2007 Lexus GS 450h Hybrid

Blowing away the conventional wisdom that hybrid cars are hair dryer-powered eggs on wheels, the 2007 Lexus GS 450h shows that gasoline plus electric can equal breathtaking performance. A powerful V-6 abetted by a high-output permanent-magnet electric motor endows the world's first hot-rod hybrid with 339 horsepower and catapults it from standing to 60 quicker than the new Jaguar XK. But as a full-size, opulently appointed sedan, the 2007 Lexus GS 450h is not a sports car. It is an executive pseudo-eco-mobile aimed squarely at high rollers who want to feel good about their environmental footprints while flying along in the left lane of the highway between conference calls.
In many respects, the GS 450h is a showcase of all the technology that Toyota Motor Company has in its arsenal. As well as its formidable propulsion arrangement, which includes a variable valve-timed engine and an ultralightweight boost converter, the car's performance features include a continuously variable transmission, regenerative braking, variable gear-ratio steering, and active variable suspension all as standard. Options include power-active vehicle stabilizer with Z-rated run-flat tires ($3,400) and Lexus's precollision system ($2,850).

Positive: The GS 450h provides dazzling performance and top-notch luxury all in an eco-friendly hybrid wrapper. GPS navigation and Bluetooth are only the start of a litany of tech features, most of which come as standard equipment.
Negative: Some voice-command niggles with Lexus's fifth-generation navigation system and minor gripes with the variable gear-ratio steering system were all we could come up with.
Summary: With more horsepower than most sports sedans, a hybrid engine, and a long list of tech features, the Lexus GS 450h is a consummate package of comfort, performance, and technology.