Judging by the news at the beginning of the year, there will be no shortage of competitors for the German luxury saloons. The new Lexus LS 500h is one of them.
As in 2016 with the LC range, Lexus will take advantage of the two major motor shows in the first quarter of the year (Detroit and Geneva) to present a new range of LS models. After having unveiled the combustion engine variant – 3.5 liter twin-turbo capable of developing 421 hp and 600 Nm of maximum torque, in Geneva it will be Lexus' turn to present the hybrid variant.Linking performance to more efficient driving
About the hybrid engine, Lexus prefers to keep it a secret from the gods until the Helvetic event, but it is almost certain that the Lexus LS 500h will adopt the Hybrid Multi Stage system: two electric motors (one to charge the batteries and the other to assist the combustion engine), a 3.5 liter V6 block and an e-CVT gearbox supported by a 4-speed automatic transmission, all assembled in sequence.
TESTED: We have already driven the new Lexus IS 300h in Portugal
The hybrid version maintains the dimensions of the standard model – 5 235 mm long, 1 450 mm high and 1 900 mm wide – but is closer to the ground – more 41 mm and 30 mm at the rear and front respectively. Moreover, in terms of design and technology, the Lexus LS 500h should not stray too far from the solutions adopted in the gasoline version.The complete LS range will be available later this year, but it should only arrive in Portugal at the beginning of 2018. Before that, it will be on display at the Geneva Motor Show, in March.