Lexus GS450H News

More than 25,000 admirers, tyre kickers and buyers packed the Convention Centre at South Bank on the second day of the show last Saturday, smashing all previous records.The 8000 increase on the previous single-day best crowd was helped by the official season launch of the V8 Supercar championship which featured all the stars and cars of the Holden versus Ford series in nearby Little Stanley St.While most come to dream there are those who use the opportunity to compare notes between rival brands at close range and under the one roof.With fuel prices remaining high, the cost of running a vehicle remains a key buying consideration among many buyers.For those wanting to stretch their dollar further at the pump there are fresh injections of turbo diesel variants in the passenger car line-up including Volkswagen's Polo oil burner for $22,990.Lexus provided the Queensland public with its first look at the GS450H saloon, a luxury petrol/electric hybrid which is scheduled to do business in local showrooms from May.BMW, which is showing off a new range of V8 engines in the 5, 6 and 7-series at the show, says it will have a hydrogen-powered 7-series on Australian roads in two years but there is a need for government intervention to possibly sort through filling station infrastructure.While the future is firmly set on alternative power sources, there remains an unwavering passion for hot blooded exotic sports machines.In performance alley at the show there is the stunning Pagani Zonda Roadster, priced at $1.3 million or the equivalent of four median-priced Brisbane homes.While Holden is flooring the fans with the hot rod Efigy, it also previewed its next four-wheel-drive wagon, the Capitva.VW took the covers off the new Passat sedan and wagon while Fiat had a range of Puntos which will signal the Italian maker's return to the passenger car ranks in Australia this year. The show continues until Sunday.

The LF-A high performance concept car will be accompanied by the the world?s first luxury hybrid sedan and the next generation of the best selling local Lexus ever.Leading the performance charge is the LF-A concept car, a two-seater supercar powered by a 373 kW-plus V10 engine. for an estimated top speed of more than 320 km/h.This performance is complemented by Lexus levels of luxury, comfort and equipment, and the styling is a clear indication of where Lexus is heading in the next few years.Lexus is leading the high performance hybrid charge with its GS450h, which combines a 218 kW direct-injection 3.5-litreV6 with a 148 kW electric motor for breakthrough levels of hybrid car performance.Due to go on sale in the first half of the year, the world?s first luxury hybrid is designed to deliver the performance of a 4.5 litre engine with the economy of a 2.0 litre engine, and extremely low emissions.Also making its Australian debut at Melbourne will be the next generation of the most successful local Lexus model ever, the soon-to be-released RX350 luxury SUV.The RX350 expands on the virtues of the RX330, three-time winner of Australia?s Best Luxury SUV award among other national and international accolades.With a new dual VVTi 3.5-litre V6, the RX350 offers improved power and torque over the RX330 and is due to go on sale in March.Melbourne International Motor Show runs from Thursday 9 February to Sunday 19 February at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, and is organised and promoted by the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce through its dealer division the Australian Automobile Dealers Association (Vic).