Lexus Debuts 2009 LS 600h L: World's First Full Hybrid V8 Luxury Lexus unveiled the all-new 2009 LS 600h L hybrid luxury sedan at the 2006 New York International Automobile Show. Scheduled to arrive in Spring 2007, the all-wheel-drive LS 600h L will be the worlds first vehicle to feature a full hybrid V8 powertrain.
Coinciding with the debut of the all-new LS is the introduction of the Lexus Hybrid Drive name, which will be used globally for all Lexus hybrid models. The hybrid-drive system in the LS 600h L builds upon the Toyota and Lexus legacy established by the Prius, RX 400h and GS 450h to combine an all-new five-liter V8 gasoline engine with large, high-output electric motors and a newly designed large-capacity battery pack. This advanced combination will provide the LS 600h L with an unmatched balance of environmental efficiency and performance, furnishing the hybrid with a peak combined output rating of more than 430 horsepower.
To distribute this immense power, a new full-time all-wheel-drive system is utilized for superior handling control. The LS 600h L also employs a newly developed dual-stage electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission. This combination results in impressive power and seamless acceleration.
The
The LS hybrid is expected to carry a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) rating. A SULEV rating means the LS 600h L has nearly 70-percent cleaner emissions than the cleanest of its competitors.
Owing to the inherent noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) improvements offered by its hybrid powertrain, the LS 600h L is designed to set a new standard for silent running in the prestige-luxury sedan class. The depth and density of cabin quietness in the LS 600h L required extensive re-engineering of accessory motors and switches.
With "quiet-ride" ranking as one of the top five reasons for purchase of prestige-luxury vehicles, especially among current LS owners, the LS 600h L is well-situated in its class and poised to please the exacting luxury-car buyer. Its NVH levels are about half that found in conventional cars, making the hybrid LS one of the quietest automobiles ever built, if not the quietest.
High-Output V8 and World's First Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission
The LS 460 and LS 460 L will be powered by an all-new, highly advanced 4.6-liter V8 engine that will produce approximately 380 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque. Combined with a world-first eight-speed automatic transmission, these LS sedans will travel from zero-to-sixty miles per hour in less than 5.5 seconds, all without sacrificing fuel economy. Even with this level of performance, the new LS sedans are expected to receive a combined city/highway mileage in the low-20s as well as an Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle II (ULEV II) rating.
Advanced Active Safety Technologies
Coinciding with the launch of the hybrid model is a newly developed, Advanced Pre-Collision System (APCS) that is like nothing ever before offered by Lexus. One element of APCS is a new system designed to help detect pedestrians in the vehicle path.
Two small cameras mounted at the front of the car, in conjunction with millimeter-wave radar, are sensitive enough to detect not just large metal obstructions such as cars but also smaller nonmetallic objects, such as humans.
A third camera, mounted on the steering column, monitors the orientation of the driver face. If the camera sees that the driver is not looking directly ahead for a few seconds or more, and if an obstacle is detected ahead, then it alerts the driver first with a warning chime and a flashing light. As the car gets closer to the obstacle, the system can begin to gently apply the brakes on its own. To assist the driver in maneuvering around the obstacle, the system reprograms the steering ratio, amplifying the intensity and quickness of the steering response. While all of this is happening, the system automatically cinches up the passenger restraints and prepares the brake system to respond with full force when activated by the driver in anticipation of a possible impact.
Dynamic Driving
These unique active safety systems team with Lexus proprietary next-generation Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system, standard on all new LS models, which integrates variable gear-ratio electronic steering, electronic vehicle stability control and electronic brake assist.
An air suspension system equipped with Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) will be standard on the LS 600h L and an option on the LS 460 L. VGRS optimizes the steering gear ratio according to vehicle speed to help enhance responsiveness and driver control. VGRS also partners with VDIM, making minor adjustments to front-wheel angle for improved control in challenging road conditions.
Together these technologies make up an intelligently designed, logically conceived vehicle that helps to provide a level of confidence and control never before experienced.
L-finesse
The styling on the new LS begins with a daring design language that shatters the myth that luxury sedans must be sedate and understated. A result of the recent design direction Lexus deems L-finesse, the new LS vehicles are the crowning touch to a fully restyled car lineup, which already includes the GS, IS and ES sedans.
The L-finesse design philosophy has its roots in creating a balance of contrasting elements. The new LS encompass this direction with its bold look, style and personality? both vivid and forceful while at the same time warm, inviting and contemporary. With a pulled-back hood, characteristic of the new Lexus look, low-to-the- ground stance and elegantly sculpted and streamlined body contours, the LS emphasizes simplicity and style in a stunning, modern package.
Premium Appointments
Offered exclusively as a long-wheelbase model in
The long-wheelbase model of the hybrid and the LS 460 L brings with it nearly five inches of additional legroom for rear passengers and can be outfitted with a long list of luxury conveniences that includes four-zone front and rear A/C with air purification, rear-door power sunshades and rear power headrests, a spectacular four-person seating configuration with a fixed rear console and fold-out table, and a right rear-seat 45-degree recliner with footrest and multifunction massage.
MODEL | 2009 LS 600h L | 2007 LS 460 L | 2007 LS 460 | 2006 LS 430 |
Wheelbase (inches) | 121.7 | 121.7 | 116.9 | 115.2 |
Length (inches) | 202.8 | 202.8 | 198.0 | 197.4 |
Width (inches) | 73.8 | 73.8 73.8 | 72.0 | |
Height (inches) | 58.5 (AWD/air suspension) | 58.1 (w/coil suspension) | 58.7 | |
Engine | 5.0-liter V8/permanent magnet electric motor with | 4.6-liter V8 | 4.3-liter V8 | |
Transmission | 2-stage ECVT | 8-speed automatic | 6-speed automatic | |
Horsepower | More than 430 | Approximately 380 | 278 | |
Torque | N.A. | Approximately 370 lb.-ft. | 312 lb.-ft. | |
Driven Wheels | AWD | RWD | RWD | |
Emissions Rating | SULEV | ULEV II | ULEV | |
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