When Lexus decided to take on the top dogs from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi they took a different path. While the Germans offer the choice of either big gasoline V-12s or turbo-diesel V-8s, Lexus wanted offer the best of both worlds. Thus the LS600h was born. The big LS mates a 5.0L V-8 with the latest version of Toyota's hybrid synergy drive system to produce the most expensive hybrid yet.

So, what about performance? AutoExpress decided to pit the LS against an Audi A8L propelled by a 4.2L turbo-diesel V-8 and the Japanese luxo-hybrid came out on the short end of the stick. The Lexus offered it's usual level of silence and refinement but little in the way of character which is the Lexus way. On the fuel economy front the LS may be a hybrid but it's certainly no Prius. It averaged a mere 16.5 mpg (US) while the German competitor achieved 25 mpg (US). With comparable performance and a price difference £20,000 in the Audi's favor, it's no contest.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Thanks to Lascelles for finding this wonderful video showing the most daring concepts from Toyota and Lexus during the Tokyo Motor Show. Although in German, we can glimpse quite a number of interesting concepts such as the Hi-CT, the Rin, the i-Real (which promises unlimited mobility, according to the engineer) and production ready models such as the Crown Hybrid, which owns a lot to the Lexus LS600h.

Just before the Lexus come up, a German engineer from Toyota speaks about the 1/X, weighing just 926 lbs., the car is literally a third of the weight of Toyota's current green car standard, the Prius. Featuring a 500cc engine plus a hybrid electric motor with plug-in capability, this car could deliver 2 l/100 km (that converts to an amazing 117 mpg).

Then the video shows two Lexus cars with hybrid powertrains: the ISF (arriving in Europe in 2008) and LF-XH.

[Source: YouTube]

Back in early February we showed you a video of the Lexus LS600h drivetrain in action. The combination of the V-8 power-plant and Toyota's hybrid Synergy drive will give an output of over 430hp in the long wheelbase version of the LS. Clearly this application is configured more for propelling the big sedan quickly than it is for fuel efficiency. On the other hand it will surely use quite a bit less gasoline than an equivalent 6.0L V-12 would. Of course all of this motivation and luxury is going to cost you, with a price tag of $104,750 for the premium Lexus when it becomes available in June.

[Source: AutoWeek]

We've already heard the details of Lexus' next hybrid vehicle, the LS 600h, but now that the world's first full hybrid V8 powertrain vehicle has had it's European premiere at the Paris Motor Show, it makes sense to take another look. The LS 600h gets a fairly decent 29.7 mpg (unfortunately, this figure is in Imperial gallons) and has all the luxury features Lexus likes to offer (multi-zone automatic climate control air conditioning system that can react to human body temperature, a DVD player with 5.1 home theatre sound reproduction).

From an environmental viewpoint, there's not all that much to love here, but at least it's a hybrid. Lexus has updated the Lexus Hybrid Drive from the RX 400h and GS 450h and the LS 600h's new 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine works with a high-output electric motor the battery pack to move the car with fewer than 220g/km of CO2. We'll be waiting for more pictures from the Autoblog crew at the Paris Motor Show. Until then, you can read the press release after the jump.

Related:

• Lexus LS600h: 444bhp and 29.7 mpg

[Source: Lexus]