Lexus Reviews

Part of the reason is that the new eight-seater Lexus is based on the similarly competent Landcruiser, although Lexus claims the LX570 is an even better performer and 'the most capable vehicle it has ever produced.’The benchmark Cruiser is a good starting point on which to build another offroader, although they couldn’t pinpoint exactly how much of the vehicle had been borrowed – about 30 per cent by weight was the final answer.However they did acknowledge that the doors transferred straight over, and since their sculpting cues have to flow into the rest of the body, this leaves you in no doubt about the LX570’s parentage. From not too far a distance, passing traffic could easily imagine they’re seeing the next Cruiser rather than the latest Lexus.However if you go deeper than the skin there are some major differences, the largest of which is the 5.7-litre petrol V8 under the bonnet (a full litre more than its donor stablemate).Mated to a six-speed sequential automatic transmission, the engine develops 270kW of power at 5600rpm (up 100kW) and a hefty 520Nm of torque at 3200rpm on premium fuel. On 91RON you’re likely to get at least a 2kW drop.Lexus says the LX570 will get to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds – no small task for a vehicle weighing in at 2740kg (and no surprise that it will use 14.8L/100km in combined driving, which is reportedly an 8 per cent improvement on the outgoing model).But it also makes for a 3500kg braked towing capacity, plus you can load the Lexus with about 750kg of people and cargo and there’s about 700 litres of space to play with once you drop the third row.While it has pinched the Cruiser’s full-time 4WD system, traction and stability controls, it has now also been given a lockable centre differential that sends 60 per cent of the drive to the rear, and can send up to 70 per cent if needed.A centre-mounted toggle allows you to change between high and low range, and while there is no option of getting the amazing Kinetic Suspension System available on the big Toyota, the front and redesigned rear suspension on the Lexus gives a claimed 15 per cent improvement in wheel stroke, stretching to 23cm for tough terrain. It can also be directed to lower for easier access; kneeling like an obedient camel for people to climb aboard.A crawl function that is switchable between 1, 3 and 5km/h can take over the engine and brakes in extreme situations, leaving you simply steering the Lexus while clambers up and down the route.There are just two models, opening with the $136,000 Prestige which is kitted out with all the usual luxury features, plus extras like a reversing camera, four-zone climate control with 28 outlets, heating and power adjustment to the first and second rows, 10 airbags (including roll-sensing curtains that cover all three rows), 18” alloy wheels (and yes, full-size spare) high-intensity adaptive headlights that essentially go around corners before you do, and a thumping 19-speaker Mark Levinson DVD entertainment system.The $151,700 Sport Luxury gets an extra DVD screen with wireless headphones to keep them happy in the back, front and side cameras with colour wide screen broadcast for better visibility, radar cruise control that can lock onto vehicles in front to adjust your speed and also alert a pre-crash system if it senses a collision is likely.The three rows of leather-clad seating are powered to adjust quickly to a wide variety of arrangements. In addition to sliding, the second row splits 40/20/40 and has a new tumble function that means it’s easier for passengers to get past and into the third row.And that final row is the really clever one, with buttons near the tailgate that can fold and stow the seats into the floor or tip them over onto their backs as 'stadium seating’ under the tailgate for picnics and epic weekend school sport events.Lexus already has orders for 100, and aims to sell about 360 per year — of which about 90 per cent will be the top spec. And they hope a fair proportion will be sales stolen from other makers of what Toyota Chairman Emeritus John Conomos called 'more recent arrivals in the luxury offroader market’ – for which, read the rabbits as being mainly German breeds; Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and even perhaps the big BMW.Lexus says only about 20 per cent of the LX570’s buyers will take it offroad, which is a bit of a shame because they’ll never find out what it can do. And what it can do is tackle pretty well anything you’d expect to be able to conquer in a LandCruiser, but with more bells and whistles as company.Using the crawl control – and the full extent of the wheel travel — we were able to inch our way over a steep set of lumps that would have given us badly cricked backs in a less capable vehicle.It responds well to the steering, and the sport/normal/comfort variable suspension allows you to dial up varying ride and handling characteristics at whim. Sport cuts out a fair amount of body roll on the bitumen, while normal and comfort work for both town and country driving.And there’s no faulting the ability of the smooth and muscular V8 engine, which gave great effort off the line and kept pulling well all through the range. Kick it and it responds with a surge forward – and a satisfying roar of agreement.The switchable ranges work well from the toggle on the centre console, but we managed to completely halt the Lexus by trying to change from low back up to high on the fly – yes, idiotic move on our part. It stressed out the drivetrain, which found a false neutral between the two transfer cases and decided it wanted nothing more to do with us for the next ten minutes while we went through every possible combination of settings and switching-offs to try and bring it back online.Again, it was our error. But it was also a warning to prevent the kids hitting the toggle with a 'what does this do?’.What will keep them out of your hair – and your control panel – is the fantastic Levinson entertainment system, which with great speakers and surround sound offers the kind of crisp quality you’d expect from a home theatre.It all adds up to a great vehicle, but at the end of the day, we couldn’t help wondering why – apart from badge envy – you’d hand over the extra for the LX570 when the top-spec LandCruiser 200 is already so damned good.Lexus says the LX570 'blurs the line between a luxury sedan and a 4WD’ but to some extent it also blurs the line between the Lexus and the luxury-spec Cruiser.

