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Lexus GS450h
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Lexus GS450h is a look into the future: a high-performance luxury car whose green credentials are second to none. The myth that you will need to change your driving style for a hybrid vehicle is dispelled with this vehicle. It performs like a V8 and has the ride and handling qualities to match this level of performance. In fact the Lexus GS450h may well usher in the dawn of a 'new era' that redefines luxury cars and how they are powered. This hybrid luxury vehicle has a petrol/electric powertrain, a 3.5 litre quad-cam aluminium V6 which in its own right develops 218 kW of power and 368Nm of torque. Most of that torque is developed across a broad range, between 2000 and 6000 rpm. Its performance with this engine alone would eclipse most in the luxury class. The electric motor develops 124 kW of power and 275 Nm of torque at zero rpm. Clever technology combines the two and provides 254 kW of power - as much as many modern V8 engines. Importantly, though, the GS450h delivers four-cylinder economy and low emissions, with whisper-quiet efficiency that is best in class. It's hard to be critical of such a vehicle at all. Lexus has raised the bar in many areas: build quality inside and out is of the highest standard, although it lacks some of the style and finesse inherent in many of its competitors, and there are some better in this class in their levels of comfort for front and rear occupants. As for the driving, steering feel - or lack of it - was the only minor complaint. Driver aids like stability control and a full complement of airbags give the GS450h top marks for safety. Maximum torque from take-off, delivered with an eerie quietness, is a sensation worth getting used to. The regenerative braking system doesn't provide the best brake-pedal feel to the driver, but this clever technology converts kinetic energy from the vehicle's forward motion with the conventional braking system to slow the Hybrid and recharge the battery. As a result, the brakes have a peculiar feel initially. The high-tech nature of the GS450h may deter some buyers, though the fact that the vehicle is built by Lexus and that the technology has been successfully used by Toyota for many years should allay those concerns. The term 'social responsibility' is used increasingly in these times of higher-than-ever fuel prices, diminishing fuel reserves and global warming, especially when it comes to transport. Along comes a luxury vehicle from a manufacturer, who has redefined the segment in terms of quality and reliability, with green credentials. Until now such a vehicle wasn't available to the corporate leaders who otherwise would have had to resort to the cheaper hybrid offerings or perhaps a diesel. Two diverging elements - high performance levels on the one hand, low emissions and fuel consumption on the other - have seemingly been achieved with this vehicle and for those looking at a 'greener' alternative the GS450h will admirably fit the bill.
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