| The centrepiece on Lexus’s stand at the IAA
show was the hybrid power GS 450h. The high performance prestige saloon
will be making its European show debut, ahead of going on sale next year.
The GS 450h is the second Lexus production model to feature hybrid drive
technology, following the launch of the RX 400h premium SUV earlier this
year. It has a drivetrain that combines a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with
a high-output electric motor for a maximum power output in excess of 300bhp,
sufficient to move the car from rest to 62mph in less than six seconds.
At the same time, the high efficiency of the hybrid system means that
fuel consumption and carbon dioxide exhaust emissions levels are comparable
with those from saloons with conventional four-cylinder, two-litre petrol
engines.
A new generation the Lexus SC 430 coupé-cabriolet will be unveiled
at Frankfurt, extensively remodelled for 2006. The revisions include styling
changes, improvements to the interior and a higher specification with
the introduction of Lexus’s Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS).
AFS, already available on RX, GS and LS models, swivels the headlamp beams
in line with the vehicle’s speed and steering angle to provide better
illumination through bends. The 2006 SC 430 will go on sale throughout
Europe in November.
Lexus’s most eagerly anticipated new model, the new generation IS,
will also be featured at Frankfurt, ahead of the car’s launch at
the end of the year. It will have the distinction of being the first Lexus
to feature a diesel engine, a four-cylinder common rail unit producing
175 bhp and 400 Nm of torque, which makes it the most powerful in its
displacement class.
The new IS will also be equipped with an advanced package of safety systems,
including 10 airbags and will be the first car in the world to be fitted
with a twin-chamber front passenger airbag, enabling greater protection
to the neck and shoulders in an impact. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
with Pre-Crash Safety will also be available.
Mark Levinson has designed a new 10-channel, 14-speaker 300W surround
system for 5.1 home theatre DVD entertainment, which can be controlled
through the Lexus Navigator display screen on the IS’s centre console.
Also on display will be the LF-A supercar concept, Lexus’s fourth
design study developing the new L-finesse styling principles. LF-A combines
the luxury and refinement of a true Lexus with the power and driving dynamics
of a high performance two-seater supercar.
The LF-A’s engine produces more than 500 bhp, yet has a displacement
of less than five litres. The vehicle also has an exceptionally compact
design, with very short front and rear overhangs, and a perfect front
to rear weight balance, essential to achieving the best possible high
speed handling and stability.
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