Toyota unveils its priciest hybrid (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/4813156.html)


TOKYO — Toyota's commitment to hybrid automobiles was on full display Thursday when it unveiled its most expensive gasoline-electric vehicle yet — the $124,000 luxury sedan Lexus LS.

Toyota, which has introduced two other hybrid Lexus models, said the hybrid LS went on sale in Japan Thursday.

Starting next month, it will roll out gradually in Europe, North America and Asia, including China, and other regions.

Toyota expects to sell 7,000 Lexus LS cars in 2007, including 4,000 in Japan. The company did not give other regional breakdowns.

It is supposed to compete with other premium 12 cylinder cars, and when you think of it in that light it is a total bargain. I bet $124,000 already includes most, if not all, of the pricey options.

I am sure this car will do quite well for Lexus, especially in the LA area.

Hell no. I wouldn't spend that on a Lexus sedan hybrid or not.

I don't get it... If someone was so concerned with fuel consumption and enviromental issues as to buy a hybrid, they probably wouldn't want want a V-12.

This is the automotive equivalent of a quadruple bacon cheeseburger and extra large chili cheese fries....... with a diet coke.

If I had $1,000,000,000 I would buy one....not.

For 120k, I could afford enough gasoline to drive a gas guzzling vehicle like a Hummer or an RX-8 for many, many years.

every Hollywood nut job would have one ...

With that kind of money, why do they need to save on gas????

I guess this would be the car of a very rich person pretending they are trying to do something for the environment. I wonder what its mpg rating really is? Hybrid only makes sense if its really saving gas.

i would get one if i had money... just so that i could talk down on others that didn't have money to buy one. and still be all vegan and all corporate hippie about it.

So somehow a $110000 5000+ pound car can be a statement that I care about the world around me?

...people are so stupid.

No. Save the money and buy a Prius and the regular LS.

every Hollywood nut job would have one ...


This is exactly what I was thinking. They get a fast, expensive status symbol and then they can pretend they're being environmental conscious.

The main reason people buy $100+ luxury sedans is for image. This car is also SULEV which no other 12 cylinder car can claim

I wouldnt pay 2 dollars for a hybrid......

This car is also SULEV which no other 12 cylinder car can claim

That's a positive point. But what about mileage? I can't find what the gas mileage is projected to be for this vehicle. But I looked up the GS hybrid, a V6, (http://www.lexus.com/models/GSh/detailed_specifications.html) and it's:

City (mpg) - estimated 25 [5]
Highway (mpg) - estimated 28 [5]

Am I reading this right? That's hardly spectacular mileage for a non-hybrid. I wonder what mileage will be when there are 12 cylinders.

Considering other 12 cylinder sedans see low teens and sometimes single digit fuel economy.......getting 20mpg in mixed driving would be a huge accomplishment for this car.

However, I've never heard a rich person complain about gas prices. This car is going to sell based on the perception surrounding hybrid's world changing technology rather than the sad reality of 20mpg fuel economy (same as my Mustang GT).

Well, maybe Al Gore doesn't want to be seen driven around in a Prius.

Well, maybe Al Gore doesn't want to be seen driven around in a Prius.

:yelrotflm

How much energy does it cost to build this thing?

Morons.

Whoever buys this is a moron and is wasting energy.

With $124,000 I could-
1. Buy an RX8
2. Plant a crapload of trees.

My spending would be far more ennergy efficient.

the car is black not

meh

I don't get it... If someone was so concerned with fuel consumption and enviromental issues as to buy a hybrid, they probably wouldn't want want a V-12.

This is the automotive equivalent of a quadruple bacon cheeseburger and extra large chili cheese fries....... with a diet coke.

great analogy

lol 124K, won't buy a hybrid luxury sedan, but might buy my dream car-- GT3.

Well, maybe Al Gore doesn't want to be seen driven around in a Prius.

that's why he flies everywhere and is chauferred to every venue and owns like 3-4 mansions etc etc....because he "cares" so much about the environment. :rolleyes:

On another note, I don't think they built this car to be practical, I think they built it to show they could build it. This is like the Lexus version of the Ford GT, or even better the Cadillac 16. It's not so much to make money or sell them as much as it is a statement car and to promote their name and show off the technology etc. a little more.

that's why he flies everywhere and is chauferred to every venue and owns like 3-4 mansions etc etc....because he "cares" so much about the environment. :rolleyes:

On another note, I don't think they built this car to be practical, I think they built it to show they could build it. This is like the Lexus version of the Ford GT, or even better the Cadillac 16. It's not so much to make money or sell them as much as it is a statement car and to promote their name and show off the technology etc. a little more.

They wanted to prove that they would build a better S600/760il AND it is still SULEV and gets 20+ combined MPG. An extra 5 or 10 mpg wouldn't have persuaded anyone to buy it that wasn't going to before.