Lexus GS450h SE-L
With tax breaks, exemption from city centre congestion charging and green emissions, hybrids have become a must have for friends of the environment. So why aren't we all driving them? What hybrids lack is performance and desirability... until now.
Lexus is certain hybrids are the future, and the new GS450h shows how Prius technology can be applied to a performance luxury saloon. It makes sense as an alternative to the V8 GS, with superior pace and significant fleet tax breaks. However, the 'green' GS isn't terribly efficient and has a tiny boot. This latest Lexus hybrid is a technological marvel, but many buyers will still prefer diesel.
With tax breaks, exemption from city centre congestion charging and green emissions, hybrids have become a must have for friends of the environment. So why aren't we all driving them? What hybrids lack is performance and desirability... until now.
Lexus already has the only hybrid SUV on sale in the UK, and now it has launched the world's first rear-wheel-drive hybrid saloon, with a trail-blazing 0-62mph sprint time of 5.9 seconds. We took the wheel to see if you really can go green in a luxury four-door.
As it's distinguished from the rest of the range by a discreet hybrid badge below the rear door and a GS450h logo on the boot, only the keen-eyed will spot you've opted for a car powered by both a petrol engine and an electric motor.
Unfortunately, the vastly reduced lug-gage space gives the game away. Lexus has fitted 240 Nickel Hydride batteries directly above the rear axle, which produce 288V to drive the electric motor.
Press the start button and the GS whirs into life in near silence. The electric motor is capable of driving the car on its own, but most of the time it needs the petrol unit's help. However, a major benefit of battery power is that torque arrives instantly, so from zero revs there is 275Nm turning the rear wheels.
On the road, the 450h rockets off the line, often calling on its traction control. Once cruising, the Lexus uses a blend of petrol and battery power, charging itself up as it goes. Unlike Toyota's Prius, the hybrid GS is not designed to be a fuel-saving green car. The emphasis is on performance, and while the 35.8mpg claimed figure is acceptable, our test drive saw economy fall to about 23mpg.
So the newcomer is no fuel sipper, but is it a genuine super-saloon? The Lexus comes as standard with a sport button which firms up the suspension dampers, while a 'power' switch also sharpens the throttle response. Despite these hi-tech aids, the GS450h's handling is not up to the standard set by BMW's 5-Series when it comes to handling, and offers few thrills.
Many will find the price list more enticing. Starting at £38,015, the 450h is around £280 more than the equivalent V8 petrol model, but will save com-pany drivers thousands of pounds in tax. It might be fast, yet the GS450h will be a money-saving option for some.
