Originally Posted by natnut

I pray not. So many cars have been switched to turbocharging as the lazy way out of meeting emissions and fuel economy standards at the expense of a linear throttle response that an uncorrupted smooth revving smooth responding DRIVER'S car may become an endangered species in mainstream sports sedans. Just look at the latest 535i and 335i at how expediency has triumphed over driving enjoyment <<shudder>>

Please Lexus don't blindly follow the germans off this cliff. Your drivetrains have always been bulletproof AND innovative - come up with something more imaginative then this wretched path the germans have taken. At least wait until you've found a way of eliminating the infamous BMW throttle lag before going down the turbocharging route.

I'd like to think that in a world where most sports sedan makers have abandoned keen drivers just to chase the bottom line( I'm looking at you BMW), Lexus will hold the line and commit to an uncorrupted purist driving experience.

Originally Posted by Infra

What about Audi's supercharged v6 that is making something like 350 HP (although rated at 330), with a linear throttle response, or Porsche's VTG turbos that also have no throttle lag?

Don't fault the technology when it's actually a lack of technology that is at fault.

Originally Posted by peteharvey

With the skyrocketing price of petrol in Europe often over $5/liter, there is a lot of pressure to turbocharge, especially for the European market.

Thus, it may be best to have two motors: a naturally aspirated 2.5 V6 for the US where gasoline is cheap, and a turbocharged in-line four pot for Europe where petrol has exorbitant prices...

Originally Posted by cino

I believe that hybrid (electric motor) is way better than force induction as far as fuel economy is concerned.

Originally Posted by peteharvey

I suspect that they would use the atmospheric 2.5 V6 and 2.0 turbo as base motors, because they are cheaper to manufacture, esp the 2.0 turbo.

Next up, the Europeans love to use diesels/turbo-diesels for economy.

Finally, we have the hybrid.
The hybrid has advantages and disadvantages.
The hybrid has superb bottom end torque, with superb linear power delivery - that no supercharger nor turbo can match.
However, the hybrid is also considerably more expensive to manufacture than the turbos and turbo diesels.
Furthermore, the hybrid's battery and electric motors are often 100 kg/220 pounds heavier, considerably affecting the car's speed of change in direction, and terminal grip [dynamics].
There is no perfect engine.

Not a bad idea to use all four engines:
1) the 2.0 turbo, and 2.0 turbo diesel for Europe,
2) while using the 2.5 V6 and 2.5 V6 hybrid for USA...

Originally Posted by LH1

Cool!!


Where'd you find those?