Lexus LF Reviews

So now you can have your cake and eat it too, to put it figuratively. In other words, you can have that big, luxury four-wheel drive, without feeling too guilty.Lexus has gone a step further to practically remove that guilty complex by introducing the world's first luxury SUV hybrid.But being green and feeling good about the environment doesn't come cheap. The RX400h is the third member of the RX family and is now the range topper in terms of pricing, with a $94,100 price point, a hefty $10,000 premium on the RX350 Sports luxury.And while it's new to Australia, the RX400h has been available in the US since April last year (selling more than 33,000 vehicles), as well as in Japan.Lexus says the reason for the delay in bringing the vehicle to Australia was largely the result of unique conditions here, and the extra testing required.The RX400h uses the 155kW 3.3-litre, V6 petrol engine, which was used in the previous RX330 model. The new 3.5-litre engine in the RX350 was not available at the time of the development and world launch of this hybrid.The RX400h also uses a 123kW front electric motor and a 50kW rear-axle electric motor, with a combined reading for all three power sources of 200kW.The petrol V6 generates a maximum of 288Nm at 4500rpm, while the electric motors produce 333Nm in the front and 130Nm in the rear. All power is delivered through an electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission - which blends the electric and petrol power.On take-off, the RX400h is very quiet and smooth, using only the front and rear electric motors. But you can hear the petrol engine really kick in when more power is needed.The torque also feels like it takes a while to respond and the brakes are rather spongy, which could be attributed to the regenerative braking system. Once reaching normal driving conditions, however, the system no longer uses the rear electric motor and as with other hybrids, the petrol engine switches off when completely stopped, conserving fuel.The electric motors are available for immediate start up. Lexus claims the hybrid has a fuel consumption of 8.1-litres per 100km and on our test on a combination of busy roads and highway stretches out to Camden, it recorded an average of 8.3-litres per 100km, making it better than some four-cylinder family cars.For example, the Honda Accord Euro claims 9.1L/100km, new Toyota Camry 8.9L/100km and Mazda3 8.6L/100km.Cruising, the RX400h provides seamless driving and feels very smooth, with good handling and comfortable ride. But travelling at constant high speed, you feel like you're doing about 20km/h less than the reading on the speedo. This hybrid doesn't have that thrilling performance of the larger, more powerful engines and won't satisfy everyone.But for those wanting to save some money at the pump, and who don't mind spending the initial premium (or for those who tend to be a little green minded), the RX400h may just be the right cup of tea.The RX400h is also the first mass-production hybrid to power both axles. It has rear-wheel drive capability with an E-Four System (Electric Four Wheel Drive) activating all wheelsonly when it's needed - for instance in situations like low-speed cornering, take-off, acceleration and traction. It gains the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDiM) over the RX350, sending more torque to the rear wheels when dangerous situations arise.The RX400h is almost identical to its siblings in the RX range in appearance, with that sophisticated shape and flowing lines, exuding style and flare.In addition, the hybrid has a new, muscular sporting front bumper as well as a large central opening to assist with the cooling of the hybrid system and a larger Lexus badge on the front. It also has a hybrid emblem.The RX400h has the same specification level as the RX350 Sports Luxury. It sits on 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, has LED rear lamps, power seats, air conditioning and leather trim.It also features Bluetooth connectivity, touch-screen satellite navigation, 11-speaker, six-disc sound system and rear-view camera, all as standard. It gains heated seats up front, leather steering wheel and metallic trim on the shifter. Rear spoiler, roof rack, rails and that sporty moonroof, add a more flavour to RX range's classy character.There are lots of elements going on and you can monitor the process on the interior display screen. And forget the traditional tachometer, as the RX400h has a power meter instead. The RX400h has seven airbags, anti-skid brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), vehicle stability control, active traction control and rear-view camera.And while the battery in the hybrid system costs around $3000 to $4000 to replace, Lexus claims it has a life of more than 10 years. It expects sales of around 50 per month, with 200 orders taken, and is available from October 16.FAST FACTS Lexus RX400hPrice: $94,100Engine: 3.3-litre, V6 petrol engine, 155kW@5600rpm, 288Nm@4400rpm, front electric motor, 123kW@4500rpm, 333Nm@0-1500rpm, rear-axle