| Lexus Revises LS600h | ||
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(Wed 16 Sep 09) It's generally agreed in the CARkeys office that the Lexus LS600h hybrid limousine is one of the cars we would most like to own, so there is considerable excitement in these parts at the news that it is being improved further for the 2010 model year.
The changes, as Lexus has been explaining at the Frankfurt Show, are small but significant. The five-litre V8 petrol engine and electric motor still produce a combined maximum of 439bhp, giving a 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds, while combined fuel economy and CO2 emissions are provisionally the same as before at 30.4mpg and 219g/km. However, it should now be possible to achieve better economy figures than previously thanks to the introduction of an Eco mode to the hybrid system. In Eco, the throttle pedal becomes less sensitive, so response to aggressive movements is slower and less fuel-consuming, while the air-conditioning resets itself in various ways (such as selecting recirculating the interior air when the outside temperature rises above 20 degrees C).
The air-conditioning unit is smaller than before, as is the battery pack for the electric motor, both of which have enabled Lexus to increase the amount of luggage space in the boot. The LS600h also has larger front brakes (for less noise, vibration and fade), new 40GB hard-disk navigation system with full European coverage and traffic information, headlights which switch from main to dipped beam if a camera mounted in the interior mirror detects other vehicles or street lights, and active headrests designed to help reduce whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision. The utterly wonderful Rear Seat Relaxation Pack, which we experienced during our test of the current LS600h L, was at that time available only in four-seat versions of the car, but it's now also included in ones with a 40/20/40-split rear seat. Comment on this story on Facebook or Twitter. |
