King of Norway buys LS 600h L
02-05-08 | 02:56 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
King of Norway buys LS 600h L
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/lo...cle2238762.ece
King Harald's new Lexus LS600h.
King Harald's new Lexus LS600h.
King gets fancy new car
It's big and shiny and expensive and, of course, luxurious. But it's environmentally friendly as well, as cars go, making the king's new car politically correct.
Aftenposten's car critic, Magne Johansen, got a chance to test drive the car that palace officials (and the Norwegian taxpayers) have bought for their reigning monarch. The car will be used for representation, so it's supposed to be nice.
It is. Johansen was suitably impressed, saying it's a dream to drive as well as to sit in its ample backseat.
The Lexus LS600h is a Japanese hybrid vehicle, running on a combination of petrol and the car's own electricity. It can go from zero to 100 kilometers an hour (60mph) in 6.3 seconds and it costs around NOK 1.84 million in high-tax Norway (about USD 340,000 at current exchange rates).
At that price, it's only right that the car features hand-sewn leather seats that warm up and cool down at the touch of a button. The entire vehicle is loaded to the extreme, with a TV/film screen that descends from the ceiling, a sound system with 19 speakers and a highly advanced security system that even warns the driver in case he or she starts to doze off behind the wheel.
The royals opted against a few luxury items, however, including the electronic massage system that Telenor chief executive chose for his company's Lexus. And the palace didn't order the sun-roof option either. It seems that would have made the ceiling too low for the hats the royals often wear, and an open sunroof can simply ruin one's coiffure.
It's big and shiny and expensive and, of course, luxurious. But it's environmentally friendly as well, as cars go, making the king's new car politically correct.
Aftenposten's car critic, Magne Johansen, got a chance to test drive the car that palace officials (and the Norwegian taxpayers) have bought for their reigning monarch. The car will be used for representation, so it's supposed to be nice.
It is. Johansen was suitably impressed, saying it's a dream to drive as well as to sit in its ample backseat.
The Lexus LS600h is a Japanese hybrid vehicle, running on a combination of petrol and the car's own electricity. It can go from zero to 100 kilometers an hour (60mph) in 6.3 seconds and it costs around NOK 1.84 million in high-tax Norway (about USD 340,000 at current exchange rates).
At that price, it's only right that the car features hand-sewn leather seats that warm up and cool down at the touch of a button. The entire vehicle is loaded to the extreme, with a TV/film screen that descends from the ceiling, a sound system with 19 speakers and a highly advanced security system that even warns the driver in case he or she starts to doze off behind the wheel.
The royals opted against a few luxury items, however, including the electronic massage system that Telenor chief executive chose for his company's Lexus. And the palace didn't order the sun-roof option either. It seems that would have made the ceiling too low for the hats the royals often wear, and an open sunroof can simply ruin one's coiffure.
02-05-08 | 05:21 PM
#2
Dennis: What I object to is that you automatically treat me like an inferior.
Arthur: Well, I am king.
Dennis: Oh, king, eh? And how'd you get that? By exploiting the workers! By hanging on to outdated imperialist dogma which perpetuates the economic and social differences in our society.
Arthur: I am your king!
Woman: Well I didn't vote for you!
Arthur: You don't vote for kings.
Woman: Well how'd you become king then?
Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering silmite held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. THAT is why I am your king!
Dennis interrupting: Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government! Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!
Ed. note:
Well I'm glad I voted for him!
(Apologies to Monty Python)
Arthur: Well, I am king.
Dennis: Oh, king, eh? And how'd you get that? By exploiting the workers! By hanging on to outdated imperialist dogma which perpetuates the economic and social differences in our society.
Arthur: I am your king!
Woman: Well I didn't vote for you!
Arthur: You don't vote for kings.
Woman: Well how'd you become king then?
Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering silmite held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. THAT is why I am your king!
Dennis interrupting: Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government! Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!
Ed. note:
Well I'm glad I voted for him!
(Apologies to Monty Python)
02-05-08 | 05:27 PM
#4
Super Moderator
He got good taste 
$340K USD is an awful lot for a LS600hL though, & it doesn't even have the sunroof.
I didn't know it's even possible to opt out of the sunroof for the LS, maybe they'll do anything for a monarch . . .
$340K USD is an awful lot for a LS600hL though, & it doesn't even have the sunroof.I didn't know it's even possible to opt out of the sunroof for the LS, maybe they'll do anything for a monarch . . .
02-05-08 | 08:23 PM
#5
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Maybe also a sunroof can be a security risk, who knows. Yeah but the sunroof has been standard since the revised 2004 LS 430, at least in the US.
So apparently King Harald got the LS 600h L, I'm assuming, opting out of the available Exec Class package, which the Telenor CEO chose for his LS 600h L. I checked and Telenor is the main wireless provider for Norway.
BTW here is an LS 600h article (in Norwegian) by the same newspaper:
http://forbruker.no/bil/article2237056.ece
There is also a Lexus chronograph watch!
So apparently King Harald got the LS 600h L, I'm assuming, opting out of the available Exec Class package, which the Telenor CEO chose for his LS 600h L. I checked and Telenor is the main wireless provider for Norway.
BTW here is an LS 600h article (in Norwegian) by the same newspaper:
http://forbruker.no/bil/article2237056.ece
There is also a Lexus chronograph watch!
02-07-08 | 12:34 AM
#7
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Dennis: What I object to is that you automatically treat me like an inferior.
Arthur: Well, I am king.
Dennis: Oh, king, eh? And how'd you get that? By exploiting the workers! By hanging on to outdated imperialist dogma which perpetuates the economic and social differences in our society.
Arthur: I am your king!
Arthur: Well, I am king.
Dennis: Oh, king, eh? And how'd you get that? By exploiting the workers! By hanging on to outdated imperialist dogma which perpetuates the economic and social differences in our society.
Arthur: I am your king!
It's true they didn't vote for this king, but nonetheless the taxpayers have to shell out $$$ for this car...
Trending Topics
02-07-08 | 09:07 AM
#8
04-14-08 | 12:25 PM
#11
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Thanks for the info, @lpher! Ah so the Norwegian royals have a similar car garage as the Monaco royal family! However the BMW 7-series is something different, and more common to Scandinavian heads of state IIRC. The LSh is more comfortable IMO, and powerful. 
06-16-08 | 05:06 PM
#12
Rookie
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Hill
However my LS600hL does have one, but I had no say in that
--------------------------
2007 LS600hL, 5 seat
2000 LX470 (traded)
Mercedes SL500 AMG (sun)
Mercedes SLK 230 (wife)
Suzuki Grand Vitara (rain & runaround)
06-16-08 | 06:28 PM
#13
Last week I read in the european english papers that Sir Paul McCartney also bought an LS 600hl. And the tree huggers group were giving him hell because of "carbon foot print" when the vehicle was transported from Japan to Britian by air.
Poor Paul didn't even know the fast transportation mode used nor did he request it. The decision was made by Lexus Corporation probably based on the associated marketing value.
Poor Paul didn't even know the fast transportation mode used nor did he request it. The decision was made by Lexus Corporation probably based on the associated marketing value.
