And after all, he knew, and read, and heard about this wonderful achievement of the genius of Japanese thought - and still got stuck. When I first got behind the wheel of the 400h, I wondered for a long time why it wouldn't start, until a Toyota representative informed me that I wouldn't hear the engine sound now. "Oh yes!" - I exclaimed, and then, finally, it dawned on me that the car was ready to start, but so far it was working only on electric motors.
Still, the Lexus RX400h is really a wonderful car. It does not fit in my head that the machine can work and at the same time not make any noise. “Starts with half a turn” - this is not about the RX400h, it always starts, but quietly, without making any extraneous sounds at all. Only the signal inscription "Ready" on the dashboard notifies you that the car is ready to start. Quietly press the gas pedal - let's go, again silently, only the sound from under the wheels gives out a revived car, and if you stand and listen outside, you can catch a slightly noticeable hum of the operation of electric motors.
The most interesting filling of the Lexus 400h is undoubtedly the HSD hybrid power plant. If someone else is not in the know, it consists of two electric motors and one gasoline engine. The total power of the power units is 272 hp. However, for electric motors, power is not measured in horsepower, so the power of each individual unit is considered in kilowatts. That is why in the place where the tachometer measures engine speed in ordinary cars, the Lexus hybrid scale is drawn from 0 to 200 kW.
The scheme of the car's drive device, when studied in detail, turns out to be very simple: a gasoline engine and a front electric motor work together to provide front-wheel drive to the Lexus RX400h. When the car is moving at low speeds and it does not require a lot of power, only the front electric motor is working. In the event of a battery discharge or if all the power of the car is required, a 3.3-liter 6-cylinder V-shaped gasoline engine comes into play through a planetary power divider, which transmits torque to the front wheels and at the same time to a generator that charges the battery and electric motor. Because the drive of the RX400h is automatic, i.e. the rear wheels become leading only when necessary, which is determined by the VDIM system, the second electric motor, which alone controls the rear drive, is turned on only if the front wheels slip. The battery can also be charged during braking: the engine's alternator converts kinetic energy into electrical energy, which also happens when the foot is simply removed from the pedal and engine braking is applied. To do this, the continuously variable automatic transmission has a special "B" mode, in which engine braking is forced. By the way, the numbers in the name of the Lexus 400h speak of traction and dynamic characteristics, which are comparable to those of a 4.0-liter gasoline engine, and the letter “h” means that same hybrid technology.
The entire power distribution is displayed on a 7-inch LCD in the center console. At first, the picture on the monitor concentrates the attention of all people sitting in the car. Moreover, the drivers of SUVs adjacent to the stream, especially at night, noticing this image, strove to catch up with the Lexus in order to better see this “unseen”.
Since the whole system is centered around the high voltage battery located under the rear seat, we were naturally interested in the question of its service life and operation at low temperatures. The last factor of the Lexus RX400h does not scare at all, the model was sold to all regions of Russia without restrictions, and official service centers have not yet registered a single case of battery failure due to low temperature. Last winter, when Moscow was in 40-degree frosts and many even new cars refused to start on the first try, the RX400h, according to Toyota representatives, was one of those cars that unconditionally started and drove without showing any signs of the influence of low temperatures. In addition, Toyota told us that the battery life is unlimited, and the resource should be enough for the entire period of operation of the car. This means that during the warranty period, a scheduled replacement of the battery after a certain depletion of the resource is not provided. In Russia, there have not yet been cases of its replacement, but if the owner still encounters such a problem and changes it for his own money, it will cost him about $ 9.5 thousand.
Lexus RX400h, like all cars of this brand, is a combination of luxury and quality. Expensive materials, a huge range of options - make you feel very comfortable. But here, too, ambiguous flaws “surfaced”, which will seem to someone only a private opinion. Despite the fact that the car rides well, accelerates and overcomes road bumps, the steering wheel seemed too heavy for us. At high speeds, this is an indisputable plus, but the heaviness in the steering wheel does not disappear even while turning the wheels on a stationary car. The rear view camera allows you to get a great view when reversing, but makes you blind in rainy weather, when after a few minutes of driving the car's stern is splashed with mud from under the wheels. The front parking sensors in the Lexus RX400h decided not to install at all. The air conditioner in the "Auto" mode behaved completely inadequately. Forgive us the owners of this car, in our test instance, setting, for example, a temperature of 24 degrees Celsius, a stream of cold air periodically escaped from the deflectors, which continued to blow for a long time. It was possible to get rid of it either by closing the deflector, or by raising the temperature by one degree, but in the latter case, the situation repeated itself again after some time.