Pressure is on to deliver safer, less polluting, more economical, cheaper, better performing, better equipped and longer lasting vehicles.It seems almost unachievable but take a look at the new Lexus LS600hL and you will get some idea of where cars are heading in the near future.This is the techno showpiece from the giant Toyota organisation and as its flagship, the big 600 has a bewildering array of features, some useful, some useless.Is it over the top, suffering from technology overkill? In some respects, yes, but we can't keep our heads in the sand forever.Though completely out of the realm of the average Aussie, at $240,000 the LS600hL is actually good value against its direct competitors from Europe, undercutting them by up to $125,000.And, better yet, useful technology in the 600 will gradually filter down to mainstream cars.Take the hybrid-drive system, for example. The complex “engine” comprising of a 290kW, 5.0-litre petrol V8 and two electric motors delivers a total of 327kW and about 600Nm of torque to push the 2.4 tonne 600 with surprising velocity. Normally, this would dictate a hefty fuel bill but in the 600's case, it is capable of attaining a mere 9.3-litres/100km and generate only 210g/km of carbon dioxide.It has a constant all-wheel drive system and an eight-step constantly variable auto transmission with sequential change mode. This has safety and driveability benefits and gives the big 600 quite a sporty feel, enhanced by variable ratio steering and electronic brake assist.Lexus pushes the 600 and other hybrids in its lineup as guilt-free performance and in this sense, the 600 really delivers.But it is weird when you start up because the petrol engine doesn't run. Instead, initial motion is provided by the electric motors powered by the large battery pack in the back of the car.The petrol engine fires up when the accelerator is pushed beyond a certain threshold or speed goes above 40km/h. It shuts off when the car comes to a standstill.This is only scratching the surface of the 600's technology arsenal. It's one of the first cars to have LED headlights (a set of six) and they are also adaptive they turn with the steering.It has what is called intelligent park assist that almost parks the car automatically and the climate control system inside has body heat sensors to minutely adjust interior temperature.The cruise control uses radar to maintain a distance from vehicles in front and the air suspension adapts to any given type of driving or road conditions.All this is very nice but not really necessary.The massage seat in the back (with ottoman) is useless because there is not enough legroom to stretch out.We still haven't figured out the self parking system. If you can't park, you shouldn't be driving. The vehicle has to be stopped to re-program the satnav a major annoyance because the front passenger could do the job on the move.We must have occasionally performed an incorrect start sequence because the “engine” failed to fire a couple of times. The boot refused to open and all doors except the driver's would not unlock using the key fob.There are 11 airbags including knee bags and 19 speakers; on what rates as possibly the best audio and in-car entertainment system I have experienced.There is no doubt that all the goodies inside the 600 are great to experience but working out how they operate is challenging.Boil this car down to its essence and it is definitely impressive.Performance is strong with 0-100km/h sprint taking 6.3 seconds. It whispers along at warp speed in near silence and slices through the atmosphere at an aerodynamically efficient 0.29Cd.The big, handsome limo acquits itself well in sporty driving mode.The boot is ridiculously small due to the battery pack and we can't begin to explain the level of technology inside the engine apart from saying it has direct fuel injection and variable cam timing. 

And one could say the same about removing a $134,900 luxury car from the comfort of North Shore roads or the stretching highways in-between weekend getaways and relocating it to, of all places, a race track.But last week I hit Eastern Creek Raceway in the graceful new Lexus GS 460, as the first Australian journo to drive one.And I was pleasantly surprised to find it quickly adapted to what initially seemed to be a foreign setting. Underneath the cover of elegance and prestige, otherwise known as the body, sits a refined 4.6-litre V8. The 460 supersedes the previous GS 430, adding an extra 300 cubic centimetres to the mix. This means the face-lifted GS is able to extract an extra 47kW and 43Nm of torque from the engine, with a textbook impressive 255kW of power and 460Nm of torque.The figures alone are enough to get you reasonably excited meeting those V8 performance expectations. But with its quiet nature and more conservative appearance, I didn't expect it to be as poised and enjoyable as it proved to be.On arrival at the track, I quickly donned a helmet and jumped in the passenger seat as my instructor for the day, four-times Australian champion and racing veteran of 20 years, John Bowe, showed me the ins and outs of