SPIED: If I Were The Germans, I'd Be Shaking In My Boots If They Ever Build THIS Hybrid!

SPIED: If I Were The Germans, I'd Be Shaking In My Boots If They Ever Build THIS Hybrid!
As cool as the Toyota Prius is with its untouchable, mind blowing gas mileage and reasonably cool design on the 2010 model, the only hybrid I've ever REALLY liked and would buy myself is the Lexus GS450h.

Without question it is in the top ten best luxury sedans I've ever driven category with its killer speed and impressive 24MPG.

Yes, it REALLY gets 24mpg around town and gives you blistering takeoff and passing speeds.

But most people can't afford one and it doesn't look radical enough for some.

But after seeing this first video of the Lexus LF-Ch on real streets in LA, I can honestly say it is the most exciting everyday Lexus ever.

I truly hope they build it and price it in the low 30's.

And if they do PLEASE build the Yellow and some FUNKY/COOL color combos!

Just look at the body on it!

Sooo sexy!

THIS is what the first hybrid Lexus SHOULD have been.

I can HARDLY wait for this one.

It's simply the coolest potentially affordable hybrid and one of the HOTTEST hatches EVER!

Check out the video on the streets of Hollywood...




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Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 1/7/2010 11:53:44 PM
+5 Boost
Why?


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 1/7/2010 11:59:29 PM
+4 Boost
Also, how are you impressed by a hybrid getting 25mpg? The Equinox isn't a hybrid, it's a suv with better mileage then it.


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 1/8/2010 2:20:20 PM
+1 Boost
According to who? Someone with a heavy foot?


downtoearthdowntoearth - 1/8/2010 8:44:35 PM
+1 Boost
— Joe_Limon:

> Also, how are you impressed by a hybrid getting 25mpg?
> The Equinox isn't a hybrid, it's a suv with better mileage then it.

4 cylinder Equinox does 0-60 in 9.5 seconds. Lexus GS does it in 5.5 seconds (source: Edmunds Insideline).

This is the same performance difference as between 500HP BMW M5 and 4 cylinder 2 litre 170HP BMW 520i. You'd never dare to compare these to in terms of fuel economy yet you're desperately doing so with Equinox and GS450h.

Then you narrow it to the highway because Equinox craps itself in town while the GS does well in any environment.

Limon, you have turned from someone talking sense into frustrated, cheap, lame Toyota and Lexus hater, desperately trying to "make a point" by blatant lying, manipulation, selective bias and "diamonds to stones" comparisons. One of the worst here, deteriorating this site and making it look like idiots' playground.

It's plain and simply pathetic. Absolutely zero respect about how low one can get.


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 1/8/2010 9:25:40 PM
+1 Boost
downtoearth, even you know that hybrids get roughly the same city and highway fuel economy. Heck most Lexus hybrids get worse fuel economy on the highway. Compare combined fuel economies and this fat suv still get better fuel economy.

I'm sorry you missed any of my insight on the matter, you must still be seeing things with your pink sunglasses on, and naturally assumed I was hating for the heck of it.


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 1/9/2010 1:35:54 PM
0 Boost
another genius...comparing a $65,000 sedan to a economy SUV. is there a point?

by the way, the GS is total failure in both performance and sales terms. sure the GSh goes fast in a straight line but it's handling is dismal, the styling is booooring, the interior is too small and well, there's nothing exciting about the car. that's why it came in DEAD LAST when car and driver did a comparison of 6 cars in the class a while back.


downtoearthdowntoearth - 1/9/2010 4:07:15 PM
0 Boost
— Joe_Limon:

You failed to respond why are you comparing a 0-60 in 9.5 seconds car vs 0-60 in 5.5 seconds car.


> Compare combined fuel economies and this fat suv still
> get better fuel economy.

Edmunds.com observed fuel economy:
- Lexus GS450h: 22 mpg US [1] (EPA combined 23 mpg, 0-60 in 5.5)
- Chevrolet Equinox: 18 mpg US [2] (EPA combined 26 mpg, 0.60 in 9.3)

GM promised 26 mpg US in EPA. Since manufacturers are allowed to conduct their tests themselves and EPA only verifies (by repeating) a small fraction of them, GM, out of desperation, probably faked the test.

http://www.insideline.com/lexus/gs450h/2007/full-test-2007-lexus-gs-450h.html
http://www.insideline.com/chevrolet/equinox/2010/2010-chevrolet-equinox-lt2-full-test-and-video.html


> naturally assumed I was hating for the heck of it.

Comparing a 0-60 in 5.5. seconds Lexus vs 0-60 in 9.5 seconds Chevrolet is exactly that. Cheap, frustrated hating of Lexus cars.


