Lexus’s mammoth luxury hybrid, the LS600h, will start at a decidedly reasonable-sounding £81,000 when it goes on sale in October.
The LS600h looks likely to be the limo of choice for environmentally conscious celebrities and CEOs; both Jackie Stewart and Richard Branson have one on order.
Based on the LS460 petrol saloon, the LS600h gets a bored-out 5.0-litre version of that car’s V8 engine mated to a highly sophisticated electric power system that drives all four wheels.
Lexus reckons it’s got the power of a 6.0-litre V12, hence the name. The 600h runs from 0-62mph in 6.3sec, while returning 30.4mpg and producing 219g/km of CO2, which should keep finance directors happy.
Two versions of the LS600h will be coming to the UK; the standard £81,400 car, and the long-wheelbase £83,645 LS600h L.
Standard specification is sybaritic, with four-zone climate control, 19-speaker Mark Levinson stereo and ceiling-mounted video screen (we’ve tried it, and it’s better than most cinemas).
There is one option, however, that’d we’d especially recommend: the rear-seat relaxation package. Only available on the LS600h L, this raises the price to £88,000 and gives the left-hand rear passenger a reclining ottoman chair with a seriously good built-in massager. Just make sure your shareholders don’t see you looking too relaxed.
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Autocar - Lexus LS mega-hybrid for £81k