Test drive Lexus LS 2006 - 2009 sedan

Is there life without oil

At the presentation of the Lexus hybrid drive, the economical word sounded more often than others. Yes, it is hybrid technology that allows our cars to consume less fuel, Raf Shurmans proudly said, the design manager for the Lexus European Department drive systems. But we know: this is how the company demonstrates its latest technologies, many of which have no analogues. And saving here is not the main thing yet.
At the presentation of the Lexus hybrid drive, the economical word sounded more often than others. Yes, it is hybrid technology that allows our cars to consume less fuel, Raf Shurmans proudly said, the design manager for the Lexus European Department drive systems. But we know: this is how the company demonstrates its latest technologies, many of which have no analogues. And saving here is not the main thing yet.
Take the back place right away. This is LS. I appreciated the instructor’s advice almost immediately, as he sat on the second row. It’s good to be a wealthy passenger! Through a wide opening into the salon, you don’t just sit down, you’re going in as a front door. A lot of skin pulled with dense stitches, complete electrification
Lexus is similar to a Japanese robot, performing any instructions for the Joyic. In-Ik, this front chair with light rumbling moves forward, tilts the back and removes the headrest as soon as I press the key on the central remote control. Even with the fingertips raised by the open, there is plenty of place for the legs, and the choice of the mode of the massager built into the back of the sofa can be safely devoted to the lion's share of time on the way. Perhaps it’s better not to come up with. Here it is comfort, erected to the highest degree; The luxury, by all means trying to justify the four million rubles spent on the car.
Everything is like in a regular LS with a bail ling. In addition to the fact that this Lexus LS 600H L has almost nothing to do with the usual.
Today, Lexus presents three hybrid models on the market: RX 400 H crossover, GS 450H sedan and flagship LS 600H L.
 
Why was the rear axle loaded with a heavy battery that eats a significant part of the trunk? Why was the usual transmission replaced with a single unit from an electric motor, a planetary series of power divider, generator and a two -stage gearbox? Then, that the fashionable prefix h to the name of the model is now not given to anyone.
Lexus LS 600h L Machine pleasure. Steel stimulator of your own ego. A car pride for myself: I am a buyer of high technology!
Look, look: the cube has earned! I almost jump out of my chair, completely sincerely, in childishly rejoicing at the pop -up iconograms of saved kilowatts on the screen of an on -board computer. Yes, to whom high technologies, and to whom toys. But beautifully!
You slow down and not in the stupid warm up the atmosphere, but charge your own small power station; This process is called energy recovery. The PCU system (power control device) itself redistributes the moment from the electric motor and heads the battery charge. You go calmly and the charge is done in order the gasoline engine is turned off, the exhaust is zero. You open the throttle more and now the engines work in parallel. You see, save a liter or two of oil.
 
There is another very important feature of a hybrid drive. In the LS model, the Japanese implemented a mechanical connection between the gasoline engine and the rear axle, respectively, using the cardan shaft and the Torsen coupling. This means that even with a discharged battery, the car does not lose all -wheel drive status. This is not on the RX model, deprived of a rigid connection between the internal combustion engine and the rear wheels.
   
The VVT \u200b\u200bsystem provides an optimal intake moment in each cylinder for these specific engine operating conditions. Thus, the powerful and moment characteristic of the internal combustion engine is aligned: the moment increases at high, and, accordingly, power at low speeds.
 
