Lexus' attempt at a Hybrid
 

I read THIS Article on the newer Lexus GS 450h.

All I can say is that the American "Values" are ruining Hybrid design. Compared to the FE of the GS 350 it does get 5 mpg better city economy but only 1 mpg better economy on the highway. It almost seems like it's a fad that you "have" to have a "Hybrid". It doesn't need to get even remotely good FE just has to be a hybrid vehicle. A FE conscious driver could get the same, if not, better economy out of the GS 350 and spend less on the vehicle. Granted, you might not have the same 0-60 speed.

Ugh, I guess I should [/rant]. I'm just compelled to put "Quit yer Whinin' and drive smarter!" and "Because I get 50+MPG doing it!" on the back of my hatchback. Of course the "Quit yer whinin!'" part is referring to all the whining I hear from people complaining that gas prices are so high here in the U.S. The reality is that Americans pay relatively low prices per gallon when compared to the world. There are a few countries that pay less such as Venezuela and Iraq. But the majority of the developed countries pay through the nose when compared to the U.S. And then there are the people that refuse to say the pledge of allegiance here at school, even though they are citizens of the United States now...but that is a whole other story.

Ok, I'm done Ranting, just needed to blow off some steam after hearing a fellow staff member, that just bought a brand new Denali and only drives around two people at most at a time, complain about the gas prices being so high.

yeah its turning into a fad with all the new gm suvs with "hybrid" tech in them. They still get horrible fe.

I'm still not sure why toyota builds such huge tanks...*sigh* Come one, toyota!

They took the hybrid for power approach :thumbdown: What timing too, when the masses were under the impression that hybrid means a green fuel sipping car.... Unfortunately - that's not what hybrid means :(

SVOboy -

Why? Follow the $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

CarloSW2

yeah, follow the $$$$.

If they can get the technology all ironed out at the expense of fatcats, and then let it trickle down to normal cars, I guess that would be okay...

Bill -

This is one of the things that drives me nuts about the Saturn Vue "Green Line". The same mild-Hybrid tech could have been put into an Ion coupe, and I can imagine better than 35/45 (old school) MPG from that. I know it would cost a chunk of trunk space, but build it in small numbers, toot your environmental horn, and see what happens.

Instead, the SUVs get the hybrid drivetrains first because the profit margin (not the MPG!) will be bigger, :mad: .

CarloSW2

Think of it this way - and someone else hit the nail on the head with trickle down... The technology is EXPENSIVE. That's why the Prius was sold at a loss originally (not so much anymore). The cost of R&D Toyota invested was huge, and that entire cost fell onto one vehicle (originally). But now Toyota is sharing tech so more vehicles share the burden of future R&D and return on investment :thumbup:

If, for right now, these projects can get more funding immediatly - think of how much better the technology will be in just a few years... And capable of being implemented into smaller vehicles...

But, that's an ideal situation.... You can't depend on trickle down [anything] to happen - you can only show that it did happen after the fact.

Now - if the masses wanted these fuel sipping cars... Well, it wouldn't be larger vehicles getting these systems. But as you know, it's easy to change the minds of auto mfr's - just change the minds of the people... Err, wait - that's the hard part, changing the minds of the majority (especially when it's embedded in culture) :rolleyes:

But yes, follow the money.... I'll eat my shorts when I see any business - even a "green business" do something that will put them out of business :P After all, if they do - that's not a business at all, it's a charity :p Something I won't eat my shorts to :P

I'm surprised no one mentioned the Accord Hybrid. You know, the one where it's ONLY available with a 6cyl!!!! :( Why o' why didn't they do a 4cyl hybrid!?

Honda wanted to balance the civic hybrid with the accord hybrid, one is for MPG and one is for performance/mpg, just to prove it can be done. I admit, it is somewhat silly, but not terribly.

I agree that the SUV "Hybrid" market makes for $$$ for manufacturers. Maybe I should just make a bumper sticker that says "My non-Hybrid car gets 5 times better mpg than your "Hybrid" SUV" :chuckles

SVOboy -

I read that the Accord Hybrid was a sales failure because of the performance emphasis. I can see this for a luxury car like their Acuras, but not a "practical" Honda Accord.

CarloSW2

Yeah, well, I'd agree it was a failure in general, but still, they tried and they'll figure out out sooner or later, :p

Toyota hasn't really impressed me since my old Tercel.

That was pretty much a rhetorical question. :D I had 2 hybrids when they introduced the Accord and even considered picking one up since they came back as fast as they sold them - for a while they could be had cheap on the used car lot. It's sad the Accord 4cyl can whoop the hybrid brother in MPG but I guess the Accord Hybrid is fastttttttt.

i am glad you figured it out. i will gladly trade lose 1mpg if i can lose one .5 seconds in the quarter mile.

i know a lot of people dont understand motor sports or even just a car that has more go power. you should look at what a car performing at the same level gets as far as fuel economy. then you should appreciate what they are doing.

you guys cant expect everyone to be like you. not everybody wants a small econo box. honda did not make a 4 cylinder accord hybrid because they did not want to cut into the civic hybrid sales. trebuchet has the right idea. spread the r&d accross the market. make good use of it. make all sorts of cars that are hybrids. it brings us that much closer to all sorts of electric vehicles.

i cant believe you guys would think that this attempt at a hybrid is unsuccessful. it is very successful. the profit made in luxury cars is SOOO much higher than making cars for the penny pinchers.

think of the added income that will be used to further develop the technology.

think of how the statistics will change the market! spreading hybrid technology to all demographics is KEY for further developing the technology and for furthing the shift from fossil fuels.

man i still cant believe you guys dont get it. BIG picture guys.

Point taken, Jared. Hopefully most of the income generated from the sales of the psuedo-Hybrids :chuckles: will be put forth towards more R&D in all their vehicles.

I , personally, don't, even in the slightest, expect everyone to be like me, but it is annoying when you hear individuals complain about the cost of gas after they have just bought a brand new GMC Denali when they only cart around two people at most in their travels.

I still would love my civic to do the quarter mile in 14 seconds AND get 50+ mpg but I guess that since I'm almost 30, am married, and have an 18 month old daughter that my priorities are shifting. Although, as soon as I get a house with a three car garage, I am finally getting a CRX and setting it up strictly as a track car!

you can get the car under 14 seconds in the quarter mile and get 40+mpg on the highway. there is a lot to be said for the good old turbo d honda. i want to have a street legal track car too, that way i dont need to buy a truck.... but yea i know what your saying reliability, utility and affordability are #1 when you have a family. i am sure if you had too much money and liked accelerating fast that you would be happy with a 500hp hybrid as a daily driver, haha.

anyway, when i typed what i did, i was not targeting anyone in particular, rather everyone that had posted saying that the lexus hybrid is a waste.

the bottom line is if hybrid sales go up, then all manufacturors will make more hybrids. eventually a hybrid will cost around the same as a normal vehicle while the hybrids can also plug into the extension cord in your garage.

the revolutions take time though and lots of steps. a power house luxury hybrid is one of those steps.

i hope i didnt kill this thread. tomo was the only one to post after i did...