Test Drive Lexus Ls since 2009 Sedan

Comparative Test: Jaguar XJR Super V8 and Lexus LS600HL vs Mercedes S550 and Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT

Large sedans with comfort transported four solid people. Large engines willingly give out 400 selected horses. The price tags sparkle with sums close to $ 100,000. And, most importantly, the steering is large ego. You see, simple rich people in the garage stands a lot of huge luxury sedans, of which they are chosen by the mood, and each copy stands in the area of \u200b\u200b$ 80,000. Therefore, we, simple people, it remains only to guess what the owner cost exactly this luxurious car, and What kind of sending it is designed to convey to others. Maybe she is destined to show subordinates in the company that the chic corner office is busy with the boss forever, it is possible to demonstrate the neighbors around the quarter, who is here alpha-male, and can show partners in a closed club, who is here Mr. Large without visits to the steam room. Whatever the promise, we decided to select the best means to express the above-mentioned ideas in English, Italian, Japanese and German.
Choose applicants for a sedan test worth about $ 100,000 of the first three countries was very simple. From Japan we took a fresh unsurpassed Lexus. Without having in stock V12, Lexus LS600HL is content with the 5-liter hybrid V8 Hybrid Synergy Drive with a 438 fuel injection system with a capacity of 438 combined hp (The leader of this test according to this indicator) with an advantage in the form of 444 km of stroke between refills, and in urban mode (who is generally thinking about the economy of cars of this class?). The standard configuration contains such high-tech toys like an intuitive parking sensor, fully adaptive diode front optics, an audio system of 19 columns Mark Levinson and a full drive system with an inter-axis differential.
 
The old woman of Britain provided the complete opposite of Lexus: the fully aluminum extended version of the super sirowner Jaguar Xjr Super V8. Of course, he has with Lexus and general features, including radar cruise control, voice control of controls and a computer (it is the navigator) with a touchscreen display, but this car, a little modified for the current model year inside and outside, is an embodiment of a classic Charm. It is stuffed by expensive trees and leather, which can be found in the decoration of the ancient Cathedral of St. Anthony.
 
Italian exotic is represented by Maserati Quattroporte. Presented in 2004 and strongly resembling the Ferrari at that time, by now this machine finally got a normal 6-speed automatic, although Mazochists still have the opportunity to get this car with an unpredictable robotic DUO-SELECT mechanic. We have chosen the Sport GT version because of its more sports 20-inch wheels, although even it is most comfortable as possible. Three configurations with paint-chameleon, finishing various varieties of wood and leather are available.
 
But with the choice of German car I had to be fine. As an option, we considered the BMW B7 Alpina, but firstly, the seventh series now came into decay, and, secondly, we were not able to find the driver who wished to fight with a non-tech idrive system, so that this candidacy had to be rejected. Audi S8 with a V10, which can also be found under the hood of Lamborghini Gallardo, looked very tempting, but the mass distribution on the axes in the 59/41 ratio and the four-wheel drive lubricate a picture of the control, and the body is perhaps unnecessary conservative. Therefore, for the test, we chose the newest technologies packed by the latest technology and slightly narrowed Mercedes-Benz S550. The model that appeared in 2007 is equipped with a 7-speed automatic transmission and options such as the Night-View Assist and the Distronic Cruise Control System, which can fully stop the car and then resume movement in the stream.
 
