2010 Lexus LS 600h L Facelift Detailed

Following the debut of the facelifted 600h at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, Toyota's luxury division Lexus presented today the facelifted L version of the LS 600h hybrid, a model which brings a revised exterior, a reconfigured battery pack and new telematics systems.

The luxury hybrid packs a huge 5.0l V8 gasoline engine, which would normally eat huge amounts of fuel. It develops 438 horsepower (naught to sixty acceleration in 5.5 seconds) and is paired with an eight-speed sequential transmission.

But, as its name says, the 600h is a hybrid, which means fuel consumption figures are not all that scary. The hybrid uses two motor generators, MG1 and MG2, developing 165 kW and a compact 288-volt DC Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack.

Thanks to them, the LS has an estimated EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg (11l/100 km) and meets he Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle II (SULEV II) certification, "emitting nearly 70-percent fewer smog-forming emissions than the average new car," as Lexus says.

The revised body of the hybrid features a revised front grille and bumper, blue-tinted taillamps, a revised license plate surround and exhaust diffusers and new side mirrors with integrated turn signals.

Lexus' Enform with Safety Connect is now offered on the hybrid with a complimentary one-year trial subscription and provides owners with Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Location, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), and Enhanced Roadside Assistance. Additionally, XM Sports and Stocks service is included with an XM radio subscription, after a 90-day trial subscription.