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Hybrid Vehicles Lexus RX 400h Lexus RX 400h
2334 messages, Last post on Oct 11, 2009 at 10:42 AM
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Replying to: wwest (May 31, 2007 7:07 am) Take a look at this brand new article from May 29? Does it not make sense that if the Prius is testing out at 125 mpg, that something like the RX400H (2009) could get at least 35 mpg with this new technology? http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/may2007/bw20070529_034748.htm
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Replying to: cyclone4 (May 31, 2007 10:32 am) Nope. If you want 35 MPG, try a Ford Escape Hybrid. They are about 3400 lbs, and use an I4 engine. The Prius is designed from the ground up as a hybrid. The 400h is a converted vehicle. But in any case really high MPG is a bit incompatible with larger SUVs. I simply don't think that Toyota is going to go to an I4, or smaller 6, or even Atkinson cycle vice Otto cycle. In my opinion, luxury buyers are not necessarily in the vehicle for the MPG anyway. Physics, physics, it always comes back to how heavy the hunk of metal gets to be. Heavy generally means larger, with worse cross section cD, and a larger engine. Someone driving a 26K Ford Escape Hybrid might not care about "zoom, zoom", but someone laying out 46K for a luxury model certainly expects a kick in the seat when the accelerator is pressed.
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Replying to: stevedebi (May 31, 2007 11:40 am) Yes, it is true that luxury buyers are not buying for fuel efficiency. However, for luxury HYBRID buyers like myself, fuel efficiency is EXTREMELY important. Otherwise, why would I want to pay more for a HYBRID? Yes, there are environmental concerns, but there will be many other clean burning (non hybrid) vehicles in the future. I still maintain that if you guys are right, then you can kiss the hybrid luxury vehicles good-bye. But somehow, I don't think this is what Toyota has in mind. They are in it for the long haul to constantly improve the hybrid technology. Along the way, ever improving fuel efficiency (even for luxury hybrid vehicles) will be one of the benefits. Otherwise, it makes NO logical sense to continue.
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The only, ONLY advantage the Toyota Synergy Hybrid drive system has against equivalent ICE only vehicles is the ability to recover kinetic energy via regenerative braking rather that have it disappated via brake system HEATING. That's why the Prius' highway FE is actually less than an equivalent ICE only vehicle. No, or little ability to recover kinetic energy, use the ICE (high loss path/mode) to re(charge) the hybrid battery. Absent finding another source of "FREE" energy a bigger, higher capacity, battery will do no good.
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That 125MPG number was arrived at via charging the LI battery off the GRID. Not free energy, but certainly CHEAPER. At least until the FEDs figure out how to add road taxes, etc, to the fuel cost at the generating plant. Can you imaging the number of Nuclear power plants that would need to be brought on line...? |
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Replying to: wwest (May 31, 2007 8:02 pm) Well, besides the fact that this one advantage is a HUGE thing, I see at least 1 other very obvious advantage.. 1. The ability to automatically shut off at stops and automaticslly start back up instantly upon demand from the right foot. I'll give you the benefit of doubt in regards to the Akinsin cycle savings in the TCH, as example, as you did say "against equivalent ICE only vehicles" "...That's why the Prius' highway FE is actually less than an equivalent ICE only vehicle. No, or little ability to recover kinetic energy, use the ICE (high loss path/mode) to re(charge) the hybrid battery." This is not so with the TCH, as the TCH is rated higher on the highway than the 4cyl ICE only Camry. 4cyl LE ICE, 33 highway, TCH, 38 highway. |
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Replying to: cyclone4 (May 31, 2007 12:32 pm) You might see a couple of MPG improvement, but even that is doubtful. From what I have read, the Highlander Hybrid and 400h don't even run on pure electric very much, which is where the next generation Prius expects to get much of it's benefit. It simply takes a lot of power to get a large vehicle moving from a standing stop. This, and the "luxury" requirement for plenty of pep, limit what Toyota can do. My real beef with Toyota is that there is no I4 option on the Highlander Hybrid. |
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| Does anyone know if the Brandywine Mica color will be an available choice for the 2008 RX400h? | |
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Replying to: dndell (Jun 01, 2007 5:05 pm) |
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We got a product brochure for 2008 rx's. It included color sheets for both 400h and rx350. I assume this is 2008, and the colors stayed the same (unless Neptune Blue is a new addition...). We saw the Brandywine in the 2008 rx, and agree with dndell's perception, so we opted for an 07 Flint Mica, since it was available, and we prefer the painted door handles to the incoming silver handles. If the brandywine color had been similar to Acura's black cherry pearl, I would have waited....Good luck with your decisions! 
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