This next model has earned a pretty hefty award for two years running. The latest Lexus GS 450h has won Australia’s best car award, and I am not surprised. The elegant exterior, sumptuous interiors and awesome engine with hybrid technology creates just the right mix of sport and luxury.
Enter the Lexus GS 450h cabin and the car is simply gorgeous. The black interior is highlighted with red wood veneer, and the leather seats are so comfortable. Blue tooth communications, a 14-speaker audio system, a large central onboard computer screen in the middle of the dash, ten airbags, and climate controlled seats show the Lexus’s hand to be a very good deal indeed.
Engine power is magnificent. The 3.5 litre V6 boasts 254 kW and a hefty 368 Nm of torque. The power of a high technology V6 engine combined with the instantaneous response of a high–output electric drive motor really offers the first fruits of the future of performance motoring. Quiet and smooth, the electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) ensures seamless acceleration without ever changing gears. Lexus Australia gives the HV (Hybrid) battery a warranty coverage of 8 years/160,000 kilometres.
Low and mid-range engine response is extremely punchy, with an 80-120 km/h time of just over four seconds. This is quicker than an Audi A6 TFSI, Jaguar XF 3.0D and Mercedes Benz E350.
The Lexus GS450h is not your ordinary vehicle. Lexus has joined the hybrid market and produced a vehicle that not only is better for the environment but has style and luxury far surpassing other hybrids today. The Lexus GS450h is a rear-wheel drive full hybrid that is able to travel at low speeds under electric propulsion alone.
The Lexus GS450h is no light contender under the bonnet either with an impressive3.5 liter V6 engine that is combined with a permanent magnet motor that puts out 35 Kilowatts of power, that when combined delivers an impressive 253 kW of power that will get you from 0-100 km/h in just over 5 seconds. Wow!
The cabin is very Lexus with dials and buttons everywhere enabling the driver to command every aspect of the vehicle. A 6 inch screen sits in the middle of the dash providing additional information to the driver. There is even an optional upgraded 14 speaker 5.1 surround-sound stereo that handles everything from MP3 to DVD video and can be played back on the navigation screen. Standard is Lexus’s 6-disk in-dash CD changer.
Optional, but cool is a voice activated navigation system and an adaptive cruise control system. The Lexus GS450h comes with 10-way heated and ventilated leather seats and Bluetooth hands-free calling. The cabin also includes a dual-zone automatic climate control with an in-line air filter. There is even a power tilt/telescoping wheel to suit just about any driver. The center arm rest slides back to reveal a cluster of buttons for setting the adaptive variable suspension enabling different rides for different occasions. An impressive feature found on Lexus’s including the GS450h is their dynamic radar cruise control, which enables the driver to set a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between themselves and the car in front. And if your nose is getting too dirty, there is even an automatic power headlight cleaner. All in all, the Lexus GS450h is one impressive motor car that takes care of the occupants but does its part for the environment too.
The current model series includes the:
For any more information on the Lexus GS450h, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Lexus dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!
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