electric motor, 50kW@4610-5120rpm, 130Nm@0-610rpmTransmission: electrically controlled continuously variable transmissionFuel: 60-litre tank, consumption 8.3L/100km (as tested)OTHER HYBRIDSHonda Civic HybridPrice: $31,990Body: 4-door sedanEngine: 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder, 85kW@6000rpm, 170Nm@2500rpmFuel: 4.6L/100km combined claimedToyota PriusPrice: $37,000Body: 4-door sedanEngine: 1.5-litre petrol; 57kW@5000rpm, 115Nm@4000rpm; electric motor 50kW between 1200 and 1540rpm, max power restricted to 82kW, combined torque 478NmFuel: 4.4L/100km combined claimedLexus GS450h HybridPrice: $121,990Body: 4-door sedanEngine: 3.5-litre V6 petrol electric motor, 218kW@6400rpm, (V6) and 147kW (electric), 368Nm@4800rpm (V6) and 275Nm (electric)Fuel: 7.9L/100km combined, claimed

It's hard sell, but Lexus thinks it can convince enough buyers to move into its new 400h. The 400h is the hybrid version of the RX350 and commands a $10,000 premium over the Sports Luxury petrol RX or a tick under $20,000 for the entry Sports RX. So the recommended retail of $94,100 is a fair sting for what is essentially a compact luxury SUV. Despite the cost drawbacks of wanting to go green Lexus says it has three months worth of orders and figures the 400h will account for about 20 per cent (1500 cars) of the RX volume in Australia next year. Since it first went on sale in the US in April last year 33,000 have been sold which accounts for 22 per cent of total RX sales. The 400h is based on the superseded 3.3-litre petrol engine which made way for the 3.5-litre RX350. Lexus says the new engine was unavailable for the world launch last year. The 400h joins Toyota's Prius and the Lexus GS450h sedan and Honda Civic hybrid as the list of petrol/electric vehicles grows in Australia. Next year Lexus will launch the world's first petrol/electric V8 hybrid, the LS600hL. So what are the benefits of having such an SUV wagon? Lower fuel consumption (8.1litres/100km), reasonable performance and vastly lower emissions (192grams/km) which on Lexus's figures is about 58 per cent of those of the nearest similar petrol engine. The hybrid incorporates three electric motors/generators while a compound planetary gear set in the transaxle acts as a power splitting device and electronically controlled continuously variable transmission to drive the front wheels. The front and rear main electric motors are used for normal starts and when more urge is required the third electric motor fires up the petrol engine which works in tandem with the other two electric motors. As in existing hybrid cars, the petrol engine switches off when the vehicle stops while the electric motors are ready for starts. Using the brakes makes the two main electric motors act as generators which help slow the vehicle down and send electric power to the battery. The Electronic Continously Variable Transmission is the essence of the hybrid which links the two 650-volt electric motor/generators and the petrol engine through the planetary gear set. Even the air-conditioning can be powered by electricity when the petrol engine is not functioning, as in stopping at traffic lights. The petrol V6 engine provides 155kW of power and 288Nm of torque while the main front electric motor generates 123kW and 333Nm. The rear electric motor is good for 50kW and 130Nm. The total system (petrol/electric) puts out 200kW with the petrol component driving the car and driving the third motor/generator to charge the battery. Lexus claim the 400h gives the luxury arm of Toyota a point of difference in the showroom. Already the Lexus GS450h powered by a mix of electric power and the 3.5-litre petrol engine is exceeding sales of the diesel BMW 530i and Jaguar S-Type turbo diesel. Lexus says the 400h has the advantage over diesels in that there is no mess at the bowser and there is no need for particulate filters. ON THE ROAD THERE are no compromises with the RX 400h something Lexus knows is vital to the market. Whereas there are compromises with diesel cars in terms of messy, smelly bowsers and soot filter replacement there is no such baggage with hybrids. About the only known hiccup is battery life. The 400h uses three electric motors and while there is no hard and fast evidence, Lexus says the life expectancy is more than 10 years. Lexus is unsure about battery life because it says it hasn't had to replace one. A replacement battery would be around $3000-$4000 but probably would be an issue for a used buyer. Inside the three-binnacle display remains except a power meter replace the tacho on the left. Surprisingly the 400h is a little soft on take off despite the factory claiming 7.6sec for 0-100km/h. There is not as much launch as one would anticipate particularly as take-off is powered by the electric motors which develop maximum torque at stall. And if you mash the accelerator everything starts to get a bit noisy, another surprise when Lexus is known for its refinement. On the drive in suburban Sydney and out to Camden in the south-west, the brake pedal felt a little soft and