But the RX400h has many useful options, such as: rear seats that move back and forth, power steering, an easy landing system, when the steering wheel moves away from the dashboard and rises to the previously set position when the ignition key is touched, as well as an adaptive lighting system , which allows you to turn the headlights at an angle of up to 15 degrees and illuminate the turn. The rear door of the Lexus RX400h, in the manner of executive class sedans, is unlocked and locked remotely with a key or a button on the fifth door. What is only worth a 7-inch screen with the TouchScreen function, when no buttons are needed, and all parameters can be changed by pressing the corresponding icon on the screen. Plus, all possible active and passive safety systems, which make no sense to list, because. the very name Lexus already implies the presence of all necessary systems and pillows. Special thanks to Lexus must be given to Mark Levinson, who gave the interior of the RX400h a stunning 240W audio system with ten speakers and a 230mm ceramic subwoofer.
Driving a Lexus is a real pleasure: a soft and clear suspension, responsive steering, dynamics that allow you to drive at a speed of 100 km / h in 7.6 seconds. Only the consumption is not quite like that of a conventional car, on the highway the on-board computer shows 16-17 liters per 100 km, and in “deaf” traffic jams, where you have to stand for more than an hour - only 13. We know that HSD is to blame for everything, but unaccustomed to this state of affairs, we don’t understand - why now drive along a suburban highway at a speed of 50 km / h, or not drive at all? Based on fuel economy, the Lexus RX400h is the most urban SUV of all.
Is all this necessary from the point of view of economy? Such a question arose during a detailed comparison of the hybrid Lexus and the "regular" RX350, which entered the market not so long ago. The RX400h and the top-of-the-line RX350 "Premium" are exactly the same, except for one detail - the LCD monitor. In the latter, it is absent, and instead we can observe the monochrome screen of the audio system. Minor exterior changes, such as grilles, fog lights, etc., as well as slightly changed dimensions, we will not take into account. 272 HP RX400h versus 276 hp we will also leave the RX350 alone and assume that the cars are exactly the same.
For those whose brain is not able to digest a lot of numbers and calculations, please proceed to the next paragraph. The cost of a hybrid Lexus is $78,250, and the cost of the RX350 in the maximum configuration is $70,100 - the difference is a little $8,150. -screen and this will calm down. But for those who are used to counting money, we give information for reflection. Let us take as a basis the declared and measured by all the rules gasoline consumption of both Japanese cars in a mixed driving cycle. For a hybrid RX, this figure will be equal to 8.1 liters per 100 kilometers, while the RX350 will “eat” 11.2 liters for the same distance. If we translate the cost of gasoline at the current rate, we get that we pay about 70-80 US cents for one liter of gasoline. Shifting the difference in the cost of models to liters, we get the figure 11,642 - 10,187 liters. This is how much gasoline you can buy for $ 8,150. With this money or liters, the Lexus RX400h will be able to drive 143,728 kilometers.
Thus, if we want to save on petrol by buying a car with a hybrid drive, the real benefit comes only when we drive almost 150,000 km on the RX400h, i.e. when we run out of warranty, limited to 100,000 kilometers, and already when we have to put our hard-earned money into the car to fix the faults, which will undoubtedly appear by then. At the same time, we assume that when this mileage is reached, despite the assurances of Toyota specialists, the battery properties may deteriorate due to their decent service life, which is why work on electric motors can last less and less time, and as we found out above, its replacement costs quite a lot of money.
Now, if we had tax incentives for environmentally friendly cars, we would not pay transport tax, as in the case of Oka or, perhaps the situation would be different. But since in Russia all good things come only after all the bad ones, and officials will think about hybrid systems only when they themselves graduate from a technical university not for money and “blat”, we will have to wait a long time. Toli is the case in the United States, in particular in California, where there are very serious taxes on environmental friendliness. The bulk of these cars are sold there, because. concessions give a tangible result for their owner’s wallet, besides, numerous organizations like the “greens” will not bombard the courts with their lawsuits against rich and solvent celebrities who will switch to environmentally friendly modes of transport, and besides, they will correspond to the image of technocrats and keeping up with time.
