Intelligent Hybrid: 2013 Lexus GS 450h

by Carsurfer Admin on 2012/02/27 in Lexus with Comments Off on Intelligent Hybrid: 2013 Lexus GS 450h
Lexus

Lexus is a luxury brand that is in transition, and those changes are in response to two factors beyond its control: customer perceptions and geological forces. With the former, Lexus has responded by changing its design language from restrained to bold. With the latter, Lexus and parent Toyota are now well on the way to recovery from a series of earthquakes and a tsunami that undermined its ability to produce and ship cars. Evidence of these changes can be seen in the 2013 Lexus GS 450h sedan, the hybrid version of the GS and a car that may just convince you that Lexus is back and in a significant way.

New Design Language

The refinements Lexus has made to its design language will be evident beginning with each of its 2013 models. The Lexus LX570, a large sport utility vehicle, initiated the updates when it was introduced just ahead of the GS series in February 2012. These changes include an hourglass sport grille that is flanked by arrowhead-styled daytime running lights to provide a more aggressive face. Additional modifications over the first generation edition built from 2007 to 2011 include 9-spoke 17-inch chrome wheels, LED treatments on the tail lamps and updates to the wheel wells, bumper edges and windows.

Under the hood, the same 3.5-liter 24-valve gas engine that powered the first generation hybrid has returned. This engine is paired with a continuously variable transmission and produces 286 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. Torque is another of its strong suits too as this five-passenger sedan offers 254 foot-pounds at 4,600 rpm.

The GS 450h also derives power from its nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery system. The current iteration is lighter and more efficient, and allows this large sedan to get 29 mpg city, 34 mpg highway. Those numbers put the GS 450h at the top of the range among executive cars and places some serious distance between gas station stops. Indeed, when taking those long interstate trips, drivers will find that they’ll be able to go nearly 600 miles between fill ups. That is certainly welcome in these days of elevated gas prices. Performance is noteworthy too: this hybrid goes from 0 to 60 in just 5.6 seconds.

Sumptious Interior

Inside, Lexus luxury is evident everywhere. A padded instrument panel, stitched leather seating, wood trim and chrome highlights provide the look and feel you’d expect in this sedan. A 10-way power driver’s seat is plush and bolstered, offering height adjustment and lumbar support as well as heating and ventilation. Other special treatments in evidence include a bamboo and leather heated steering wheel, aluminum alloy scuff plates and ambient lighting.

All GS 450h models come equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen driver’s information center. An electronically-enhanced instrument panel, an LCD climate control display and remote touch interface are among the technological features offered. Its standard 5.1 surround sound audio system features 12 speakers, an automatic sound levelizer, voice recognition and text to speech SMS. You can also upgrade to a 17-speaker Mark Levinson package that includes distortion adjustment and DVD/audio capability.

By choosing its luxury package, the GS 450h offers an optimally appointed sedan that retails for under $70,000. That package includes the Mark Levinson audio package; semi-aniline leather; a contoured 18-way power driver seat; passenger seat memory; wood embellishments; rear air-conditioning and audio controls; and rear manual side sun shades.

Sedan Notables

Safety features include driver and front passenger knee airbags; front and front seat-mounted side airbags; and a side curtain airbag unit with rollover notification. This sedan comes with four-wheel anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, traction control and stability control. Optional safety features include a blind spot monitor, a head up display, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, park assist, a night vision system and a pre-collision warning system.

The 2013 Lexus GS 450h dispenses with the notion that hybrid power and a weighty sedan are mutually exclusive. Weighing in at nearly 4,200 pounds, the GS 450h provides the security some drivers prefer when taking to the open road. It also delivers in fuel economy and luxury appointments, offering a level of all-around driving satisfaction that is still quite rare today.

Author Information

Matt Keegan is a freelance writer and owner of the online Auto Trends Magazine. Please visit his site for industry news including Lexus and other luxury brands.

Photos: Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A, Inc. (Lexus)

Car Insurance and Motorway Driving

by Carsurfer Admin on 2012/02/15 in Uncategorized with Comments Off on Car Insurance and Motorway Driving

It’s reassuring to know that your car insurance covers you against accidents, but a long journey on a motorway can be stress-filled for any driver. Motorway driving is a different skill if you’re used to just driving around town, but you can feel more confident before you set off with these handy tips.

Be prepared:

Plan your route and familiarize yourself with which junctions you’ll need to turn off at, as it’s not safe to try and read a map at speed. Leave enough time so you won’t be tempted to break the speed limit, and factor in regular breaks to keep your concentration up. Never embark on any journey without a valid car insurance policy from a reputable supplier.