spongy, perhaps a result of the regenerative set-up of the stoppers. Once the 400h finds its legs and is up and running all is fine. The rolling performance is as good as any Lexus. The RX 400h shares a lot of kit with the RX 350 Sports Luxury version like 18-inch alloys, bluetooth, rear view camera and rear guide assist, touch-screen navigation and a fancy 11-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. What it gains over the RX 350 Sports Luxury is the VDiM (Vehicle Dynamics integrated Management System) which tells the rear electric motor to provide torque to the rear wheels to maintain stability, seat heaters up front, leather steering wheel instead of woodgrain and metallic trim on the shifter and surrounds as well as centre console. On the 70km launch drive with two up fuel consumption was 8.3-litres/100km from a best just below 8-litres to a touch over 8.5-litres. But fuel consumption is not the decisive factor in the buying decision. It is only a part of the picture, emissions and a machine which is seen to be a bit mean around town yet remains green is the essence of why people will ante up almost $100,000 for an electrified Lexus.

Remember Betamax video recorders, those lumbering, top-loading titans of terminal technology? They went from old hat to dead format in the blink of an eye. Now picture the Lexus GS450h, a car that may just be the equivalent of a $121,900 Betamax recorder.Well, that's not entirely fair, because the Lexus will still provide transport and be able to burn reasonably common fuel (albeit of the premium kind), even if Toyota's hybrid drive petrol-electric engine system doesn't turn out to be the dominant technology of the fuel-frugality years we're entering.And while the GS450h is certainly big and heavy, it's not quite as ugly as a Betamax. In fact, the car passed the servo test with honours.One smitten BP worker even described it as beautiful, despite what I argued with him were portly, American proportions and a hunched back.Looks aside, the appeal of this Lexus is billboard-simple to define: “V8 performance with four-cylinder economy”.Sure enough, during a week of varied driving, the GS averaged between an impressive 8.5 and a reasonable 10.1 litres per 100km.But its range, off a 65-litre tank of pricey PULP, was just over 500km.Compare this to the diesel option. Our recent, long-term BMW 530d (packing an in-line, six-cylinder turbo diesel) returned a best figure of 5.7 litres per100km, with a range of 935km off a single tank of farmer's fuel. It was also far more lively to drive, handled in a whole different class — and had a boot.The Lexus looks like it has one, but open the lid and you realise it's an optical illusion. Those big ol' batteries under the rear seat take up all the space.And you can have the Bavarian brute for just $114,500. As far as performance goes, the Lexus may be quick — with a claimed zero-to-100km/h time under six seconds — but doesn't feel like it.The hybrid uses a dual-VVT-i direct-injection, 3.5-litre V6 that produces 216kW, mated to a 147kW permanent-magnet electric motor.Its theoretical combined power output is 253kW. In terms of torque, the petrol motor hits its 368Nm peak at 4800rpm, while the electric one offers 275Nm from the get-go.This means you not only have good off-the-line grunt, but handy overtaking thrust. Indeed, driven enthusiastically, and with all its sport settings switched on, the GS450h will get up and boogie.But the main impression you get is that this is a heavy car rather than a dashing one.That isn't surprising, as the Lexus weighs in on the wrong side of 1800kg. I may not be a rocket scientist, or evena white-coat wearer from the Pond's Institute, but if you're trying to build an economical car of the future, making it lighter than a tank seems wise.The sensation of weight counts against the GS450h on tight, rough roads, where it crashes and shakes, while understeering with its big nose and fighting a tail-shaking battle with the traction control at the rear end. Still, it's a classy-feeling piece of kit and it boasts an excellent interior.The GS is far more at home on good surfaces, tackling smooth sweepers and freeway driving with consummate ease. And it's freakishly quiet.Compared with the pudgy Prius, this hybrid is in a different league. I could actually live with it if I had to, whereas I'd choose public transport (or two feet and a heartbeat) over a Prius.But with a massive Lexus price tag, and not such a large range, you have to wonder who's going to want to buy it off you in a few years — particularly if hybrid technology goes Betamax on you.And while I didn't set out to compare this car to the 5 Series diesel, I couldn't get it out of my mind that the latter is a more realistic, and more enjoyable, way to save on fuel while still looking rich and executorial.The only argument left in the Lexus's favour is that it produces fewer emissions than any diesel or unleaded-fuel car.Much like the Prius, or plastic surgery, people are being asked to spend a hell of a lot of money just to feel good about themselves.

