Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Lexus LS600h revealed in full detail
2010 Lexus LS600h - Click above for high-res image gallery
For 2010, Lexus is doing a mid-cycle refresh on its flagship LS lineup, including the hybrid drive LS600h. The system mainly carries over hardware, but some of the controls are enhanced with the latest updates featured on the new Prius, HS250h and RX400h. Among those are a new ECO mode that applies a filter to throttle inputs and air conditioning control. Small adjustments in the throttle position are ignored, allowing the powertrain to operate at a more constant rate, reducing fuel consumption. Similarly, the air conditioning uses the recirculate mode automatically and allows more variation in temperature.
One of the complaints we had about the LS when we reviewed it last year was the minuscule trunk for a car of its size. Lexus has reconfigured the nickel metal hydride battery pack to reduce the package size, allowing the trunk volume to be increased by about 1.24 cubic feet. The front brakes have also been upgraded with larger rotors and six-piston Brembo calipers. On the outside, the LS gets a new front fascia with a grille similar to the HS250h.
Gallery: 2010 Lexus LS600h
[Source: Lexus]
LEXUS REVEALS THE 2010 LS 600h
Debut for revised full hybrid limousine at Frankfurt motor show
KEY POINTS
* LS 600h and long wheelbase LS 600h L full hybrid models revised for 2010 model year
* Lexus Hybrid Drive system now meets Euro V emissions standards
* More compact hybrid battery packaging
* New ECO driving mode with efficiency-adjusted throttle and air conditioning performance
* New hybrid-exclusive exterior styling features and new exterior colours
* Rear Seat Relaxation Pack introduced in five-seat configuration
* New HDD Lexus Navigation System
* Automatic headlamp high beam system
* Available to order in the UK now, with customer deliveries from early 2010
The LS 600h, the full hybrid Lexus flagship, gains a range of technological and styling improvements for the 2010 model year, changes that have been unveiled for the first time at the Frankfurt motor show.
With redesigned seating, updated equipment, a new ECO driving mode and new brakes, the LS 600h and the long wheelbase LS 600h L achieve advances in comfort and driving dynamics.
Lexus Hybrid Drive system
The full hybrid Lexus Hybrid Drive system that powers the LS 600h has a new ECO mode, which modifies the throttle action and performance of the air conditioning system to support fuel-efficient driving.
The relationship between movement of the accelerator pedal and system output is automatically controlled, reducing response to aggressive inputs to improve fuel economy and promote smoother driving. The load on the engine is also reduced under acceleration, which also helps improve fuel efficiency.
When the outside temperature is 20°C or higher, the air conditioning system automatically selects its air recirculation mode to reduce power consumption. The blower airflow is reduced when set to "high" and operation of the supplementary electrical heating system (the PTcompact heater) is stopped, further cutting the amount of power used. Also, the system will not signal for an increase in engine speed to boost power when the vehicle is at idle.
Repackaging of the full hybrid system's battery into two sections of six and 14 modules has reduced its overall size and freed up more luggage space in the boot.
Further development of the Lexus Hybrid Drive system has been revised to meet Euro V exhaust emissions standards, but with no change to the car's performance: the combination of the 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine and 165kW electric motor produces a maximum 439bhp and 520Nm of torque, giving nought to 62mph acceleration in 6.3 seconds. CO2 emissions are 219g/km and combined cycle fuel economy remains 30.4mpg (figures provisional prior to UK homologation).
New brakes
The LS 600h is newly equipped with larger, 380mm ventilated front disc brakes with six-piston callipers, rotors and pads developed jointly with specialist manufacturer Brembo. The pads are designed for quieter performance with less vibration and give fade-free high-speed stopping power.
Exterior styling
The revised model is distinguished visually by a new four-bar grille and front bumper with redesigned air intakes and foglamps. The headlamps have a new running light design and are finished in Lexus hybrid blue, giving the car a distinctive appearance befitting its flagship status.
In profile, the car has a new one-piece rocker moulding and new door mirrors that incorporate twin LED turn signals and puddle lamps, with chrome highlights.
