Our test car also showed off the facelifted front end styling that'll be launched in Australia before year's end, and it's certainly an improvement, with the advanced LED headlights and smoother surfacing. You won't hear many complaints from the back seat. That directions show up in the heads-up display (HUD) streamlines the navigation process, and there's a lot to be said of rear seat room too. The top quality leather seats were comfortable even after around eight hours in the car, and the iDrive system worked well we had no trouble working with the sat nav planning our route through the mountains and back, with a few detours in between. The cabin was typical high-end German stuff very roomy, lavish, ergonomically sound and with plenty of buttons to push and dials to twiddle. However, under full load the engine generated a satisfying jet-like snarl as it charged past slower traffic, and left no doubt as to what this car was capable of. The engine was whisper quiet in general operation silent at times. Standing start acceleration from the turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine was rapid thanks to the electric motor adding even more torque, but it's the mid-gear acceleration that really got our attention, and allowed the big Bimmer to chase Porsche 911s and Audi RS5s on the autobahns.įor such a long and heavy luxo-barge, the car was unexpectedly quick. Self levelling rear air suspension was helpful in keeping the car composed at high speeds, particularly when the boot was laden with luggage, and two passengers were lounging in the back seats, adding around 200kg over the rear axle that would have ordinarily affected handling. But even at such high speeds the car felt planted, the driver always in control. Over two days of driving in Germany, the vehicle showed no trouble reaching its 250km/h limit on the Autobahns, accelerating strongly until around 230km/h before punching a hole through the air became more about aerodynamics than mechanics. Peak power and torque from the combined 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol and electric powertrain is 260kW/500Nm, with a claimed 0-100km/h sprint of 5.7 seconds, which is pretty zippy for a 2045kg bahn-storming behemoth. Unlike some hybrids, the emphasis of these BMWs is very much on 'warrior' rather than 'eco', with the new 7 Series capable of arresting acceleration. Recent research showed that South Africans are not in love with the Lexus brand as much as they are with the likes of VW Audi Mercedes Benz and BMW.Arriving in the first quarter of 2013 priced at $222,000, the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is the third hybrid Beemer for the Australian market, utilising the same six-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid powerplant as the 3 and 5 Series eco warriors. This car gives you everything you just decide how and when let it really roar. And isn’t that what technology should be about? Giving you power and freedom to choose when you’ll use that power. The drive is whatever you want it to be-civilized should you choose, or tail-wagging fun. It looks classy but has a flair of sportiness. It arguably has the last word in refinement, luxury and comfort too. You do have the choice of diesel alternatives from other brands, but this car does everything you may need a diesel car for. At $88,400 it’s competitively priced especially considering the fuel-saving and emissions saving this car offers. I had no issues of space in the front and rear and the boot space has not been compromised even with the battery packs being packed in there.Ĭhoosing a Lexus GS450h F-Sport would be an easy choice for me if I was in the market for this level of car. (These guys take energy-saving seriously). The electric-powered seats feature heating and cooling and has technology to only feed air to the seats that are actually occupied. The idea is good, but the system is way too sensitive and can be quite annoying.įurther experience of the interior of this car makes you realize the levels of craftsmanship and detail surrounding you. Lexus has made use of a “mouse” type controller for the multimedia display and though it is placed in an easily reachable spot it isn’t user-friendly, especially when driving on uneven surfaces. The 12.3-inch display is one of the best on the market and carries a lot of information, should you want it. I particularly liked the simplified facia design that has been made possible by Lexus incorporating a huge multimedia unit into the dashboard. Let’s not forget that we are talking about a luxury sedan capable of seating five adults in a contemporary cabin with an oh-so-crisp Mark Levinson sound system.
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