2018 Lexus LS 500h Can Hit 60 MPH in 5.4 Seconds
If you’re looking for a flagship-level luxury sedan but have concerns about fuel consumption, fear not, because Lexus has a solution. The Japanese brand has revealed its new LS 500h at the Geneva Motor Show.
As you might have guessed, this husky four-door features an electrified powertrain. Its hybrid system is built around a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter gasoline V6, which features the company’s D-4S direct-and port-injection fuel-delivery system. All told, it churns out 295 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.
Increasing total system output to 354 ponies is a pair of electric motors and a lithium-ion battery, part of Lexus’ new Multi-Stage Hybrid System. This pack is 20 percent smaller than the nickel-metal hydride one found in today’s LS 600h L but is more power dense, further helping increase efficiency while enhancing dynamics.
SEE ALSO: 2017 Geneva Motor Show Coverage
Rear- or all-wheel drive is available, with power being sent to the tires through a “four-stage shifting device,” some sort of fancy transmission; Lexus officials say it drives and feels like a 10-speed automatic gearbox, having none of the “rubber-band feel” associated with today’s CVTs.
This car should be able to hit 60 miles an hour in around 5.4 seconds, a little off the standard LS’s pace, which can reach mile-a-minute velocity in as little as 4.5.
Like the mainline LS 500 that was revealed in Detroit a couple months ago, this hybrid model rolls on either 19- or 20-inch wheels and benefits from the same luxury amenities. Opulent materials, soft leather and hand-pleated door panels inspired by origami add richness to the cabin. The car also offers unique glass trim that’s created by artisans.
The 2018 Lexus LS 500h should be significantly more economical than its non-electrified sibling. Unfortunately, no official consumption figures are available, ditto for pricing. Both the LS 500 and LS 500h should go on sale this fall for the 2018 model year.
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Born and raised in metro Detroit, Craig was steeped in mechanics from childhood. He feels as much at home with a wrench or welding gun in his hand as he does behind the wheel or in front of a camera. Putting his Bachelor's Degree in Journalism to good use, he's always pumping out videos, reviews, and features for AutoGuide.com. When the workday is over, he can be found out driving his fully restored 1936 Ford V8 sedan. Craig has covered the automotive industry full time for more than 10 years and is a member of the Automotive Press Association (APA) and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA).
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