Warren Brown's Critique of the 600hL
09-27-07, 09:32 PM
#18
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09-27-07, 10:41 PM
#20
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Sports Car International mag. review had LS600hL only 0.2 sec. slower than the 510hp Mercedes S600 in 50-70mph, & faster than the 760Li & A8 W12, while acheiving better gas mileage than all 3.
09-28-07, 03:19 AM
#22
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0-60 is all about driver technique, tires, and isn't well reproduceable. And all wheel drive cars always do poorly, due to their design.
Now times from a rolling start, say 5-60 show much more about a cars acceleration.
In my book, 50-70 has always been more important.
09-28-07, 04:38 PM
#23
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Originally Posted by Warren Brown
The point is that the gas-electric technology in the LS 600h L has more to do with marketing than with oil conservation or reducing tailpipe pollution. Other cars in the Lexus group -- consider the Lexus Ls 460 L -- are just as luxurious, more fuel-efficient, quicker off the throttle, and just as clean in terms of overall tailpipe pollutants. Ditto luxury models from Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Lincoln and Mercedes-Benz.
But those cars don't, at the moment, come with gas-electric hybrid technology. As a result, they are regarded as less than "green."
How silly is this? Imagine: There goes a working-class stiff in a little Chevrolet Aveo with a traditional gasoline engine that gets 30 mpg or more and that meets the nation's toughest clean-air standards. But because she is not driving a gas-electric car, she must -- in many metropolitan areas nationwide -- use the congested regular traffic lanes commuting to and from work.
But those cars don't, at the moment, come with gas-electric hybrid technology. As a result, they are regarded as less than "green."
How silly is this? Imagine: There goes a working-class stiff in a little Chevrolet Aveo with a traditional gasoline engine that gets 30 mpg or more and that meets the nation's toughest clean-air standards. But because she is not driving a gas-electric car, she must -- in many metropolitan areas nationwide -- use the congested regular traffic lanes commuting to and from work.
.Fact: the 2008 LS460L gets 16/24 EPA, compared to the 20/22 EPA for the 2008 LS600hL. That gives the 2008 LS460L combined mpg of 20, while it gives the LS600hL combined mpg of 21.
Contrary to his claim that the LS460L is "more fuel efficient", the LS600hL in fact IS more fuel efficient than an LS460L.
Fact: the LS460L is rated as ULEV-II in terms of emissions output. The LS600hL is rated as SULEV, which means in tailpipe emissions the LS600hL is FAR cleaner than the LS460L, or any of the competition's machines.
Fact: the LS600hL is MORE luxurious than the LS460L because many of the mechanical and electrical systems in the car had to be redesigned to operate super quietly due to the silent operation of the hybrid system. There is also of course the LED headlights which some people will consider to be an added luxury over the LS460L.
This reporter also did not even mention that the LS460L does NOT have AWD, while the LS600hL does. With AWD, the LS460L would get even lower EPA numbers than 16/24.
And why is he comparing an Aveo to an LS hybrid? Using that logic, we might as well compare a Prius to a dump truck
.
09-28-07, 06:52 PM
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10-01-07, 07:58 PM
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10-01-07, 10:20 PM
#28
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Silly, but applicable. Even premium luxury buyers are beginning to care about the environment. Plus, fuel economy in this segment of vehicles becomes a bragging right and a sign of technological prowess.
Buyers in this segment never really had a choice before to buy a fuel efficient, clean emissions vehicle (compared to the competition). This gives a novelty to the LS hybrid that the competition does not have.
Buyers in this segment never really had a choice before to buy a fuel efficient, clean emissions vehicle (compared to the competition). This gives a novelty to the LS hybrid that the competition does not have.
10-01-07, 11:27 PM
#29
i never said i'd consider that as important, i consider that as a plus. it's just a way to get power. get another company to put on a v8 with supercharger to compete with v12 power and we don't hear complains. why should we hear it when lexus use hybrid to achieve that?
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