the track.From the passenger seat, it was a smooth ride all the way as Bowe threw it quickly into the corners and hit even quicker speeds on the straight. Then it came my turn to play. Planting my foot showed the acceleration was quick to react, its official zero to 100km/h time reading 5.8 seconds. Hitting the straight, and with some encouragement from my co-pilot, it wasn't long before I was up to 200km/h, the GS 460 reacting in a controlled but thrilling way.The well-mannered Lexus followed demands into each turn and came out of them without a hitch — very agile around the bends. Most of the power hits at 6400rpm and it doesn't take long for the revs to rise.Looking at the car, and even when gliding around the track, it's easy to imagine the soundtrack for this model would be something like Beethoven, with the occasional Metallica riff thrown in just to remind you it knows how to release its inner devil.After a few laps, I strangely noticed a cold breeze coming through my jeans from the seat.A little concerned, I quickly enquired as to what the problem was, only to be told that as well as the heating you expect in such cars, it also has a “cooling function.”So with my legs at a comfortable temperature, my back and rear-end cushioned with the sophisticated suspension and a new eight-speed auto transmission giving a wide spread of ratios, the luxury sedan did its best to show off its sporting character.With stability control switched on, it was put to work on some corners, although it was in no way intrusive, while quick to correct your line and keep you on the straight and narrow.There are paddles on the steering wheel for the real racing enthusiast but the auto mode worked just as well. The GS 460, along with the other models in the range, gets some new styling cues as well as the updated engine, giving it a more aggressive stance. It has a new grille, a lower air intake and the front and rear bumper bars have had some work. It's not a big change, but enough to give it some added style.The mirrors and door handles get the treatment, and the wheels are new five-spoke alloys. It's not all just for looks. All the changes provide an aerodynamic advantage and reduced wind noise.To round off my afternoon, it was back to the role of passenger as Bowe took me on a couple of last hot laps of the track. This time, there was no holding back as he quickly exceeded my 200km/h display. He pushed the car to the limit, showing what it was capable of in the hands of an expert. So if one does manage to give into squealing tyres and the need for speed away from the GS 460's comfort zone, it's nice to know that it's up to the challenge. SnapshotLexus GS 460 Price: $134,900Engine: 4.6L/V8, 255kW/460NmTransmission: 8-speed autoEconomy: 11L/100km 

Overshadowed by the volume-selling IS sedan and larger, lavishly equipped LS sibling, Lexus has turned its attention to the GS.A revised GS range has just been unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show and arrives here in time for the Melbourne Motor Show.The big changes are under the skin, though the car does get a mild cosmetic makeover.The big news is the flagship GS gets the same 4.6-litre V8 as the range-topping LS sedan. The GS460 develops 255kW at 6400 revs and 460Nm at 4100 revs. That's 47kW and 43Nm more than the 4.3-litre GS430, which it replaces.The GS300 and GS450h carry over.Lexus Australia chief executive John Roca says the power gains bring the range-topper in line with the performance of the GS450h.However, compared with the LS460, power and torque are down in the GS460 because it misses out on the LS's direct-injection system.The V8 does share its eight-speed automatic transmission with the LS, which is lighter and more compact in the GS than the six-speed automatic it replaces.Despite the reduced power, the 4.6-litre in the GS is no slouch, hitting 100km/h in 5.8 seconds and reaching a top speed of 240km/h.Roca says apart from improved engines, the sedan gets some small visual tweaks.On the outside there is a chrome grille surround, new integrated indicators in the door mirrors and new alloys.Both bumpers have been restyled.The GS 450h gains several styling cues from other Lexus hybrids, relating to badging and hybrid blue highlights.Inside, audio and telephone controls on the steering wheel have been revised and the boot and fuel filler releases have been moved outside the drop-down switch module.All models now have an input jack for portable music players.For added security, the doors have an automatic locking function triggered when the vehicle is on the move.Roca says GS sales stalled last year, in part because the car was in runout mode.“We will refocus on improving the GS's share this year,” he says.GS sales were down 21 per cent last year, compared with 2006, while overall Lexus sales were up 14.5 per cent.The IS250 remains the best seller in the range, accounting for about half of sales.GS pricing is expected to be decided next month.Roca hopes to hold prices at current levels. That means the entry GS300 Sports should stay close to $95,000 and the new 4.6-litre V8 GS460 about $138,000. 

