What does Power mode actually do? What's happening technically?

 

i heard people say both engines work together

 

I'm no expert but I noticed it does go slightly quicker in terms of acceleration I think all it does is from my experience of looking at the consumption screen is that the electric engine joins the petrol engine alot quicker than normal (the slightest touch on the throttle) so you get both working simultaneously sooner than in normal mode - but thats not a technical description! I'm sure someone else on here will have much better info.

 

doesn't make sense to me why that would reduce fuel economy...

 

when you are in pwr mode, you want power, not fuel efficiency.....

 

driving in sport takes out the "lag" when accelerating.
It's even less than normal, which is still great, especially on the highway at 70mph+.

 

no one knows what the button does? I appreciate the responses, but none of them are technical and none really make sense to me.

 

the usual stuff like higher shifting points, stays in gear longer, more aggressive downshifts, shorter gearshifts, etc.

as for the hybrid part, both gas and electric motors work together to provide max power.

 

Hybrid has a CVT

 

In power mode the CVT will still choose a higher gear ratio to increase engine speed and therefore torque/acceleration.. The principle still applies with or without a conventional tranny.

 

Just like everyone said:

Hybrid motor and engine are working together (as opposed to electric then engine), the CVT settings will be more aggressive, throttle response much more crisp and overall the car feel more alive and more sporty. I have mine on at all time, so I can't comment on the fuel economy change...

 

I've driven the GS450h at Laguna Seca last year in both NORM and PWR mode. Responsiveness in Power mode is a world of difference. Throttle response is instantaneous, and the engine stays planted into redline and hustles the car in a very peculiar way. It's a little odd to not hear the transmission shift, but rather the engine stays at maximum RPM at WOT until you let off. It's just as if you accidentally pushed the car into neutral and floored it the whole time...but in this case, with increasing speed.

 

I wonder why CVT isn't even as an option on gas-only 3GS?! It sounds so cool!