So, the test participants are presented, you can proceed to check, which one of these nothesive healthy, the best of all can sweeten the pride of the owner.
Our tests began in the south of Orjng County on a large level section of the highway, where you can estimate the interior, plenty of playing with the control buttons and try out the audio system of each of the applicants for the title of the best. To produce your unique impression of these cars you need quite a bit of time. Thanks to the new acoustic glass, hermetic seal around the perimeter of the hood and modern noise insulation materials, the internal space of Jaguar turned out to be much quieter than the competitors. Even quieter than Lexus, the dunlop SP SPORT MAXX 101, which is waged in summer tires, producing a lot of noise and eating sensitive cotton on the road junctions. (Only Jaguar turned out to be all-season rubber). And Lexus, and Jaguar navigation systems are equipped with a touchscreen display, while Maserati and Mercedes-Benz, the navigation system is controlled by a joystick on the like computer mouse. Perhaps, Lexus is the easiest way to find a common language due to a large number of auxiliary buttons, although their accumulation on the central console deprives the interior of the aura of luxury and ease, and does not save even the decoration of a strange red-brown. At a speed of 120 km / h, the engineering sensor arrow rests on the border between Power and Economy modes, and the Mark Levinson audio system delays the hearing the most delightful sounds of everyone.
Mercedes made a real masterpiece from the joystick control, placing it under a pretty armrest and adds such a number of right buttons so that each of the most frequently used functions received its own. The way output of information in S550 is also unusual. Radar cruise control, for example, displays the specified speed on the speedometer, and displays information about the speed of each of the machines moving ahead in the zone of its reach and shows how slowly you have to move if you do not find the way to go around them. In Lexus and Jaguar, everything is much easier: while you move within the specified speed, the indicator is on. This high-tech is impregnated with all the inner space, made in accordance with the requirements of modern fashion and decorated inserts from wood, underlined thin strips of chrome metal. In such a situation, I want to relax and enjoy what the suspension is quite promoted: the most soft and at the same time gives the right amount of information about the road. Maserati suspension, on the contrary, is very informative, although there is no excessive stiffness in it, even at high speed. The quality of the tree and the skin in the interior decoration is comparable to the quality of the materials used in the jaguar interior, but the design of the design is true Italian: the patterned red tree decorates the door panels and the central part of the front panel, and the tree drawing is located in such a way as if two arrows stretch throughout the salon And meet in the center of the cabin, pointing forward. Also, the choice is provided with carbon wood, black piano colors or five other colors. The most pleasant in the interface of the computer / navigation system was its significant improvement compared to previous Maserati models, and all this. Understanding this car can be appreciated only after a long and thorough study or re-reading instruction manual.
At the rear seats, you can say a lot about these cars. In Jaguar, the rear sofa is equipped with individual climate control, DVD displays, sun blinds and folding tables (elegant way to put dust into the eyes, because it will not be able to write anything to me for me to eat). Each of these two soft pliable seats has the ability to change the angle of inclination of the back (electric), heating, and the memory of three positions. In Lexus and Mercedes, the rear passengers are 0.05 m3 more than in Jaguar, but there is a minimum of extra amenities, except for the mirrors for passengers and a small refrigerator for drinks in Lexus. (Multifunctional thrones are also in the other). Mercedes boasts the drive side of the side curtains, so the paparazzi should leave attempts to shoot passengers in the rear seat, but the seats are the same tough as the German dictation during the war years. Maserati turned out to be the smallest rear seat, but at the same time it is the most convenient for sleep if you throw back the back and raise the front of the sofa.
 
