CVT transmissions also break after time. BADLY.

 

The 600's transmission is a theoretical CVT. It is still an eight speed geared unit. However, it is computer assisted to provide a CVT-like smooth response. Lexus chose to categorize it that way as it is unique in its performance and is more akin to CVT characteristics. You can expect this approach to become more popular than the pure CVT in the future due to its inherent durability.

 

Thats weird...it's either a 8 or a CVT. LS trannies are super smooth as they are. I can barely feel mine and it's an 02. Nevertheless, it's no CVT. I'd love to see the diagram for this "theoretical CVT".

 

Nauticalx, You are correct, it is purely politically correct and good corp image to make the largest flag ship car with the largest engine a partial hybrid. It keeps the tree huggers at bay.

You are smart enough to actually figure out how the car works. Whats funny is Lex had to pump up the liters and the HP just to keep the car as fast as the 460. Pushing an AWD trans and the weight of an electric motor the 600 may be not as fast as the 460swb, we will see, but it is PC when you show up at parties .

 

You're right, it's no CVT, it's an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT) (i.e. theoretical).

You can get further details here.

 

The problem with this all is the dichotomy of producing what people need (perhaps) vs. what they want.

Hybrids as they are presently produced have very little to do with increased fuel economy. Most of them have to do with producing cars with increased power than their normal counterparts.

Why don't all the car makers produce hybrids with 1.4L engines instead of 3.3L engines? Because people don't want them. They are producing what people want to buy. Of course, they are shrewd enough to hide them under the "green" politically correct credentials of being a hybrid, but in reality they are just making faster cars that people want to buy.

Did the NY Times reporter just wake up and realize this???

They don't bother with the hybrid "nonsense" in Europe. They just buy diesels.

 

I wonder what kind of fuel economy (highway) numbers they would have gotten increased simply by adding a variable displacement cylinder deactivation feature on the 4.6 or even the 5.0 without adding the hybrid motor.

 

Not sure. GS 450h is advertised as 25 city/28 highway with a detuned 3.5 V-6. The car weighs 4100lbs.

 

Yes, but we'll see how it does with the more realistic new EPA methods.

 

I believe those are the revised numbers.

 

Sorry Mike, not trying to argue, but according to Lexus' web site they will use the revised figures for 2008 model year and the current GS450 listed is still the 2007 model.

From lexus.com when clicking on 'mpg':

And from the FAQ:

Don't know if this link will work but here goes:

http://lexus2.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/l...Z2U9MQ**&p_li=

 

Finally, according to Edmunds...

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fuelec...2/article.html

 

Well the figures for the LS 600h L are 2008 figures, most of the reviewers figured that out and compared to the LS 460 with this in mind.