Now, I didn't time its acceleration nor did I measure its horsepower. But I did drive the GS 450h for a week, on city and rural roads including a trip into the Rocky Mountains that would test the mettle of any car. And if you're looking for acceleration you need look no farther. Even with four adults on board the car would pass tourists rubbernecking at the Rockies so quickly I'm surprised they didn't get out of their cars to see why they'd stopped so suddenly.
The GS hybrid couples a high-output 3.5-liter V6 engine (featuring direct fuel injection and dual Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence) with a high torque electric motor to create what the company says is power that rivals a 4.5 liter V8 gasoline engine, without raping the environment. I own a fine car with a 4.5 liter V8 gas engine, albeit a 15 year old one, and I'm of the opinion that the GS hybrid would blow its doors off.
In that way, the car's quite depressing!
It's that good, and that much fun to drive.
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