High End Luxury Cars

24697 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 3:09 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ-Series, Lexus LS 460, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Volkswagen Phaeton, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, Sedan

Let's try to define this forum as being limited to luxury performance vehicles where the mainstream version in a typical configuration has an MSRP of at least $60k.

A luxury vehicle with a base price of $59k qualifies because it would typically be bought with some additional equipment, bringing the MSRP over $60k.

Vehicles like the E, 5, A6, M, or GS, even if available in certain versions over $60k, don't qualify because they are cars from companies that have higher end cars in their lineups.

Outline

Messages Page 2449 of 2470: 1; ...; 2446; 2447; 2448; 2449; 2450; 2451; 2452; ...; 2470; Prev; Next; Last

#24477 of 24697 Re: I think a Hybrid pack weighs more than a turbocharger [tagman] by brightness04 Apr 20, 2007 (5:26 pm)
Replying to: tagman (Apr 20, 2007 4:09 pm) I agree that LS460L makes for a better deal LS600HL, for me personally, but hey I'm a cheap skate as usual 2000 others may find the exclusivity of LS600HL appealing. 21mpg is not all that bad. It translates to 570 gallons in 12k miles. A V12 AWD car like A8 would probably use 1000 gallons (12mpg) in the same 12k big city/jammed traffic driving that those cars are typically found in. Thats 430 gallon difference if the owner is into that kind of greeness. In order to extract 430 gallon more out of the annual gas budget of an LS600HL, one would have to find a car that delivers 85mpg! In other words, LS600HL stands as the midway point between the typical gas guzzling AWD V12 and an 85mpg tricycle in terms of gas consumption! Shoot, Lexus needs to pay me to pound that line of marketting . . . and I'm not even a marketting major. LOL To be honest, I'm somewhat puzzled at why Lexus keeps doing that indrect HSD thing instead of driving the front wheels directly with electric motors. That would save 300lbs out of the Torsen AWD system right there. Besides, wouldn't the DSC sensors then be able to control the individual motor's speed and effectively implement super-handling while at it?? Glad you mentioned the hybrid+turbo. For years, I have wondered why nobody tried spinning up the turbo with electric power . . . talk about comletely eliminating turbo lag! When the car is at cruising speed, the turbo bypass valve can also redirect the exhaust to run a windmill/turbine generator to produce electricty that can run all the accessories and charge batteries/flywheels. Replies to this message: tagman (Apr 20, 2007 6:14 pm) brightness04 (Apr 20, 2007 6:38 pm)
#24480 of 24697 Re: I think a Hybrid pack weighs more than a turbocharger [brightness04] by tagman Apr 20, 2007 (6:14 pm)
Replying to: brightness04 (Apr 20, 2007 5:26 pm) 21mpg is not all that bad. It translates to 570 gallons in 12k miles. Remember, next year hybrids won't rate as high. Guess what? My wife's XJ Vanden Plas has an EPA rating of 18 / 27 ! The standard XJ gets 18 / 28 ! And the amazing thing is that huge Vanden Plas only weighs a little more than a 3-series, because of it's advanced aluminum bodywork.... so at that ultra low weight, the 300 HP is very quick. No hybrid, no diesel... just low weight. So, weight is another part of the answer, IMO. I also learned that low weight is very efficient with the recent Lotus Elise, at less than 1 ton. TagMan Replies to this message: brightness04 (Apr 20, 2007 6:38 pm)
#24481 of 24697 Re: I think a Hybrid pack weighs more than a turbocharger [tagman] by brightness04 Apr 20, 2007 (6:38 pm)
Replying to: tagman (Apr 20, 2007 6:14 pm) Absolutely! Low weight helps. It helps handling too. OTOH, I'm not sure how many people are into lightweight HELC. Rolls and MB kinda inculcated consumers about what a burley tank HELC's ought to be.
#24486 of 24697 New place for a Lexus 600h discussion by drfill Apr 20, 2007 (7:56 pm)
As well as other Toyota Hybrids. http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f12fe69/0 Future Toyota Hybrids. Where are they now. Where are they going. How can they get there. Prius. Camry. Lexus 450h and 600h. And beyond. Check it out! DrFill