Lexus hybrid woos Sainsbury's chief

XeroK00L submitted on 03/18/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 1:10 PM
from: news.bbc.co.uk

[51] user comments | category: Misc News

Tags: lexus hybrid ls600h ls600hl celebrity celebrities celeb celebs

lexus hybrid ls600h ls600hl celebrity celebrities celeb celebs

When Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King recently waved goodbye to his Maserati Quattroporte, he did so in favour of a relatively anonymous-looking limousine whose main claim to fame is fuel efficiency. This time he spent ages comparing their environmental credentials before choosing a company car.

In the end, he chose a long wheelbase Lexus LS600h L, a petrol-electric hybrid car that is essentially a much larger and considerably more luxurious version of Toyota's popular Prius, complete with a reclining leather massaging seat and bundles of electronic gadgets.

Mr King spends between 20 and 30 hours per week in the back seat, both between meetings in London and during his commute from the Midlands.

It's just like business class 15 years ago," Mr King grins as the driver steers the £88,000 limousine up London's Fleet Street towards Trafalgar Square.

"I work a 14 hour day," he says. "I work from the moment I get into this car till the moment I get out of it."

Mr King is excited by the car's hybrid technology and eager to explain how a screen on the dashboard indicates when the car's powerful petrol engine is pushing the car forward, and when it is charging the batteries that feed its electric engine.

"Now we're running on battery," Mr King says as the car glides quietly past Nelson's Column.

"The Lexus does some 30 miles per gallon, which is fantastic for a car like this. Normally, it would be 16 or 17 miles to the gallon." Read Article

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TurboSpyder - 3/18/2008 1:47:40 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

"For Lexus, hybrids have brought about a remarkable change in fortunes, which for its main rivals Audi, BMW and Mercedes is nothing if not irritating.

"The German carmakers insist cars powered by so-called clean diesel often pollute less than the heavier Lexus hybrids.

" 'Diesel is a more honest technology,' stresses Stefan Krause, BMW's outgoing sales and marketing director, in a recent interview with the BBC News website.

"The point is not lost on Mr King, who insists he has not been taken in by the hybrid-badge's suggestion that the Lexus is 'greener' than its rivals."

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"Similarly, given that Mr King uses his car both to commute from the Midlands and for city driving, in his case the overall emissions from, say, a diesel-powered Mercedes S320 would have been equivalent to those from his Lexus, he continues.

“Moreover, he adds, when compared with its rivals the Lexus sometimes comes across as a bit sluggish because of the added weight - a couple of hundred kilograms - of its electric power packs.

" 'The area behind us, between the seats and the boot, is taken up by batteries,' he says. 'So there are some performance sacrifices.'

"The batteries also reduce the boot space, and Mr King's car only has four seats which means it is not always suitable as a family car for the weekend, he adds.

" 'It is great for a family of four but not if either of the children bring a friend along,' Mr King says."

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"Although currently exempt from the London congestion charge - along with all hybrid cars - Mr King will be charged from the autumn, when the London congestion charging system becomes a charge based on emission levels.

"His car 'just limbo's' below a 225 grammes of CO2 per kilometre travelled and as such will be liable for an £8 per day charge, rather than £25 per day.

"Albeit a vast improvement when compared with similarly sized, similarly powered petrol-only limousines, it is hardly an environmentally friendly car."

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theoptimisticpessimist - 3/18/2008 1:49:03 PM

+11 Boost

How is this car news.

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theoptimisticpessimist - 3/18/2008 2:01:20 PM

+12 Boost

Say what you want about German fan boys, at least the don't post a blog every time some pseudo celebrity's buys there car.

TurboSpyder - 3/18/2008 2:19:21 PMView My AgentSpace

+13 Boost

While the dishonesty of Lexus hybrids may not be news to you and the educated on AutoSpies, it sure is news to many others still in denial.

Czelinski - 3/18/2008 2:36:07 PM

+10 Boost

I work for sainsbury's, it's a hit hole. Management is useless, and coporate decisions are generally awful.

So, he is in no posistion to judge cars. This is not news worthy. Just you Lexus fanboys relieved that somebody out there is fooled by marketing bs.

