Robo-car
The latest Lexus thinks for you – just perfect, says Ted Macauley
The car with the merest whisper of an engine has always figured highly in my estimation of those vehicles that offer style and value for money without compromise. I cite the latest Lexus LS600h luxury saloon – especially the long wheelbase model – in the category of desirable. It practically drives itself.
Consider, for example, the driver-monitoring system that constantly scans your face. If you are looking the wrong way when it detects a hazard, a buzzer warns you and the brakes are briefly, automatically, applied.
Then there is the rear, pre-crash safety system that, if it senses a rear-end collision, shifts the front headrests to minimise whiplash. The adaptive cruise control keeps the car at a safe distance from the one in front and an advanced obstacle detection system spots dangers in your path and primes the emergency steering assist. This quickens the steering response and firms the suspension against a violent swerve.
The muscular five-litre V8 engine is so quiet and yet so quick, with a flat-out register of 250kph and wafting effortlessly from zero to 100kph in
6.3 seconds.
It is heftily priced at around US$163,000 – but it is such a clever car, it could just save your life. www.lexus.co.uk
Silent style
It may have a powerful 32-cylinder V8 engine, but the latest Lexus is a hush in a rush. Its quiet, but quick performance makes the driving experience a real pleasure
Control car
The Lexus LS600h may be pricey, but it has a range of safety features and gadgets designed to keep the driver on the straight and narrow |
