Lexus GS Hybrid receives better EPA mpg than Lexus's own tests

Now all I need is a wallet transplant and I'll have one in my driveway asap!

 

Just another GAS HOG cashing in on the hybrid theme.

This will likely go the same way as the LS600h.

Hybrids should be about FE, not an attractant to deep pocket buyers with the "boy-racer" mentality.

 

Din't the same thing happen with the Prius v - I thought that they were originally touting something like 38/40 and wound up getting 38/42 with the EPA - I think I remember seeing a quote from a Toyota rep stating that they were pleasantly surprised with the higher MPG rating.

 

GS450h (with eCVT) outclasses M35h (7-speed auto) in both city and highway MPG.

 

I suppose one should do away with the SUV hybrids too? Caddy? Escape? Toyota Hihy? Lexus RX? Haven't you heard? Increase an otherwise 18mpg regulr ICE vehicle to a 30mpg hybrid (in the case of Toyota's SUV hybrids) means you save MORE gas, than if you raise a 40mpg mileage champ to a 50mpg hybrid. Of course you have to discount the concept of simply going from an 18mpg vehicle to the 50mpg champ.

The thing is, some people may want or need more room than a standard car ... just like some people would want/need to wear different clothing. Would you want the whole world to dress like Mao Zedong, in order to have clothing be less costly?





But I don't get how EPA can be higher than what Lexus says it is. Doesen't the EPA get their data from the different manufacturers? I thought the manufacturers run tests according to what the EPA says to do ... but the the manufacturers run the actual performance tests. No?
.

 

lies?

EPA numbers are higher than the numbers Lexus estimated before they tested it. EPA numbers are from Lexus after they tested the production version of the car. The statement quoted is misleading.

 

"...do away with SUV hybrids..."

No, just don't overpower them to the point of finding it an asset to quote 0-60 times.

Do away with the RX450h...?

Absolutely.

Make a Lexus version of the Venza with that new 187HP I4 adapted to DFI (200HP) and Atkinson (166HP). Use the cuurent Venza F/awd setup.

 

yes, on all counts. The battery was also repackaged to give more trunk space.
2013 Lexus GS450h Hybrid - Auto Shows - Car and Driver

CAR and DRIVER Blog » 2013 Lexus GS450h Returns 34 MPG Highway, GS350 Up to 28 MPG

The luxo hybrids Lexus GS - 29/34, Infiniti M 27/32, BMW 5 23/34. These are all much higher than their V8 brethren that used to be the desirable cars in the segment. They all have better acceleration than my previous lexus GS V8.

I agree with all these points.

 

I drive 30,000 miles a year, double the expected average of 15,000. (so if you are average, divide my numbers by 2)

30,000 / 29 MPG = 1034.5 Gallons * $3.20 = $3310
30,000 / 19 MPG = 1579 Gallons * $3.20 = $5053

So the 'fuel hog' hybrid is saving 544.5 gallons a year, enough to drive another 15,790 miles

 

I'm not even sure there is a yaris hybrid, it may be the aqua/prius c variant. Do we know? The 3.5L DI did get a through reworking to run in atkinson cycle on this rev as did the 2.5 and there was much improved fuel economy. Toyota can get even more efficient, but more expensive, with a miller cycle engine. There was speculation on this for a more powerfull lexus ct. Converting the camry hybrid to an ES seems natural. I'm not sure of any plans for the venza, rav4, or sienna. These may wait for lithium.

 

"...3.5L DI did get a through reworking..."

No, an Atkinson engine using DI should have a base/native compression ratio on the order of at least 15:1. DFI engines are now running CRs as high as 14:1, 12:1 being VERY common. With non DFI Atkinson the CR "standard" seems to be 13:1.

On anything but 4 cylinders or multiples thereof the late valve closing Atkinson cycle technique results in rather serious intake turbulance/backflow. So maybe they're now "simulating" the Atkinson cycle via simply not opening the throttle plate completely. Some result as late intake valve closing, only partial cylinder filling with the gas pedal floored.

 

lol west. I think your beef is with toyota, as you have said before their DI leads the world, but you can see other makes do have much higher compression di engines. Look at the design and come to reality. It is a very good engine, but uses DI and port injection with a otto compression of 10.5:1. Toyota did a great job making this engine aktinson improving fuel economy 35% over the last generation of gs hybrid with this and other improvements. Estimated 0-60 only increased 0.1 seconds from 5.5 to 5.6 seconds. To put this in perspective my V8 powered GS400 had a 0-60 of 5.9 seconds and much worse fuel economy.

 

For 2011 both the GS350 and the GS450h have a CR of 11.8:1, reasonable with DFI. With the Atkinson cycle engine using the delayed into valve closing technique the "standard" base/native CR is 13:1.

I'm betting the 2013 Atkinson/DFI engine is simply detuned via intake restriction with the battery/electrics making up the difference.

 

Yes tideland, I was quoting the motor trend article for regular gasoline version of the engine. This is the engine that toyota was tuning, not a premium fuel Atkinson variant. It is 10.5, and compression would be higher if it was more like the skyactiv design, but this does not mean it would be more efficient.

IIRC mazda skyactiv is 14:1 premium, 13:1 regular gasoline. It is multi-mode which means it can use its electronically controlled intake valves to run in a pseudo atkinson or otto mode with this expansion ratio.

I leave it to west to build his engine and find out if it is more efficient. And no, the expansion stroke is 13:1 so it is not a simple matter of using the standard engine (which version?), and restricting intake.