Felix Welch is excited. There is a new Lexus that is almost ready to be unveiled here and he is pretty sure people will like it. It is the Lexus LS 600h L and, as Welch is the general manager for Lexus distributor Al Futtaim, it is understandable that he wants to see them fly out of the showrooms in large numbers. But why the excitement? "This is a hybrid that is top of the range," is Welch's short explanation. Hybrids have been associated with smaller cars that might help save the planet but don't excite in the performance department (Lexus's stablemate hybrid, the Toyota Prius has been described as "the saddest little vehicle" by Jeff Dunham, the American comedian.)
But the LS 600h L is a definite departure from the often dull image of green machines. The Mercedes S400 BueHybrid, a direct competitor to the Lexus, is slated for release in August. Meanwhile, the Japanese manufacturer is looking at a launch date for the first quarter of 2010, but an earlier release could be on the cards. "It ticks every box," says Welch proudly of the LS 600h L. "It's greener than the LS 460, it's faster, it's technically cutting-edge."
So, what is the technology of which Welch speaks so highly? The LS 600h L has a 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine as well as an electric motor powered by a battery. When the car starts at the push of a button, it noiselessly comes to life with the electric motor on standby. At low speeds and in stop-start traffic, the car runs on the zero-emissions electric motor but, when you put your foot down, the petrol engine kicks in to provide enough power with a combination of the two motors to provide 380hp but with greater fuel economy.
Rather than charging up the battery by plugging it into a power outlet, the LS 600h L has a system known as regenerative braking. Whenever the driver hits the anchors, the kinetic energy produced during braking is transformed into electricity by a generator and stored for later use. Between the dials and on the centre screen, the driver can constantly check up on the amount of charge left in the battery.
I got to drive one of the cars Lexus is using as a test vehicle to ensure that it is suitable for the heat, sand and dust. When the electric motor is running, it is whisper-quiet, but the petrol engine quickly comes into effect as soon as you floor it. The transition from electric motor to dual power is seamless; so seamless, in fact, that it can do the 0-to-100 kilometre per hour sprint in just 6.3 seconds. This, Welch hopes, will satisfy the high priority drivers here tend to place on power and performance.
"In the UK, for example, fuel economy and low emissions are a priority before performance and technology, but here it tends to be the other way around," says Welch. By pushing the power angle in the marketing, it is hoped that a natural awareness and appreciation of the green benefits and fuel savings of the car will follow. Indeed, so impressive was the burst of power when I found a clear stretch of road and accelerated, there were whoops of joy from the photographer sitting in the back seat.
Along with the performance and the eco-credentials, the element of luxury in the LS 600h L is another important selling point. After all, this is Toyota's premium brand and buyers will expect more than Camry cloth seats and whatever sound system lurks in a Corolla. The long-wheelbase exterior is made a tad more interesting by the sleek strips of chrome running down each side as well as a hint of opalescent blue on the badges.
The interior of the LS 600h L is also impressive. I've never been a massive fan of the styling of Lexuses, but there were some lovely touches on this one. The beige interior was surprisingly stylish, the suede ceiling was a tactile delight, the wood on the gear lever was all class and the leather seats were satisfyingly squishy. Could this be the first Lexus to possess something resembling a soul?
Adding to the plush appeal was an excellent Mark Levinson sound system and a whole world of fun in the back seat. Of particular interest to those who prefer to be chauffeured around is the rear seat massage programme, the DVD player and the anti-paparazzi window shades. The rear centre console has a world of business class airline-style buttons for reclining the seats and raising and lowering the thigh and footrests.
The LS 600h L feels like a proper luxury car and has the combination of power, performance and plushness to appeal to a market that has already proven highly successful for Lexus. For many buyers, the green advantages won't be the number one priority but even if it ends up in garages across the UAE because it makes light work of Emirates Road, the environmental benefits are nothing to be scoffed at. With Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and soon BMW jumping on the hybrid bandwagon in the UAE, the previous hippy image of hybrids may very quickly be a thing of the past.
glewis@thenational.ae