Show organisers have changed the format this year to expand the offerings that they see as competing with a range of cultural activities offered around Sydney."The Australian Motor Show is the second largest event in New South Wales after the Easter Show," said spokesman Mark Mathot. "We’ve really had to think about how we can maintain a large scale event that appeals to revheads, families, and people from all walks of life," he said.More than $1.5 million has been spent on marketing and promotion of the new show, which is up 15 per cent on last year’s budget. Last year’s pioneering success of webcasting the show will continue again, with eight hours of live car releases shown via the new website at www.australianmotorshow.com. The website is also selling show tickets for the first time, and offering quicker entry to those who prepurchase online.There will also be video interviews with industry commentators, car executives and designers available on the internet.The Great OutdoorsThe show is also expanding outside the Darling Harbour Exhibition Hall due to more car makers wanting greater space for the show. Forty three individual brands have confirmed attendance, plus a small area dedicated to retail accessories.Outdoor activities will range from events around Darling Harbour and the CBD."Family Day" is set for November 14 and will feature Australian Idol finalists on a stage sponsored by Mazda. Printed balloons, jugglers, face painting and Geoff Giraffe will also be there with giveaways for young ones.A 4WD track has also been set up outdoors, and Toyota and VW have booked extensive outdoor stands to show certain types of vehicles such as 4WDs and Kombis.Sydney Model Autosports will host model car races of miniature Lamborghini’s, Ferrari’s, Porsche’s and more at lunchtimes in Martin Place.New stuffA new addition inside the Exhibition Hall is the Australian Scooter Federation. The ASF is holding a rally with a demonstration of member’s scooter on a large area in Hall 6. Shannons Unique Vintage cars will also be in Hall 6, plus the Edag concept car and Western Sydney international dragway exhibits.The usual half-a-dozen or so new car launches, concept cars, and prototype production vehicles will feature at the show, although car makers are being tightlipped about those until the day for maximum impact.Key among the new offerings is a week-long fashion parade – designed specifically to entice more women to the show.The motor industry has long had an association with fashion as leading designers often assist with car interiors and vehicle launches. Mercedes also sponsors Australian Fashion Week, recently held in Sydney.The second week of the motor show will feature two fashion parades each day at 6.30pm and 7pm from Monday to Friday. "There will be one designer per car maker for the five day parade," said event organiser Carlene Clarke. "Brands have aligned with designers that they think create fashion which best reflects the values offered with their cars," Clarke said.Audi has hooked up with Herringbone. Lexus has Carla Zampatti. Saab and Nicola Fenetti will be an item. Alfa Romeo and Roberto Pierucci are together, and VW will be joined by Zimmermann.Big issuesAmidst the razzle dazzle of new metal and fashion parades, there will be one clear theme emerging from the makers showcasing their newest cars: Fuel technology.It’s the first opportunity that car makers have had to seriously offer cleaner fuel variants, according to Peter Sturrock, CEO of Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI)."Australia this year got an upgrade to a higher standard of diesel fuel that is more aligned with Japan and Europe."There is significant interest in engine technology and the types of fuel that new cars can now offer and you’ll see cleaner fuel cars being demonstrated by Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, Volvo, Audi, Mazda, Honda, Saab and many others. The cars will have a much more advanced engines, with better performance in terms of driveability, power, speed and fuel consumption – but also with much cleaner emissions," Sturrock said."It’s the first time these cars will have been shown in Australia. LPG, diesel, biodiesel, ethanol, hybrid petrol-electric…you name it and you will see the largest range of fuel types being brought to market this year."The show is critical to showcasing these new fuel technologies to show people what each brand is bringing to the Australian market," Sturrock said.Hybrid petrol-electrics have had only modest success in the past five years, but Sturrock said this year’s show will see brands heavily promote these cars."We’ve seen rapid growth from Toyota, Lexus and Honda with these types of cars," he said. "The hybrids use petrol to accelerate the car, but rely on an electric charge generated by the car’s speed to produce braking. That way you only use half the fuel and that’s something Australians are thinking about a lot at the moment."Sturrock said he still didn’t know what the "hero car" would be at the show, but said this year’s show was particularly important for three new local cars: Holden’s VE Commodore, Toyota’s Camry, plus the six-cylinder Toyota Aurion that is scheduled for release in October."These three cars make this show significant because of the export opportunities," Sturrock said."Toyota and Holden are aggressively looking to expand their exports to the Middle East, Asia, South Africa and South America, and this show forms part of the strategy for some of those initiatives."

