Lexus GS test drive since 2008 sedan
Half a million for ecology
If you are concerned about the future of our planet, then the hybrid Lexus is the main purchase that you should make in life. Buy it, and then at the Last Judgment to the question: who so unbearably polluted the air on the ground?!, You can answer with a clear conscience: anyone, not me!
It was the scenes of the Last Court that were the main source of my inspiration during the test drive of hybrid models of Lexus cars: dynamic GS 450H, SUV RX 400H and luxurious LS 600HL. The low percentage of CO2 is the most convincing trump card of hybrid cars. For example, the usual GS 460, according to the data presented on the Lexus-Europe website, throws 258 g/km into the atmosphere, and the hybrid GS 450H 185. That is, we can say that a hybrid car is almost third more environmentally friendly than usual. This comforts, but clearly is not a good argument in a dispute with an ardent fighter for the ecology. After all, the design of a hybrid car is much more complicated, which means it will require more materials and energy costs in the production process. We should not forget about the problem of the disposal of batteries. So in the end, you still need to see what will be more harmless to the ecology of a hybrid or a regular car. Nevertheless, today hybrids are the main hope of both environmentalists and ordinary consumers, concerned about the growth of gasoline prices. For example, the average fuel consumption on Toyota Prius is 5.1 liters per 100 km.
However, the famous Prius is not yet supplied to Russia. And the Lexus presented for the test drive from the point of view of economy disappointed us from the first minute. Here are the indicators of the average consumption according to the on -board computers, recorded at the time of landing. RX 400H 14.4 L, GS 450H 16.7 L, LS 600HL 22.5 l. In general, far from Prius.
True, during the trip, cars were partially rehabilitated. The RX 400H consumption, for example, after an hour on the highway and in traffic jams, according to the on -board computer, amounted to 9.6 liters. Noticeably better, but still not impressive. So the main trump card of hybrids is still ecology. Sitting in a luxurious leather salon LS 600HL is so pleasant to console yourself with a thought that you are harmful to the surrounding nature to a much less than you could. In the end, it is certainly true that the money spent on an additional payment for hybridness (and this is up to half a million rubles, depending on the model and the selected configuration), were spent on creating a perfect environmentally friendly car in the future.
Otherwise, hybrids are no better and no worse than ordinary cars. The engineers managed to accelerate these machines completely smooth, despite the fact that the selection of power is carried out both from the internal combustion engine and from electric motor. At the same time, a hybrid starts on an electric motor, and continues to move on the ICE. When accelerating the help of the ICE, electric motors come, when slowing down, recovery and charging batteries are carried out, and when ICE stops, it turns off. But, no matter how you listen to the power unit, it is completely impossible to understand what exactly is happening at the moment. Lexus has always been famous for the excellent silence in the salon. And for the most curious on the screen, the on -board computer is displayed a scheme of movement of energy flows from the battery and generators to power units and vice versa.
There is one unpleasant detail, however, has nothing to do with the environment. Already on the snake, which I took place in the most refined mode for all test tests, it turned out that when leaving the turn, it is not so simple to return the steering wheel to its original position. The force increases repeatedly, and when driving through a serpentine, for example, such a feature can play a fatal role. The instructor reassured me that this feature has nothing to do with hybrids, but is characteristic of the entire Toyota line. Apparently, the amplifier does not cope with the load at this pace, he calmly explained.
Lexus 600hl
Engine type gasoline directly. and distribution. Injection, V8, Dohc working volume, cm3 4969 max. Power, l.? p. at about./min. 290/6400 Max. moment, NM at about./min. 520/4000 max. Cool. The moment of the electric motor, NM at about./min. 300
Dynamics maximum speed, km/h 250 acceleration 0100 km/h 6.3
General data consumption (urban cycle), l/100 km 11.3 length, mm 5150 width, mm 1875 height, mm 1480 Equipment mass, kg 2320-2430
On the on -board computer screen, you can observe how the energy flows circulating between the internal combustion engine are currently distributed, the battery and the electric motor, which simultaneously performs the functions of the generator
To date, it is hybrids that the main hope of both environmentalists and ordinary consumers, concerned about the growth of gasoline prices
A source: Cars
