Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Company, the sole distributor for Lexus in Qatar, recently organised a test drive event for the media with the latest Lexus models such as hybrid vehicles RX 450h and GS 450h, sports vehicles RCF and GSF and the IS 350 sedan.
Lexus GS 450h is a premium executive saloon with a full hybrid powertrain. The first hybrid model ever marketed by Lexus, it marked the world’s first mass-produced rear-wheel drive luxury hybrid vehicle.
Although the engine at the heart of the GS 450h was the same 3.5-litre V6 powering the GS 350, it was assisted by a high-output, permanent magnet electric motor that endowed the car with sports car-like performance combined fuel economy typical of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder saloon, and low emission levels.
Unlike other GS models, this power plant was paired with a continuously variable transmission.
The RX 450h has a completely re-engineered 3.5-litre direct-injected V6 hybrid engine (2GR-FXS), which is an evolution of the base six-cylinder drivetrain and produces a combined system output of 308hp at 6,300 rpm with 34.2kg-m of torque at 4,600 rpm.
The RX 450h also features newly shaped intake ports and combustion chambers that generate a high degree of tumble inside the cylinders and improve combustion.
The hybrid-powered drivetrain in the all-new Lexus RX is the latest, most advanced iteration of the Lexus Hybrid Drive system.
The Lexus IS 350 suggests speed and agility. Cockpit-like design, multiway adjustable front seats, dashboard with an operation zone and a display zone, and longer wheelbase which increases rear seat space and luggage capacity are among the highlights.
The Lexus RC F sports coupe was designed for optimum grip and handling agility, offering reduced roll, higher cornering speeds and enhanced cornering effectiveness.
The RC F has an all-new 5.0-litre 32-valve V8 engine that provides maximum power at higher engine revolutions than previously possible.
For the first time in a Lexus performance engine, the RC F uses the Atkinson cycle at cruising speeds for enhanced fuel economy.
In the Atkinson cycle, the inlet valves are held open longer than normal to allow a reverse flow of intake air into the intake manifold, thereby decreasing pumping loss and increasing thermal efficiency.
A uniquely tuned 8-speed Sports Direct Shift transmission improves linear response to accelerator-pedal operation, letting the driver feel more immersed in the torque and power as it is applied.
The GSF also has a 5.0-litre 32-valve V8 engine that provides maximum power at higher engine revolutions than previously possible.
The engine is Lexus’ most powerful V8 engine, with 12% more power than the IS F engine on which it is based.
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