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| (Photo: Kevin ''Crash'' Corrigan) |
Now we come to my favorite part, the performance. Hybrids may well be a sensible and environmentally-friendly mode of transport, but they've never quite managed to set my pulses racing. That is, until now. The Lexus GS 450h can accelerate from 0-100 kph in less than six seconds. No, that's not a typo! I did say "in less than six seconds". Think about that for a minute. This 3.5 litre V6/Hybrid can actually outperform a lot of so-called sports cars. Yet at the same time, it's great on fuel, fabulously luxurious to drive, and is helping my fellow participants in this world breathe a little easier.
So where's the catch? Why aren't the roads full of these Lexus wonders?
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| (Photo: Kevin ''Crash'' Corrigan) |
It's certainly not because you have to be a known name or face on television to afford one. In my opinion, Lexus has priced this vehicle very comfortably in the market at $76,900. Now that might sound like a big chunk of change to a lot of people. However, if you do a little homework into what companies like Mercedes-Benz and
BMW are charging for similar high-end vehicles, you'll find that the Lexus compares rather favorably. Add in the benefits of Hybrid technology and all the obvious advantages that this offers, and the GS 450h becomes an absolute bargain.
So back to my question, why aren't the roads full of them?
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| (Photo: Kevin ''Crash'' Corrigan) |
The only explanation that I can come up with is that there are too many people out there like me. I had to drive this vehicle for myself, or I would never have believed it possible for a Hybrid vehicle like this to exist. You can call this review "Crash Corrigan's journey of enlightenment", if you like. You could even say that I've finally woken up and smelled the coffee. But if this is the future of Hybrid vehicles, then all I can say is "bring them on, as this boy's looking forward to turning green".
The only trouble that I can foresee is the fact that the celebrities are not going to want to drive around in a vehicle which doesn't look like a Hybrid. However, they are going to have to make a choice. Either, they can drive around in their present little machines, looking foolish and having us laugh at them. Or, drive their big gas guzzling Rollers and Benz models, and have us scream at them.
Of course, they could always buy a Lexus GS 450h, and drive around in luxury while still helping to save our planet. The only thing that they will have to do is install large Hybrid decals on the vehicle, or no one will believe them.