#Hybrid cars are on the rise. If a decade ago only the Prius was such, now all the leading companies mass-produce such cars. But how reliable are cars with a gasoline-electric power unit?
Lexus-RX 400h (factory index MHU 38) became the first hybrid officially delivered to Russia. Since 2005, a solid operating experience has been gained, because the mileage of many cars has exceeded 150 thousand km. Unlike the model sold in America (its index is MHU 33), our R-X is all-wheel drive: in addition to the front hybrid transmission, an electric motor with a rear axle drive gearbox has been introduced. Interestingly, this part of the hybrid drive is only blown with air, while the front of the transmission has a common circuit with the gasoline engine cooling system.
It occasionally happens that antifreeze begins to leak at the junction of the transmission housing - pay attention to this place. It is easier to periodically check the level in the right expansion tank, but do not forget about the left one, which is responsible for cooling the inverter - the battery's DC-to-AC power converter to power the electric motors. Accordingly, in the recovery mode, the electrons run in the opposite direction, charging the battery.
In this separate circuit, the liquid overtakes the electric pump, which, although extremely rare, fails. It is impossible to predict the imminent death of the pump, because it turns on only as needed - when the inverter really needs to be cooled. You will feel the defect only in motion, when the inverter turns off due to overheating. In this case, the car will become dull, and the display will show the inscription: Check Hybrid System.
When changing the fluid, air plugs must be expelled from the system, otherwise the inverter will subsequently overheat. Although the electronics will limit the current supplied, the power transistors may explode. Dealers do not change them separately, offering to fork out for a new inverter assembly (more than half a million rubles!). However, on the Internet you can find more humane prices for repairs. And the further east, the cheaper. For example, in Yekaterinburg they will take 100-120 thousand from you, and in Vladivostok - almost half as much. Fortunately, inverter failures are still rare.
The hybrid does not have a gearbox in the usual sense. Its role is played by only two planetary gears. The first one is connected to a gasoline engine through a carrier with satellites, and through a sun gear - to an electric motor of 650 V, which is both a starter and a generator. The same motor, changing speed, changes the gear ratio between the internal combustion engine and the ring gear connected through the gearbox and differential to the wheels. The second planetary gear set is connected to the traction motor-generator (also 650 V) through the sun gear (the crown gear is common for both rows). Very beautiful design! And surprisingly hassle-free. It is only important to monitor the oil (original - Toyota ATF WS). Although according to the regulations it is “eternal”, dealers recommend changing it after 160 thousand km.
ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE
It happens that such a car is bought only for the image and it is idle for months. This is the worst operating option for which the hybrid is not designed - this is clearly stated in the instructions. Even standard electronics quickly discharge a 12-volt battery with a capacity of only 36 Ah, designed to power auxiliary equipment. But many install an additional alarm on the car (“Lexus” attracts increased interest from hijackers), in which the quiescent current can reach 100 mA.
It is easy to calculate that the battery is completely discharged in just half a month. But it also feeds the power relays for connecting the traction battery, from which the engine is started. Due to natural self-discharge, the main battery can also sit down. Therefore, make it a rule to periodically (once a week) roll the car at least around the house, and then wait until the internal combustion engine itself stalls. This is a sign that the traction battery is charged.
There is an opinion that in the conditions of the Russian winter, hybrids do not live long. Don't believe the rumors! At the Pole of Cold in Oymyakon, right-hand drive "priuses" of the first generation still drive. As for the RX - yes, there were battery failures (on copies of 2005, they were changed under warranty), but they can be counted on the fingers. By the way, the farther to the east, the more craftsmen who are ready to sort out the battery for a moderate fee, replacing defective cells (there are 240 cells in total).
The design of the 3MZ-FE gasoline engine (3.3 l) has been time-tested. The motor is built on the basis of a three-liter 1MZ-FE, which has proven itself well on the RX 300 and Toyota Camry models. 3MZ-FE was also installed on a purely gasoline RX 330. The engine was slightly modified for a hybrid: there are other supports, an intake system and valve timing. And most importantly - there are no attachments driven by a V-ribbed belt, since the power steering and air conditioning compressor are electric.
We change the timing belt every 100 thousand km, always along with the rollers. The pump is driven by the same belt; it is quite reliable and sometimes serves more than 200 thousand km. But spark plugs, although iridium ones, do not last more than 40 thousand km. When replacing, the intake manifold must be removed. This is perhaps the main difficulty in maintaining the machine.
