The hybrid powertrain has been around a while now, but, whilst the philosophy is commendable, it hasn't exactly appealed to us car enthusiasts. Until now that is. The company that brought us the Toyota Prius, the most renowned and first commercially successful hybrid, has recently announced a new one; only this time around it's a little more than a family run-around for the environmentally conscious.
For those who aren't familiar with the hybrid car, it's a system in which a conventional petrol unit combines with an electric motor to power the vehicle. At low speeds in Toyota's system, the petrol engine shuts down, eliminating emissions and fuel usage, while at higher speeds it automatically comes to life, providing more power and charging the electric motor's battery. In theory, fuel consumption is dramatically reduced. Clever, eh?
The latest offering of this type is the Lexus LS 600h. You have to wonder how much the engineers were thinking about fuel consumption and emissions when they decided to fit a 5-litre V8 as the conventional part of the hybrid. Nonetheless, CO
2 emissions of 220g/km and an average of 29mpg sound almost implausibly impressive - we'll have to wait and see if such figures are possible during normal driving. The result is an immensely powerful machine; its 443bhp should be mostly usable, when you want it, thanks to the big Lexus' new mechanical all-wheel drive system.
As you would expect, the LS 600h should be fantastically well refined. Reclining rear seats with footrests and a body-heat sensing climate control system should satisfy even the most demanding of customers. There will even be a stretched version for the UK market; its additional 120mm length all goes to providing extra legroom for those in the rear.
Safety is also a key consideration. A driver monitoring system tracks the movement of the driver's head and, if an imminent collision is detected while the driver is looking away from the road, the car will sound an alarm and apply the brakes accordingly. Furthermore, if a rear impact is predicted, the front headrests will automatically raise and move towards the occupant's head to cushion the impact.
This is the fourth hybrid from Toyota/Lexus, so it obviously sees a future in the system. Expect to see more offerings from other manufacturers in the near future as emission laws tighten and fuel prices rise over time.
Will Nightingale - 20 Oct 2006