Further new details include a lower bumper design with vertical fins to smooth the airflow from beneath the car. The range of exterior colours has been increased, with Mesa Red, Vanilla Mist, Richmond Green and Atlantic Blue newly available, together with the hybrid-exclusive Crystal Sapphire. The paint has a new Self-restoring Coat treatment that helps maintain a superb finish over the vehicle's lifetime.
Interior features
In the cabin the instrument binnacle has been revised to include a new full colour, TFT LCD display. A new meter design features a three-ring analogue dial with a central speedometer, a tachometer and coolant temperature gauge to the left, and a fuel gauge and hybrid system indicator to the right. A display
in the centre of the speedometer can be customised to display vehicle information, turn-by-turn navigation instructions and hybrid system status.
The upper air vents have been set apart from the instrumentation on the centre console, giving the dashboard a strong horizontal emphasis. The EMV multi-display touch screen has large switches and rearranged layout for the audio controls. The audio switch is now made of aluminium, adding to the premium feel and quality of the design.
The range of interior colour and trim combinations includes a new light grey semi-aniline leather upholstery.
New seating features
Both front seats are equipped with new, inflator operated active headrests. Activated by a signal from the airbag ECU in the event of a rear impact, the inflator slides a piston into the headrest, unlocking a mechanism that projects the headrest forwards and upwards, reducing the risk of whiplash injury.
The driver's seat also has a new return/away function. Linked to a similar function that moves the steering wheel, this automatically slides the seat back by up to 50mm when the driver unbuckles the seatbelt and turns the engine off. The seat returns to its selected driving position once the car is started again.
For the new model year the LS 600h is available with the Lexus Rear Seat Relaxation Pack for the first time in conjunction with a five-seat configuration.
The premium seat arrangement has a 40:20:40 design with an upper seatback reclining mechanism, fully retractable leg and footrest and lower back massage function, all operated using a remote controller. It also offers different levels of massage using an array of eight pneumatic chambers built into the seatback, and lumbar and shoulder areas.
The horizontal suspension position of the rear seat has been moved forwards 45mm to improve fit around the hips and the shape of the seat surface over the outer edges has been plumped up by around 10mm for better support.
The centre armrest has been redesigned too, fitted with a sliding lid and housing controls for the seats, earphone jack points and the remote control for the relaxation system. The seats have integral side airbags and the seat behind the front passenger in the Rear Seat Relaxation Pack has a seat cushion airbag to give the occupant extra restraint below the hips in the event of a collision.
Models fitted with the Rear Seat Relaxation Pack also offer an extra 40mm in the forward sliding range of the front passenger seat. Operated in conjunction with the retractable leg and foot rest, this allows the seat to be moved to its full front or return position using a switch in the rear centre armrest, or on the shoulder of the seat itself. When the front set is moved to its furthest forward position, its headrest is automatically retracted to give a clearer view from the rear.
Reducing the size of the rear air conditioning unit has increased boot capacity by approximately 35 litres.
New Lexus Navigation System
In common with its sister Lexus models, the LS 600h is adopting a new hard disc drive (HDD) navigation system with the 40GB capacity, giving Europe-wide coverage with traffic information data capture in each country.
The 19-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound System fitted as standard in the LS 600h gives 7.1-channel surround sound on selected CDs and DVDs. It is now DAB ready (DAB audio will be available as a centre-fitted accessory) and provides USB and audio jack plug connection for fully controlled use of portable music players, and Bluetooth with an audio streaming function.
It also provides a new "sound library" function, using the navigation system's HDD to transfer and store music files from CD up to 10GB capacity – the equivalent of about 2,000 music tracks.
Automatic high beam system
The revised LS 600h features a new, automatic high beam system. A camera sensor in the rear view mirror detects oncoming traffic, street lamps and vehicles travelling ahead and automatically switches the headlamp high beam on and off according to driving conditions.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
garlinski 9:06AM (9/18/2009)
Not liking the nose job on this one... But I do like the car overall...
Reply
Luis 9:45AM (9/18/2009)
I was going to write the same exact thing. The grille looks haphazard, but the car overall is as classy as ever.