Dealers at each MOT (10 thousand km) flush the throttle assembly, motivating the procedure by the fact that on the RX 330 with a very similar engine, by 30-60 thousand km, due to mud deposits, idle speed begins to float. And although the hybrid engine never works in this mode (it is either silent or running under load, charging the traction battery), it may have problems starting.
SIMPLY "ER-X"
And how is the conventional gasoline RX that the 400h is based on? Its gasoline engine is just as reliable (change the spark plugs, timing drive and flush the throttle), but the automatic transmission is able to surprise even at 120 thousand km. With cars for the American market, the situation is even worse: 50-60 thousand miles - and the unit is no longer a tenant.
Due to the fact that the “American” transmission valve body is configured for fast gear shifting (the Russian version, made taking into account frosts, has a slower automatic), it can turn on two gears at once. It is clear that this feature does not extend the service life. Please note: after the overhaul, you need to reconfigure the gearbox control unit - erase all previous settings and sew in new ones corresponding to the changed setting moments when switching gears on and off. Otherwise, expect new problems.
Oil sometimes flows along the junction of the rear cover of the transfer case - it is easier to add it periodically. If oil leaks through the rolling of the power steering pressure hose (it happens to 80 thousand km), we change without hesitation - they don’t joke with the helmsman. A common problem with any RX, including hybrids, is rear brake calipers. The rubber bands of the guide fingers are quickly frayed in them, moisture that has got through the cracks fetters the mechanisms. Therefore, we carry out preventive maintenance at every maintenance.
The cost per kilometer of a hybrid run, calculated according to the methodology of our column (ЗР, 2011, No. 1), turned out to be significantly lower than that of the gasoline version: 12.83 versus 15.54 rubles. But if you are not lucky with the inverter or the traction battery, the alignment will not be in favor of the hybrid at all: the electrical components and assemblies are too expensive for the time being.
FROM THE HISTORY OF THE MODEL
Lexus RX
DEBUT: The second generation RX was introduced in the US in January 2003. In North America and the Middle East, a 3.3-liter V6 version was offered. European and Asian buyers received a 3-liter engine. In March 2005, the RX 400h hybrid began to be produced, which was officially delivered to Russia since June of the same year.
BODY: 5-door station wagon (SUV).
ENGINES: gasoline - V6, 3.0 l, 204 hp; V6, 3.3 L, 230 hp; V6, 3.5 L, 277 hp For the hybrid version: petrol, V6, 3.3L, 210 hp, plus 165 hp front electric motor, plus 68 hp rear electric motor. (total power of the power plant - 270 hp).
GEARBOX: A5 for the regular version, stepless planetary for the hybrid.
DRIVE UNIT: front or full.
RESTYLING: in 2007, the radiator grille, bumpers, rims, as well as some decorative elements of the body changed. A year earlier, the old V6s were replaced by a 3.5L engine.
CRASH TESTS: in 2004, the level of safety in a frontal collision according to the methods of IIHS and NHTSA (USA) was recognized as the highest. The consequences for a rear-end collision earned it a "poor" (IIHS) rating.
We thank the Business Car JV (Lexus-Levoberezhny car center at the 78th km of the Moscow Ring Road, Moscow)
for assistance in the preparation of the material.
Appearance. I have been staring at RXs for a long time (Ferrets or Lexuses), I and II generations - that's the charm, III - generation is not the same, IV - that's not it at all. I understand that it's a matter of taste, but for me - that's it.
- Full stuffing and everything is somehow very convenient, even sometimes - in its place.
- Rezvenky car, often rescued on the track.
- Pleasant little things, such as interior lighting between removal from the signaling and factory and headlights, after turning off the ignition and before opening the driver's door (why, by the way?).
Everything in the RX is, of course, luxurious and fancy, but I still have a Prius 20 in my family and I have something to compare. The 2007 Lexus RX 400h is a step backwards compared to the 2006 Toyota Prius:
- doors open/close with a button on the key, not with a radar in the door - you need to get the key
- there is no non-contact factory from the button - you need to insert the key into the ignition lock
- gear shifting - with a snake automatic transmission handle, not a joystick
- there is no climate control on the steering wheel (but they could have done at least for the driver's zone), you have to reach for the radio and grope, on the go - "horror how convenient!"
