The most striking detail Hifi installation

Amazing how our contemporaries still ignore "hybridization". The word, escaped a dictionary of biology, refers to in automotive jargon a simple marriage: that of an engine with an electric motor. With this system, the fairy power takes over from the engine to fuel the majority of the time, especially in the city, is where the need for power is least felt. Hence a decline in the consumption of fuel and environmental releases. This technological marvel is unfortunately complex to the point. To date, apart from Toyota and its famous Prius - pioneer in the field - Honda (Civic Hybrid) and Ford (Escape, only sold in the United States), builders - including German - were reduced to spectators. Spectators including the irritation should increase by one notch to the Lexus GS 450 h.

After the birth of the first 4 x 4 hybrid (RX400h) last year, the division luxury of the Japanese manufacturer launches on the market the first sedan chic "green." In the program Sport V8 performance (5 seconds and dust to reach 100 km/h to 250 km/h in speed, chut!) for a consumption of "family" type Renault Mégane (less than 8 l / 100 km) and CO2 (186 g) releases remaining below the fateful the 200 g/km threshold from which apply now a surcharge for "polluting vehicle..." The mass is so-called.

As Lexus has more lessons to receive design. The GS has a contemporary line copy person is even fireball tunes. What look! It encloses a cabin especially careful decoration, Lexus playing to Audi the title of best finishing. Equipment, it is of course "chiquissime". The most striking detail Hi-fi installation. Fourteen speakers with CD and DVD player - all signed by sound engineer Mark Levinson - transforming this quiet room in theatre on four wheels. Your musical tastes will indeed be the sole source of "noise". The silence of operation is impressive, especially in the city where the electric motor operates only in the vast majority of cases. Make sure that pedestrians saw you on the failing zebra crossing to hear you arrive!

For the rest, when the six le six-cylindres de 3,5 l - 3.5 l cylinder action, it is always without the slightest jolt. And it returns to the electric motor (developing the bagatelle of 200 ch!) or combine the two as discreetly. A forth that manages the auto pressure on the accelerator... For the connoisseurs: when the two modes of propulsions complement each other and give their maximum, they are 345 ch that release, or the power of a Porsche 911... But the fact how is full of electricity The Lexus GS 450 h agrees to the super unleaded. Electric batteries recharge rolling stock, such as those on a simple Twingo! But because of the power of the Lexus, several batteries are necessary, which are hidden under the rear trunk. The volume of the trunk is reduces, but Lexus offers a batch of five Samsonite suitcases drawn exclusively for the GS 450 h.

Price of the wonder In exclusivity, 70 500 euros. But to properly study the issue, you will see you competitors (Audi A6 4.2, BMW 540i, Mercedes class E 500 in particular) require the same amount for a lesser equipment... The reliability of the system, a priori not sake, the Prius in circulation in have never experienced.