Opulence is a word used by soap companies, perfumeries and appears early on in the Lexus PR tome. It's appropriate - everything about this brand has been about taking aim at and surpassing the more established marques.The LS 600hL - the largest Lexus sedan ever to roll off the company's production line - has equalled and beaten them in many respects.It's a large vehicle, impressive and imposing at first sight, with a high waistline and broad stance.It sits on wide, 19in wheels with bespoke Dunlop tyres and plenty of street presence. The 5150mm long 600hL is 120mm longer than its LS 460 sibling, and all the extra length increases the wheelbase to 3090mm.To say the 600hL has good rear passenger room is like saying the Sultan of Brunei is comfortably well off; there's enough room for a seven-footer, broad of shoulder, to sit. His head is close to the roof but the fact that he could stay there for a journey is a feat in itself.The journey could be undertaken with serenity; combine a 290kW/520Nm five-litre V8 with a 650V electric motor producing 165kW and 300Nm of almost instant torque; and the 2430kg of luxury limo can move away from standstill in a hurry.Lexus quotes a combined power figure of 327kW comparable to a six-litre V8, which is where the 600 in the badge comes from. But it wont wake its passengers, unless the pedal is floored. Full bore, the LS 600hL can cover the zero to 100km/h sprint in 6.3 seconds and the standing 400m in 14.3 seconds, numbers that fell right when I was behind the wheel.With the multi-link air suspension, variable gear ratio steering and super-smooth transmission in sport mode, the big limo can hustle through bends with good body control and remarkable poise. Quick changes of direction are not its forte, but drop back the pace a notch or two and the 600hL can cover ground quickly. The performance comes with less of sting at the pump, with the test car using fuel at a rate of 12.3 litres/100km from mainly suburban work, although the Lexus claims it is capable of 9.3 litres/100km.Lexus also claims an exhaust emission level of 219g/km, which might not sound impressive until you compare it with some of its petrol V8 competition, which rack up numbers beyond 300g/km.The drive is sent through an eight-step electronic continuously variable transmission (ECVT), a new gear-drive transfer system and a Torsen mechanical limited-slip centre differential to apportion drive 40 per cent to the front and 60 per cent to the rear, with the ability to vary the split according to conditions.The big limo can also creep around at low speed in EV mode, which works up to 40km/h on electric power only.The car uses its transmission as a generator, which combines with a conventional raking system to recover energy and store it in the battery.It's the smoothest example of system yet, easily making a seamless transition and allowing the driver to brake cleanly without rough spots in deceleration.But this car is about occupant comfort and there is no shortage of equipment to look after passengers.The quad-zone climate-control system has a body-temperature-sensor network that combines with a stack of other sensors and vents - more than 20 outlets - to keep the temp at the set level, which can be controlled from the front or rear.Left-hand rear passengers in the four-seater get a reclining ottoman, reclining backrest, massage function, an adjustable seat base and the world-first in-seat airbag to keep the relaxed occupant safe in an accident.Rear-seat passengers also get a DVD screen, but if your rear occupants favour Tom and Jerry instead of more adult viewing, the soundtrack can't be isolated to the rear infra-red headphones.If Jaguar and Holden can do it, surely the Lexus boffins can.Tom and Jerry never sounded so good, thanks to the Mark Levinson surround system, which offers more than 400W from 19 speakers to produce impeccable sound at serious volume.The Lexus engineers have included LED low-beams, a world first, they claim, as is the Intelligent Park Assist (IPA) system, a first for this segment and for any vehicle in Australia.Although not as nimble as some of its competition, there's so much technology for driving and for occupant comfort that it's hard to ignore the big Lexus.Throw in the green credentials, its quality and reliability and the 600hL impresses even more.The serene, unfussed progress offered by the Lexus leviathan could almost (in a Lotto winner's way) be considered value for money. Almost. SnapshotSmall torqueLexus LS 600hLPrice: $240,000Engine: Hybrid petrol-electric, five-litre quad-cam, 32-valve V8, with electric generator, motor and battery system.Power: 290kW at 6400rpm.Torque: 520Nm at 4000rpm.Transmission: ECVT with Torsen limited-slip centre differential and electronic virtual rear limited-slip differential. All-wheel drive.Performance: 0-100km/h 6.3 seconds, 0-400m 14.3 seconds, top speed 250 km/h (governed).Fuel consumption: Claimed 9.3 litres/100km, on test 12.3 litres/100km. Tank capacity 84 litres.Emissions: 219g/km.Suspension: Multi-link front and rear, air suspension with Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS).Brakes: 357mm ventilated front discs, 335mm ventilated rear discs, four-piston aluminium front calipers, two-piston aluminium rear calipers; Electronically Controlled Braking (ECB), ABS with Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control (TRC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Vehicle Dynamics integrated Management (VDiM).Dimensions: Length 5150mm, width 1875mm, height 1480mm, wheelbase 3090mm, track fr/rr 1610mm, weight 2430kg, luggage capacity 330 litres.Wheels: 19in alloys.Class competitionMercedes-Benz S 500: $274,974.BMW 750Li: $239,000.Audi A8 4.2 FSI LWB: $219,600.Jaguar XJ Super V8 LWB:  $234,900. 

The Toyota LandCruiser arrives in Lexus form with a heap of extra equipment including an impressive 10 airbags.Although Australian pricing and specifications have not yet been confirmed, expect luxury features such as four-zone climate control, power sliding second-row split seating, navigation system with Bluetooth, nine-speaker premium sound, and power third-row seating, rear-seat entertainment system and 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.At the core of the beast is the 5.7-litre V-8 engine pumps out 284kW of power, 84kW more than Toyota's older 4.7-litre V-8.Torque has also increased, from 444Nm to 602Nm.It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shifting and a Torsen limited slip differential for the full-time four-wheel drive.Towing capacity increases from 2948kg to 3855kg.Off-road features include adaptable suspension with quicker responses and finer adjustment, Crawl Control and active height control that lowers the chassis about 5cm for easier entry and exit, and raises it at lower speeds, lowering it again at higher speeds to help out in tarmac aerodynamics and fuel-efficiency.