- for the driver - yes, but for the passenger - there is no cup holder at the door under the side airflow grille
- by the way, at the expense of the grilles - you can’t turn off / reduce the air flow through the central grilles (is that what prevented you from making the same wheel as on the side ones?)
- poorly keeps the climate temperature: we stand - it's hot, let's go - it's cold
- no case for glasses (although there is plenty of space in the car)
- no oil dipstick in box
The chairs are luxurious, but uncomfortable. My legs become numb after 6-8 hours, no matter how I set it up (in the Prius 12 hours without problems)
- Can't adjust headlights
- reverse gear - only by electric motor. If buksonul - Khan!
The motor of the rear broom flew off (hadn't changed yet)
- rattling of the cruise on/off button (sometimes it is very necessary, for example, to pass a settlement at the allowed speed at night without getting caught on cameras)
- the car load sensor (or whatever it is called), which affects the tilt of the headlights, fails
- when folding / unfolding mirrors, sometimes they go astray and look "into the sky"
- sometimes the trunk "fools" with the button, then it doesn’t open, then it doesn’t close (it starts its action, but then, as if something interferes with it, it returns to its original position). Maybe the opening / closing mechanism needs to be lubricated? ..
- the plastic covering the end of the rear seat runners fell off (it’s clear that they probably knocked it down with their feet, but wasn’t it worth thinking about when designing and making something more reliable than a pair of fragile latches?)
- the trunk curtain is not completely removed, but covers 5-7 centimeters of the trunk, it happens that you put something big, a suitcase, for example, you touch it, and the fasteners of this curtain pop up from the runners with a crunch, I think they will break soon.
Something "hurts a lot", for an 11 year old car ...
The release of the hybrid Lexus RX 400h took place in 2005. Manufacturers of an unusual car addressed it to technically advanced people who are interested in everything advanced and unknown. After all, this is not an ordinary SUV, but a High-Tech car, which (despite the V6 gasoline engine) is rather a power plant: in addition to the 3.3-liter engine, the Japanese crossover is equipped with two more electric motors, a generator and a set of batteries under the rear seat.
In addition, the Lexus RX 400h engine is controlled by electronics, all-wheel drive can be called electric, and the driver is assisted by a dynamic motion stabilization system. Electronic elements are also used in the steering circuit and in the braking system. There is also no gearbox. The role of the transmission is performed by a planetary differential, in which, with the help of electronics, power is distributed between the wheels, the internal combustion engine and the electric motor.
The RX 400h comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, power and heated side mirrors, power tailgate, aluminum trim interior, power front seats, dual-zone climate control, multifunction steering wheel, premium audio class with 8 speakers and a CD changer for 6 discs, a touch screen on-board system, which displays, among other things, numerous parameters of the hybrid power plant. The premium package adds leather trim, power steering, driver's seat memory, and a power sunroof. In addition, additional options include 18-inch wheels, an 11-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, a navigation system with a rear-view camera, and a rear-seat entertainment system.
The RX 400h is powered by a hybrid setup called the V6 Hybrid Synergy Drive. It combines a 3.3 V6 gasoline internal combustion engine and two permanent magnet electric motors at once. Maximum acceleration is possible only with the coordinated operation of the main elements of the power unit - a gasoline engine and two electric motors. When the accelerator pedal is pressed all the way down, all three motors are activated and the short-term power of the hybrid unit can reach 270 hp. At the same time, the RX 400h accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds. During normal movement at constant speeds, the batteries are recharged through the generator, the energy of which is consumed to start the movement.
When driving in a calm rhythm, the drive is carried out only on the front wheels. If one of the wheels of the Lexus RX 400h is slipping, the rear axle motor is connected. It provides not only traction, but also stability when cornering, while the amount of torque on the rear axle can change almost instantly. A change in drive strategy, that is, a change in the distribution of power between the engines, occurs harmoniously and completely imperceptibly to passengers. This also applies to the operation of the automatic start-stop system. When stopped, the 6-cylinder engine is automatically switched off, and after the next start it is connected again. Electric power steering provides sharp responses. The weight difference between the RX 300 and RX 400h is about 200 kg. Therefore, to achieve better economy, even special tires are installed - with low rolling resistance.
