New Gs And New Is

[johnboy]

Have you seen todays auto express ?

they have a report and test on the new GS. looking good too.

report on new LS and IS hybrids ?

if thats what the new IS is going to be like 3.5 litre v6

i will put my name down for one

john

[JOHNNY-BOY]

Copy of text from Auto Express:

"Mean, Green Lexus On Way

hings look set to get highly charged at Toyota. The company intends to enter the performance saloon market with a family of Lexus models that will all feature hybrid technology.

Engineers are currently working on two machines, one of which will be a new version of the flagship LS. However, first to hit the road will be the GS350 GT, which was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show. Expected in August 2005 and aimed at the Mercedes E55 AMG, it will mark Lexus' first anniversary of sales in Japan, and sport a 300bhp 3.5-litre V6 mated to a 170bhp electric motor. Offering an astounding 470bhp, the car will feature all-wheel drive and be capable of around 60mpg.

But if you think that sounds impressive, then just wait another 12 months, when Lexus' ultimate hybrid - the LS500 GT - will appear. Combining a 400bhp 5.0-litre V8 with a 200bhp electric motor, the car will offer at least 600bhp and be targeted at the Mercedes S-Class flagship, the S600L.

Thanks to predicted improvements in Battery technology, economy of more than 50mpg is expected - double the standards set by traditional petrol engines of equivalent performance.

But the march to bring eco-friendly performance technology to Lexus models won't stop there. The firm's popular IS will inherit a new flagship when it is replaced in 2006. The IS350 GT will offer a tuned version of the 3.5-litre V6 that will be in the GS. However, it's not clear if it will sport a hybrid powerplant, although it may integrate some of the bigger system's fuel-saving technology, including engine stop and start systems which save fuel in stationary traffic.

For now, the cost of hybrid technology means it's likely to be reserved for Toyota and Lexus' most expensive models. However, at the Geneva Motor Show this month, one Toyota insider told us that the company was committed to hybrid cars, and that ultimately they will be available right across both ranges."

[johnboy]

youve seen it too

didnt know if i could could quote all of it

[Whitebeam]

Modding a hybrid would be interesting. The nice thing about electric motors is that you can overload them quite a bit for short periods of time (ie when accelerating) as long as you stay in the thermal envelope. They also have high torque at low speeds.

Custom rewound stators

Uprated switches (mosfets / scrs - anyone know what they use?)

Uprated cables (aluminium?)

Parallel batteries

Modded software

:)

[ColinBarber]

The motors are 650V AC so you have the invertors to upgrade is well!

[LennyLexus]

Damm, this sounds excellent.

IS350GT the REAL M3 killer? Hope it does come out with hybrid technology.

Its about time lexus got their act together on the amg and m sport war :)

Question is will the GT's hold their value well (like amgs and m's) ?

[aido]

Question is will the GT's hold their value well (like amgs and m's) ?

If not I'll be having one cheap even if it's not as nice as the current one