Lexus GS 450h 2012 Review

Lexus GS 450h

OVERVIEW
>> Second generation improves
Sporting a sharp new look and packaged with a range of high-tech features -- LED headlights, four-wheel steering and a sentinel-like fatigue detection system that monitors driver’s eyes -- the new Lexus GS 450h is looking to make amends for the shortcomings of the previous model.

Gone is the tiny 320-litre boot, replaced by 465 litres of space, and the price has been slashed too, from more than $125,000 to under $100,000. Power output remains unchanged at 254kW thanks to the combined petrol V6 and electric motor system, but efficiency has improved, ensuring this GS is the fastest accelerating yet most frugal model in the range.

The back story is not very cheerful, though. Just 20 Lexus GS 450h cars were sold in 2011, that's less than two per month, highlighting just how much a remake was needed. Tony Cramb, the chief executive of Lexus Australia, admits the previous GS was a poor performer, but is confident the new model will change negative perceptions.

"I think the GS overall, and not just the hybrid, probably didn’t live up to our sales expectations across the board. The previous GS polarised people in terms of styling, where as this one is far more appealing it would seem, from our early feedback in GS sales."

Lexus has done its homework to right some of the wrongs of the past; this new model is 20 per cent more efficient than the previous GS 450h. But whether this will be enough to challenge popular diesel iterations of the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class remains to be seen.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

Step inside the sub $100K luxury hybrid and you'll find suitably soft leather accented seats with 12-way electric adjustment and three-mode heating and cooling through the cushions. A sunroof is included as is satnav with live traffic updates, controlled via Lexus' Remote Touch input system, which is kind of like an intuitive mouse/trackball with force feedback. It works well and is intuitive -- if you've ever used a PC or Mac you will be fine.

Also gratis on the entry-level GS 450h are rain-sensing wipers, Bluetooth audio streaming and telephony, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and push-button engine start, and self-dimming mirrors.

Add another $12,000 and the Lexus GS 450h F Sport model can be yours, adding a more aggressive exterior design thanks to larger 19-inch alloy wheels (and wider rubber at the rear), larger front brakes, a sports body kit (including an angular front fascia), plus the new four-wheel steering rig, aka Dynamic Rear Steering (DRS).

Together with Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) the F Sport model was the most compelling of the three models, largely because of the way it turned -- and not just at high speed. The steering felt better, and the car turned very tightly at low speeds which made navigating roundabouts and T-intersections effortless.

The hybrid F Sport model also gets a few interior boosts over the Luxury model, such as radar cruise control, a pre-collision safety system, auto high beam headlights and 18-way electrically adjustable leather sports seats.

Lexus GS 450h Sports Luxury is the top-shelf model and takes the features of the entry-level Luxury but adds a lot more gear, for instance 20-way adjustable front seats complete with ottoman leg extension for the passenger, an electric rear sunshade and a 835 watt Mark Levinson stereo with 17-speakers. Full LED headlights are included, as is radar cruise control and pre-collision safety systems. The climate control system upgrades to tri-zone, the multimedia screen is 12.3-inches (the world's largest) and there's an eye-monitoring system that can detect if the driver is fatigued, and the car will take action to wake him/her up.

MECHANICAL

The 3.5-litre V6 engine is codenamed 2GR-FXE and uses the Atkinson cycle (instead of Otto), outputting 215kW at 6000rpm and 352Nm at 4500rpm. It features both port and direct injection, the former used only when the car is at idle.

Output for the 650-volt synchronous electric drive motor is 147kW and 275Nm, fed energy from a Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery. Power from both motors is transferred to the rear wheels via CVT. Steering wheel mounted paddle shifters are included, and the CVT adopts a quasi-six-speed manual setup when used.

While Lexus can test the car's peak power on the dynamometer, 254kW combined, it was explained to motoring.com.au that testing for torque is virtually impossible. Combining the two torque totals for 627Nm wouldn't be precise says Lexus, but it does give an indication of how much punch it has.

On the road throttle response is impressive and the CVT is one of the best systems we've used, delivering the hybrid engines' power very effectively. The result is massive acceleration, especially at higher speeds.

The car is fast and frugal; accelerating from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds, with an electronically governed top whack of 250km/h. Claimed fuel economy is 6.3L/100km with a CO2 emissions output of 147g/km. We were looking at figures of around 11.0L/100km with mostly country and alpine road driving.

Tipping the scales at a hefty 1910kg, the new car is 20kg lighter than the hybrid before it, but still 170kg heavier than the GS 350 petrol model. Keeping the car's significant heft propped-up is double wishbone suspension at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear, which, together with the brakes, wheels and electric power steering hardware, are all new.

