The latest Lexus to receive a new hybrid engine, the GS450h has been given the same smart facelift as its predecessor, the GS300, but features an all-new 3.5-litre V6 engine, gearbox and improved sports suspension.
Both grand sedans share the new longer GS platform and Lexus' arrowhead-inspired redesign features tapered headlights, sculpted door mirrors, a shark-like nose and a trapezium front grille.
There's little to separate the two cars from the inside either, as the hybrid receives all the luxury trappings of its petrol-powered sister. Double-stitched leather seats, a sculpted no-fuss dashboard with natural wood panelling, a moon roof, and internally fan-cooled front seats appear as standard in the GS450h, as do ambient interior lighting, dual-zone climate control, a 10-speaker sound system and rain-sensing windscreen wipers.
A power-operated tilting and telescopic steering wheel with controls comes as standard, as do front memory seats, cruise control, smart entry and a touch-panel display operating the air conditioning, Bluetooth, audio and the rear-view monitoring systems.
So far, so similar. The old GS300 V6 was just as handsome, well-equipped and luxurious as the 450h, so why does the hybrid cost HK$150,000 more?
While the GS300 is biased towards refinement rather than out-and-out performance (silky smooth power delivery and a cosseted ride are Lexus by-words, after all), the GS450h is pitched firmly as a luxury sports sedan and the emphasis is on the car's driving dynamics.The 450h provides beefier performance- a full 100bhp more compared to the outgoing V6 - and it has more precise handling, matching its lively performance. It is a genuine contender against the BMW 7-series.