Published: December 06, 2006 10:04 am      

Hybrid Lexus has Rocket Power

Hybrid cars have earned a reputation for being efficient and for a good reason.

Most hybrids combine an itty-bitty four-cylinder engine with powerful electric motors to get good gas mileage without sacrificing too much performance.

That’s fine if you want an economy car. But what if you add that same hybrid technology to a fast luxury car with a powerful V8 engine under the hood?

That’s exactly what Lexus did when it added hybrid power to its quick and nimble GS sedan, a car that’s already a fantastic performer even without the extra electric boost.

With the added hybrid power, the GS 450h feels like it’s endowed with a V12 engine — smooth, refined, and packed with enough torque to pull a Union Pacific freight train. It’s an incredible feeling to know that however fast you’re traveling, you can always step on the gas and dip into this car’s deep well of reserve power, whooshing you effortlessly forward.

Driving a Lexus is more about comfort than sheer acceleration, though, and the hybrid GS doesn’t disappoint.

Everything inside this car feels like top quality, from the soft, supple materials to the unbelievably tight and precise construction. It’s loaded with luxuries like a key that lets the car recognize you as you walk toward it, a power-closing trunk, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, moonroof, power rear sunshade, beautiful wood trim and soft leather seats that are both heated and cooled.

You feel very coddled driving this car, and it’s not just from all the comfort-oriented gadgets. The ride and handling are extremely refined, offering a rare blend of a soft, smooth highway ride with a nimble, responsive feel in the curves. It’s shockingly quiet, too.

All this power and technology doesn’t come cheap. It will cost a pretty penny — no, make that a gorgeous penny — at the dealership and at the gas pump.

The hybrid GS 450h sits atop Lexus’ GS range at $54,900. That’s around $10,000 more than the lower-level GS 350, not including expensive options like the Marc Levinson stereo and DVD player that can add thousands more on top of the base price.

And even with the hybrid technology, you won’t be getting awesome gas mileage. The EPA fuel ratings, which are significantly higher than you can expect to get in real-life driving, are 25 miles per gallon in town and 28 on the highway.

Admittedly, that’s far better gas mileage than you’d get with a thirsty V12 engine, but it’s not nearly as efficient as most drivers have come to expect when they see the word “hybrid” on a car.