— enthusiastx11:

> it also had dismal dynamics (body roll, mushy handling)

Lexus GS450h earned EXCELLENT rating in handling in Edmunds Insideline test.


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 1/9/2010 5:37:30 PM
+1 Boost
You think I'm hating on this car because it's a lexus. No I'm hating on this car because a 24mpg hybrid car is pathetic. Maybe if it was a 500hp hybrid car, then 24mpg would be justified, but it isn't, this thing isn't even 300hp. This car is pathetic, just like that underpowered hybrid s-class.

also...

"probably faked the test."

LOL, thanks for proving my pink sunglasses point.


AudiNewEnglandAudiNewEngland - 1/8/2010 12:06:30 AM
+1 Boost
ew


markanthony0419markanthony0419 - 1/8/2010 12:31:46 AM
-2 Boost
I dont get it all these hatch back station wagons are ugly as sin. 25 mpq ? my m3 got 23.7 mpg on the highway im not impressed there either. there is no globull warming stop with these hybrids go disel or displacement


NannerPusNannerPus - 1/9/2010 7:27:09 PM
+2 Boost
That lexus looks like a slammed Golf and my M3 gets 26.4 on the highway.




THESCOOTERTHESCOOTER - 1/8/2010 1:26:10 AM
+1 Boost
This will never be a real car and seriously, no Japanese car has the Germans 'shaking in their boots'. That is simply not a German thing to do.


XYZZXYZZ - 1/9/2010 6:31:37 AM
-5 Boost
even germans and other europeans acknowledge japanese cars have the BEST reliability. they even love SUZUKIs, which are about 2 levels below toyota/lexus.

you're confusing recalls (mostly to replace sub-par SUPPLIER provided parts) with reliability.


Agent63Agent63 - 1/8/2010 6:38:47 AM
+2 Boost
Sometimes I wonder what you are smoking LOL.


Agent63Agent63 - 1/9/2010 7:14:53 PM
+1 Boost
I don't like the Lexus either so can we agree on something? Hurray more for me to smoke! :) guess my tolerance is better than yours.


truckmantruckman - 1/8/2010 4:54:04 AM
-1 Boost
This is bad on fuel, where is the tech? I fail to see anything redeemable other than some rich person will be able to say they have a hybrid, but it is pathetic on gas.I would rather drive a hybrid Hummer H-1, they are around the same.


kpaxxkpaxx - 1/8/2010 7:15:42 AM
+3 Boost
This looks like a teenagers car. It might do better as a scion!


david999david999 - 1/8/2010 8:47:42 AM
-1 Boost

Interesting looking vehicle. Would be a big seller for Lexus if it comes to North America.


david999david999 - 1/8/2010 6:32:11 PM
0 Boost

The B-Class can't be compared to this. It is just plain ugly and very cheaply made for a Mercedes. The 1 series isn't bad, just expensive for what you get.


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 1/9/2010 1:37:17 PM
+1 Boost
so david....you've been to europe and driven the B-class? when? where exactly?


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 1/9/2010 1:40:08 PM
+2 Boost
first of all, the car doesn't exist. it's prototype--and we know if can take lexus 7 or 8 years to turns prototype into a production car.

second, you haven't the basic grasp of luxury brands. this car would likely sell well as a tricked out scion if it's priced at $21,000. kids who work in retail would go NUTS over this car. as a lexus, it's flat-out damaging to their luxury brand image.


david999david999 - 1/11/2010 11:06:30 AM
+2 Boost

Erichartman,
I have driven the B-class in Canada.
Enthusiastx11,
The LF-CH will be produced within the next 2 years.


2ndbimmer2ndbimmer - 1/8/2010 10:00:27 AM
+1 Boost
Im german and my boots are not shaking. My friend and I drove to St Louis from Chicago in his 2009 528i and we got 33 MPG on the highway. So, whats the big deal?
Also, do you really think a GS will have a price point in the low $30's?


pennfootballpennfootball - 1/8/2010 11:04:16 AM
+4 Boost
My subaru WRX is averaging 23.1 miles per gallon and I have a lead foot and modified it with a Cobb Tuning Stage 1 access port giving it 10% more power and a SPT exhaust! This made the gas millage go UP 1 MPG over stock a little because it is now optimized for 93 Octane and the pipe takes out restrictive back pressure. But this Hybrid looks cool, hopefully they can make it go fast and turn!!


tesla311tesla311 - 1/8/2010 11:38:04 AM
0 Boost
there should be electric cars flooding the streets, with two engines hybrids are a compromise. Full time full power torque is where it's at. We need petrol for other things, not transportation.


pushrod27pushrod27 - 1/8/2010 11:43:52 AM
+2 Boost
this car is really ugly and small. I fail to see its appeal, at least from a man's perspective. maybe women will dig this homely little contraption.


