Lexus IS 300h from 35,900 euros

Lexus has announced the starting price of the new generation IS for Spain. In our country, the hybrid variant will be available from 35,900 € and the first units will not reach roads and dealerships until June 2013. Prices for the IS 250, the second option available for this model, are still unknown.

The Lexus IS 300h is the first hybrid in the IS range and positions itself as a replacement for any diesel engine. The Japanese brand has no plans to launch any engine powered by this type of fuel and will be, almost certainly, the best seller thanks to its low consumption, its power and its very competitive price.

Its modern and attractive design is accompanied by two motors that together generate 223 CV. This power comes from a four-cylinder, 2.5-litre petrol engine capable of delivering 181 CV. The electric motor produces a total of 143 CV.

The gearbox that transmits power to the wheels is a continuously variable transmission (E-CVT), so it has no fixed ratios. In Lexus, to give a sporty image, they have fitted two paddles behind the steering wheel which, when pressed, attempt to simulate gear changes, as if it were a manual gearbox or torque converter.

The most notable aspect of this hybrid is its low homologated consumption. The combined cycle is 4.3 litres/100 km, a figure that even the best diesel engines of similar power are unable to match. In addition, the batteries can keep the electric motor as the sole source of propulsion over a greater distance.