THE new Lexus RX 450h is a curious combination of “goody two- shoes” hybrid energy and unadulterated raw power without a thought in the world for fuel economy and the environment.
Slow and careful driving will keep the driver within the green band on the car’s special dial on the instrument panel and, maybe, even indicate that it is travelling on battery power alone.
But, hit the accelerator and the needle will swing wildly into the power zone, showing that the clever engine is combining battery and engine propulsion together to get the car on the move.
Quite why anyone who pays Pounds 41,000 for a hybrid (Pounds 50,000 in the case of the RX 450h SE-L I was driving) would want to effectively throw away any “green” advantage so expensively purchased by putting their foot down, is beyond me but, as I said, this car is a curious combination.
Even Lexus, while trumpeting its “green” credentials, is also not slow to reveal that the second generation model, new this year, achieves a 10 per cent increase in engine power, resulting in a 0- 62mph time of 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 124mph.
Get anywhere near fake rolex those figures and “green” goes out of the window. But, Lexus also points out that, driven carefully, the RX450h will hit 44mpg with CO2 emissions of 148 g/km - remarkable figures for such a big, luxury motor.
In fact, during this year’s MPG Marathon, a determined Lexus driving team managed to record an average 54.75mpg over more than 350 miles of driving on regular A and B-class roads - and that with a 3.5-litre, V6 petrol engine throbbing under the bonnet.
So, good car, bad car, and, as in all things, it’s not the car to blame but the driver if high standards are not achieved.
For my part, I thoroughly enjoyed the power available from the advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain. In town, and in certain conditions on the open road, it’s gratifying to see just how economical you can be and how often you can run on battery power.
But, when you want to get a move on, the Lexus leaps into sport mode for safe and easy overtaking and to make the miles whizz by.
It’s the green credentials which are the story behind this car, of course, but it is a whole lot more than that. As I have already indicated, it is no “green” mamby pamby which will keep you in the slow lane. It is also a genuine luxury model aimed at the successful top businessman who expects only the best and wants to be proud of the car in the parking lot. For a start it’s bigger all round than its predecessor and has a host of luxury and high tech kit across the four model range from SE to SE-L Premier.
No fewer than 10airbags come as standard along with the likes of leather seats, anti lock brakes and traction control with clever pre- crash safety as options on two models and standard on the SE-L Premier.
As well as front and rear parking sensors there are also parking monitors rear and side. Cruise control, power steering, Bluetooth connectivity and remote touch audio/navigation control with a head- up display. The list goes on and on.
For such a big car it handles extremely well with double wishbone suspension at the rear keep the RX 450h in tramlines through the bends. Roll is barely perceptible thanks to electronically controlled, self levelling air suspension.
As well as all that it’s a handy car for a family with plenty of room front and rear for adults and children and