vrferrari

You are absolutely 100 % correct....the hybrid car was aimed more at boosting power of the current 3.5 liter package than the fuel savings aspect.
Getting better fuel economy was just the gravy part of the deal.
I wouldn't be the least bit suprised to see more of the Lexus line up get some sort of hybrid enhanced driveline upgrade to boost "performance", both hp and mpg wise.
No other high line manufacture has anything to match Lexus in this part of the equation.

jcat_350

i realize the instant torque of the electric motor in a hybrid may be used to 'boost' performance but the real point of a hybrid system is to disengage the gas engine during the times when it is least efficient, and save its power for when it's most efficient...the two never actually work in conjunction, its always one on and the other off. and while i understand your reasoning, i can't agree with your use of turbos and s/c's as synonyms of a hybrid system.

vrferrari

I partially agree with you, but I don't agree 100% with your statement "but the real point of a hybrid system is to disengage the gas engine during the times when it is least efficient, and save its power for when it's most efficient". I would think that the enginner and design team who implements the hybrid aspect of the car would have to way in as to the "why" they introduced the hybrid aspect of the car. It could have been 100% aimed at boosting the car's acceleration with a smaller, more effiecient gasoline motor without resorting to FI.
It all depends on the demographics the car was aimed at.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

out of my curiousity, can you show me documents where it says the hybrid engine and the gas engine never work in conjunction, and one on and the other off? i would want to read more on that

spwolf

you dont understand how hybrids work - electric and petrol engines work together in every possible way. In real life, it gives GS450h 50% better city mpg than GS350, let alone GS460...

rominl

iTrader: (4)

that's why i am asking about the info he referred to

my next questions would be
1) why 450h is faster than 350 with the same gas engine? (if only one engine can be on)
2) why 450h has higher power rating than 350? (when both engines don't have higher rating individually)
3) why in pwr mode the 450h is so different than normal mode? (it's still the same two engines working independently)

whlkev

he obviously never owns a hybrid before, both engines work together.

the most asked question

If I run out of gas, can I use electricity to drive the car?

No. Though Lexus hybrid technology allows the vehicle to operate on electric power at slow speeds when gasoline is in the tank, it is not designed to run without gasoline. Doing so could cause severe damage to the hybrid system, so drivers should be sure to keep gas in the tank at all times, just like a conventional vehicle.

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

At a rated 20 City and 25 Hwy,how is it 50% better than a GS with a 19 City and 27 Hwy?

socalJD

I agree w/Spywolf. Its a known fact that under spirited driving, both the gas & electric engines are used in tandem. Its a major complaint of all the car rags that tested the 450h, on twisty winding roads where Bmws traditionally excel, the 450h holds its own for awhile until the battery pack is depleted . . .

whlkev

as far as i can tell from our ex-hybrid, the gas engine is almost always on, it only shuts off at stop light or what not and once you hit the gas, it comes to life

another reason why City MPG is always better than highway, while cruising at highway speed, it is always never off

rominl

iTrader: (4)

yes you are right on. at highway the gas engine is pretty much doing all the work

i don't know about other cars, but i have tried on the 450h before. on local residential streets when cruising like 15-20mph, the gas engine was actually shut off for a while before suddenly kicking in

socalJD

^ I know that in the 2nd gen Prius, it's all battery power under moderate acceleration up to about 25mph. If you stomp on it or go over 25mph the gas engine kicks in seemlessly . . .

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

And I read somewhere that during 'spirited driving' the batteries don't last long at all before needing to be recharged at which point the car is a gas engined car carrying around a load of heavy motors and batteries.

It's still impressive that Lexus pulled it off, but it's still a "1.0" type of technology.

whlkev

^^ doubtful, the battery is charged whenever you brake, I really doubt there will be a time where the battery could run out of juice as long as the gas engine is operational

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Maybe on a NASCAR track. Foot to the floor, turn left.