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Lexus
450h GS Hybrid
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The Lexus 450h GS Hybrid
sedan has been on sale since March 2006. Jim Press, President
and COO of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. has stated that
the Lexus 450h GS Hybrid Sedan will rollout to luxury
car enthusiasts who want high performance, style and better
gas economy.
This new hybrid car was
first unveiled March 23, 2005 at the New York Auto Show
and called the world's first hybrid luxury sedan by Lexus.
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The Lexus sedan is rear wheel drive only (the first rear wheel
drive hybrid ever offered) and uses hybrid technology that is
similar to the Lexus
RX400h SUV currently on the market. The price of
the Lexus 450h GS Hybrid Sedan is in the $40,000 - $50,000 range
with gas mileage equivalent to a 2-liter, 4-cylinder vehicle
(25 mpg city / 28 mpg highway) and rated as a super ultra-low
emission vehicle (SULEV).
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Lexus
450h GS Hybrid Sedan
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The Lexus hybrid car employs a 3.5 liter V6 engine combined
with an electric motor and horsepower equivalent to a 4.5 liter
V8 (300+ hp). Acceleration from 0-60 mph is under 6 seconds.
By comparison, the Lexus Hybrid RX400h SUV will do 0-60 mph
in just 7.3 seconds, which is quite peppy for an SUV.
The Lexus 450h GS Hybrid Sedan employs the use of an electric
motor, or permanent magnetic motor, as they are calling it.
The motor is expected to be equal to or slightly more powerful
than that currently used in the Lexus Hybrid RX400h SUV.
According to Lexus Vice President of Marketing Mark Templin,
"Once again, we've applied our formula of no compromise
engineering - this time to a luxury sport sedan which proves
to us that hybrid power trains can work superbly in virtually
any application. It's very important to continue pursuing
substantial reductions in fuel consumption and emissions,
while continuing to improve performance and driving pleasure.
Our customers wouldn't have it any other way."
Though there is much excitement surrounding the introduction
of the Lexus hybrid car, there is also some criticism as well.
The critics are wondering out loud if Lexus is compromising
fuel economy by delivering its 300+ horsepower performance.
The Prius, they say gets around 60 mpg while the Lexus 450h
GS Hybrid Sedan is only in the mid to high 20's. Despite the
criticism, though, the Lexus 450h GS Hybrid Sedan opens up a
whole new market, for those who want luxury, better performance
and fuel efficiency all in one car.
According to Toyota / Lexus the preliminary specifications
comparing the Lexus 450h GS Hybrid Sedan with the current
gasoline-powered 2006 GS 430 are:
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2007 GS 450h
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2006 GS 430
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Wheelbase (inches)
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112.2
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<
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Length (inches)
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190.0
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<
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Width (inches)
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71.7
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<
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Height (inches)
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56.1
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<
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Engine / Electric Drive Motor
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3.5-liter V6 engine
/ permanent magnet electric motor
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4.3-liter V8 engine
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Horsepower
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Equivalent to 4.5-liter
V8 engine
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300
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Drive Wheels
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Rear
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<
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0-60 mph (mfr. results)
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Under 6 seconds
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5.7 sec
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*Fuel Economy (city/highway)
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Similar to the
average 2-liter, 4-cyl. compact sedan
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18/25
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Emissions Rating
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**SULEV
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ULEV
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One might think that Lexus' motivation is to sell more
hybrid cars. That is not so, according to Lexus. Their motivation
is simply to sell more Lexus cars. With the addition of
hybrid technology, Lexus expects to do just that: sell more
cars. For a look at some of the other Lexus concept cars
and vehicles to come see Lexus
Hybrid SUV
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