2013 Lexus LS 600h L

Not many can or are willing to pay 6-figures for a new car but for those accustomed to a certain level of luxury there is no substitute.  And with the LS, Lexus is offering its customers a feel-good hybrid option.  And just when you thought BMW had the worst alphanumeric names in the industry, get a load of this: this is the Lexus 600 lower case ‘h’ capital ‘L.’

All of the LS sedans have been redesigned for 2013, but in a lineup which includes the LS 460, 460L and 460 F SPORT the 600h L is top dog.  With a combined system output of 438 horsepower it’s the only LS to motor with the upsized 5.0-liter V8 making it the quickest all-wheel drive LS model with a 0-to-60mph time of 5.5-seconds.  And prepare yourself; it’s also the most expensive with a base MSRP of $120,805.  That’s a whopping $35,000 more than the next costliest LS, the 460 F SPORT AWD – a prime example of premium pricing for the right to exclusivity.

The LS showcases the new bolder Lexus design permeating the brand adding some grit to a car with a history of very conservative styling.  But the biggest splash is made inside where this hybrid is distinguished by gorgeous matte bamboo, flaxen leather and aluminum trim.  I fell in love with this combination in the GS450h I drove last year and it still looks spectacular – warm, modern and inviting.

As you can imagine, Lexus gives this LS everything it has from its comfort, convenience and safety arsenal and most of it is standard.  My tester does take it a step further with a $6,500 bundling of new cutting edge electronics – including the Advanced Pre-Collision Safety system that can detect stationary pedestrians and those moving at speeds up to 3mph and stop the vehicle from a speed of 24mph if a collision with another vehicle is imminent.  A driver attention monitor that can tell whether or not your eyes are on the road is another feature in this tech heavy package, bringing the as tested price to $127,555.

Though the adaptive air suspension includes selectable modes ranging from Eco, normal, comfort, Sport S to Sport S+, this LS is first and foremost about quiet, composed, supple luxury cruising.  Which isn’t to say you can’t find a snarky side in the red-gauge transformation of sport mode, but driving this car hard isn’t as much about fun as it is an exercise in physics-defying confidence.  Lexus has stuck with the heavier nickel metal hydride batteries for the 2 motor hybrid system leading to a curb weight of over 5,100 pounds.  The full-time all-wheel drive system is fed its torque through a CVT which is smooth as butter but unpleasing in its sounds when driven with verve.  Gas-electric hybrid operation is seamless and pours on the thrust, particularly during passing maneuvers where the LS shoots effortlessly past its target.  But being a passenger is perhaps the best part of the LS Hybrid experience.

The Lexus LS offers up all of the executive-class spaciousness and vast array of creature comforts we’ve come to expect from this level of car including rear seats which are pulsating with heated and cooled action including power lumbar.

And as soon as the car is started, the Front Seat Climate Concierge monitors the temperature zones including the seats and steering wheel and brings them to the set comfort level automatically.  Whether you’re in the front or the back, the goodies are plentiful and integrated without clutter and designed for ease of use.

But with a hybrid reducing 10 cubic feet of trunk space, the EPA actually classifies this long wheelbase LS as a midsize.  And at 19mpg city/23mpg highway…no improvement from last year mind you, this LS will have you asking where’s the hybrid?  It’s only 2mpg combined better than its gas counterpart, of course on premium unleaded.  So even though it’s a beautiful luxury car, the lack of powertrain innovation Lexus has shown on this hybrid redesign runs contrary to the brand’s ethos and is frankly dumbfounding at this exorbitant price.  This combination of luxury, power and efficiency can be purchased for far less over at Audi’s garage.