Lexus Australia had planned to launch the all-new LS460 in November, without a raft of luxury features available in other markets.While the Australian cars would have had the unique eight-speed automatic gearbox, they would have come without active damping, air suspension and the trick variable gear ratio steering standard in most world markets.It is now likely that a full-fruit LS460 will launch alongside the LS600hL - the long-wheelbase V12 hybrid limousine around March."It is imperative that LS460 and LS600hL both launch with significant feature advantages," Lexus Australia divisional manager Scott Grant says."The LS460 introduced in Australia must be equal in specification to that in all world markets."If that is the case then the radar-based active cruise control and lane shift warning systems - both of which had been trimmed from the LS460 for the original Australian models - should be back in the mix.Company insiders say the decision to delay the arrival of the car until a fully-specified model is available came "right from the top" of Lexus Australia.

The Lexus SC430, the drop-top coupe from the Japanese luxury brand, has just picked up knee-protection airbags.BMW is touting the night-vision system in its flagship cars and the Honda Legend comes with an active all-wheel-drive system.It all sounds great if you have at least $80,000 in your new-car kick, but there are bigger benefits than a few cashed-up car owners with new bells and whistles.What they are driving today will eventually be fitted to ordinary cars for ordinary showroom shoppers.There was a time when only the most exotic cars had electric windows and mirrors, but now they are common. Parking sensors is still considered a semi-luxury feature, but is standard on the $13,990 Proton Savvy.We should all be keeping an eye on breakthroughs at brands such as Mercedes-Benz, which led the car world into the anti-skid braking era in 1978 - when only planes had the systems.It has recently previewed a range of safety systems that will trickle down to the rest of the car business. Its "Pre-safe" innovation, which senses an impending crash and moves the seats back and pre-sets the airbags and belt tensioners, is one of the best.Mercedes-Benz Australia says Night Vision Assist has been a hit this year, even if it is only available on the super-luxury S-Class - starting price $187,900 - and is pushing ahead with the second generation of its radar cruise system."More than one-third of our S-Class customers have taken Night Vision Assist. That's about 170 cars since the start of the year," Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy says.But it's not cheap."It's $4090 on the S-350 and $3590 on the S-500. It's standard on the S-600," he says.But that figure will fall as technology and mass production cut the unit costs."People recognise the benefits of technology from a safety perspective and it also makes driving less stressful. That's the same whether it is night vision or parking radar or Distronic Plus cruise control," McCarthy says.The latest version of Distronic will be available soon. It intervenes with more braking power if a vehicle ahead slows suddenly and can also bring a Benz to a complete stop and keep pace with stop-start traffic.And what's around the corner? Better radar parking systems, for a start, which tap into the low-speed engineering in the new version of Distronic. Benz is working on more and better airbags, with fuel-cell electric cars also on the program.