F Sport versions of the hybrid GS car come with dynamics rear steering (DRS) which uses an electric motor to turn the rear wheels up to two degrees in either direction. At speeds under 80km/h the rear wheels steer in the opposite direction to the fronts, while at higher speeds they align. The system is most impressive at lower speeds, in car parks and through roundabouts, by reducing the car's turning circle.

Brake rotor diameter is 334mm at the front and 310mm at the rear for Luxury and Sport Luxury models, while the F Sport gains larger 356mm front discs and bigger callipers.

PACKAGING

Non-hybrid GS models get 530 litres of cargo space.

The interior is a very comfortable place to be, the softly cushioned seats offering ample room for larger occupants. There's impressive attention to detail in the interior, too, from the eye-catching analogue clock in the centre console to the leather-covered dash and doors, plus there's decent room for driver and front passenger. The leather quality is of a high standard, as is the overall fit and finish. All switch gear, buttons and dials offering pleasant feedback.

Some of the interior trims options (five in all) didn't appeal to all journalists on the launch, particularly the enviro-friendly bamboo finish, which includes the world's first hand-polished bamboo steering wheel. From where I sat the bamboo worked well and is a unique option.

Touches such as the heavily cushioned armrests inside the doors are appreciated and switching between ECO, Normal, Sport and Sport+ driving modes is made easy via a large rotator dial near the gearstick. The only criticisms I would level at the tastefully presented and well thought-out interior revolved around the cheap-looking Camry-style gear knob and rear seat head room.

SAFETY

The biggest safety advancement made on the GS is the addition of a pre-collision safety system, which makes use of the car's milliwave radar used by the cruise control to apply the brakes automatically should it detect trouble. It is also linked to the driver fatigue system, which can tell if the driver’s eyes are closed or his face turned away from the road for too long and initiate to reduce the chance of a collision.

Reversing camera and proximity sensors are included, as is a tyre pressure monitor and a head-up display.

COMPETITORS

"We've always seen this market as one we needed to penetrate to establish ourselves seriously with BMW and Benz," said Tony Cramb. "I think that's what this car helps us do."

Cramb added that "our hybrids are the best" and said even when the BMW 5 Series and Benz E-Class hybrids arrive later in 2012, the GS 450h will be a better equipped, more efficient and more powerful vehicle. BMW has announced that its ActiveHybrid 5 model will be on sale later in 2012, but has not yet given an indication of price.

Despite more than a third of all Lexus' sold wearing hybrid badges the company expects just 10 per cent of GS sales will be for this hybrid model; adding that buyers for the new GS 450h will be aged in their 50s, earning around $400,000 per year.

ON THE ROAD

All cars are fitted with adaptive variable suspension (AVS) which has four modes, ECO, Normal, Sport and Sport+ where the first two modes are suited to cruising. Switch it to Sport+ and the steering tightens up, the suspension becomes firmer and the car doesn't protest when being repeated flung though a variety of corners.

A neat touch is how the latter two modes switch the instrument display from a 'charge meter' to a traditional tachometer, matched by backlighting switching between blue and red for relaxed and sport modes respectively.

The steering is direct in Sport+ mode on all models and there's a little bit of feedback on the F Sport, but what was most impressive was the planted feel of the front end. The 50:50 weight distribution and rear wheel steering of the F Sport makes it a surprisingly enjoyable car to drive fast, both in a straight line and through bends; though you do notice its almost 2000kg weight in tighter corners.

While not quite as sharp, Luxury and Sport Luxury GS 450h models are still dynamically competent vehicles, with all of them turning into corners predictably, and accelerating out of them with similar certainty. I really didn't expect to have this much fun in this vehicle, particularly considering the soaked conditions encountered during the test.

The CVT gearbox is arguably the best of breed, but that's not saying much. The transmission is probably one of the biggest hurdles the car will face when buyers consider compare it with the European competition, as it's far from traditional and robs the vehicle of meaningful accelerative charm. You nail the throttle and the car charges ahead. End of story.

That said, Lexus GS 450h absolutely flies, which for such a lardy vehicle is surprising. It's devoid of colour in the way it puts power to the ground, but it's partly redeemed via a subdued but sonorous exhaust note and relentless acceleration. Truly, the acceleration is so linear and well defined it's frightening how quickly it accelerates at higher speeds.

We'll need more time with the car to see how it fares in commuter traffic, and whether it is as frugal as a diesel vehicle on a daily basis, but if this first taste is anything to go by, it would be fair to say the Lexus GS 450h has significantly closed the gap with its German rivals.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site