encore888

...prowling around Pasadena, CA!

I was driving down Colorado blvd. this morning and I spotted what appeared to be a black LS 460 L out of the corner of my eye. I turned to look and immediately saw the purple-blue 'Hybrid' insignias on the side. I attempted to follow but the car turned away, and the traffic made me unable to turn until the next intersection. By the time I got to the block where I had last seen the LS 600h L, it was gone.

However, when I was driving south, I ran into another LS 600h L, it turned right in front of me. This time it was silver (Mercury Metallic). I got a few pics with my old cellphone...sadly I did not have my digital camera with me and my cellphone does not have a megapixel camera (need to upgrade!).

I followed the LS 600h L for a quarter mile into San Marino, and got a few tiny pics of its taillights. The front seat passenger I think realized that they were being followed, so the driver turned on to Huntington drive and sped up, then turned into a residential block. I decided to let them go...but doubled back and caught them ahead at another intersection. They drove into the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens. I decided to enter and observe from a distance. They parked at the entrance of the library and the passenger got out and began taking pictures of the car. Then they drove off.

My guess is it was a press preview event...the preproduction car had Lexus license plates with a 5-digit number.

This all happened about 30 minutes ago, as far as I know they are still having their lovely test drive.

I know, I know, the pics aren't great...but it was the first time I have ever seen an LS hybrid in person and up close, and it was cool! By the way, I opened the window to hear the LS in front of me, but I couldn't hear anything from it.

I apologize for not having my digital camera with me, sorry for the terrible pics.

*wishlist*

So the public has been seeing more and more on the road...

a few weeks ago i saw a white one in lakewood. the driver seemed to know i was trying to get a good shot with my phone so he turned into a residential neighborhood next to the mall. I eventually went into the neighborhood to see if I could find it. As I was leaving, it makes a right turn onto my street. I pass by and that's the last I see of it. I have a couple pictures in my phone but not clear at all.

encore888

Hehe they can do evasive maneuvers even with the big LS!

So it was a press event. CNET just put up a blog post on their first thoughts after today's test drive:

http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-971...rss&subj=Crave

Johnny

The peculiar thing about this pic, and the one in the review is the wheels are the standard 18" 9-spoke stock wheels. From my understanding, the LS600h L is equipped with 19" 5-spoke wheels, needed for the larger disk brakes. Very strange indeed...

Gojirra99

I think the LS600hL fully loaded with the executive package is offered only with the 18" wheels as standard, whereas the 600hL's with the lesser packages comes with 19" wheels. That's according to the U.S. info I saw.

The LS600hL I saw at the Vancouver Auto Show has the 19" 5-spokes on it, same as those 19" seen on the U.S. Touring Package LS460L.
However, when the LS600hL was seen in previous Auto Shows in the U.S., they have the 19" 7-spokes on them. I like both of the 19" wheels over those 18" 9-spokes in the above pic.

Johnny

You mean these; I was at that show as well...



Yes there's no doubt, that is a LS600h L. The LED headlights on that silver one in enigma's post above are a dead giveaway.

Gojirra99

Yes, that's the one I saw too, very nice looking car Any more pics ?
The one in enigma's post is probably a 600hL with the rear ottoman & thus comes with the 18".
However, the 600hL in the Auto Show in your pic above is also an Executive Package too, since they had one door opened & we can see the rear centre console & the seats, but it has the 19" 5-spokes on it.

Johnny

Just this one. You were right about the open door. The angles were not that great, and with a small digital, unless you have a tripod, camera shake affects the outcome.

encore888

I have yet to see those wheels in person on the road...

Gojirra99

which means you haven't seen a Touring Package 460L yet ? They seem to be quite rare . . .

encore888

LOL check out the license plate on the CNET car...I think it was the same car I followed and took pics of today.

OK, wait a minute, the Auto____ vid uploaded just now also has the same license plate car...hmmm http://www.autospies.com/video/AutoS...hl-Hybrid-179/

GFerg

Yea, looks like the same car. The boys over at Autospies had a nice run in the cars as well it seems. They have a CRAP load of pictures.

encore888

Thx for the pics! Ah yes, the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel. The silver LS 600h L I caught up with had probably departed the hotel.

no2faber

man.. that Ritz. my parents had their anniversary there about 10 years ago. i remember seeing some pretty sick cars there...as a 6th grader. lol

george1688

What color is that car?