"We see it as a segment buster," Grant says. "It competes against nothing because there is nothing like it available."Lexus has dubbed the petrol-electric RX as a "luxury performance hybrid SUV", making it the second new hybrid model after the GS450h to sport a Lexus badge this year."Final specifications for the car are still under discussion but it will arrive as a true Lexus," Grant insists. "We always strive to get as much specification as possible in a simplistic model line-up at a realistic price point."While conceding some may see it as odd that the RX400h uses the old 3.3-litre V6 from the superceded RX330 rather than the all-new 3.5-litre from the new RX350, Grant says it is fully consistent with Lexus development policy."These sorts of product discussions are continuous," Grant says. "The next step in this line of hybrid development may be a larger petrol engine but just as easily it could be a smaller, more efficient petrol engine and a more powerful electric motor to increase power output."It is an open-ended discussion and really there is no set-in-stone policy direction."Rated a SULEV (Super Low Emissions Vehicle) in the US, the RX400h will carry a fuel economy rating for Australia of 8.1 litres per 100km, which is 3.0 litres per 100km more efficient than the all-petrol RX350.The technology is along the same development lines as the GS450h and the luxo-pack LS600h long wheelbase which will go on sale in Australia early next year. The main power source is the 3.3-litre DOHC V6 modified slightly from its RX330 incarnation to produce 155kW. That drive is enhanced by a bank of three electric motors which feed in extra drive when demanded by the car's ECUs.While the full available powers from petrol and electric sources — the 298kW (400hp) that the car is named for — are never available at the same time, the hybrid RX is rated at 200kW with the extra urge obvious at launch and when called on for overtaking.The power split from the electric motors is an additional 123kW to the front wheels from one motor and another 50kW to the rear wheels from a second.The third motor starts the petrol engine (which shuts down at stoplights), regulates the continuously variable transmission's ratios and generates electricity.When called on for maximum acceleration, the RX400h gets away from standstill with V8-like urgency. Lexus Australia claims it will put the 0-100km/h sprint behind in a creditable 7.9 seconds, although figures out of the US suggest closer to 7.3 seconds for the sprint.In common with other Toyota and Lexus hybrids the system collects energy from regenerative braking, storing the harvested electricity in the bank of nickel-metal-hydride batteries hidden away under the floor behind the rear seats.Acceleration is seamless, aided in no small part by the CVT which is in sharp contrast with the rather coarse note of the 3.3-litre engine.The dash layout is in keeping with other hybrids with engaging displays illustrating the ebb and flow of electric energy to and from the drive wheels. In place of a tachometer there is a largely-for-show power-usage display that can be effectively monitored only at the cost of not watching the road.Do hybrids have a future in Australia? carsguide.com.au

It chews some grass, then heads for some old machinery at the side of the road, which it leans on to rub its rump.The luxurious Lexus is more interesting than the wombat gives it credit for.It is a great technical achievement. The Lexus team has managed to combine a powerful V6 engine and an electric motor for masses of power and to limit fuel consumption.Whether or not it will revolutionise the automotive landscape, as Lexus claims, is another question.It's impressive, but also flawed.The GS450h is tested on a 1870km trip to Sydney, on to the Blue Mountains and back.I even venture 47km from Lithgow to a bush cabin at the ghost town of Newnes, once an oil shale production site.After driving the new Lexus, you wonder whether petrol-electric hybrids really are the answer or whether it will it be a forgotten technology in a few years.It is expensive for Lexus (Toyota) to develop and produce — it certainly isn't making money from hybrids.At $121,990, the GS450h slips into the Lexus GS range between the $112,300 V6 GS300 Sports Luxury and the $137,200 V8 GS430.It gets a range of top-shelf gizmos including adaptive headlights, radar cruise control, keyless start, rear parking camera and the latest-generation satellite navigation.But the big difference is the hybrid drivetrain.The special GS combines a Toyota-based 3.5-litre V6 with an electric motor, using a battery that is topped-up through friction from the brakes and engine.At low speeds the GS450h can run purely off the electric motor, which is eerily silent.When you give it a push, the GS fires up its V6 petrol engine as well.Sometimes the car runs purely on the petrol engine.The combination of both powerplants adds up to an impressive 254kW.There is 275Nm available on demand thanks