Lexus LS 600hL: World's Most Luxurious Hybrid

Motoring Channel Staff - 21/November/2007

Sydney, Australia — The new Lexus LS 600hL is now on sale in Australia and represents what is the most luxurious hybrid car ever made.

Featuring an AWD V8 hybrid system and the world's first use of LED low-beam headlights, the new ultra-premium Lexus is a technological tour-de-force. 

The Australian pricing is as follows:

 LS 600hL (5-seater): $233,000
 LS 600hL (4-seater): $240,000

Where the 'h' stands for hybrid and 'L' stands for long (it measure 5.15 metres in length, slightly longer than the standard LS models), the Lexus LS 600hL also features what the company refers to as an Intelligent Park Assist (IPA) system.

Lexus claims this is a first for the segment and for any vehicle in Australia, and basically the car will parallel park itself without any input from the driver. Feann has witnessed the system in motion - see the green breakout box on the right for more info.

The chief executive for Lexus Australia, John Roca, said the LS 600hL would only account for a tiny percentage of its sales (less than 1% of total sales in Australia) but was of the highest importance to the overall Lexus brand in Australia: "LS has always been the most important vehicle in the Lexus line-up. It provides a 'halo effect' for the rest of the brand.

"It has always represented Lexus' interpretation of automotive perfection. LS 600hL is the most advanced luxury vehicle available today. Based on its technological and comfort inclusions, it has essentially established a market segment of its own," said Mr Roca.

"A vehicle of this calibre is not intended to be a volume seller - it is reserved for those fortunate few who enjoy the best of everything," suggested Mr Roca.

Standard features on the 2.4 tonne luxury are as follows:

 Advanced quad-zone Automatic Climate Control with body temperature-sensing network
 Human Machine Interface (HMI)
 Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA)
 19-speaker Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound System
 LED Low-beam Headlamps
11 Airbags
 Rear Seat Entertainment System
 Reclining Rear Seat with Leg and Footrest Ottoman (with massage function)
 All-Wheel Drive
 Adaptive Variable Suspension
 Electronically Controlled Brake System (ECB)
 Electric Power Steering (EPS) with Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS)
Hybrid Energy Monitor
 Front Passenger Twin-chamber Airbag
 Roof Climate Diffusers
 Smart Keyless Entry with Card Key
 Rear Seat Cushion Airbag
 Vehicle Dynamics integrated Management (VDiM)

For the money, you get a huge amount of standard equipment and one of the more interesting features is the rear ottoman (a reclining rear seat) with massage function. 

Though it's only available on the more expensive 4-seat version of the LS 600hL, the system is the first of its kind and at the touch of a button the "retractable ottoman-style thigh-and-footrest" extends.

The rear seat diagonally opposite the driver also features a "conventional vibration massage system" coupled with a "new air-assisted massage function" according to Lexus. 

"Eight pneumatic chambers cover the occupant's shoulder, back and hip area and together they reproduce professional massage techniques with a range of different programs, including Shiatsu, stretch, shoulder and lower back massage, with intensity and vibration controlled by the user." If I was the CEO of Web Wombat, I know where I'd be sitting.

While the feature list for Lexus range-topping flagship model is staggering, the basic functionality of the car - transportation - is also very impressive. 

Featuring a stepless CVT-type gearbox that diverts some 327kW of V8 hybrid power to all four wheels thanks to a permanent AWD system, the Lexus LS 600hL is an immensely powerful vehicle.

Even though it weighs up to 2430kg it will accelerate from zero to 100km/h in just 6.3 seconds. If you were so inclined and took the car to the drag strip you could record a quarter mile (0-400 metre) sprint time of around 14.3 seconds according to Lexus. The vehicle is electronically limited to a 250km/h top speed.

Lexus is calling the new V8 hybrid system that powers the LS 600hL it's most powerful ever. It combines the power of a 5.0-litre V8 engine with the efficiency of two electric motors. While this does eat into boot space (only 330 litres) it also gives the vehicle remarkable fuel efficiency of 9.3L/100km.

Carbon dioxide emission levels are remarkably low for such a powerful 300kW+ vehicle - just 219g/km. In the United States, the Lexus LS 600hL is rated as a SULEV (super-low emission vehicle).

The LS 600hL's electric motor has 300Nm of instantaneous torque, the highest instantaneous torque of any production car. 

The new hybrid system stops its petrol engine whenever possible (including when the vehicle is stationary) to save fuel and reduce emissions, andan 'EV mode' allows the vehicle to operate at speeds up to 40km/h on electric power only - Lexus uses examples such as car parks and residential areas - that helps to reduce noise and CO2 emissions.

"LS 600hL not only sets new standards in hybrid technology, it also raises the bar for future hybrid products from Lexus," added John Roca.

"This is Lexus' third production hybrid vehicle and each previous hybrid has contributed to the development of LS 600hL's hybrid system - Lexus' most advanced system to date. Our vehicles represent the most innovative thinking available in driveline technology and vehicle design.

"Lexus is the performance hybrid pioneer and with each successive model the company redefines the standards for performance hybrids. It is important to remember that LS 600hL, like its GS 450h and RX 400h stablemates, are not concept cars. They are here today - driving on roads around the world," said Mr Roca.

The new Lexus LS 600hL is now on sale in Australia from $233,000.

Related Articles:
- Lexus IS-F (2008)
- Lexus GS450h (Road Test)
- Lexus IS250 (Road Test)
- Lexus LS460 (2007)
- Lexus LS 600h L (2007)
- Lexus GS430 (Road Test)
- Lexus LF-Sh (concept)