New Lexus LS600 Hybrid launches at Frankfurt

Lexus has revealed the 2010 Lexus LS600h Hybrid at Frankfurt with styling changes and an ‘Eco’ mode.

Most of the focus on Lexus at the Frankfurt Motor Show has been on the LF-Ch Hybrid, but Lexus has also revealed an updated LS600h at the show.

The 2010 version of the LS600h gets a set of styling tweaks, which include modifications to the front end with LED indicators, new bumper and grill, and new fog lights. Other changes include the door mirrors and chrome detailing.

This hybrid only LS600 (Lexus has said they intend only making hybrids in future ) has had improvements made to the Hybrid System including an ‘Eco’ mode which effectively turns down throttle response to make the LS600h more economical.

The LS600h features a 165KW electric motor mated to a 5.0 litre V8 with a combined output of 440bhp and emissions of 219g/km. Performance is reasonable at 6.3 seconds 0-60 (although hardly remarkable) and the LS600 manages to average over 30mpg.

Tweaks have also been made to the interior, with new seats, SatNav and an LCD display for the instruments. The revised LS600h is available to order in the UK now with deliveries early New Year.

This is just a tweak from Lexus to the big LS600h. When it was launched it offered something different in the sector, but it’s fallen behind. New offerings from BMW with the ActiveHybrid 7 Series and Mercedes with the S400 mild hybrid – never mind the proposed S500 Hybrid – eclipse what Lexus has to offer.

They’re going to have to get their thinking caps on.