One stretches to near full length in the rear of the limo, an ottoman propping extended legs while the vertebrae are manipulated by a cunning practitioner of shiatsu. Then a wailing sound assails the ears ...This would be all too Hugh Grant, except the noise is not a Highway Patrol siren. Or the Vice Squad. Though it is The Police.That's the 1980s popsters, of all things to pick. The nasal whine of the vocalist is surround sounding through 11 speakers from a DVD screen that's dropped from the inner roof.And the masseuse is not some flower of the orient, but a mechanical function built into the optional-with-ottoman left rear seat of the new Lexus LS 600hL.And that's about the only option in a car whose decadent lushness contrasts utterly with frugal fuel use and a carbon dioxide emission rating that wouldn't disgrace a V6.The LS 600hL is the world's first V8 all-wheel-drive hybrid.It can reach 100km/h from standing in 6.3 seconds, but will use as little as 9.3-litres of 95 RON petrol per 100km.Its globulous, 2.4 tonne kerb weight can be clawed through a tight bend with surety via a Torsen all-paw system, leaving a fairly petite carbon footprint of 219 grams per kilometre.All this and it just about parks itself too.While the LS 600hL undercuts by more than $100,000 certain German LWB limos, it still costs $240,000 for the full-specced four seater as described above or $233,000 for the five pew model.All right already, so that's light years beyond the likes of you and I.So too, for that matter, is the $120K GS 400h released 18 months back and even the $94K RX 400h SUV that followed.Where all this does impact on us is in Toyota's luxury arm making hybrid performance vehicles their domain.While the Europeans adhere to ever-cleaner diesels — and BMW spruik their Hydrogen 7 to the mega-rich and famous — the Lexus petrol-electric gambit will surely devolve to the compact executive class.So what chance a hybrid of the IS to compete against the 3 Series and C-Class?“Very possible, absolutely,” the 600hL's chief engineer and my fellow backseat passenger Osamu Sakata assured Carsguide as he ratcheted up the shiatsu setting to intense.For now, the bombastic halo exercise that is the most expensive Lexus to date serves to provide glimpses of our motoring future.The easiest to see are the first application of LED low-beam headlights — near daylight bright, it's claimed. One you hope you'll never have to see is the anti-submarining in-seat airbag in the four seat model.Then there's the Intelligent Park Assist (IPA) system, which is sending a thrill through the geeky and the ability-shy.IPA uses a rear camera and ultrasonic sensors to identify a parking space and calculates the correct steering angle to guide the big bugger in without curbing the 19-inch rims or bending fenders.For a decent part of the exercise your only involvement is pressure on the gas pedal.The side and rear window blinds are push button. A body heat sensor (I'm not making this up) automatically controls the climate. The grab handles and bin doors are damped so they shut at uniform rate. Which is nice. SNAPSHOT LEXUS LS 600hLPrice: $233,000 (five seat); $240,000 (full spec)Engine: 5L/V8 hybrid; 290kW/520NmEconomy: 9.3L/100km0-100km/h: 6.3 seconds  THE KEY RIVAL THEY FORGOT TO MENTIONLexus compares its LS 460hL flagship against a list of leviathans such as BMW's $346,000 760Li and even the Bentley Arnage.Insofar as these fat-capacity petrol-guzzlers are towards thetop of their respective makers' ranges, that's a reasonable suggestion.Lexus just happens to flog them in terms of value and green credentials.A car Lexus failed to mention was another biggish, V8 AWD — one that uses a hi-tech diesel engine to accomplish its ends.At $210,000, Audi's A8 4.2 TDIquattro undercuts the LS600hL on price. It alsohas better acceleration(5.9 seconds to 100km/h over 6.3) and competitive fuel economy (9.4L/100km to 9.3).The first eight-cylinder diesel in this class, the A8 has twin turbos and intercoolers to deliver 650Nm of turbine-like thrust.If the hybrid system is eco-friendlier in city traffic, the TDI comes into its own on the open road, proving that performance and prestige are compatible with diesel, too.There's 11 airbags, Pre-Collision Safety System, Active-radar Cruise Control, Adaptive Variable Suspension and Vehicle Dynamic integrated Management (VDiM) system. And a sunroof. So you get the lot. Lock and stock as standard. Leave the option gouging to the Germans.And leave the hybrid engines to theJapanese.This latest Lexus petrol-electric combo is another modern marvel, shifting a game it has almost to itself to another level.A 5.0-litre version of the 4.6 quad-cam V8 used in the much huzzah-ed LS 460 is combined with a new dual-stage transmission incorporating the electric drive system for a combined output of 290kW and 520Nm from 4000rpm. The 650-volt electric drive motor delivers 165kW/300Nm, with all those lovely Newtons available from zero revs.The hybrid system blends the two power sources according to operating conditions to provide a maximum 327kW. That's about the output of 6.0 petrol — hence the designation.A switchable EV mode2 allows 40km/h on electric power only. Indeed the car stops its petrol engine whenever possible (when the car's stationary, for example) to save fuel and reduce emissions and noise.It says much of the intended buyer that the Lexus minders saw that we spent as much time in the back as behind the wheel. On the basis of our limited and mostly straight line exposure, any of the myriad cars that Lexus pits itself against are more involving drives.That said, with the sport suspensions selected and the eight-speed manual mode of the CVT engaged, the V8 emits the heartfelt growl and something approaching the overtaking ability of the lesser, conventional LS.Unlike the latter, it's afflicted with a hybrid's tiny boot (albeit with full size spare), all those clever gubbins chewing up the golf club space.While your captain of industry might accept that it's not easy being green, he mightn't take so kindly to a lack of implements to use on the green.Still, at least the Lexus will massage more than the ego.

