Test drive Lexus LS 2006 - 2009 sedan
Japanese express
Now, having heard the exclamation, I want something big and pure!, I can not get off the traditional wash of the elephant!, But to recommend something more modern. The long -drawn Lexus LS 600H L, namely, only this modification of the Japanese six hundredth will be delivered to the Russian market, looks quite suitable and concrete embodiment of the desired. It is large enough and has a hybrid power plant, which makes it the most pure from an ecological point of view by a representative sedan of known today. Especially if you take into account the power of the car. In addition, it is endowed with a unique all -wheel drive system, and contains many other innovative solutions. In a sense, this is a product of tomorrow, available today (at the end of this beginning of next year, to be accurate). And most importantly, all this is large, pure and powerful implicitly obey you, excellently rides and gives a sense of impeccable comfort. Confirmation of status
I already talked about the Fourth Generation LS model in the last year’s AI, then it was a version with a 4.6-liter gasoline engine. But it is not a sin to repeat that the new Lexus flagship was developed from scratch, and with the predecessor has little in common. It looks relevant and solid. I remember, I already noted that in the exterior of LS there is no hint of playfulness even in detail. But it definitely indicates the excellent dynamic potential to look at the predatory slots of the air intakes and sharp foglights in front; on the swollen wheel arches and a component profile; On chrome of two pipes of exhaust system in the rear bumper.
The six hundredth, especially marked with a bean l, that is, with an increased wheelbase increased by 120 mm, enhances this feeling of solidity, emphasizes the status of the owner. And at the same time does not lose either the grain of sports tightness in the appearance. It is easy to distinguish from counterparts. First of all, according to lighting equipment: Xenon did not seem enough to the designers this time, and the headlights, like the overall lights, are equipped with LEDs. The transparent blue ending of the lenses looks really unique. In addition, according to company representatives, such headlights provide excellent visibility in the dark and last longer. There are other differences: a bluish emblem on the radiator grille, manually polished 19-inch cast wheels, corresponding nameplate. Finally, only for LS 600H the Black Opal special black color is proposed, shimmering in bright light.
In general, we are dealing with the vertical embodiment of design philosophy called Lexus L-Face, previously known for GS and IS models. If someone asks me what exactly means, I will be difficult to answer. The traditions of Japanese culture, something from modern, plus the latest technologies and functionality, probably, all this in one way or another reflects, and all these are subtleties. It is enough for the consumer that the car is impressive both externally and the decoration of the salon.
On the seat and on the ottomank Willy-nilly (the profession obliges), you begin to evaluate the interior from the driver's seat. From this position, the salon is not much different from what I saw in LS 460, I will not repeat myself. But let me remind you: the vast range of the seat adjustments seems to be in ten planes, the ability to move the steering column up/down and by departure, allow you to get settled with maximum convenience. The workplace is organized very competently, the ergonomics is thought out and deserves a separate praise. In any situations and in the dense traffic stream of Berlin, where a test drive took place, and during special exercises at the training ground, I did not feel the slightest difficulty in management. At each moment, the necessary information was before the eyes, and the necessary hilt, button, lever is at hand.
The only thing I honestly expected, but did not receive massage. The front seats in Lexus do not offer such a delight.
I ask the company representative why? We believe that this is useless, it can distract the driver from the management answers. Everything is possible, although I personally did not seem pleasant to me in Mercedes S-Class with empty pampering, you know, if it, or, conversely, calms down.
On the other hand, if we are talking about a long -drawn version, the owner of such a Lexus should be located on the back otherwise, why pay extra for the same 120 mm? And the driver is additional luxury to nothing good for him. Well, the royal chambers, especially with the OTTOMAN seat, offered in the maximum configuration. You take a special remote control in your hands, and don’t deny yourself anything: you order a massage of any intensity, adjust the back of the back and foot support, heat or ventilate the pillow. Having fun, I drove a couple of hours on the Ottoman, but I could have ten: it’s good here, spacious and comfortable! By the way, the climate control system is also unique, it is multi-zone, but in addition it is equipped with a sensor that determines the temperature of the passenger’s body. In a word, if you are hypothermia or, on the contrary, overheated in the sun and scored more than 36.6, electronics take care of creating the best conditions for you, individually!
I consider myself simply obligated to say a few kind words about the Mark Levinson Reference Surround audio system, pleasing to the hearing for two days of the test. It produces a power of 450 watts, has the 19th speaker and DVD chain on 6 discs. The passenger may well turn the back of the cabin into a home theater of the standard 5.1, slipping away from reality using a folding 9-inch color display on the ceiling.
