trunk space is small for a large car but looks bigger than the GSh. HOWEVER, note that all that space isn't taken up by the battery. Some of it is taken up by the A/C compressor for the rear climate control, there's the rear fridge too and the entertainment system.
     
    #1 Tideland Prius, May 5, 2007
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    wow, no one's excited that it's the first US car with an EV button?
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, May 6, 2007
  3. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ May 6 2007, 05:25 PM) [snapback]436566[/snapback]</div>
    I am! I am! :)

    Too bad i won't get to see this car.
     
    #3 V8Cobrakid, May 6, 2007
  4. hampdenwireless

    hampdenwireless Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid @ May 6 2007, 10:45 PM) [snapback]436653[/snapback]</div>
    Yea, its about $75,000 too expensive for me :(
     
    #4 hampdenwireless, May 7, 2007
  5. ozyran

    ozyran New Member

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    *lower lip quivering*

    But they hid the engine! Oh wait, in about 10 years we'll see more vehicles that don't actually have an engine.

    I'm proud of Toyota for making this one truly remarkable car. If you can market hybrid technology to everyone in every class of vehicle then maybe, just maybe, it will take off.

    I'd like to put one in my garage. Maybe when I hit Powerball...until then, though, this one's a bit expensive for me.
     
    #5 ozyran, May 8, 2007
  6. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    I'm wondering what the answer they'd give if asked, "Why is the Lexus allowed to have the EV, while the Prius isn't?"
     
    #6 aaf709, May 8, 2007
  7. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ May 8 2007, 12:14 PM) [snapback]437534[/snapback]</div>
    LS600h does not have to certify AT-PZEV emission standard.
     
    #7 usbseawolf2000, May 8, 2007
  8. allargon

    allargon Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ May 6 2007, 07:25 PM) [snapback]436566[/snapback]</div>
    I thought the new Highlander hybrid was the first mass produced car with an included EV button. :huh:
     
    #8 allargon, May 8, 2007
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ May 8 2007, 09:14 AM) [snapback]437534[/snapback]</div>
    probably the same reason why they get APGS.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ May 8 2007, 09:44 AM) [snapback]437557[/snapback]</div>
    Yeah but the LS600h L is actually AT-PZEV!! It's Tier 2 Bin 3 which is the same as the Prius. Amazing!

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(allargon @ May 8 2007, 05:32 PM) [snapback]437914[/snapback]</div>
    Yeah but the new HiHy isn't out yet. I think the LSh will be out before the HiHy (June vs. July IIRC).
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, May 8, 2007
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    #10 Tideland Prius, May 21, 2007
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