LEXUS HAS BEEN producing luxury cars for twenty years now and the Japanese brand is frequently found at the top of reliability and customer satisfaction surveys around the world. However, the company is now adding to its already established and respected reputation by becoming a world-leader in the production of hybrid vehicles.
Much of its achievements in this respect are a result of the investment in research and development by parent company, Toyota, which has sold more than 1,000,000 of its own hybrid models, including the Prius. However, in an age where image is becoming evermore important and the level of disposable income is constantly increasing, Lexus is making 'going green' a choice that you can make with your heart, as well as your head.
The luxury subsidiary currently produces three hybrid models: the RX, GS and LS. The RX400h is a derivative of the V6-powered RX300 luxury four-wheel drive, originally based on the Toyota Harrier. The GS450h is a mid-size executive saloon, designed to be a competitor of the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes E-Class. The LS600h is the latest addition to the hybrid range and produces a total of 440bhp, which makes it the most powerful vehicle in the Lexus fleet.
Whilst the model name may make you inclined to believe that a 4.0-litre engine nestles beneath the bonnet of the RX400h, the 3.3-litre V6 from its more conventional sibling remains, but the difference is that it is coupled to two electric motors. The first generates the equivalent of 165bhp, sent to the front wheels and the second produces 66bhp, which it sends to the rear. With the former providing 340Nm torque alone between 0 and 2000rpm, the two-tonne RX is able to sprint from 0-60mph in a little over 7 seconds.
It’s a similar story with the GS450h, which utilises a 3.5-litre V6 and an electric motor, which combine to deliver total of 340bhp through the rear wheels. Despite its bigger brother, the GS460, being powered by a significantly larger 4.6-litre V8 engine, the hybrid GS can reach 60mph from standstill in 5.2 seconds compared to the V8’s 5.4 seconds.
The power is released smoothly and the acceleration is seamless thanks to an electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission. Under normal throttle pressure, the acceleration is fairly subdued, but if you kick down you see where the electric motors are most effective in unleashing an enormous amount of low-range torque to propel the hybrids along.
Lexus hasn’t just given attention to under the bonnet, but also the superbly appointed interiors. The entry level GS450h comes complete with smart entry, and a touch screen display. The SE adds the now acclaimed Mark Levinson sound system, as well as satellite navigation and intelligent park assist with sensors at front and rear. The top-spec SE-L model is more of the same.
For the RX400h, it’s a similar story. The base spec model has climate and cruise control, with the SE model adding a nifty powered boot door and a sunroof. In SE-L guise, the RX features rain-sensing wipers, a Mark Levinson sound system and satellite navigation.
Prices for the GS450h range between £37,125 and £46,335 for the SE-L variant. The RX is available from £35,550, with the SE-L coming in at £44,415. The newest model in the Lexus hybrid range – the LS600h – is significantly more expensive, starting at £80,535 and going up to £87,135. Whilst pricier than some competitors – notably the Mercedes S-Class – the options list is likely to be fairly short, with almost everything coming as standard.
My test cars were both the high-spec SE-L variants, with superbly appointed interiors, which included a multimedia package in the RX with a DVD player and screens in the headrests.
Both models drove as smoothly as anything I’ve ever driven and most of the time were eerily quiet. I took the RX400h on a steady 50-mile round trip to The Bullring and it performed as expected, returning a solid 30 mpg. The GS450h was equally impressive, but Lexus stress that the GS is a performance saloon first and an environmentally conscious car second – and it shows.
The GS went on a Sunday blast down to Warwick, involving a quick digression onto the A46 and a definite pedal-to-the-metal moment. More than 300 horsepower urged the GS past almost everything else on the road. The additional torque from the electric motors under acceleration is notable and makes a tangible difference over the standard model.
Neither of these cars is going to save the planet. However, they are at the very least a step in the right direction and at most technological masterpieces. Every Lexus hybrid has obtained Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) status from the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency, which puts them in the lowest polluter category available.
It’s easy to mock these Lexus hybrids, which take on the challenge of ‘no compromise’ when it comes to being environmentally friendly. But it’s far better to see them as examples of what can be done when technology is applied thoughtfully and efficiently.
Thanks to Lee Moore at Lexus Coventry for the loan of both the GS450h and the RX400h.
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