As expected from a purveyor of well-crafted luxury cars, the interior is sumptuous, cosseting, and bristling with technology – including a new 12.3” LCD display, and new Nightview – an infrared night vision system. The adaptive variable suspension can be dialled in using the Drive Select mode – from Eco, Normal, Sport and Sport +, which tightens up the dampers and changes the throttle response from mellow to aggressive.
Unfortunately, the F-Sport package with its more aggressive fascia, distinctive 19" gunmetal wheels and four-wheel steering isn't available on the 450h. But for a hybrid, the 450h delivers a surprisingly firm ride when Sport+ is selected. The transmission isn't bad as far as CVTs go, but there's still a hint of the inherent rubber-band lurching. On track, the difference in braking from the 2013 Lexus GS 350 becomes more pronounced – with a somewhat binary, on-off character that's difficult to modulate.
But of course, being a hybrid, the important stuff lies under the hood, and in the numbers it delivers. The GS 450h is a parallel hybrid – meaning it can run on electric motor, gasoline engine, or a combination of both. Underhood, a 3.5L V6 uses the Atkinson cycle to put out 286 hp with greater fuel efficiency – 6.4L/100 km combined. It's piggybacked to a 180-hp electric motor for a total of 343 combined horsepower. Power is stored in a nickel-metal hydride battery pack.
Not only has fuel efficiency improved over the previous model, the 450h is faster, claiming 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, and at $64,650, is $12,000 cheaper than the car it replaces.
Just like the naturally-aspirated GS 350, the 450h has been transformed into a more passionate, engaging ride, yet still delivers the fuel economy necessary for its target buyer.
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| The interior is sumptuous, cosseting, and bristling with technology. (Photo: Lexus) |
Unfortunately, the F-Sport package with its more aggressive fascia, distinctive 19" gunmetal wheels and four-wheel steering isn't available on the 450h. But for a hybrid, the 450h delivers a surprisingly firm ride when Sport+ is selected. The transmission isn't bad as far as CVTs go, but there's still a hint of the inherent rubber-band lurching. On track, the difference in braking from the 2013 Lexus GS 350 becomes more pronounced – with a somewhat binary, on-off character that's difficult to modulate.
But of course, being a hybrid, the important stuff lies under the hood, and in the numbers it delivers. The GS 450h is a parallel hybrid – meaning it can run on electric motor, gasoline engine, or a combination of both. Underhood, a 3.5L V6 uses the Atkinson cycle to put out 286 hp with greater fuel efficiency – 6.4L/100 km combined. It's piggybacked to a 180-hp electric motor for a total of 343 combined horsepower. Power is stored in a nickel-metal hydride battery pack.
Not only has fuel efficiency improved over the previous model, the 450h is faster, claiming 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, and at $64,650, is $12,000 cheaper than the car it replaces.
Just like the naturally-aspirated GS 350, the 450h has been transformed into a more passionate, engaging ride, yet still delivers the fuel economy necessary for its target buyer.
 |
| Not only has fuel efficiency improved over the previous model, the 450h is faster, claiming 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, and at $64,650, is $12,000 cheaper than the car it replaces. (Photo: Lexus) |
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