to the electric motor and a total 368Nm from the V6 at 4800 revs.The car uses a continuously variable transmission that constantly changes the gear ratio and feels like it has just one gear.Lexus says all this provides guilt-free performance.The GS450h is fast. Lexus says it can do 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds, faster than its V8 big brother.Lexus also claims it produces combined fuel consumption figures of 7.9 litres/100km — that, and the 0-100km time, seems optimistic.Highways, where petrol and diesel engines shine, aren't friendly to hybrids.The test car achieved an average fuel consumption figure of 8.3 litres on the trip — about what you would expect from a regular Ford Falcon or Holden Commodore using petrol combustion engines and regular unleaded (the GS demands premium).A sporty and refined diesel, such as the one found in the BMW 530d or Peugeot 407 Coupe, should do significantly better.Other testers have returned figures of eight to nine 9 litres/100km driving the GS in the city, which is good but is not going to save the planet.One of the biggest problems is the size of the battery, which takes up a huge chunk of the boot, which now has room for only one large suitcase. The overflow has to travel on the back seat — making it close to useless for family travel.The boot space would be even more cramped if Lexus hadn't replaced the full-size spare wheel with a space saver, which is not good on a long trip in the bush.The extra hybrid components also add weight — about 250kg, turning it into a 1865kg car.The extra grunt of the powerplants overcomes this in a straight line, but the extra weight takes its toll when cornering.The steering in the Lexus has a dead feel and the nanny electronic stability control is overly protective — discouraging sporty handling.Its CVT gearbox is the same. It feels strange to not have any gear changes and decidedly non-sporty. The "manual" shift mode is even less convincing.Still, you can't overlook the car's stunning torque.Plant the right foot while passing a truck and it will storm forwards with the go of a supercharged V8. It's a pity it sounds like an over-muffled V6.The only other niggle is the suspension tuning, which is harsher than it should be.This Lexus is at home in stop-start city traffic, where it runs quietly and efficiently in comfort, but is not perfect.The 450h is an interesting technological showpiece that owners will enjoy showing to their friends, but it certainly doesn't revolutionise the automotive landscape.

The $121,990 car includes radar active cruise control, adaptive variable suspension (the driver can set normal or sport), a vehicle dynamic management system, 10 airbags, electronic chromatic instrument panels, rear view camera, parking sonars, DVD satellite navigation, customised interior lighting, dual-zone climate control and 14-speaker – yes, 14 – Mark Levinson premium sound system.It also has the smart entry and start: the car automatically unlocks when the driver grabs the door handle and allows a press-button start by detecting the "key" being carried by the driver.The GS450h has all the features of the luxury version of the GS300 and GS430 petrol-only models with which it shares the bodywork. The vehicle dynamic management system until now was available only on the GS430. Lexus does not want potential buyers to have any excuse not to select the 450h hybrid.The GS450h is the first Lexus hybrid to be released in Australia, although Lexus is part of the Toyota family which has the world's biggest-selling hybrid car, the Prius. Lexus says hybrid versions of its all-wheel-drive SUV wagon, the RX400h, and its flagship sedan, LS600h, also are on the way.The GS450h has a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and a 650V electric motor. The electric motor has 147kW power – more than many petrol engines in medium-size cars. Power is not the sum of the electric and the petrol engines' respective maxima, but works out at a total of 254kW.This power is more than the petrol engine siblings in the range yet it has 31 per cent better fuel economy than the GS430 and 19 per cent better than the GS300. Standard tests show just 7.9 litres/100km for the hybrid.The GS450h runs a constantly variable automatic transmission.Hybrid activityFOR gentle start-offs, only the electric motor is used. When more power is needed, the petrol engine joins in. The battery provides more power to the electric motor if extra acceleration is needed. When decelerating, a regenerative braking system gathers energy usually lost in braking and converts it to electricity to be stored in the battery. The engine switches off when the car is stationary.Dot pointsALL Lexus GS450h models will have vehicle identification numbers printed on 5000 Data Dot micro identification dots sprayed on to strategic spots on the vehicle. Each the size of a grain of sand, they can be read by special lighting. Data Dots are a theft deterrent and help lower insurance premiums.

