Lexus to launch GCC’s first hybrid car

Lexus’ highly anticipated full hybrid model LS 600hL will make its debut in the UAE on January 23, Al Futtaim Motors has announced on Tuesday.

The luxury eco-friendly brand is currently being exhibited at the third World Future Energy summit in Abu Dhabi and Hugh Dickerson, Al-Futtaim Motor’s General Manager for Sales and Marketing is optimistic it will be received well in the regional market.

“The new LS 600hL presents a new dimension to luxury motoring in the UAE and is clear evidence of Lexus's drive for sustainable mobility,” he said, adding, “there has been a huge interest among the summit-goers and we’re optimistic the hybrid brand will drive our sales after the formal launch next week.”

The executive, however, declined to disclose the luxury car’s prize.

Al-Futtaim Motors is the exclusive distributor for the high-end automobile brand in the UAE.

GCC’s first taste of hybrid technology

The Lexus LS 600hL sedan has been the first vehicle worldwide to bring fuel-efficient petrol-electric hybrid technology to the luxury segment. It is also the first full hybrid car to enter the GCC market.

“The World Energy Summit discusses the challenges of rising energy demand and actions to achieve a cleaner and more sustainable future for the world. It is therefore appropriate to mark the importance of this event by exclusively previewing the region’s first full hybrid, the LS 600hL at the summit,” said Dickerson.

Motorists will be impressed by the vehicle’s impressive résumé of environmental credentials and outstanding drive performance.

The combined power from the petrol engine and electric motors delivers an acceleration performance comparable to V12 and turbocharged V8 engines, while its fuel efficiency is on par with many V6 engines.

Top gear on fuel efficiency

The LS 600hL - the ‘L’ signifying the long-wheelbase LS platform - is the brand’s flagship hybrid model. It is powered by the ultra-quiet Lexus Hybrid Drive system, which combines a V8 gasoline engine with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) hybrid drivetrain.

“The LS 600hL is the forerunner of a new breed of super-performance energy-efficient sedans that will certainly encourage UAE motorists to re-evaluate their driving requirements and environmental accountability,” added Dickerson.

Fuel efficiency is substantially more frugal than comparable premium sedans, with a combined gas consumption figure of 9,313/100km and carbon dioxide emissions are only 219 g/km – which is substantially less than other sedans with comparable engine power.

During start-up, at low to mid-range speeds and when decelerating, the petrol engine is shut off and the LS 600hL operates on power generated by the electric motors alone, thereby conserving fuel and eliminating exhaust emissions.

Hyundai Kia Motors is also displaying its new fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) at the energy summit. The brand however will not be available in the region’s market until after 2012, an official at the Hyundai Motors’ booth told Alrroya.com.

The South Korean automaker, along with its sister company KIA, has developed the FCEV automobiles based on their sports utility vehicles Tucson and Borrego. These hydrogen-powered, zero-emission cars feature fuel-cell technology and are considered light weight as they use aluminium body shell components.