AgentOrangeAgentOrange - 1/8/2010 12:54:12 PM
+3 Boost
24mpg for a hybrid?
Yah, the krauts are shaking in their jack boots 'cause they're laughing..


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 1/8/2010 1:57:40 PM
+1 Boost
yuck. it's very boy-racer, tricked out civic. branding it as a scion would be brilliant, but not as a lexus.

the german luxury marques have nothing to work about with regard to this vehicle.


VISOVISO - 1/8/2010 2:51:57 PM
+1 Boost
The new S4 gets that much, and if I would serious gas milage at around 42mpg I'll get the A3 TDI. Why bother with any Lexus hybrid unless you want throw your money away.


mplsmpls - 1/8/2010 3:47:27 PM
-1 Boost
Why are German fans boys missing the point, 24mpg is around town..

Why re you guys comparing highway figures with Town figures ?

what diod the 528i do around town ?
what did the M3 do around town ?
What do does the Equinoix do in town ?



Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 1/8/2010 4:05:02 PM
+2 Boost
You are right, we should be comparing combined figures. Only Lexus's hybrid hwy figures are roughly equal to their city figures, and in most cases are actually lower. The equinox combined is 26mpg, so the combined for this station wagon should be 23-24mpg?


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 1/9/2010 1:33:17 PM
+2 Boost
why are you comparing a civic-sized care to A) one of the world's best high-performance cars B) and SUV and C) a luxury sedan? what is your point?

cars of similar size to this little concept get FAR beter mileage. the prius gets DOUBLE that.


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 1/9/2010 2:45:32 PM
0 Boost
Because its economy is so abysmal that is what it competes with in terms of fuel economy. Having a hybrid car that gets worse mileage than an suv is like having a ferrari that gets outrun by a cobalt.


chewychewy - 1/8/2010 4:36:48 PM
+3 Boost
24 mpg in real city conditions is pretty good, but this doesn't have anything to do with the hatch pictured which is just a concept and isn't indicative of the final version.


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 1/8/2010 5:04:00 PM
+4 Boost
why is it impressive that a little hatch back can get 24mpg around town? toyota's own prius gets double that.


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 1/8/2010 10:38:17 PM
+3 Boost
"As for the LF-Ch, it looks a lot better than the pictures."

how do you know?


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 1/8/2010 10:45:08 PM
+3 Boost
also, the RXh isn't a full sized suv, it can only tow just over half what the Tahoe hybrid can, it's less powerful, and the Tahoe has 36% more interior room.


XYZZXYZZ - 1/9/2010 6:46:33 AM
-4 Boost
lemon:

"'As for the LF-Ch, it looks a lot better than the pictures.'"

"how do you know?"


how do you know that it does not?

can a photograph capture all the aesthetics of a piece of sculpture? can ANY 3-D object be accurately represented in 2-D?


as usual, you construct fantasy scenarios/images IN YOUR (misshapened, internally distorted) HEAD and accept them as REALITY without having had first hand experience.



Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 1/9/2010 12:07:03 PM
+2 Boost
Ya photo's can do a good job at showing how something looks. This being said I don't know for sure that it is as bad as it does in the pictures. But trust me it's far more likely that it looks like shit in real life if it looks like shit in a picture. I believe you are the one with the fantasy scenarios/images viewing this car as good looking when the images say otherwise.


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 1/9/2010 1:29:57 PM
+1 Boost
is mileage all that matters huu? yes, for the example, the GS does get better mileage than a 550i or an E550. and it goes fast in a straight line.

it also had dismal dynamics (body roll, mushy handling), benign styling (what's with the weird chopped off decklid?), a severe lack of headroom in the front seat (if you're over 6'1" the driver's seat is NOT comfortable), awkward controls (why are things like mirror controls hidden in little drawers?) and a generic set of option packages that make it impossible to have a car that doesn't look just like your neighbor's silver GS (80% of lexus are silver, what's with that? guess it's cheaper).




Agent001Agent001 - 1/9/2010 5:54:29 PM
+1 Boost
or who own a lot of Apple stock ;)

Go AAPL!

001


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 1/10/2010 12:51:04 PM
0 Boost
hahahahahahahhahhaha! you're too funny huu. and too stupid to bother arguing with any further....

now go back to work at best buy and help people pick out appliances.


enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 1/12/2010 9:49:28 PM
0 Boost
just another tarted up toyota...at the detroit auto show it's called the toyota FT-Ch. subtle.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/automobiles/autoshow/12electric.html?ref=automobiles
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