insideKENT Magazine Issue 22 - January 2014 | Page 130

MOTORS

Price as Tested: £39,105
Top Speed: 124 MPH
0-62 MPH: 8.4 Seconds
Economy: Combined 60.1 MPG
Engine: 2.5-litre Hybrid
Performance: 178 BHP
Combined CO2: 109 G/KM

seconds, accompanied by the most fascinating
engine sound. Powerful but controlled, this could
well be the sound of the future.
In fact, incredibly it's the sound of a synthesised
engine noise delivered through a speaker, and
it's not as crazy as it first sounds! The IS 300h
really is a hybrid car, using engine technology
that renders it very, very quiet indeed, yet at the
same time proudly wearing a sport badge. This
creates a potential problem, as any racing driver
will tell you paying attention to engine noise is a
big part of getting a car to perform at its optimum
level.
So this digital noise is designed by the clever
folks at Lexus to give the driver feedback when
driving enthusiastically into corners or around
roundabouts. And it works superbly. When the
road is less straight, the Lexus, despite being a
good sized car, handles amazingly, giving you
plenty of confidence out on those country lanes
and making for a very enjoyable drive indeed.
A CVT gearbox means that the car stays at its
optimal revs whilst changing through the gear,
therefore contributing to the car's amazing fuel
efficiency. The IS 300h boasts a most impressive
combined fuel consumption figure of 60.1 MPG
and cO2 emissions of just 109 G/KM.
There are three driving modes to choose from:
eco, normal and sport, and choosing between

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them will change the way the electronic
speedometer looks. This is really cool.
The 2014 incarnation of the IS 300h not only
does a perfect job of balancing style and subtlety
with economy and sportiness, but it takes hybrid
technology further into a place where it is a
realistic alternative to diesel motors. As Alan P
might conclude, the Lexus 'IS' a great car.

Lexus Sidcup
152 Maidstone Rd
Sidcup
Kent
DA14 5HS
020 8269 8232
www.sidcup.lexus.co.uk