Da Hapa

I don't know why but I was thinking of this while reading Edmunds.com long-term review of the 400h. As I understand it, the vehicle uses electical only when creeping along. So how do you warm your motor before driving?

Even though we're lucky enough to live in S. CA, I always let my cars warm a bit (showing some temp. on the oil temp. gauge) before I gingerly enter traffic. How does one do that in a Hybrid?

katzjamr

every rx 400h will run the engine for a period of time on cold start up. this is to circulate oil, provide heat for the cabin if needed and heat the catalytic converters for low emissions. i extend this warmup period by driving more carefully for the first mile or two.

Da Hapa

that's what i figured.

i was thinking how silly it would be to make an environmentally friendly vehicle that didn't do the simplest things to help emissions (like quickly and thoroughly warming the catalytic converter).