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Rupert - 3/18/2008 4:43:44 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

My local Sainsbury's never has full shelves - there is never anything you want. Crap shop.

Czelinski - 3/18/2008 2:36:32 PM

+9 Boost

*s**t

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Need4Speed - 3/18/2008 2:48:39 PM

+3 Boost

If he was a true hero he would sell the damn car...use the money for charity and drive his own Prius to work....give me a break...I don't think "Obama" would agree with you either!

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kthor - 3/18/2008 2:50:26 PM

-4 Boost

You're funny.

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bmwman1963 - 3/24/2008 8:28:35 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

LOL!!! Lexus only uses the hybrids to increase HP and charge 30 grand more for the "H" on the LS.... What a JOKE!

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Monk - 3/18/2008 5:07:54 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Lexus fans are so desperate.

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Monk - 3/18/2008 5:09:40 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

Can you (Agent001, 009) ban GoObama? He's flooding Autospies forums with inane comments that contribute nothing. Thank you for your consideration.

carnuts - 3/19/2008 1:36:52 AM

+3 Boost

You bitter.

4.4 seconds ring a bell.

M3 Woooooooooooooooped the pitiful IS-F.

Isn't even a C63 killer.

LOSER! LOL

Htay7500 - 3/18/2008 7:04:59 PM

+5 Boost

I really doubt you know anything about london.

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theoptimisticpessimist - 3/18/2008 7:16:44 PM

+4 Boost

The LS600h is the most popular car among rich people in London right now. Everyone wants one.

Complete fiction.

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EL34 - 3/18/2008 7:28:16 PM

-1 Boost

GoObama08, how's Obama and Jeremiah Wright doin'? :-)

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Rupert - 3/18/2008 7:53:42 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

Merc 320cdi S class is under 225, and so is A8 and 7 series 3.0 diesel...you make up so much s**t.

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TurboSpyder - 3/19/2008 11:19:40 AMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

GoObama, do you remember the AutoExpress magazine comparison of the Lexus LS600h and the Audi A8 4.2 TDI diesel?

“This poor result, combined with the fact the Lexus costs so much, means the Audi A8 earns an easy victory here. Not only is it £20,000 cheaper, it’s also better designed from superior materials, just as fast and around 10mpg more efficient.”

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/211689/lexus_ls600h_vs_audi_a8.html

Or the Autobild comparison of the LS600h to three German diesels where the Lexus didn’t get the best acceleration times but did get the worst CO2 test emissions?

http://www.autobild.de/artikel/hybrid-lexus-gegen-die-konkurrenz_435966.html

Or the Autoweek article where they wrote about the LS600h:

“Problem is, for a hybrid, this big Lexus turns in abominable mileage numbers. We couldn’t get close to its published EPA combined 21 mpg.”

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070627/FREE/70626008/1006/VEHICLEREVIEWS

Or the Motor Trend comparison of four luxury cars where the ranked the LS600h last:

“And despite being fitted with $3000 worth of active anti-roll bars, the LS 600hL seemed to roll as much or more than the other cars here, even when set to 'sport' mode (it's borderline nautical in 'comfort'). Charging hard up the hill depleted the battery quickly (actually, pressing the gas pedal on any type of road kills the battery quickly), and horsing the CVT through its eight virtual gear ratios with liberal doses of carpet-crushing throttle provoked an unseemly 'hybrid system overheat' warning. We didn't find the hybrid gear equal to sacrificing a golf-bag's worth of trunk space for and, after this session, all editors were ready to red-pencil the 600 badge down to a 500.”

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0712_high_end_luxury_sedan_comparison/impressions.html

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bmwman1963 - 3/24/2008 8:31:53 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

And you my little Lexus Fan Whore, base this comment on what facts, The Grimms Bros. Fairy Tales?

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EL34 - 3/18/2008 7:26:06 PM

0 Boost

What is Sainsbury and who is the dork in the photo in the ToyLex Hibrid?