Warning luxury SUV drivers. The following article contains words and images that may disturb some readers. You see, we did something that many owners of luxury “soft-roaders” would never contemplate. We actually took the vehicle off road.After all, the Lexus RX400h is classed as a Sports Utility Vehicle: sports meaning sporty I suppose, and it has a bit of that about it, because it looks sharp and goes great, and utility meaning all-rounder I would imagine.OK, you wouldn't throw your tool box in the back, or haul a bogged cow from one paddock to another, but sport and utility surely mean that this vehicle is meant for fun and that means getting off the beaten track occasionally.When I first learnt that I was taking the new RX400h for this trip, I logged on to the Lexus website to get a brief rundown on what I could expect when I got behind the wheel.What really grabbed my attention, though, were the options, it didn't have any.This car has everything as standard; there's power everything, heated leather seating, sat-nav, a DVD system, dual climate-control airconditioning, airbags everywhere and the list goes on and on.But what sets this vehicle apart from its rivals in the luxury SUV class, is its hybrid drive system.It really is a wonderful piece of technology. In a nutshell, it has a 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine, supplemented by three electric drive motors (two up front, one in the rear).Using electrical energy generated by the petrol motor, it then powers the two electric front motors, and when needed, the rear electric motor, for a combined output of 200kW.The really cool part is that even when you hit the brakes, the Regenerative Braking system captures the kinetic energy, which is normally wasted. This energy is then converted into electrical energy, which is used to charge the battery. Confused?The real benefits are the excellent fuel consumption and much lower engine emissions compared with normal petrol and diesel drivetrains. In the nearly 700km of combined urban highway and dirt road bashing that we undertook on this mission, it drank an average of about 10 litres per 100km, which is very impressive for a two-tonne car.Yes, that's a lot of car, especially for what is essentially a mid-sized SUV. For just under $100,000, you would expect plenty as well.As with all Lexus vehicles, everything is done well. But despite all the bling of this car, I didn't find myself overwhelmed by the fact I was in a $100,000 luxury car.The leather seats were comfortable, but slippery and unsupportive on tight cornering.The handling was adequate, and the ride was smooth and quiet, but hardly sporty. Dials and instruments were all user-friendly and accessible. The sat-nav system was very functional but took some getting used to.Once on the open road though, the RX400h was at its best. Fuel consumption plummeted and, when required the V6 had plenty to spare, with effortless overtaking.When we hit the well-maintained dirt roads just out of Canberra, the RX400h remained comfortable and able, although we did notice some rear-wheel loss of traction at times.This car had road tyres fitted, so better-gripping all-rounders may have made all the difference. The Brindabellas make the drive well worthwhile. If you plan to stay the night, there are many popular camping spots on the approach to Wee Jasper.Banjo Paterson part-owned a property on the banks of the lovely Goodradigbee River, so his children could get a taste of country life.We also decided to set-up camp next to the river at Billy Grace Reserve. Equipped with hot showers, flushing toilets and a hospitable ranger who cut wood for our fire, which was needed. From the reserve it is only a short drive to the village itself. Here you can find a tavern and general store that serves the 100-odd residents, and trailer loads of holiday campers who flock to this pretty town bordering the Burrinjuck Dam to fish, camp, swim and waterski.We decided to visit Carey's cave, just out of town. This is a magnificent limestone system dating back about 40 million years.So back to the Lexus. Being the only AWD available in Australia, it's a compelling argument for purchase if you have a spare $100,000 and require all the extras.But most of the “luxury” items were simply unnecessary and if something in this vehicle's array of extras were to go on the blink, then it could be catastrophic.

