Tuesday 1st May 2007

Lexus ready hybrid supercar

Hybrid power looks likely for LF-A

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The LF-A - hybrid power on the way?

The world’s first hybrid supercar is almost upon us, and may be shown at October's Tokyo motor show. According to an Autocar report, the news leaked out on the European launch of the LS600h saloon, when a senior executive revealed that “our plan is for every Lexus model to have a hybrid version”.

The forthcoming supercar – already previewed in two concepts badged ‘LF-A’ – is expected to feature a variant of the LS600H’s V8-based hybrid power train. In the LS it combines a 5.0 litre V8 and two electric motors to make 430bhp.

However, this is a luxury-biased motor, and it’s not too hard to imagine it being tuned to put out at least 500bhp, putting it in line with the proposed V10 engined version of the car.

Hybrid power is also being studied by Honda for their forthcoming NSX replacement.

 

[beyond rational]

hopefully this will remove the Prius taint from what looks to be a very interesting technology

[annodomini2]

388 +221 = 609.

[P7 TUS]

Looks fantastic

[b10]

I suppose that is one way of getting of the Congestion Charge

[kambites]

annodomini2 said:

388 +221 = 609.

Peak power generated at different speeds presumably. I think the electric motors are usually geared so they provide most of their shove at low revs and so are starting to give up by peak engine revs.

[kingb]

looks lovely.will be interesting how the electric system works in a performance package.

[stephen300o]

Oops honda have been dragging there feet so much now lexus are going to beat them to it.

[vladd]

That should relieve a few gullible people in Hollywood of a fair bit of cash.

[scotty_917]

aren't these the same power trains that'll soon be found in Porsches' Panamera & Cayenne....under an agreement signed with Toyota in the early 90's???

[FestivAli]

Hmm I don't mind Lexus hyrbids, namely because they don't look like them. They just look like ordinary cars. There not there to show off that you care about the environment, I'd consider one because of the technology. LS460h, GS450h, RX400h? Slightly less informed than the prius set I think.

Ali.

[chauffeur]

good news for all of us.

hybrids are cool for several reasons:

they shut the ecomentalists up
they have great acceleration
they are congestion charge exempt

we will be getting an LS600h - tested the GS450h but found it a bit cramped in the rear and only room for small luggage.

[jon-]

Any bets as to whether this will come in under 2 tons?

[kieran2006]

I imagine Toyota are doing this mainly to add that 'halo' effect and sell more Prius'.

[gizmo.mp3]

b10 said:

I suppose that is one way of getting of the Congestion Charge

Yes yes YES YES YES!

Take that Livingstone!

[edb49]

Gazboy said:

jon- said:

Any bets as to whether this will come in under 2 tons?

Well the V10 car was supposed to be 1100kg, so how much extra does a hybrid RX weigh over it's petrol counterpart?

Yes, I'd be interested to know that too. I guess you'll get a marginal saving by having a V8 instead of V10, maybe 20-50kg? Then add all the electric motors, batteries, etc. I would make a wild guess it will be at least 200kg heavier as a result of the hybridism.

[irs]

I very likey the view from the side.... but no thanks to the front view, the lights look like they are just stuck on.!! (IMHO obviously)

[LoftyD]

The front view is a picture of one of the earlier concepts. The later concept, (shown in the side view picture), has a different front end treatment.
It looks better, but is still not the most attractive face. Perhaps they could change it again! They've got over a year to do so!

[collateral]

Nice arse but the eyes are too close together!

[rimmer]

lets hope it goes as well as it looks and drives just as well

[annodomini2]

kambites said:

annodomini2 said:

388 +221 = 609.

Peak power generated at different speeds presumably. I think the electric motors are usually geared so they provide most of their shove at low revs and so are starting to give up by peak engine revs.

Electric motors will generally have a flat power curve above a certain rpm, torque drops of with respect to rpm. Obviously depends on the motors used. And how they are used on the vehicle.

e.g. they only operate within a certain rpm/speed and are off above that.