Lexus LS 600h car: review, specifications and reviews

The cars of the representative class are among the most advanced, as they are equipped with the latest systems and units. One of them is the Lexus LS 600h. And even among classmates, he stands out with technical features and a focus.

General Features

Lexus LS is a Japanese executive sedan. Unlike many European counterparts, it does not have low-power simple versions. At the same time, the cost is still more attractive in the petrol version in comparison with similar trim levels.

History

The first generation appeared in 1989 and was produced until 1994. The second generation was on the market until 2000. Until 2006, the third generation was produced. The fourth generation is the longest-lived. It is in production from 2006 to the present, that is already 10 years. During this time, the car underwent two upgrades - in 2009 and 2012. At the beginning of next year, the presentation of the fifth generation is expected. In the domestic market until 2006, Lexus LS was sold as Toyota Celsior.

Body

The car is traditionally for the segment is presented exclusively in the body sedan and has two options: normal and long. The width and height are the same and are 1.875 m and 1.48 m respectively. The length and wheelbase are different. In the normal version, they are equal to 5.06 m and 2.97 m, respectively, and the enlarged version has a length of 5.18 m and a wheelbase of 3.09 m.

Lexus LS 600h was originally introduced in both versions, but with the second restyling the usual option was ruled out.

The mass of the simple variant was initially 2.27 tons, but at the first modernization it increased to 2.365 tons. The same is true for the Lexus LS 600hL: in 2009 the weight increased from 2.32 tons to 2.475 tons, but at the second restyling it was reduced to 2.395 T.

Engine

The power plant of the car is represented by a V8 and an electric motor on nickel-metal hydride batteries. Thanks to this, the Lexus LS 600h became the first production hybrid car with the V8.

The petrol engine is a 2UR-FSE. Has the same design as the 2UR-GSE. The volume of both motors is 5 liters, the diameter of the cylinder is 94 mm, the stroke of the piston is 89.5 mm. At the same time, it is slightly deformed compared to 2UR-GSE: power is 394 liters. With., The twisting moment - 520 Nanometers.

The electric motor is represented by a synchronous AC-unit. Its power is 224 liters. With., The twisting moment - 300 Nanometers.

However, due to the fact that the electric motor does not develop full power, the combined capacity of the power plant Lexus LS 600h can reach 445 liters. from.

Transmission

The car is equipped with an exclusively permanent all-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission, but in the domestic market it is fitted with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The transmission includes three differentials. The motor shaft is connected to a hybrid system. The default torque distribution is 40:60, but it can vary from 30:70 to 50:50. Lexus LS 600h was the first hybrid car with a permanent all-wheel drive.

Chassis

Both multi-link suspensions are equipped with pneumatic damping elements with single-tube shock absorbers. Together they make up the adaptive adjustable suspension AVS. It is able to eliminate the rolls of the car in turns based on sensor data from the body position control system.

In addition, the Lexus LS 600h is equipped with an adaptive power steering with a variable ratio. This allows you to smoothly vary the effort on the steering wheel, depending on the speed.

Interior

As with all models of the representative segment, Lexus LS 600h is finished with high-quality materials and has good noise isolation. According to the last parameter, the considered machine is considered one of the best. Many representative cars are offered in regular and extended versions, like the car in question. Lexus LS 600h 2008 was available in both versions. However, after the restyling in 2012, they left only an extended version. The additional space of the Lexus LS 600h AT Long is traditionally used to increase the space in the rear row. There is an option with a split center console rear seat. And the part behind the front passenger is equipped with such a rare option as adjustable support for the legs, as well as a massage system and a backrest with the ability to tilt by 45 °.

In addition, the LS 600h offers an extensive list of standard and optional equipment. For example, it includes an infrared climate control sensor for the rear row of seats. Based on the data provided by him on the body temperature of passengers, the temperature is corrected.

Driving performance

The cars of the representative segment are characterized by a high level of comfort. The most powerful versions also have good dynamic performance, close to the characteristics of sports models, but it is irrelevant for the Lexus LS 600h. The testimonials of the journalists and the characteristics show that it is even slower than the less powerful LS 460 version. This is because the car is tuned for comfort and economy. So, the electric motor allows to move silently and move at low speed. In addition, it provides the best elasticity of the Lexus LS 600h. The characteristics of the dynamics are still lower than in the LS 460: in the acceleration to 100 km / h, it lags by about 0.5 s (6.1 s). Also deteriorated and manageability due to the increased weight, which is often noted by the owners.

Place on the market

Lexus LS 600h stands out for its technical perfection even among the analogues from the representative segment. So, it became the first hybrid executive car and the first hybrid car with all-wheel drive, as well as the first hybrid with the V8.

In addition, the Lexus LS differs in the non-traditional for most similar models gamma versions. The car has only two options: it's LS 460 with V8 and hybrid LS 600h. That is, there are no simple economical versions, which competitors usually have V6 engines.

In part, this is offset by the presence of a hybrid version, the positioning of which is also very unusual. Many manufacturers in the representative segment also now have hybrid or electric versions, but they are presented as additional ones. The Lexus LS 600h became not only a full version, but also took the upper gamut position. If other manufacturers at the top of the model line usually have the most powerful and fastest option, the LS 600h, in spite of its power, is primarily focused on comfort and economy.

Cost

Due to the lack of simple modifications Lexus LS may seem not so cheap: its cost starts from 5.45 million rubles. For example, the simplest BMW 7 Series (730i) can be bought for 4.49 million rubles.

However, if we compare LS 460 with similar versions of competitors, then the situation turns out to be different. The cost of a BMW 750d close in capacity is 6.59 million rubles, and even a less powerful version of the 740Li is more expensive than LS 460 by almost 300 thousand rubles (5.730 million). Similar in performance Audi A8 4.2 TDI is not represented in the local market, and less powerful 3-l version by 65 thousand rubles is more expensive than BMW 740Li. The price of the Mercedes Benz S400, which also has lower performance, starts at 5.94 million rubles.

The reverse situation with the Lexus LS 600h, whose price starts at 7,972 million rubles. Mercedes Benz has a similar hybrid version of the S 500 e L, which costs 7.28 million rubles. The cost of Audi and BMW with conventional V8, having characteristics similar to the Lexus LS 600h, starts at 6,795 and 7,24 million rubles, respectively.