Lexus, the luxury arm of Toyota Motors Corp, has entered the local petrol-electric hybrid scene with two offerings – the LS 600hL limousine and RX450h sports utility vehicle.
Lexus Hybrid Drive, touted as the world’s most advanced hybrid technology, provides impressive performance besides allowing both vehicles to run on full electric power for short distances without consuming fuel.
Launched at the Lexus Malaysia Centre here last night, the LS 600hL limousine with a 5.0-litre V8 engine and an electric motor consumes 30% less fuel than vehicles of similar performance and size.
Lexus Malaysia president Kuah Kock Heng said the company’s aim was to offer the world’s most advanced hybrid vehicles to customers, although the market for Lexus Hybrid vehicles was relatively small.
The LS 600hL is priced at RM998,500 without insurance, while the RX450h costs RM520,200.
Earlier yesterday, Edaran Tan Chong Motor also launched the Teana, a luxury executive sedan available with three engine options – the 136bhp 2.0-litre and 182bhp 2.5-litre V6 assembled in Tan Chong Motor’s Serendah factory, and the 252bhp 3.5-litre V6 fully imported from Japan.
Standard items across the variants include engine start/stop button, dual-zone auto air-conditioning system, six-CD changer with six speakers and AUX-in and MP3 support, interior mood lighting, triple meter cluster with integrated Multi-information Display and audio/cruise control buttons on the steering wheel.
Prices start from RM138,000 (on-the-road with insurance) for the 2.0-litre Comfort, RM142,000 for the 2.0-litre Luxury and RM168,000 for the 2.5-litre V6 Premium.
The Japanese fully-imported 3.5-litre V6 Exquisite comes in at just under RM250,000.