Mercedes and BMW have luxury-loaded battle wagons for $300,000-plus. Suzuki's local headliner is the Grand Vitara four-wheel-drive and Proton has to get by with the Gen.2 baby hatch.But there is no flagship quite like the new Lexus LS.Australia has just had details of the new V8 Lexus LS460 but, barely a week later, it has been overtaken by a car called the LS600hL.It is a serious, tick-all-the-boxes headliner for Lexus, for Japan, and for hybrids.Lexus has gone all the way with its commitment to petrol-electric hybrids by creating the first flagship of any brand that has a green footprint.It is still more than two tonnes and the fuel economy is never going to rival a diesel-engined Peugeot 207, but it is a huge commitment by Toyota as it overtakes General Motors as the world's largest carmaker.The LS600hL — cryptic for 6.0-litre performance, hybrid drive and long wheelbase — will reach Australia in a couple of months. The price should be in about $240,000, based on the $184,900 of the LS460.Final details are being decided, but the car will have incredible luxury and technology, from a self-parking system to LED headlamps, a device that monitors driver fatigue, and even a reclining rear passenger seat with shiatsu massager.On the hybrid front, Lexus has gone all-out with a 5.0-litre V8 with battery-electric booster, all-wheel drive and a constantly variable transmission that can mimic an eight-speed manual.“This car is the symbol of the Lexus brand. It is like a president or the chairman of a company, not just responsible for itself, but for everyone in the group,” chief engineer of the LS hybrid Osamu Sadakata says.“When conceiving the 600h, we didn't set out to build a hybrid car. First we thought about the level of performance and social responsibility required for a premium car. Then we started thinking about what kind of powertrain we needed. The answer was the hybrid.”Sadakata says the new LS has the performance to match a V12 petrol limousine, with the fuel economy and CO2 emission of a V6.That means a 0-100km/h sprint of 6.3 seconds, a limited top of 250km/h, and a claimed combined fuel economy of 9.3 litres for 100km.In some ways the arrival of the 600h is a return to the start for Lexus, which broke the mould in 1989 with its original LS flagship.The question is how many customers will want the car, and if so, as a green machine or for the gadgets.Lexus Australia is forecasting sales of five to 10 cars a month, or about half the volume of the regular LS460, and is still working on the final price and specification.It intends to sell it as a regular five-seater and with the four-seat cabin that is compulsory with the shiatsu recliner — which crimps front-passenger space — but is not sure of the breakdown.But all will have the long-wheelbase body, which puts an extra 120mm into the rear-passenger space.“It will be almost a built-to-order car,” Lexus Australia sales operations manager Andrew Caie says.“It's a toe-in-the water for us. A lot of LS buyers have been lining up for the car, so it will take a while to clear those before we go out to new buyers.”Caie is not firm on final details because of the price and position of the 600h.“The planning volume is not really huge. That's one of the reasons we have not locked everything down.“We aren't going to go out and sell thousands. This is a very different perspective even from the LS460.”But he does confirm the LS600hL will be the first Lexus over the $200,000 mark.“We probably have a few months before we know the final price.”The bottom line will include leather seats, twin DVD screens, 19-speaker sound, 17-inch alloy wheels, four-zone automatic airconditioning, a rear cooler bin and safety gear ranging from front/curtain/knee airbags, an airbag to stop rear-seat passengers sliding into the footwell in a serious crash, a pre-crash system, radar cruise control and a fully integrated vehicle dynamics system including stability control, anti-skid brakes and adaptive air suspension.On the roadTHE LS hybrid creates a sensory overload. There is so much technology, so much luxury, it is difficult to know where to start.It is easy to slide into the reclining shiatsu massager and fire up a DVD for relaxation, or talk to the Japanese engineers to hear the inside story of the engine and transmission and all-wheel drive.But it all fades to background when I crank the speedometer towards 240km/h on a German autobahn arrowing out from Frankfurt — the obvious choice for the preview, because it is Benz-BMW-Audi home ground — and submerge in the luxury, the quiet, the refinement and the surprisingly good driving experience.The long-wheelbase LS is the best car Lexus has created, as expected. It has cracking performance, is stable and responsive in corners, is supremely quiet, and has every luxury trinket possible.It does not have the personality of a BMW or Benz, but Lexus has always gone softly to avoid offending potential owners. And it wants people to choose their car for different reasons.So to the hybrid drive. The LS is electric-car quiet around a carpark, but there is no mistaking the howl of its 5.0-litre V8 when I sink the foot on a wide-open autobahn.Or the stop-light potential of a total package that delivers a combined 327kW and 820Nm.The LSh will also drop down to about 8 litres for 100km on a gentle cruise and, despite its heft, Lexus says its CO2 output is lower than the regular 460.There is so much in the 600h that I could write a book about the technology and frame an essay on how it feels and drives and responds.It is enough to say that it is the world's most techno-driven car and it delivers everything wanted from a Lexus flagship.Does the world need a car such as this?Probably not, but I said much the same thing when Lexus introduced the original LS and when Toyota unveiled its first Prius hybrid.Those cars started something new and there is every chance the LS600hL will be carving out fresh territory and previewing technology that will eventually be as common as electric windows are in today's economy compacts. Fast Facts: LEXUS LS600hLON SALE: SeptemberPRICE: Estimate $240,000ENGINE: 5.0-litre V8 engine with series/parallel hybrid drive, 650-volt electric motor and nickel-metal hydride batteryPOWER: 327kW combined (290kW at 6400 revs, V8 only)TORQUE: 800Nm combined (520Nm at 4000 revs, V8 only)TRANSMISSION: Eight-speed constantly-variable automatic, all-wheel driveWEIGHT: 2320kgFUEL ECONOMY: 9.3 litres/100km (claimed combined)CO OUTPUT: 219g/km (claimed combined)

