There's a great deal of excitement surrounding hybrid automotive technology these days, not only from manufacturers and the motoring press, but also from informed and interested people like you. However, it's inevitable that along with all this excitement comes a lot of conflicting information and confusion. To get a clearer picture of the hybrid marketplace and the superior technology behind the Lexus RX 400h luxury hybrid, we turned to Lexus engineer David Hermance, Executive Engineer of Environmental Engineering for Lexus. Mr. Hermance started working at Toyota in 1991, and he's been working on hybrids since early 1997. So it's safe to say that he's more than qualified to give us a tour of the superior Lexus hybrid technology.
		To begin with, Mr. Hermance addressed the differing technologies in the marketplace: "The Lexus hybrid technology in the RX 400h is a 'full hybrid' design, meaning it can run for periods of time on electricity alone and offers increased performance over 'assist' or 'mild' hybrid designs. In essence, the hybrid technology takes a V6 engine and gives it the performance of a V8. The motor generates 200 to 300 volts, which translates to 161 horsepower, and thanks to a lighter engine and a smaller battery than existing hybrid designs, the RX 400h delivers instantaneous power. In fact, the power output from hybrid designs is so dramatic that it has been actually looked into by a LeMans team as a way to get a leg up on the competition."
		He went on to explain that Lexus hybrid technology is also tried-and-true: "The Lexus hybrid technology is a much-improved version of the hybrid technology Toyota has been working on since 1997, so it's a mature fourth generation design. As a result, the system offers noticeably lower road noise, greatly reduced emissions and increased performance over earlier hybrid designs. All without losing the smooth and luxurious ride found in every Lexus vehicle." Through the hard work of Mr. Hermance and his team, Lexus has applied for 500 new patents relating to hybrid technology and developed many efficient, new manufacturing processes.
		We made no concessions to the hybrid technology when it came to luxury, so the RX 400h has the interior room, features and amenities no other hybrid can match. You'll see it in the sleek lines, the rich leather interior, and attractive options like the Lexus DVD Navigation System and the Mark Levinson® Premium Audio System. If there's anything else you'd like to know about the RX 400h or Lexus hybrid technology, click here to submit a question. The RX 400h. It's the most advanced and luxurious hybrid vehicle ever. But perhaps the most impressive thing we can say about it is this: It's a Lexus.