From The LS600h's Cockpit
Sit down in the driver’s seat and you’re treated to a smartly laid-out interior boasting excellent ergonomics. Lexus offers various trim options on the LS600h L, from ash burl to walnut wood. Our test vehicle came with bamboo, though. As much as I like the material for its sustainability, it doesn't look particularly elegant in a high-end car, and ends up coming across cheap. Then again, since the LS600h L is a hybrid, it makes a little more sense to highlight the eco motif.
The 16-way adjustable driver’s seat is both comfortable and plush. Front seat passengers are limited to 12-way adjustments, though at least they still get lumbar support. Both seats are heated and ventilated. I didn't use the seat coolers because it was still too chilly outside during my week with the car; however, the warmers worked well. They just don't toast your rear like Audi's (this sounds like a good thing, but sometimes, when it's cold out, you really want to crank the seat heat).
Wrap your hands around the steering wheel and you’re treated to leather and bamboo. The leather portions are heated for an extra bit of luxurious comfort on cold winter days.
Lexus doesn’t get too crazy with the LS600h L gauge cluster. When the car is in Sport or Sport+ mode, the left gauge functions as a tachometer. In Normal and Eco, it displays the power delivery status of Lexus' hybrid system. If you prefer one or the other, you can have the gauge always operate as a tachometer or an eco indicator, too. There is a small screen sandwiched between the left and right gauges that serves as a fancy trip meter. Regrettably, it doesn't show navigation directions.
Usually we’d complain about a lack of integration between the navigation software and gauge cluster. Lexus has a compelling explanation, though. Mounted high and center in the dashboard is a massive 12.3-inch LCD display for the company's infotainment system. It's the same type of display that Cadillac, Jaguar, Range Rover, and Hyundai employ. The display is recessed into the dash with an overhanging lip to minimize glare. You'll have no trouble seeing it from the driver's seat and, surprisingly, you can glance over at it faster than looking down into the gauge cluster.
Below the infotainment display is an analog clock with white markings on a silver background. It’s classy, to be sure. But Lexus lamentably leans on that clock as its sole timepiece, eliminating a digital readout in the gauge cluster or LCD screen. That's one of my pet peeves in luxury-oriented cars. I get it; analog clocks look nice. But they can't be read as quickly. It's ironic to me that we're subject to in-motion navigation lockouts to combat distracted driving, and yet automakers force us to tell the time on analog clocks.
The star of Lexus' navigation system is the mouse-like control interface to the right of the shifter, dubbed Remote Touch. Lexus sculpts its controller with excellent ergonomics. It’s comfortable to use as your elbow sits on the armrest. Remote Touch works like a mouse; you move a cursor on-screen with it. Since the infotainment display is split into two sections (two-thirds corresponds to the function at hand and one-third is dedicated to primary operations like climate, radio, and fuel economy), the mouse only moves freely in the section you're using.
If you want to access the smaller area of the screen, give the mouse an extra nudge. This mechanism prevents you from accidentally switching the function in focus. It's different from what we've seen out of Germany, but still quite effective. If you use a mouse all day, you'll get the hang of it quickly.
In fact, the controller is also a mouse-like button that clicks to select menu items. It's complemented by four buttons for menu, scroll up/down, and direct access to the map/repeat the voice command. My only complaint about Remote Touch is the lack of a back button. The menu button takes you to the home screen and the scroll button makes cycling through lists quick, but navigating to a previous menu requires that you mouse over to the back button on-screen and click it.
I'm sorry for Lexus for Mercedes is years ahead with its new S class.
This LS600 does not look premium enough and the inside is closer to an Audi A6.
I'd assume so since the LS400 was a Toyota Celsior and badge engineered with premium only content for the US whereas the LS600h L and LS460 was designed solely to be a Lexus from the get go with its own styling.
Yea, the Mercedes S class is stunning inside and out. The Lexus looks bland and when you step inside, it doesn't give the same wow factor. Sure its functional, but its not what I'd expect from a luxury vehicle.
And its not because I dont like Japanese cars, I used to have an Acura RL, but they too have dropped the ball. Their design looks bland, they drive is similar to mid class series high end cars, if you want high end you do not think Lexus anymore.
you are right, that is completely absurb, I think I threw all my composite cables away, its either HDMI or Displayport
Or are we just recycling? I'm also for recycling - just not in my "News" section. ;)
In most hybrid cars, the engine is Atkinson cycle, where the intake valves stay open part way up the compression stroke to increase thermal efficiency. Thus it is more efficient not only in the city where the electric motors aid efficiency, but on steady state highway driving too.
But with this Lexus it is probably just plain OTTO cycle. If they were smart, they have camshaft behavior where it could change from OTTO to Atkinson and back on the fly, in millieseconds, so you can have more fuel economy and also the power when you get into it. But they don't.
Part time HCCI (Sparkless diesel cycle ignition) is even more efficient, with OTTO cycle when you want power.
Also if this car had a higher capacity battery pack with a more powerful electric motor, there'd be less need for engine displacement.
Yea its a bit odd. Even the Honda Fit and Civic have HDMI inputs now for the front infotainment system.
Because the higher end luxury vehicles are harder to come by. We got ahold of it towards the end of 2013. 2014 was mostly carryover minus one package change that added the driver assists to make it $135k, which doesn't really change our opinion of the vehicle at all. I assume 2015 will be another carryover year as well since the flagships run on 10 year product cycles.
I think at the end of the day, its because its still a very heavy boat and they are trying to replicate a V12 with good fuel economy but ultimately end up with something that doesn't do much better than a turbo V8 that has more power and much more entertaining to drive.
With the hybrid though, max torque would be available even at low RPMs which results in a more relaxed driving and that performance would not need an expert driver.