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Lexus LS 600h L
Lexus has announced that the LS600h L (a performance hybrid version of its flag ship sedan) is scheduled to arrive for sale in North America by spring 2007. It will be the world's first vehicle to feature a full hybrid V8 powertrain. The LS 600h L will combine an all new 5.0 liter V8 gas engine with high-output electric motors and a newly designed "large capacity" battery pack. It will provide an estimated combined 430 horsepower. As a SULEV-rated (Super Low Emissions) vehicle, the LS600hl is estimated to produce just 20 per cent of the pollution that causes smog than that of conventional V8 power plants. The vehicle will use a 2-stage ECVT transmission.
Since there is inherent noise, vibration and harshness (NHV) generated by most hybrid power plants, Lexus engineers have turned their attention to this area. Their efforts were so focused on cabin quietness that they had to extensively re-engineer many of the accessory motors and switches to compensate for such quiet running.
With "quiet-ride" ranking as one of the top reasons to purchase a luxury vehicle, the LS 600hl is poised to please even the most exacting luxury car buyer. According to Lexus, the LS 600h L has NVH levels that are about half that found in conventional cars, making the hybrid LS one of the quietest automobiles ever built.
When it hits North American dealers in the spring of 2007, only the long-wheelbase version will be offered.
Specifications
The LS hybrid is expected to carry a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) rating. A SULEV rating means the LS 600h L has an 80-90 percent cleaner emissions than the "cleanest" of its competitors.
Preliminary dimensions are available at the official Lexus website. [1]
Pricing
Price information is not available at this time.
Gas Mileage
The 2008 Lexus LS 600h L hybrid is expected to have a combined city/highway mileage in the low-20 mile per gallon range.
Unique Attributes
The Lexus LS 600h L has the first LED front headlights of any production vehicle. It is also speculated that the LS 600h L will also have a newly developed Advanced Pre-Collision System (APCS), a Lexus first. The APCS detects objects in its forward path such as other vehicles and even pedestrians. It will then warn the driver before making the necessary braking and steering actions to avoid a collision.
The vehicle is also capable of taking the control when it's time to squeeze into that tight city parking space. A parallel-park-assist function parks the car at the push of a button, requiring just a little brake work from the driver.
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