2008 Lexus LS 600h L Road Test

Plenty of Technology "Firsts"

The new Lexus flagship fuses the ultimate in automotive decadence with the ultimate in hybrid technology.

First the decadence
My Lexus LS 600h L tester was the Executive version, meaning its rear seating area was nothing short of the most opulent CEO office this side of Wall Street. The Executive seating package is replete with a right rear seat that morphs into a reclining divan fitted with an ottoman to provide complete body support and exquisite comfort.

The LS looks massive and heavy but still manages to get to 100 km/h in less than 6 seconds.

This remarkable seat, which reclines 28-45 degrees, was designed in partnership with a Japanese medical institute. It's both heated and cooled but that's not all. A multi-function shiatsu massage feature is built into it, making this perch as comfortable as it is therapeutic. From this womb of wellness the fortunate can remotely drop a 9-inch entertainment screen from the roof and watch DVDs or follow progress on the vehicle's navigation system. High quality, wireless headphones provide private audio playback.

Here's where the technology gets even more interesting. Infrared body temperature sensors scan rear seat occupants for body temperature and adjust the rear seat climate system to achieve the perfect temperature. In the event a contract or two requires inking en-route to the boardroom, a small foldout table rises out of the rear centre console and locks in place between the two rear occupants.

If privacy is desired, power operated sunshades can be deployed on the rear glass and rear side windows. That way outsiders are less likely to observe passengers jiving to the LS 600h L's Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound, 450-watt 19-speaker audio system. This has got to be one of the finest-sounding automotive audio systems of all time.

Not all of the spoils in the 600h L go to Board members despite the "L" in the nomenclature representing an additional 5 inches of rear seat legroom. The driver is treated to an amazing, 16-way power-adjustable heated/cooled ventilated seat, push button start and a back-up camera. All occupants are sure to appreciate breathing purified air, which arrives with a touch of the interactive screen that also serves the voice-activated navigation system.

Now technology and performance
438. That's how much horsepower the ultra-sophisticated hybrid power system effectively generates along with 385 pound-feet of torque. The powertrain is composed of a 5.0 litre, 32-valve V8 gas engine and a high-output electric motor. The arrangement is a "full" hybrid setup, meaning the vehicle can be propelled by electricity alone (depending on speed and power needs) or in conjunction with the engine.

It is one of the most technologically advanced powertrain available at the moment.