Tom 10:42AM (9/18/2009)
You're spot on. I've driven in the current gen LS600h and it's nothing short of amazing. Very comfortable, quiet and cushy inside. I even like the look of the current one. The problem is that they put the HS grille on the new one and it looks like it should slot BELOW the LS460. Part of what you're paying for when you buy a $110k car is the cachet that comes along with driving the top-of-the-line model. In this instance, I think they missed the mark with what is otherwise an amazing car.
hyundaifans.com 12:12AM (9/19/2009)
The nose looks like it belongs on a Camry.......
Dane 9:11AM (9/18/2009)
I love itvl./bbbbbbbbb nadkamm,v.c,c.vm,
fd,jm
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......
Sorry I must have fallen a sleep.... Did Lexus come out with another exciting product????
Reply
Den in IN 9:30AM (9/18/2009)
No, it not new, it just another bigger Camery.
adrenalnjunky 9:30AM (9/18/2009)
don't care who ya are - that's funny right there
homunculus 9:35AM (9/18/2009)
dane cook is that you?
if it is, i want to tell you you're a douche.
KeatMP 11:23AM (9/18/2009)
@ Dane
Comment of the year right there.
paul 9:17AM (9/18/2009)
You should be OK if you are on the inside driving this car. Everyone on the outside of the car will probably instantly fall asleep as it rolls by. This thing would probably be more effective than Lumesta.
Paul
Reply
the4thheat 6:03PM (9/18/2009)
Yeah but that's kind of the point. You could probably replace the glowing blue L badge on the front with the glowing blue T badge from the Prius and most people would think it's a gigantic Camry hybrid of some kind. Probably one of the few $120,000 cars you could drive around without everyone looking at you.
Seriously I think it'd be pretty funny if someone rebadged their LS600h with a Toyota logo and Avalon badges or something. It's so stealth it would never look nearly as silly than the Lambo gallardo that went through the McDonald's drive through, so you can be filthy rich and still get food off the dollar menu.
Visnick 9:17AM (9/18/2009)
"Small adjustments in the throttle position are ignored"
Not that I am in the market but I would find that a bit annoying.
Something tells me that people who spend ~110k+ for a luxury sedan won't care THAT much about fuel economy.
Reply
Chris 3:04PM (9/18/2009)
Dane may be an Idiot but one has to admit. That there is one bland, generic looking car.
Reply
mk15 9:41AM (9/18/2009)
It's a nice car for limo duty. I got driven around in a LS-series model once, it was really nice in the back seat. Very comfortable and quiet and very isolated from the road, would be ideal for business. But as a driver? Zzzz.......
But look at it this way, if you're some CEO or important political or rich businessman, this wouldn't be a bad choice as a limo ride.... but you could make a better argument for other cars.
Reply
Tourian 9:47AM (9/18/2009)
I think that it being an isolation chamber is a plus. A big heavy car isn't necessarily going to handle well, so being plush and quiet should be important. However, the problem I have with it is that it looks so boring outside and isn't all that special inside. There's just nothing appealing about a big fat Camry with last year's BMW 7 series styling blended in.
mk15 9:53AM (9/18/2009)
Good points.
While on this topic, I know some businessmen that long for a luxury car, but something they want to avoid is give off an image of being an exuberant/lavish spender. They want to give off an image of being more down to earth and sensible with money. They're the ones who buy the "bland" luxury cars if they do buy a luxury car.
But that's what business sometimes is about. Bland and classy. But hey, when I get driven around in a plushy ride like the back of an LS-series, I appreciate it a lot at the end of a long day during business trips.
Avinash machado 9:44AM (9/18/2009)
If you are having difficulty falling asleep at night, just look at a picture of this car and instant zzzz. The best part is it does not require a doctors prescription like sleeping pills and no side effects either.
Reply
ronzo 9:49AM (9/18/2009)
*yaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnn*
bo-ring...........
Reply
Some Guy 9:54AM (9/18/2009)
I like the LS but I'm not liking that radiator grille...
Having spent a fair bit of time behind the wheel of an LS460, I can't really see the point of this car, It's real-world fuel economy isn't much better, any performance gain from the hybrid system is wiped out by the weight and it costs heaps more...
Reply
shirtman 9:56AM (9/18/2009)
Looks like a Camery! One thing about GM now Caddy looks nothing like Buick and Buick nothing like Chevy.
Reply