2007 Gs 450h

[mbpgawest]

What Is It?

2007 Lexus GS 450h

What's Special About It?

Today at the New York auto show in a private room above the show floor, Lexus pulled the wraps off its second luxury hybrid vehicle, the 2007 GS 450h. With its first luxury hybrid, the Lexus RX 400h SUV, rolling into dealerships this month, Lexus is wisely keeping up the momentum with the announcement of its plan to hybrid the recently redesigned GS sedan.

Engineered as the first front-engine rear-wheel-drive hybrid, the GS 450h uses an all-new powertrain comprised of a 3.5-liter V6 with a high-output, permanent magnet electric motor. Although official numbers have not yet been released, Lexus claims the GS 450h will have more than 300 horsepower, or about the same as the V8-powered GS 430 and it will haul from zero to 60 mph in under 6 seconds.

Expect only a few subtle clues to distinguish the GS 450h's look from the traditional gasoline-powered members of the GS lineup. A power meter replaces the tachometer to monitor gas or electric usage and special 18-inch alloy wheels are mounted at the sedan's four corners.

The real difference in GS ownership, however, will come from the increased combined city and highway fuel economy, which Lexus says will hit the high 20s — the current GS 430's combined EPA rating is 21.5 mph.

"Once again, we've applied our formula of no-compromise engineering, this time to a luxury sport sedan, which proves to us that hybrid powertrains can work superbly in virtually any application," said Lexus Vice President of Marketing Mark Templin.

The Lexus GS 450h goes on sale in the spring of 2006, but pricing was not announced.

What's Edmunds' Take?

The long waiting list for a Lexus RX 400h proves even wealthy luxury car buyers give a hoot about the environment. The waiting list for the GS 450h should be even longer. — Kelly Toepke

[SW03ES]

Great to see you again! Been a while.

[mbpgawest]

Hi Steve: I've been busy with work and family. Not much time for computer.

[deadmilenko]

I believe the GS450H comes out late spring 2006 not 2007.

[jbarhorst2]

Yes, it comes out in 2006, but it will be labeled a 2007 model.

Any car released on January 1st or later of a year can be labeled with the following year.

Tom

[mbpgawest]

I spoke with my brother-in-law this weekend (who is a "Master Mechanic" at a Lexus dealer). And he and I were talking about the new modles coming out, he said there is talk of a LS hybrid coming out for the 2007 model! Hope it is ture!

[deadmilenko]

With the way that the price of fuel is going what could be better than a Hybrid Lexus thats gets better MPG and has more HORSEPOWER then the standard model. How about a lower price? We all know that isnt going to happen.