Get used to the speed:

If you’re not familiar with motorway driving, stay in the nearside lane until you feel comfortable with the increased speed. Because cars are traveling faster on the motorway, things can happen quickly and it’s good to get your reactions up to speed too.

Leave a safe gap:

You can’t anticipate what the driver in front or to the side is about to do, but you can make sure you’re prepared for it. Leave a good space between you and the car in front, and if another driver cuts into that space, drop back. The more space you leave, the more time you have to anticipate and brake. It seems like you’re not making as good time as you could, but that precaution could be the difference between a safe journey or a claim on your car insurance. If you’re not sure how much space to leave, try this: Find a marker, such as a lamp-post or tree. Once the car in front passes it, make sure you can count two seconds before you reach it. If you can’t, slow down.

Watch the weather:

Driving in heavy rain or poor visibility? Leave a gap of four seconds between you and the car in front. If it’s foggy, keep a steady speed and don’t be tempted to try and keep up with the car in front.

Beat boredom:

Although a quiet stretch of motorway with country scenery seems like a safe place to be, it can get boring. If you feel your attention drifting or you’re beginning to feel tired, find a safe place to stop for a break and a breath of fresh air or get to the next service station for a rest. Take a break and stretch your legs at least every two hours.

Company Profile:

John Lewis Insurance offers a range of insurance services selected by the John Lewis Partnership. These include pet, life, travel, wedding, event, car and home insurance quotes.

For more information about John Lewis Car Insurance please visit the website here – http://www.johnlewis-insurance.com/homepage/car-insurance.html.

What You Need to Know About Small Cars

by Carsurfer Admin on 2012/02/10 in Uncategorized with Comments Off on What You Need to Know About Small Cars

If you’re in the market for a new car, there are many smaller models that deliver exceptional gas mileage. This feature may be important to you as elevated gas prices have forced consumers to consider how much it costs to fill up their gas tanks in addition to all of the other costs associated with owning a car.

Easily, we spend thousands of dollars annually to drive, maintain and pay off our vehicles, money that cannot be recouped, but a necessary expense for most Americans. The smallest cars deliver the best gas mileage, however not every vehicle merits a buy based on the following factors:

Fuel Economy – Achieving 30 mpg on the highway is common to all vehicles in the subcompact and compact classes. However, those numbers alone are not laudable. Today’s newest crop of small cars including the compact Hyundai Elantra, subcompact Ford Fiesta and minicar Smart ForTwo each get at least 40 mpg on the highway. Size matters, but more often than not a thrifty engine paired with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission makes the difference. A handful of small cars barely top out at 30 mpg; can you live with so-so gas mileage?

Safety Ratings – All cars are equipped with airbags, but not every vehicle has side curtain canopy bags, an advantage offered in most larger vehicles and only in some smaller vehicles. Smaller cars are lighter and much more likely to sustain major damage in a crash, given their size in proportion to other vehicles on the road. Occupants need an extra level of protection to reduce accident damage and personal injury. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety at IIHS.org rates all vehicles for front, side, rollover, and rear tests and for the presence of electronic stability control. Knowing how your vehicle rates can go far in determining which vehicle to buy. The Chevrolet Cruze, Kia Forte sedan and Toyota Corolla are among the better performing cars in this class.

Passenger Room – Other than the two-seat Smart, most small cars offer room for at least four, sometimes five occupants. But, this can be misleading. Front occupants usually have enough head, should and legroom, but that often comes at the expense of rear seating passengers. Small children usually can occupy the outboard seating positions just fine, but few cars offer a comfortable ride for the middle seat passenger. Cars with the roomiest interiors and most expansive rear seating compartments include the Volkswagen Jetta, Hyundai Elantra and the Chevrolet Cruze.

Storage Capacity – Small cars mean small trunks. One way to get around this problem is by choosing one of the few hatchbacks on the market including the Kia Rio5, Hyundai Accent and the Honda Fit. When more room is needed, the back seat can be folded down to carry additional items, but the trade off here is fewer people can ride in your car. One alternative is to select a sedan featuring a 60/40 fold-down rear seat. Here, only one part of the rear seat folds, giving you enough room to carry one person in the rear and that lamp or section of lumber that won’t fit in your trunk.

One important consideration when purchasing any car is to contact your insurance agent to obtain a rate quote. Insurers base new cars rates on the same IIHS crash test performances mentioned earlier and other factors including repair costs, where you live, age, gender, credit rating and other factors. The differences between models can be startling; adding hundreds of dollars to your costs annually if you choose a high cost, small car.

Author Information

Matt Keegan is editor and publisher of “Auto Trends Magazine” and is a freelance writer. Please visit his site for the latest in automotive news, car reviews and industry analysis.

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