2007 Lexus GS 450h - Review

The GS450h is a car of contradictions and strange as it may sound, perhaps that’s what its designers wanted. Yes it's a hybrid, but we're not talking about the kind of car activist celebrities or hemp wearers would be driving. When you really think about it, the hybrid system in the GS450h performs the same function as a supercharger or turbo would in say, a Porsche. The electric motor will boost power in high-demand situations, but has the added benefit of delivering better mileage rates at the same time - a win win situation. Look at it this way; BMW added twin turbos to the 335i to get more power from the engine without increasing displacement. The GS450h is simply Lexus’ version of the same concept.

We're dealing with a serious performance sedan, a genuine hot-rod, but you wouldn’t guess it unless you looked at the badge, and even then the hybrid connotation may still throw you off. Forget flashy bodykits and huge wheels and tire packages, this Lexus rides on elegant 18in rims and keeps a clean design. It's a sleeper in the true sense of the word. However, pushing the hybrid GS as a performance car was always going to be tough, so Lexus had to pull the big guns out to help turn around the tardy image. The end result is that the GS450h is the fastest Lexus ever. Better yet, it’s both faster and more fuel efficient than the V8 powered GS430.

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This is the first time that a hybrid vehicle has been positioned as anything but a tree hugger’s choice of transport, and combined with its rear-wheel drive layout and luxury appointments, the GS450h easily rivals Germany’s best, on paper anyway. The engine, as you’d expect in a Lexus, is a work of art. Utilizing traditional port and direct injection, the all-alloy 3.5L V6 gives you 218kW to play with, and when combined with the electric motor this goes up to 254kW. At idle and very low speeds, drive comes from just the electric motor, which sends 100% of torque to the wheels instantly, but even the slightest amount of throttle sees the 3.5L V6 whir into action.