How to say, "I’m rich, but I care" with your car

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Under the Hood

This is where the primary difference lies between this and the regular LS 460. That car’s 4.6-liter V8 engine has been stroked to 5.0-liters, and by itself produces 389 horsepower and 385 lb.-ft. of torque. When coupled with the hybrid’s electric motor, power increases to 438 hp. It’s all routed to a 600h-specific all-wheel drive system that uses a Torsen center differential and a continuously variable transmission similar to but smaller than the one in the GS 450h. The hybrid system works as we’ve seen in previous Lexus and Toyota systems; the engine shuts off at a stop, you have limited electric-only ability at light throttle, regenerative braking recharges the batteries, etc. The LS 600h L also boasts an “EV” feature, where you can manually select electric-only to stealthily cruise through parking structures until you get low on juice. Like other hybrid versions of gas-powered cars, the LS 600h L loses a big chunk of its trunk space, going from cavernous 18 cu. ft. in the 460 and 460 L to only 11.7 cu. ft. in the hybrid.

Safety and Technology

Safety is as luxurious as anything else these days, and on the high end of the spectrum is where you see the highest technology. In addition to the usual array of stability control, adaptive cruise control and headlights, accident avoidance radar and airbags found in high-end luxury cars, the LS 600h L boasts the world’s first driver monitor. Two cameras peer at your face from atop the steering column, and through recognition software can tell if you’re looking forward or not. It combines with all the other safety systems to alert you if it senses that you’re distracted (looking to the side) or sleepy (head nodding forward) when the car is approaching an object, beeping to alert you. Failing that, the safety systems take over by tightening the seatbelt, priming the brakes and basically getting ready to crash if you’re sound asleep, although we think all that could be avoided if they could just get it to shout “THE DOW IS CRASHING!” in your broker’s voice.