bagwell

sorry if this is a repost.....thought it deserved its own thread.....
http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/dr...s-450h-f-sport

2013 Lexus GS 450h F Sport - First Drive
A transparent hybrid...but for Europe only.
By Calvin Kim / Photos by Chris Cantle



Lexus’ new GS 350 F Sport is impressive, as it shows a serious effort to compete with the Germans in the full-size sports sedan segment. But just having a sport sedan isn’t enough, so they built a hybrid, the GS 450h. Currently the most powerful version of the GS, the hybrid adds mother company Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive to an Atkinson-cycle V-6 engine to produce a combined 338 hp and 254 lb.-ft. of torque.



In Europe, where they take their sports sedans very seriously, the hybrid can be had in F Sport trim. Combining the GS 450h’s powertrain with the F Sport’s rear steering system, variable-ratio electrically assisted steering rack and electrically adjustable dampers, the GS 450h F Sport is Lexus’ sportiest hybrid to date. Other changes to the hybrid version (which mirror the gas-only GS 350 F Sport) include more aggressive front and rear fascias, front lip and trunk spoilers and 19-in. performance tires.



I drove the car on Europe’s fast highways, as well as at Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps racetrack. Overall impressions were excellent, as I was already a fan of the standard GS 350 F Sport. The hybrid exhibited nearly the same quick turn-in and sporty damping characteristics. The additional weight, approximately 200 lb., was felt mostly during bumpy steady-state turns and braking. On the flip side, the additional power from the hybrid system was much appreciated.



This will be the future of higher-end hybrids; less pure economy and more sizzle. Lexus is studying the feasibility of bringing the hybrid F Sport to the States, and we say bring it on. Its technology/performance positioning at the top of the GS hierarchy make it a must-have sports sedan for our image-focused market.

LexFather

They love it as most reviews. Best handling car in class!

A F-sport 450h here would hit 80k easy!

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

338hp and 254lbft?

Base V6 puts out 277lbft. Did they detune the motor in the hybrid? I would have thought there's way more torque because of the electric motors. Instant torque

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

it definitely delivers great performance! well done lexus!

bagwell

yep saw that -- another sight lists 267lb-ft http://www.leftlanenews.com/new-car-...lexus/gs-450h/

spwolf

torque is not calculated as combination of electric and motor, just petrol engine... and it is atkinson cycle, so it has less hp and torque than standard engine... but of course, best part of hybrid is the torque, just no way to calculate it correctly.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

That makes sense, thanks. Is it safe to assume then that if torque were able to be calculated it would actually be much more than any of those claims?

spwolf

yes, torque is best selling point of it... instant torque when you press the pedal, thats what you feel when you drive the car. It is because electric motors instantly generate maximum power, they are like perfect turbo's.

RXSF

I havent driven the GS hybrid, but instant torque is kind of an over dramatization. My RXh is said to have 295 horsepower and good torque numbers (I have awd so I have two electric motors) but the car never feels light footed. Of course, it ways 4000+ pounds, but acceleration is never effortless. And then there is that CVT drone...haha

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

yes, i've driven a (3) GS450h (thanks 1SICKLEX) and an RX450h and they're not even close to similar in responsiveness. the GS takes off like a bullet.

TrackLight

Thanks for the post Bagwell! If anyone from Lexus is reading - please bring this car to the States!

natnut

+1

In Singapore, the GS450h F-Sport is available and I was fortunate enough to test drive one. Numbers are deceiving. There is NO way the GS450h has less torque than the GS350. The torque is available early on and is relentless.

IMO, Lexus is misguided in their advertising of the GS450h. They should be pushing the GS450h as a GS350 with an electric supercharger rather than as a "greener" GS350. A GS350 may keep up with a GS450h 0-60 but a GS450h annihilates a GS350/535/335 beyond 60mph :

speedflex

Serious performance. I still don't like the looks but you could punk a lot of cars with this machine.

LexFather

I just love the LED headlamps vs the projector ones.

Lexus builds best driving car in class. It also gets 31 MPG. Internet goes quiet