gavriil

Lexus today unveiled plans to offer a revolutionary new hybrid powertrain in future vehicles. This hybrid system will be offered in the new Lexus RX four-wheel drive model and will arrive on the North American market in about two years. This innovative petrol/electric hybrid technology, called Hybrid Synergy Drive, offers benefits far beyond today's hybrid vehicles. While the strengths of current hybrid systems include low emissions and high fuel economy, this new hybrid technology adds the benefit of outstanding performance.

"The RX with Hybrid Synergy Drive has a V6 engine with the performance, power and torque of a V8 yet delivers the fuel economy of a small car while producing a fraction of the emissions of standard SUVs," explained Lexus GB Director, Karl Schlicht.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive operates with front and rear electric motors and a front internal combustion engine. The system in the RX operates at nearly double the voltage of existing hybrid systems and generates more power with high efficiency, dramatically cutting fuel consumption and emissions.

In addition, the front and rear electric drive provides the benefits of all-wheel drive in a lighter and more compact package. The system is highly modular so it is extremely flexible. Different size motors and engines can be combined to favour either fuel economy or power…or both. This means the Hybrid Synergy Drive can be easily adapted to a broad range of vehicles.

The announcement was made in the US, the biggest market for Lexus, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. There was no announcement on the likely introduction of the new Hybrid Synergy

astro

is the the beginning of the 40 volt electrical systems?

AcuraFan

Sounds something like what Honda unvieled in the Dualnote. Hopefully, if there's some competition in this new hybrid field, Honda will get it's butt in gear and implement this technology sooner than later.