However, the keychain of the contactless access system in the Smart Key salon is already in the central tunnel compartment, and I pressed the Power's Cop on the Power's inscription button.
Get stuck By the way, by the way, only a tiny green indicator on the button itself, meaning readiness for movement, will not wait for any reaction from a car. At first, this is a very unusual sensation to move in absolute silence, when the arrow of the tachometer rests at zero. Well, at least there is a familiar handle of a 7-speed automatic transmission I transfer it to Drive mode and lightly press the accelerator pedal. I taxi from the parking lot, I integrate into the slow stream of the city highway confidently, but silently, as if sneaking. For some spy plot, you can’t imagine a better car
The picture on a large color monitor on the right, and on a small one, between a tachometer and a speedometer, testifies to: the almost three-ton sedan is driven not by some magical power, but by electric energy. Which is currently coming from the nickel-metallological battery (288 volts, 20 modules) located above the rear axle and therefore eaten part of the trunk. It is directed to a compact, but quite powerful 224 forces, 300 nm electric motor, which makes the wheels now spin. Moreover, you can use the EV mode, in which the electric trim is involved exclusively, and go while the battery charge is enough. At the same time, the owner of the Lexus LS 600H must experience a feeling of legitimate pride, and has every reason to exclaim: people, I paid to give you an extra verter of clean air!
Actually, the electric part of this hybrid car is quite cunning, consisting of many blocks and uses a number of new technologies for the automotive industry. About all know-how, let the reader forgive me, I won’t tell me, but I will mention something. Say, at a technical presentation near the transmission in the context, the Japanese engineer drew my attention to a small box, saying: it contains our main secret, and this block PCU Power Control Unit is called. It is he who provides rapid interaction between all components of the system that controls the electric motor and a power divider, which, using planetary gears, redistributes this very power to wheels and generator depending on the traffic mode.
I do not think that all readers and potential owners of the six hundred are obliged to understand the intricacies of cooling of the battery, the recuperative function of the electric motor or the principles of the work of the high -voltage converter and inverter. But about the reliability of the battery in severe operating conditions and at low temperatures, I asked specifically. And I received the answer, they say there is nothing to worry about, there is already positive experience. Moreover, if the car is in the parking lot for a long time, the engine periodically starts independently and charges the battery through the generator (a separate electronic control unit constantly monitors this). The owner needs to know about this for obvious reasons.
In Berlin, the crowd, without sharp accelerations of the battery’s charge, was enough for me for twenty minutes. True, she has not yet been quite exhausted (the indicator showed two pin) when it was time to drive the gas pedal, I go to the autobahn. Now I already know for sure that I earned a mighty V8 on a tachometer that revived and shot up upward, according to the same picture-scheme, according to the long-awaited rumble.
And racing It is simply obscene to demand from the sedan of the representative class of gratings, meanwhile, the acceleration on the Lexus 600H is a delightful lesson in its own way. The point is not that you are pressed in the back, and nearby objects begin to merge around. All the charm in some kind of cat's softness, with which the car is gaining speed confidently, without the slightest hide, up to the allowed electronics of 250 km/h. If you do not twist the hilt of the automatic transmission selector, turning into a manual control mode, and ensure even the maximum gas supply, you will not feel the slightest jerks or failures, acceleration will occur quickly and smoothly. And with the same smoothness inherent in rear -wheel drive cars (although in this case, we remind you, we are dealing with all -wheel drive), it will iron asphalt. This is true express, which goes confidently, as if not in doubt and not spinning, even at maximum speeds. At the same time, you will not hear a whistle in the cabin not only due to sound insulation, but also with a flat bottom, and generally worked out aerodynamics with a frontal resistance coefficient equal to 0.27.
The smoothness and confidence of the course of the Lexus LS 600H is also obliged to also improved suspension with pneumo elements. AVS and VDIM systems, receiving the data of numerous sensors, change the damping force of each shock absorber separately, excluding the clinks and rolls, and also regulating the clearance of its size depending on the speed of movement, the condition of the roadway and some other factors, except for one degree of car loading . The driver can independently choose one of the three options for settings of adaptive suspension shock absorbers using a button located next to the Normal, Comfort or Sport transmission selector. But in any case, the automation will monitor the process, and, for example, shock absorbers will clamp at high speeds and reduce road clearance.
