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Luxury Japanese automotive marque <a href="http://www.lexus.com.hk/en/home/index.html">Lexus </a>has Hong Kong’s auto enthusiasts at the edge of their seats with the latest hybrid edition of its flagship sedan – the fascinating LS500h. Nigh on 30 years after the original LS first took the motoring world by storm and became a byword for quality and comfort, this latest edition boasts even better style, performance and luxury accoutrements than ever before.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-40353 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Lexus-LS500h-Brave-yet-Thoughtful.jpg" alt="Lexus LS500h - Brave yet Thoughtful" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Lexus-LS500h-Brave-yet-Thoughtful.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Lexus-LS500h-Brave-yet-Thoughtful-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Lexus-LS500h-Brave-yet-Thoughtful-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Lexus-LS500h-Brave-yet-Thoughtful-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Lexus-LS500h-Brave-yet-Thoughtful-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Lexus-LS500h-Brave-yet-Thoughtful-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Lexus-LS500h-Brave-yet-Thoughtful-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Every aspect of this flagship sedan exemplifies the legendary Japanese notion of omotenashi, a mindset of hospitality that entails going to great lengths to ensure a guest’s comfort and happiness, that Lexus is renowned for. This manifests itself in the technical details – like the intelligent air suspension system that lowers or raises the chassis based on the driver’s determination – as well as comfort-driven aspects like the Climate Concierge, which automatically adjusts the in-car temperature based on passengers’ body surface readings.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-40355 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-was-designed-to-be-comfortable-yet-high-performance-beautiful-yet-functional.jpg" alt="The Lexus LS500h was designed to be comfortable yet high-performance, beautiful yet functional" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-was-designed-to-be-comfortable-yet-high-performance-beautiful-yet-functional.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-was-designed-to-be-comfortable-yet-high-performance-beautiful-yet-functional-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-was-designed-to-be-comfortable-yet-high-performance-beautiful-yet-functional-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-was-designed-to-be-comfortable-yet-high-performance-beautiful-yet-functional-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-was-designed-to-be-comfortable-yet-high-performance-beautiful-yet-functional-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
Outfitted with a brand new Multi Stage Hybrid System, the LS500h has a naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with electric motor that is capable of churning out up to 299PS and 350Nm of torque. When paired with its lean, sporty silhouette and premium rear-wheel drive system, it offers one of the best gas mileages, be it in city driving or highway cruising.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-40354 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-boasts-a-lean-sporty-silhouette-and-premium-rear-wheel-drive-system.jpg" alt="The Lexus LS500h boasts a lean, sporty silhouette and premium rear-wheel drive system" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-boasts-a-lean-sporty-silhouette-and-premium-rear-wheel-drive-system.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-boasts-a-lean-sporty-silhouette-and-premium-rear-wheel-drive-system-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-boasts-a-lean-sporty-silhouette-and-premium-rear-wheel-drive-system-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-boasts-a-lean-sporty-silhouette-and-premium-rear-wheel-drive-system-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-boasts-a-lean-sporty-silhouette-and-premium-rear-wheel-drive-system-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-boasts-a-lean-sporty-silhouette-and-premium-rear-wheel-drive-system-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Lexus-LS500h-boasts-a-lean-sporty-silhouette-and-premium-rear-wheel-drive-system-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Speaking of the design, Lexus Chief Engineer Toshio Asahi explains: “We designed the 2018 Lexus LS to be spacious yet aerodynamic, comfortable yet high-performance, beautiful yet functional. It speaks of our uncompromising drive for quality and our obsession with detail.”
Visit the Lexus flagship showroom now to test drive the LS500h automotive masterpiece.
G/F Centre Parc, 11 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay 
<a href="http://www.lexus.com.hk/">http://www.lexus.com.hk</a>