But Greenpeace will not praise you anyway. Injured with a heavy metric of meter -in -electric battery and electric motor, LS 600H L has become more powerful, but not more agile (it loses to the usual LS when overclocking more than half a second). As a result, in order to meet at least liters of 18-20, you need to extremely carefully handle the gas pedal. To call Lexus an economical language does not turn.
The planetary mechanism of the power divider paired with a two -stage gearbox that distributes energy from the electric motor, they have another important property, they provide excellent smoothness, which is almost impossible to achieve with a conventional automatic. The boss from the rear chair should evaluate the technology in its own way.
Already in the evening, after the test, I went to Raf Schurmans. I say: your hybrid is so useful and fuel saves, and the environment protects the environment, and the smoothness with it is excellent, so why do we still go on these remnants of the past with a classic ICE under the hood? What is the problem with exception to transplant everyone to hybrids?
The top manager of the European branch of Lexus, with an excerpt characteristic of manager, began to lay out everything on the shelves: do you know what is the most difficult in such installations? To embody ideas into a working system. Suppose, we are talking about the battery for an electric motor. To make it, special production conditions are needed up to complete sterility of the premises. This, of course, is extremely difficult, and therefore is expensive. For example, we are working on batteries for our cars not alone, but in the Commonwealth with Panasonic.
Another example is the generator rotor. To ensure optimal charging, it should spin at a very high speed: about 15,000 revolutions per minute. Without the highest accuracy of manufacture, the unit simply cannot withstand the load again, the complexity of manufacture entails a rise in the cost of the structure.
So what's the matter! When the cost of a long LS begins far over 3 million rubles, allow yourself to raise the price another percent by 10-15 per model H compared to the top version. Moreover, the most powerful, five-liter engine is offered only in tandem with an electric motor, which already makes LS 600H L the most.
Is it more profitable for Lexus Premium Hybrid Prize of Traditional? The question remained unanswered. Among the words are innovative, technological, something similar to commercially successful from the lips of Mr. Shurmans did not sound. Although, if elite hybrids were just a demonstration of technical power, who would decide to present as many as three models with Schilda H aboard? Most likely, the top manager simply did not want to voice specific numbers.
I also asked about the strange, seemingly behavior of the car in traffic jams. The fact that he rides more economically in the electric protrusion than on the internal combustion engine is clearly, sort of like, a priori. Nevertheless, it was worth us to tightly get stuck on the exit from the city, the electronics chose to completely turn off the engine and not to charge the battery. Paradox?
 
Pay attention to the diagram of harmful emissions into the atmosphere! Raf Shurmans demonstrates graphs related to gasoline and diesel engines, as well as a hybrid. Hybrid technology is aimed at making the car more environmentally friendly, therefore, for example, it is really more advisable to turn off the engine and not to spend gasoline in Zagor. Battery can be recharged with calm modes.
A similar system, a disconnected motor in traffic jams, is, for example, on Mercedes (Eco Start/Stop), but there is its own attack. At stops, all not important electronics (like the air conditioner) simply turn off, or, if there is appropriate additional equipment, with a heavy load falls on a standard battery.
Prices
Hybrid Lexus LS 600L is offered in two trim levels Premium (4 636 500 rubles), and Luxury (4,870,500 rubles).
Their difference is the presence of a ottomank, a massager, a central remote control and a folding headset front chair in the Luxury version.
The set of standard equipment includes 4 zone climate control, front, lateral, knee for the driver and passenger, as well as safety curtains for two rows of seats.
By the way, from the diagram presented by Raf Schurmans, it is clear that a hybrid installation is almost 50% less than a chain in the atmosphere than an ordinary gasoline engine. Revolution, breakthrough, sensation? Not really. If we compare the eco-indicators of the 5.0-liter unit of the LS model with competitors, the advantage will not be so impressive. Suppose, 407-horsepower eight from BMW at 4.4 liters has an emission of CO2 266 g/km, while LS 600H 219 g/km.
Given the fact that the Lexus motor for 600 cubes is larger (but 11 hp is weaker), the result is worthy: the advantage of almost 18%, but the spirit of the sensation somehow evaporated. It was worth immediately noting the registration of the Prius Class table on the side of the table. So, only for golf class is relevant only
However, they do not hide Lexus: they do not expect to earn glasses from Greenpeace, but simply keep up with the times, sometimes even ahead of it.
So far, the electric motor is not a replacement for the internal combustion engine, but only favorably complements it.
How will it be next? We are looking forward to competitors in the hybrid market. Mr. Schurmans notes. It is like an impetus for the development of own technologies. Over time, we will transfer more functions to electronics, electric motors will become more powerful, batteries are more voluminous. Cars will become cleaner and more economical. Well, life without oil so far, alas, is not expected.
Lexus LS 600H L AKP
Specifications:
(manufacturer data)
Dimensions, mm (d x w x c) 5150x1875x1480
Equipped mass, kg 2320
Trunk volume, l 330
Engine volume and power, l (l. P. At rpm) 5.0 (394/6400)*
Maximum torque, NM at about /min 520 /4000
Acceleration to 100 km/h, from 6.3
Maximum speed, km/h 250
Fuel consumption (city/highway) l/100 km 8/11.3
* The power of the gasoline engine. The power of the electric motor (maximum) 224 hp, torque 300 nm.

Text: Alexander Mikhailov
Photo: author and Lexus

   
 

Source: Wheel magazine [October 2008]