Symbolism is rarely something car companies worry about on a model launch. But executives from Toyota's luxury Lexus division chose the 92nd floor of Melbourne's $500 million Eureka Tower to unveil its LS460.The skyscraper's height and commanding presence over the city was a metaphor for the expected sales dominance of this new Lexus in the upper luxury segment.The LS460 this week also won the World Car of the Year award for 2007 — so expectations are right up there.With a price tag of $184,900, it's likely to cause some headaches for its European rivals, notably the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW's 7 Series.The LS460 is a fourth-generation development of the LS400, launched here in 1990. And, like the original, which was priced way below its European rivals but packed with gear, the newcomer costs between $19,000 and $69,000 less than its competitors.There are no options. What you see is what you get: an equipment list that would put the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz to shame.There are 10 airbags, adaptive air suspension, an eight-speed automatic transmission (a world-first for a passenger car), a 19-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, keyless entry, four-zone climate control, a rear DVD player, heated and air-cooled seats, and enough leather and wood to satisfy the fussiest luxury-car buyer.Naturally, there are also active safety features such as Lexus's vehicle dynamics integrated management system, which covers traction control and vehicle stability, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, electro-hydraulic brakes and the variable-ratio electric power steering.Apart from its standard equipment, the LS460 is new from the ground up, including the chassis, suspension, engine, driveline and sharper steering.It's powered by a 4.6-litre VVT-i V8 that develops 280kW at 6400rpm and 493Nm at 4100rpm.This smooth engine delivers an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h, a zero-to-100km/h sprint time of 5.7 seconds and a combined fuel economy figure of 11.1litres/100km.Lexus says an eight-speed sequential automatic was needed to cope with the LS460's torque and provide improved acceleration at low speeds.In reality, it's one-upmanship. Many six- or seven-speed autos cope just as well with similar torque outputs. Regardless, this transmission, as you would expect from Toyota, is a work of art.It's the same size as the previous-generation LS430's six-speed auto, yet its alloy casing is 10 per cent lighter, 30 per cent stronger and weighs just 10 per cent more than the six-speeder.When the car is driven gently, eighth gear will lock up at 80km/h.Lexus delayed the LS460's local launch so air suspension could be a standard fitting. It had originally planned to release the car last year with a conventional steel-spring suspension.As well as the trick multi-link aluminium front and rear suspension and a “vehicle posture control system”, the suspension uses state-of-the-art monotube dampers.The posture system reduces body roll by a claimed 30 per cent, as well as alleviating the inherent pitching associated with a conventionally sprung car.Visually, the LS460 adopts an evolutionary approach almost identical to the styling of the Lexus concept car shown at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show.That car showed off Toyota's “L-finesse” design strategy for the Lexus brand. Like the IS and GS, the LS has a bold family look and sleek styling.The LS460 is 5mm longer, 45mm wider and has a 45mm longer wheelbase than the LS430 and has a 1610mm front and 1615mm rear track.We've often thought of the Lexus LS430 as a brilliantly built car, but a touch too clinical.Granted, it did everything that was asked of it — some things extremely well. But, as a thoroughly entertaining driver's car, it just missed the mark.That's why BMW, Mercedes-Benz and even Audi had no cause for concern over a Lexus challenge to their dynamic superiority.Cachet is one thing, but bragging rights at the golf club are also important when you buy a luxury car. With the arrival of the LS460, the Germans can no longer look down their Teutonic noses at the Japanese newcomer.A new V8, the three-mode air suspension and more responsive steering have elevated and improved the LS460 to the point where it is a serious contender in the luxury-car segment.Its steering is still a tad light for our liking, but that silky V8, the seamless eight-speed gearbox and those suspension refinements mean this big sedan's overall composure is vastly better than that of the LS430.The air suspension has a lot to do with that. It irons out corrugations, reduces body roll and maintains a level attitude even pushing through hairpin turns.Be wary, though: this Lexus is something of a wolf in sheep's clothing. Floor the accelerator, and the V8's muted growl will propel it — and you — into trouble as the speedo surges into the danger zone beyond 110km/h.Thankfully, there's radar cruise control to keep LS460 drivers on the right side of the law.The LS460 looks more agile and sporty than the upright LS430, with a smoother grille and a Japanese take on the 7 Series-style rear end. Some buyers may like a little more chrome to distinguish their six-figure purchase, though.The newcomer has but 400 litres of boot space versus 573 litres of the LS430. It seems the new-fangled rear air conditioning system takes up the extra room.In the cabin, everyone is suitably pampered with acres of leather and wood, a superb sound system and plenty of space. Large and small folk alike will be able to find an agreeable position behind the wheel.Attention to detail is also outstanding. Like the way the insides of the doors are finished in moulded grained plastic, the subtle lighting of the “Lexus” name on the door sills, or the neat flange along the sills that stop mud and grime marking your pants.The LS was always a well-built car. Now it can run with the luxury pack.