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If hybrids are the future of clean motoring, the Lexus GS450h's combination of performance and social responsibility well and truly leads the field.

Lexus was looking like it would pull off the trifecta in the luxury car category this year until the Audi A6 Quattro diesel elbowed the Lexus LS460 into third and Lexus GS300 out of the top three - but the A6 couldn't make up enough ground to topple the Lexus GS450 hybrid.

Buyers in this category are looking for the best of everything, including engine technologies, but not at the expense of the quietness and refinement that they have become used to in this category.

Both diesel and hybrid technologies came of age last year when the winning sash for this category was draped over the Lexus GS450h hybrid, pipping the diesel-powered Audi A6 at the post. The Lexus has got up again to take the prize in 2007, with the very competitive Audi A6 a stride behind once more.

Lexus GS450h is the future: a high performance luxury car whose green credentials are second to none. It has set a benchmark for other manufacturers. This is especially true as those corporate leaders who are cashed up enough to be able to afford a $100K+ vehicle are increasingly being looked at to set an example in responsible motoring.

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.

Lexus is building a stable of hybrid vehicles and the current flagship GS450h was the first of many that Lexus will introduce, breaking the ground for other manufacturers.

This hybrid luxury vehicle has a petrol/electric powertrain, a 3.5-litre, quad-cam, aluminium V6 which, in its own right, develops 218kW of power and 368Nm of torque.

Most of that torque is developed across a broad range, between 2000 and 6000rpm. Its performance with this engine alone would eclipse most in the luxury class. The electric motor develops 124kW of power and 275Nm of torque at zero rpm. Clever technology combines the two and provides 254kW 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 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 for seat comfort. 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 used 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 the technology has been successfully used for many years should allay concerns.

The term 'social responsibility' is used increasingly in these times of higher-than-ever ffuel prices, diminishing fuel reserves and global warming. The GS450h admirably fits the bill.

Finalists
Audi A6 TDI Quattro
Lexus LS460

Previous Results
2007 - Lexus GS450h
2006 - Lexus GS450h