LEXUS ANNOUNCES NEW GS460 and GS450h

Lexus is adding two new cars to its heralded GS range, the top-of-the-line GS 460 and the gasoline-electric hybrid GS 450h.

The GS 460 replaces the outgoing 430 and comes to the party with a spanking new 4.6-liter V-8. The new motor gets the job done but quick, producing 342 horsepower and 339 foot-pounds of torque on its way to a 5.4-second zero to 60 miles-per-hour run. All of that power is controlled by a new eight-speed autobox that replaces the last model’s paltry (*ahem*) six-gear arrangement.

The Hybrid GS 450h returns for its sophomore year with some impressive performance numbers of its own to bolster its position as the leader and sole member of the hybrid sports luxury sedan segment. The combination of a 3.5-liter V-6 and permanent electric motor give the 450h a whopping 340 horsepower. That large figure in concert with the loads of torque developed by the electric motor allows the Lexus to achieve a 5.2-second zero to 60 mph number. The beauty of the hybrid driveline is that these impressively sporting statistics come with efficiency numbers that are around 30 percent better than many V-8s, coming in at a handy (if not mind blowing) 23 miles-per-gallon on the combined cycle.

Source: WR