This is a difficult system to test without forcing oneself into driving when the mattress is a wiser choice but I’ve heard from reliable sources that it works and it is very effective. Irrespective of fatigue, driving the LS 600h L is a bit of a dream.
The dream come true
Two factors jump out the moment one takes the wheel and hits the throttle. The first is an eerie silence in operation and the second is a startling response to the right foot.
This car has prodigious power that’s totally out of sync with one’s expectations. Thanks to its AWD traction, it’s capable of launches that waste not a nanosecond of wheel spin while snapping necks and pinning backs.
This LS 600h L is infinitely capable in the passing lane as well, where it can devour many cars considered high performance vehicles.
But hostile acceleration is only one aspect of this gentleman’s beast. A smooth, refined, near silent ride is the other half of its dual mission. I liked maximizing the creamy ride by selecting the ‘Comfort’ setting, and floating through life on a wheeled cloud.
The LS 600h L isn’t a car that one drives with the goal of attacking the apex in a mountain switchback; rather its specialty is wrapped-up in Zen-like serenity.
Is too much Zen possible?
The electric power steering setup makes driving easy but it doesn’t offer much road-feel in return. The powerful braking system is also somewhat artificial in its feel, more due to regenerative braking I suspect than anything else.
Both of these functions emphasize ease of operation over a sense of performance, and that’s fine given the intended purpose of this $146K sled.
Why create the world’s most expensive hybrid sedan?
Yes, the Lexus 600h L is an expensive ride, which makes one wonder about the purpose of its hybrid powertrain.
I think the messaging here isn’t so much about saving the planet as it is about demonstrating that hybrid technology knows no bounds. Its application in extending fuel efficiency and reducing emissions is limitless and ought to be more universally adopted.
The LS 600h L proves that you don’t need to eat tree bark and wear wool to feel good about hybrid technology.
photo:Rob Rothwell
 |
| Thanks to its AWD traction, it’s capable of launches that waste not a nanosecond of wheel spin. |
The dream come true
Two factors jump out the moment one takes the wheel and hits the throttle. The first is an eerie silence in operation and the second is a startling response to the right foot.
This car has prodigious power that’s totally out of sync with one’s expectations. Thanks to its AWD traction, it’s capable of launches that waste not a nanosecond of wheel spin while snapping necks and pinning backs.
This LS 600h L is infinitely capable in the passing lane as well, where it can devour many cars considered high performance vehicles.
But hostile acceleration is only one aspect of this gentleman’s beast. A smooth, refined, near silent ride is the other half of its dual mission. I liked maximizing the creamy ride by selecting the ‘Comfort’ setting, and floating through life on a wheeled cloud.
The LS 600h L isn’t a car that one drives with the goal of attacking the apex in a mountain switchback; rather its specialty is wrapped-up in Zen-like serenity.
Is too much Zen possible?
The electric power steering setup makes driving easy but it doesn’t offer much road-feel in return. The powerful braking system is also somewhat artificial in its feel, more due to regenerative braking I suspect than anything else.
Both of these functions emphasize ease of operation over a sense of performance, and that’s fine given the intended purpose of this $146K sled.
Why create the world’s most expensive hybrid sedan?
Yes, the Lexus 600h L is an expensive ride, which makes one wonder about the purpose of its hybrid powertrain.
I think the messaging here isn’t so much about saving the planet as it is about demonstrating that hybrid technology knows no bounds. Its application in extending fuel efficiency and reducing emissions is limitless and ought to be more universally adopted.
The LS 600h L proves that you don’t need to eat tree bark and wear wool to feel good about hybrid technology.
 |
| Driving the LS 600h L is a bit of a dream. |
photo:Rob Rothwell
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