Daring Drive: The 2018 Lexus LS500h thrills and delights in Hong Kong

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-10693 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_03_eff-e1478587105723.jpg" alt="GLS" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_03_eff-e1478587105723.jpg 900w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_03_eff-e1478587105723-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_03_eff-e1478587105723-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_03_eff-e1478587105723-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_03_eff-e1478587105723-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_03_eff-e1478587105723-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_03_eff-e1478587105723-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
Nowadays, it seems that two rows of seats no longer suffice. It could be the move towards bigger broods or perhaps an increased reluctance to expire on the part of the more doddery outposts of the extended family. It could even be that many now crave to put more space between themselves and the PlayStationing bings and bongs that now inevitably emanate from rear seats.
There are, of course, numerous “people movers” offering, at least, treble rows. The downside is that they’re all too often little more than re-styled delivery vans, with added windows and marginally less industrial interiors. 
For those motorists who find themselves with both a large family and a desire to keep their self-respect intact, there are, thankfully, a few other options available. In fact, many SUV off-road cars are also available in a three-pew configuration. 
The Mercedes Benz GLS 550, the Audi Q7 and the Lexus LX570, for instance, all offer seven or more seats. While each of them has enough badge-cred to impress at the school gates, which one is best?
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-10694 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_18-e1478587190892.jpg" alt="GLS" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_18-e1478587190892.jpg 900w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_18-e1478587190892-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_18-e1478587190892-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_18-e1478587190892-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_18-e1478587190892-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_18-e1478587190892-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/15c986_18-e1478587190892-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
Looks
The first and most important job of any luxury seven-seater is not to look like a non-luxury seven seater. In this department, the Mercedes leaves observers in no doubt that it’s not a van. Combined with the car’s enormous overall scale and chiselled bodywork, the Merc has all the road presence required for intimidating other road users. Presence, but perhaps not beauty.
The Audi fares rather better in the looks department. Where the GLS is all straight lines and sharp angles, the Q7’s bodywork takes a softer, more rounded approach. If the Q7’s shared heritage is noticeable to the discerning, the Lexus LX570’s roots are blatantly obvious to all. The model is based heavily on Toyota’s wilderness-conquering Land Cruiser. The Lexus stylists seem to have invested little or no effort into disguising that fact, merely slapping on the corporate radiator grille and a few logos.
While all three cars are big, the Lexus is vast. It wears its size well though. The LX570 looks like it’d be equally at home parked outside a downtown pedicurist or a mud hut half way up Mount Kilimanjaro.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-10690 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016_Lexus_LX_570_026_eff-e1478587383336.jpg" alt="2016_Lexus_LX_570_026_eff" width="900" height="599" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016_Lexus_LX_570_026_eff-e1478587383336.jpg 900w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016_Lexus_LX_570_026_eff-e1478587383336-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016_Lexus_LX_570_026_eff-e1478587383336-800x532.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
Luxury
Naturally, the first test for any car competing in the seven-seater category is the comfort offered by the third row. The GLS creates a good impression right off the bat with its nifty power operated seats. Raising or lowering the GLS’s back seats is relatively straightforward. With a gentle prod of a pleasingly chunky button, electric motors do all the hard work. In terms of size, though, these part-time pews are big enough to comfortably seat two adults, even over long-ish distances. 
This level of pampering is typical inside the Benz. The driver is almost overloaded with luxury toys, while confronted by an intimidating phalanx of buttons.
Although restrained, the Q7 – the biggest of the Audis – feels far from austere. While the driver is faced with more or less as many buttons and switches as with the Benz, their arrangement across the broad, swooping dash seems less crowded and easier to comprehend. As with the Merc, there’s a similar power-operated folding mechanism. The Audi’s part time seats are, however, a little smaller, resulting in a cramped feeling for adults.
The third row of seating is where the Lexus LX570 plays its trump card. It can not only match the power-actuated convenience of the German cars, but it also beats them hands down by having a rear pew fit for three, taking its total seating capacity to eight. Although nicely put together and undoubtedly luxurious, it’s hard to escape the feeling that this is luxury as an afterthought, rather than being intrinsic to the vehicle.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-10689 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016_Lexus_LX_570_024_97E7B1E35CDB54252E3D6E0EACC2879D652FEFDF-e1478587470515.jpg" alt="2016_Lexus_LX_570_024_97E7B1E35CDB54252E3D6E0EACC2879D652FEFDF" width="900" height="599" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016_Lexus_LX_570_024_97E7B1E35CDB54252E3D6E0EACC2879D652FEFDF-e1478587470515.jpg 900w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016_Lexus_LX_570_024_97E7B1E35CDB54252E3D6E0EACC2879D652FEFDF-e1478587470515-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016_Lexus_LX_570_024_97E7B1E35CDB54252E3D6E0EACC2879D652FEFDF-e1478587470515-800x532.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
Driving
In its 550 guise, the Mercedes GLS’ not-so-secret weapon is its horsepower. The 4.7 litre twin turbo V8 produces an entirely unnecessary 450 horsepower, enough to propel the car to 60 mph in a genuinely fast 5.3 seconds. All that force is transmitted to the four-wheel drive system via an automatic gearbox, which boasts nine forward gears.
Predictably, for so large a car, the steering is incommunicative and the feel through the brake pedal is dull. Attempting to drive the Q7 hard, though, reveals a surprise – it’s not that bad. It stays reasonably flat under heavy breaking and doesn’t produce too much body roll under cornering. Despite the Audi’s 3.0 litre supercharged V6 producing 333 horsepower it’s only a blink slower to 60 than the Merc – 5.5 seconds. Fuel economy is better too, consuming 10.7 litres per 100km to the Benz’s 11.3. The Lexus is bigger than the other two and feels it. Even with the biggest engine its 383 horsepower 5.6 litre V8 can only manage the sprint to 60 in 7.2 seconds. Piloting the LS 570, with its tremendous size and eight seats, is very much like driving a bus. Control inputs result in lazy outcomes on the road, while any attempt at high-speed manoeuvring results in alarming pitch and roll angles.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-10691 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/119396_090107aud-e1478587595718.jpg" alt="119396_090107aud" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/119396_090107aud-e1478587595718.jpg 900w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/119396_090107aud-e1478587595718-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/119396_090107aud-e1478587595718-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/119396_090107aud-e1478587595718-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/119396_090107aud-e1478587595718-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/119396_090107aud-e1478587595718-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/119396_090107aud-e1478587595718-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />
Gafencu’s Choice
While impressive, the Mercedes is hard to love. It’s too obvious, the interior lacks cohesion and the driving experience is disappointing. The Lexus is only really a choice for those who plan to do some proper off-road work but don’t want the military feel of a Land Rover Defender or the Toyota on which the LX 570 is based. Or for those who really do need that extra eighth seat.
The best all-rounder and Gafencu’s choice – despite its slightly smaller rear seats – is the Q7. It’s the nicest to look at inside and out, as well as being the most car-like to drive.

Gafencu’s guide to choosing the sweetest seven-seater

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Daring Drive: The 2018 Lexus LS500h thrills and delights in Hong Kong

Gafencu’s guide to choosing the sweetest seven-seater