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LexusKindaGuy12 - 3/18/2008 8:00:58 PM

-1 Boost

my thoughts exactly about the sainsbury comment. lol
i have no idea who he is, but the mans got style.

on a side note...is anyone having a hard to boosting/deboosting on autospies recently? It links me to another page everytime i click on the red or g reen buttons. sigh...

SixxFive - 3/18/2008 7:52:42 PM

+2 Boost

Mr. King is another victim of Lexus brain washing. When he starts paying the gas bill he will see that it uses more fuel than the LS 460. He will have to have a taxi follow him to Heathrow with his luggage being that the batteries make the trunk smaller than the trunk of a BMW Z4. He will also fire several of his drivers when he wonders why it takes them 20 minutes to park the car using the "self park" feature - when it was really the poor design of the program. LOL!

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enthusiastx11 - 3/18/2008 9:37:15 PM

+2 Boost

he should get an award...

...for driving an 'green' car that weighs over 5,000 pounds, gets the same emissions as many gasoline-only engines, and rocks the house at 20mpg if you're really gentle on the accelerator.

...an award for being a self-righteous hypocrite.

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TurboSpyder - 3/19/2008 11:22:45 AMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

GoDelusional, see my post above.

carnuts - 3/19/2008 1:35:05 AM

+1 Boost

GoObama08,

Where have you been you puss? Avoiding the Comparo where the M3 killed the IS-F.

4.4 seconds a lap, you moron. So-called M3 kille, isn't even a C63 killer.

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flozel1 - 3/19/2008 5:53:53 AM

+1 Boost

carnuts, how 'bout if I kick you in the nuts

MattB - 3/19/2008 10:49:14 AM

0 Boost

I don't see why this is big news. Some CEO bought an LS600hL. So what? Lots of rich people buy LSs.

On a not quite related topic, why is it that so many people on this site are incapable of acknowledging that every car has its strong and weak points and that there's no such thing as a perfect car? Lose the blind allegiance to one brand and think for yourself. And keep your politics out of the discussion.

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MattB - 3/19/2008 11:30:27 AM

+2 Boost

If he can prove that I'll be impressed. No automotive press review has reported that kind of mileage out of the LS600hL.

gsh23 - 3/19/2008 1:14:58 PM

+1 Boost

maybe because all the comparos are just slamming the gas pedal all day long? it seems the way to sell magazines is to concentrate on sport, generating the smallest numbers possible. its pretty hard to objectively review a luxury car on luxury attributes. even things like sound most magazines dont measure how noisy a cabin is. lets face it, the only people who use magazines as their holy grail are the ones not actually buying the car. no review will trump a personal visit to the dealer.

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farabira1 - 3/19/2008 1:42:27 PM

+3 Boost

Look i know LExus LS 600 is not as efficient as Diesels, but really this car is more symbolic than practical. It shows the way for Luxury cars to incorporate Hybrid technology, which at this point is not very efficient for High power Luxury models, but should get more efficient and greener as technology continues to improve. Really stop bashing LS 600, it is because of them that even Mercedes is going to offer the diesel hybrid S class Bluetec. Lexus is the pioneer of incorporating Hybrid that has the potential of making luxury cars greener, and they should be acclaimed for that.

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huu76 - 3/19/2008 9:53:55 PM

+2 Boost

carnutless, can'tspellchecker,
Are you kidding, if it wasn't for me, fools like you wouldn't be posting so much and making autospies some bling. I've been quite offensive towards Europeans and stupid people and I'm still here.

LOL, the IS-F's 4.4 is still less than the C63's 4.6. You may not see it if you still haven't learned to read yet.

btw, how's that 545i of yours? Or is is a 745i today?

I'm shocked, just shocked that the owner of one of these limousines (760Li, S600 and A8L included) sit in the back. You'd think there was a purpose in engineering all this so called sportiness and magic feel on these barges.

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huu76 - 3/19/2008 10:18:00 PM

+3 Boost

carnutlikeslittleboys,

Here's my email, read the bottom of the forum, let's see your car.

http://www.autospies.com/news/New-IS-F-M3-C63-Comparo-MotorTrend-27503/

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bmwman1963 - 3/24/2008 8:35:05 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Is GoObama08 "BiPolar"??

GoHillary08!!!!!

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