Lexus Announces Pricing on GS 450h Luxury Gas/Electric Hybrid Sport Sedan

[Tideland Prius]

02/28/2006 Torrance, CA
February 28, 2006 - Torrance, CA - The 2007 Lexus GS 450h, the world's first luxury performance hybrid sedan, goes on sale in early May with a base Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $54,900. Beyond its advanced gas/electric hybrid powertrain and Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) stability control system, the base price includes a wide array of premium standard features typically offered as popular options on the GS 300 and GS 430.

"The GS 450h is a top-flight luxury performance sedan designed to have class-leading acceleration and responsiveness," said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Bob Carter. "Like the RX 400h, it is a performance-luxury vehicle without compromise, with fewer emissions and improved fuel economy over competitive V8-powered luxury sedans."

A completely new Lexus hybrid powertrain propels the new GS 450h. The system combines a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a new compact, high-output, permanent magnet electric motor that drives the rear wheels. The transmission utilizes an advanced two-stage motor torque multiplication device for the Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) motor, delivering responsive and seamless acceleration with no power loss.

With a combined system output of 339 horsepower, the new 3.5-liter V6 hybrid delivers the dynamic performance of a modern 4.5-liter V8 engine and is expected to be as quick or quicker than every V8-powered competitor in its class. The GS 450h accelerates from zero-to-60 miles per hour in approximately 5.2 seconds.

With 80 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than the average new car, the GS 450h delivers an estimated 33 percent better fuel efficiency than its V8 competitors with a manufacture-estimated combined fuel rating of 28 miles-per-gallon (MPG). A Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV)/Tier 2-BIN 3 emissions rating is expected.

Since the GS 450h is driven by its electric motors when starting, traveling slowly and during low-load driving, the Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) level is about half that of a conventional gasoline-powered engine, providing an extremely quiet ride.

In addition to the Lexus Hybrid System, the base price includes VDIM, an advanced stability system designed to anticipate the onset of a vehicle skid or slide and then help to automatically correct the situation with a combination of braking, throttle and steering control in a way that is essentially transparent to the driver.

Other standard features include Electronic Power Steering (EPS) with Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS), electrically powered air conditioner, power moonroof and power rear sunshade, heated/ventilated front seats, rear side airbags, rain-sensing wipers, Intuitive Park Assist, rear back-up camera, a Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) system, Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) with headlamp washers, 18-inch alloy wheels, and an eight-year/100,000-mile battery and hybrid system warranty.

Source: http://pressroom.toyota.com/Releases...T2006022863558

If it was 340 Horsepower it would be worth $54,900. but since it is one horsepower short, I feel its not worth it. an excess of 300 horsepower would be at least 340 horsepower. 0-60 in 5.2 seconds is not fast enough. I was wishing for near 4 seconds.

I would buy the GS 460 over the 450h.

[Fresco Bob]

^your joking right?

[aznstylez]

is the $54,900 for the 350H? or is it for the 450H? that price is pretty low if it is for the 450H considering the 430 already cost $52,000. i heard the V6 engine with 300 something horsepower propels 0-60 in 6.5sec. so the 450H should be 5.2sec?

[Christian87N]

There is no 350h , read it again. It mentions that it is a 3.5L engine mated to the Synergy system. It produces the power of a modern 4.5L , which is why it is called the 450h. The V6 that comes with the GS300 is just that, a 3.0L engine. Im not too sure about the 0-60 but i heard that the GS430 does something around 5.9 or 5.8.