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| | On the road Lexus GS 450 h - the advent of the sports hybrid A luxury marque, created by Toyota in 1988 to rival BMW and Mercedes, Lexus has pulled it off, with its worldwide sales going from 250,000 in 2000 to 400,000 in 2005, and a target of 700,000 for 2010. Expanding its range, Toyota is now launching the first hybrid luxury saloon, which will be put on sale in Europe this summer.  After the RX400h SUV, the GS 450h sports saloon - already renowned for offering a new driving dynamic - is the second production model to be equipped with Lexus hybrid technology. It is also the first veritable hybrid car in the world to receive a front engine with rear propulsion...  The Lexus GS 450h is powered by the HSD hybrid system power plant, consisting of a 3.5 litre V6 engine and a high-torque electric motor. Following the example of a V8, this power plant produces an output of 335 hp at 6,200 rpm, enabling the GS to go from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in under 6 seconds: a fine performance! The engine is, moreover, controlled by an ETCS-i electronically controlled system, which sends power to the radial tyres through an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT). The petrol V6 is also equipped with the Lexus injection system, which increases output when fully charged and enables smooth and quiet acceleration.  The GS 450h is also presented by its manufacturer as being particularly reliable and safe for driving: electric power steering on one hand, and anti-lock braking system (ABS) aided by electronic brakeforce distribution on the other, allow the driver to make the most of their vehicle's resources without losing control of it. The GS 450h is also equipped with a vehicle stability control system (VSC), hill assist control (HAC) and traction control (TRAC). But the main advantage of this hybrid luxury sports saloon is, of course, its fuel consumption, equivalent to that of a 2-litre 4-cylinder engine: 7.9 litres per 100 km. Toyota asserts moreover that CO2 emissions are particularly low: just 186 g/km. Toyota has not yet announced the price or exact launch date. Photographies : © Lexus  | |||