Hybrid power served 5 ways

"Hybrid" doesn't mean just one thing. Cars and SUVs can be set up in different ways to meet different needs. Here's a look at the various systems.

Lexus LS600h
Performance hybrid
Lexus LS600h
The LS600h offers the performance of a V12 with the fuel economy of a V8, Toyota boasts.

Compared to those cars, the Lexus looks downright thrifty. Not only does it get better fuel economy - it even costs a lot less. The V12-powered BMW 760li gets 15 mpg and costs about $20,000 more. The Lexus gets 21 mpg.

And the LS's performance really is impressive. Step on the gas the combined engine and motor, together producing a maximum of about 600 horsepower, push you back in your seat with an easy whisper, barely straining as the needle on the electric boost gauge moves into "performance" territory.

Toyota doesn't expect to sell very many of these cars. Market experience shows that hybrid shoppers are mostly interested in one thing: burning as little fuel as possible. High-end luxury hybrid buyers represent a market that has not yet shown itself. One can make a case for a performance-oriented six-figure hybrid car, but for now the jury is still out.


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Full hybrid

Mild hybrid

Performance hybrid

Two-mode hybrid

Plug-in hybrid
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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.