The gasoline engine is a separate story. Only he could devote half of the newspaper, the solutions laid down in it are so interesting. Here is the system of constant adjustment of the gas distribution phase with the Dual VVT-I electric generation, and the D-4S injection between the combustion chamber with two nozzles on the cylinder, and the function of instant transition to a direct injection system at idle switch. All this has been done, of course, for the most economical and environmental friendliness. As a result, fuel consumption in the mixed cycle is 9.3 l/100 km, and the CO2 content in the exhaust gases is at the level of 219 g/km, according to engineers, excellent.
It is important for us, consumers that this engine, coupled with an electric motor, provides an excellent drive. Together, they give a power installation amazing traction, for example, for overclocking from 80 to 120 km/h Lexus LS 600h requires 4.3 seconds. That is, at your disposal there is always enough power and moment to make a maneuver.
Motor V8 with a volume of 4969 cubic meters. See, by the way, was created on the basis of a 4.6-liter, known for LS 460. Meanwhile, in terms of accelerated dynamics, the six hundredth inferior to its younger brother 0.7 seconds. It is clear that it is harder at the expense of batteries. But this is still an insignificant fee for the very economy and environmental friendliness than you can be proud of.
At the training ground The most delicious story from my point of view about the all -wheel drive system and controllability I left for dessert. In addition, the organizers of the test drive themselves provided an occasion, suggesting at the end of running tests to try out electronic security systems. It was necessary to perform several simple exercises: to drive along the ring, overcome a couple of fairly cool turns, stop and start again on the rise with an on and off the course stability system (VSC), associated with the anti -circulation system (TRC). The VSC is deactivated by pressing the appropriate key of the ACP handle. Of course, the test sections were generously watered with water from special installations, so we had the opportunity to fully evaluate the effectiveness of the systems. Yes, they are excellent, and, in principle, allow the driver not to be particularly strained in difficult conditions of movement. Although, in truth, it was not difficult for a skilled driver to cope with the tasks and without the participation of VSC, this even gave pleasure.
To complete the picture, I note that only the LS 600H model is equipped with a control and acceleration control system for Drams (Driving Response and Acceleration Management System). Which makes you quickly think of the proprietary system of integrated car dynamics (VDIM). And this very VDIM, in turn, leads the rest of the electronic security package: ABS, EBD, TRC and VSC, as well as an adjustable adaptive suspension AVS and the steering electrical power (EPS) with a variable gear ratio (VGRS). If anyone is confused in the names and abbreviations, I am not to blame, it is not necessary to memorize them. But to know what will be discussed next will not hurt.
At the training ground, we not only received small driver joys, but had the opportunity to better evaluate the settings of the all -wheel drive and steering system.
So, we were given: 445 forces and from 300 nm (and from zero revolutions) to 520 nm of torque. All this power plant is transmitted to all four LS 600H wheels. As I understand it, three differentials of increased friction of torsen are involved in the transmission. In the usual movement mode, the center differential transmits 40% of the moment to the front, and 60% to the rear axle. But, depending on the situation, this ratio may vary from 50:50 to 30:70. That is, the Lexus 600h is mainly a rear -wheel drive car. In addition, if I do not confuse anything, there are also self -locking differentials in the front and rear axles. From this given, they follow: the smoothness of the course, the absence of even a hint of insufficient rotation (in certain cases, especially on a slippery surface, it is rather excessive), and a character that is very cheerful from a driver’s point of view. And, most importantly, the all -wheel drive system provides absolutely predictable behavior of the car in any situation, and, therefore, confidence behind the wheel.
Now about the steering. The LS 600H has an adaptive electrical power (EPS) with a variable gear ratio (VGRS). The technical description says that the system is able to change the gear ratio within 30%, which corresponds to the angle of rotation of the steering wheel by 130 degrees. At low speed, this means 2.3 turn of the steering wheel from the stop to the stop, at a high speed of 3.7 turns.
Frankly, I myself am not a fan of such systems that can confuse the experienced driver with insufficient predictability of reactions to turn the steering wheel. But in this case, the ability of VGRS should still be recognized as appropriate. Firstly, we are not talking about a sports car adapted for extreme driving, but about a representative car in which priority is given to comfort. Secondly, and this is the main thing on the steering wheel in all cases is the feedback, which helps not to make a mistake with the turning angle. Even during exercises at the landfill, I did not feel difficulties with this. Finally, with an increase in speed, the steering wheel, as it should be, is heavy. Well, at low speeds, a large sedan can be forced to turn even a little finger. At the same time, the Lexus LS 600H has amazing maneuverability. It is enough to say that the radius of the turning of the usual version is 5.7 meters, a long -drawn 5.9 m.
In general, you can think about big and pure.
Berlin Moscow
Oleg Osipov