 
The next stage of our test was 32 km of the route to Mount Palomar (because of her reputation), in order to receive even more impressions about the participants of the competition. All-wheel drive LEXUS stubbornly demonstrated insufficient rotation in most turns on this site, very often triggered the sound warning signal of the stabilization system. If you turn off, the irritating sounds will disappear, and the effect will remain. And, despite the set of transverse stability stabilizers worth $ 3,000, LS 600HL larger no less, or even more than the other dough participants, even in Sport mode. The cool lifting contributed to the rapid discharge of the battery (although the intensive effect on the gas pedal leads to this result on any type of road), and the variable variator run through 8 virtual gears with a periodic pressing of the accelerator pedal to the floor led to the outression of the overheating of the hybrid system. As a result, we believe that the variator is not worth the place in the trunk that he occupies (instead of it there would be a bag with golf clubs), and after this test, everyone had a persistent desire to correct in the name of the model 600 per 500.
At first, it is very unusual to overclock the luxurious Jaguar up on this highway, but then you notice that he, like the best English butler, listens to the driver impeccably. Yes, there is a small body roll in turns, and tires are sometimes noisy (less than Lexus), but at the same time it is very easy to control them. The steering wheel is lightweight, but responsive and informative, and the stabilization system is perhaps the most liberal of the presented. One of our editors managed to put the car into a skid by all four wheels before the electronics worked and returned it to the previous course. Nevertheless, the lack of side support from new seats hints at the fact that this car implies a different ride style.
Mercedes S500, equipped with an adaptive suspension Active Body Control for $ 3,920, showed the absence of rolls, and its tires never emit unpleasant sounds. The stabilization system is turned off in some way. It is only possible to press gas when leaving the turn, as the light demolition of the rear axle is felt, which, however, is quickly supplied with electronics. It is difficult to name annoying even in fully active mode. You can switch the transmissions using stealing petals (most of all we liked the fixed levers in Maserati), although the adaptive gear shift logic at the S550 is so good to hold downward transmissions in complex turns and with a slight rise that there is no need to use switches (at 6-speed box Maserati There is no such logic, so the aluminum switching levers has to be used quite actively).
Undoubtedly, the Italian was pleased with the most striking performance on the highway to Mount Palomar. This car has a mass distributed over the axes in a ratio of 48/52, which, when using 20-inch disks, allows rolls to minimize the rolls. This car has such a clutch with an expensive that the stabilization system turns out to be practically unnecessary, if it comes to dry asphalt. The steering is the same informative and honed, like Ferrari 599, and irregularities and joints are unable to knock him down from the planned course (although they are felt quite clear in the cabin). Having a second result by the ratio of mass to power and shorter transmissions at least 20% shorter than other cars in this test, Quattroporte demonstrates amazing acceleration dynamics without much effort, issuing selected sound of the configured release, which adds severity and without That extravagant image.
Finally, we drove our cars through a series of track trials, where they demonstrated strikingly similar results. Only 0.3 seconds it shares them on the quotier, although the test of Maserati is strongly ahead of rivals, demonstrating also the best results in the stop test from the speed of 100 km / h 3261 m against 40.84 m at Jaguar. The side acceleration of Quattroporte is also above all silence of 0.91g (ahead of opponents of 0.08-0.11g), and he went for a second faster than everyone with the best side acceleration. Completes this series of the test, on the results of which we would not pay attention if it were not for the presence of a green hybrid. This fuel consumption. Per 100 km Lexus spent 15.79 liters of fuel against 18-20 liters spent by other participants. Savings turned out to be all around 15%.
 
 
Summing up, I would like to note that Lexus seemed to us the perfect option for the general director of the company, which earned its millions, sinking the depths of our planet, and now he wants to somnake their guilt. Nothing except sent forgive me, please. I am not like Hapuga, as we think we did not find in this car. Its complacency annoyed us no less undeserved Badzha 600. We would prefer to burn rubber on LS 460L, which is cheaper than LS600HL by $ 33,000, so Lexus today finishes the last. Jaguar Super V8 as if he says: I am from those who climbs the career stairs. And I succeeded in this. This causes respect, we liked to ride in this powerful Boudar, and its value pleased us (relatively, of course), so we have given the third place. Mercedes-Benz S550 may be the best car in this test for all objective parameters. He has a charming appearance and a beautiful interior, its dynamics can not do not admire the technological solutions used here. For many years, it causes respect in any country of the world, and his promise sounds like: This representative of the ruling top is not afraid of the future.
But the only car to whom we unconditionally gave their preference, up to readiness to sell the soul for the possession of them, Maserati became. It seems to me that this is the easiest-controlled sedan of everyone, which I had to sit behind the wheel, says Saint Anthony, having risen on the top of the Palomar Mountain, which, given his more than twenty years of experience assessing sports sedans, can be considered the highest praise. Nobody decided to argue with this statement. We know that this car can bring your owner to white crown in the process of changing the CD, because the CD changer is under the steering column. You can get out of yourself, waiting until the navigation system calculates the route. It is infinitely annoying that it is necessary to unwind the starter three to four times to start the engine (like any ordinary machine), and that the driver's belt creaks, etc. But you forget about everything, when you are inside the car, which literally shouts for you: I have been so special that this delightful car was done specifically for me, and you were lucky at least for a moment to see her. Maserati is like a glamorous car of Formula 1, and we were physically painful to part with him. If you are ready to spend on buying cars $ 116,500 Plus some options, you don't need to look for anything else.
First place: Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT
Affects the centers of pleasure as none of the sedanov known to us.
Second place: Mercedes-Benz S550
Right luxury sedan.
Third place: Jaguar Super V8
Hides modern technology for the elegance of the 19th century.
Fourth place: Lexus LS 600HL
Does not justify expectations in the plan of dynamics, nor in economy, nor in luxury.
 
 

A source: junal Motor Trend.