The Japanese luxury brand is also doing well with the second-generation IS sedan it is using to attack the benchmark 3-Series from BMW.It has lifted sales from 2232 to 2849 vehicles in a year-to-date comparison to the end of May.It is also hammering hard with a string of petrol-electric hybrids.We have already seen the GS450h hybrid sports sedan and there will be an LS600h flagship before the end of the year to set the high-water mark.Lexus also has a hybrid RX all-wheel-drive coming in October, building from the update earlier this year to its luxury RX350.We decided to spend some time in the updated RX, a regular petrol version, before the hybrid model arrives.The RX350 is a significant and worthwhile improvement for the RX. It goes a little harder, is a little greener, has more equipment and comes with a funky and useful rear-view camera that even dictates bump-free parking.The dashboard display can be used to play DVDs while the car is parked, which takes the misery out of waiting for trains, buses, planes or the school bell.The RX also has an active light system that points around corners and, typically for the class, Bluetooth phone connection.Lexus believes the latest changes to the RX give it extra ammunition to fire at the Mercedes ML and BMW X5 it targets as its prime rivals, even though sales this year are down."That is mainly because of the runout of the RX330. We got no supplies in January," head of Lexus Australia Scott Grant says. "We're selling at about the same rate as last year."We have to fight for supply because the car is still in demand internationally. It's somewhere between 200 and 300 cars a month -- pretty good for us."The RX is similar to the rest of the Lexus family because there is only one mechanical package and two grades of luxury gear.The 350 has an updated 3.5-litre V6 with 18 per cent more power and 4 per cent more torque than the previous model. It is claimed to be the most powerful six-cylinder AWD in its class, with 203kW.It has permanent AWD and a five-speed auto gearbox, with touch-change manual shift, fully independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes.Safety also means a full set of front and side-curtain airbags, and even the basic RX gets everything from automatic aircon to a sunroof and CD sound.The RX is still only a five-seater. There are no plans for a seven-seater, but Grant says that is fine with buyers."They are happy with five seats. They are mostly families with a couple of kids and are fairly active. They do light off-road driving to the snow or the beach and maybe some camping.""It is fairly standard middle Australia, but maybe with a bit more income."The RX is similar to a lot of the new AWD wagons, including the Ford Territory now dominating the business in Australia.But the Lexus is a lot more car-like than most of its rivals, and that has helped it to resist the slump in the class.There are signs some customers are coming back to the heavyweight 4WDs, with Toyota LandCruiser sales lifting in June, but the business is still tough.ON THE ROADThe RX has always been an AWD favourite with the CARSguide team, but not because it can do LandCruiser-style expedition work.It is a nice city drive that is also great for weekend getaways.It is more like a high-rider car than most of its luxury AWD rivals, and that includes the BMW X5 and Mercedes ML.Some people believe it is too soft, or too gentle, but it works for most day-to-day tripping and has enough grip and go for easy weekend work.The 350 is the same, but better, than the previous RX and the extra power from the larger engine is welcome.Other changes are relatively minor, but worth checking against the Nissan Murano, which we believe is the RX's real rival.Owners might like to brag about the strength of their RX against an M5 or X5, but the dollar deal says the Murano is a realistic choice with a $25,000 price break. Honda also has itsMD-X lurking in the background.The latest RX is noticeably quicker than before, as you would expect with an 18 per cent power hike, but still just as refined.The engine is great for overtaking, and responds well when you move to the manual change in the five-speed. It is as smooth as an auto, but more fun if you take total control.Fuel economy is good at 11.2 litres/100km, a figure that drops a lot when freeway cruising.The suspension is still a bit soft for our taste, and not as responsive to the wheel as an X5, but rides smoothly. It gets around corners well enough, but is not a sports car.The cabin is as well finished as that in any Lexus, and we like the rear-view camera. It's not just a nappy for nervous parents who worry about children in the driveway, but gives a real parking benefit with lines on the screen that show where the RX is going and how much clearance you have to the surrounding scenery.The DVD player is also great, and we spent a lazy half-hour watching music videos while waiting for a friend to complete their shopping.The headlamps are good but not great.The RX is easy to manoeuvre, very quiet inside and there are enough toys to keep anyone occupied.It is typical Lexus stuff, doing the basics well, but adding plenty of icing.That is what gives it an advantage over the Murano, which is just as nice to drive but not nearly as well finished.The Nissan has a big price advantage, and is bigger inside, but the Lexus is a nicer car and creates a nicer world.It is also softer and more female-friendly than an X5 or ML, though Lexus -- despite the hybrid hype -- still does not have the bragging rights of the German brands.So it's more of the same, but better, with the promise of the RX400h to add some hybrid impact before the end of the year.THE BOTTOM LINEA cruisy AWD for families who like to ride high but really just want a luxury wagon.81/100