The RX 400h's safety systems come standard with front, side, front and rear head airbags (curtain airbags), and knee airbags for the driver and passenger. Standard stability control and traction control are fully integrated into the electronic control system of the hybrid transmission. Thanks to this, the RX 400h responds instantly to any changes in road conditions. The car showed good results in crash tests.
Launched in 2006, the Lexus RX 400h was the first mass-produced premium hybrid car. Despite the many advantages of hybrid technologies used in it, they also impose certain limitations. For example, due to the features of the all-wheel drive system (the absence of a mechanical connection between the axles), the RX400h is significantly inferior in cross-country ability to the RX350 and is not suitable for use in difficult road conditions. Used hybrid RX400hs are significantly inferior in number to their gasoline counterparts in the lineup of models, but they cannot be called rare either - the model has aroused great interest since its appearance in Russia. Before buying, be sure to check the performance of the hybrid installation.
Good day to all.
I often visit this site, I try not to miss reviews on cars that interest me. Deciding to find out what the owners of the rx 400h were writing, I flipped through the pages and realized that our hybrids are rare animals, not a single review on the resource. Well, I'll be a pioneer, so to speak. I got to know the Japanese quality and endurance of Toyota by buying the first generation RX 300, there is a review on the site for those who are interested, the car was bought for my wife, but I also liked it, it suited me with everything: both behavior on the road, and a comfortable suspension , silence in the cabin, a powerful internal combustion engine at that time, only one thing was disappointing - the box, or rather its control algorithm. Pushing through traffic jams, remembering the leisurely driving style, she began to get stupid, preventing her from using all the characteristics of the engine, this was especially noticeable during a sharp increase in speed, when it was necessary to change lanes from the right lane to the left more dynamic lane, pushing the gas until the kickdown was triggered, the box rarely switched down, forcing the motor to pull out a 2-ton colossus from 40 km / h in the 4th extreme gear, the dynamics, you yourself understand what it is in this situation. The situation could be corrected either by sharply pushing the gas pedal (which I don’t like, because it’s hard to dose the thrust), or by turning on the kickdown, then the box throws off several gears and the car rushes forward with the agility of a stung bull. According to reviews on specialized forums, I found out that only a hybrid is deprived of this shortcoming from the Er X, due to the specific design of the checkpoint, which influenced my further choice.
I will not describe the driver's workplace in this review, because it seems to me that there are more interesting aspects to this car, and I will try to touch on them.
DESIGN
So, the power plant of the car is a complex of 3 engines: the first gasoline internal combustion engine with a volume of 3.3 liters with a capacity of 210 hp (288nm), the second electric 123 kW (167 hp, 333 nm), the third 50 kW (68 hp 130 nm), in total it seems like it turns out an impressive 445 horses, you can even brag about this to your friends, but in reality, at peak loads, El. Motors consume as much energy as no battery comparable to a car will give, so the internal combustion engine goes into generator mode. In total, these 3 motors produce 275hp, 210 of which are recorded in the PTS. The gearbox is a planetary gear of a cunning design, the principle of which I did not understand, having watched the videos on YouTube several times, but it feels like a variator, although there are no belts and chains. The rear motor is connected by wire, there is no cardan, the battery weighs about 70 kilograms and is located under the rear seats. It does not have a separate generator, the compressor is kondeya, the power steering is electric.
After spending the night, we get into the car, turn the key, the READY icon lights up on the instruments, turn on the box in D, let's go, the internal combustion engine will turn on after 30 seconds in order to warm up, after warming up it will stall again, and we will continue to drive on electric traction. The car does not have a tachometer, there is a wattmeter, the scale is divided into 4 parts, the first blue scale shows the energy accumulation mode, the arrow enters it when braking, the second allows you to drive only on electric traction, provided that the batteries are sufficiently charged, the third is up to 100 kW, the 4th is up to 200 kW . Driving in a traffic jam is the mode under which the hybrid is imprisoned, near starts from a standstill of 50-200 meters the car runs on electric traction, it also stops without starting the internal combustion engine, while all electrical appliances, including condos, run on batteries, the consumption in a fierce traffic jam does not exceed 8.5 liters, while there is no vibration or engine noise. Urban traffic free driving allows you to drive on electric traction, but others will think that you are broken, because. accelerating with an eye on the wattmeter, you will be inferior even to cyclists. It is worth mentioning the brakes, the algorithm of their work is as follows: when braking, the electric motors switch to the generation mode, while there is an intensive deceleration without pads and energy accumulation, if the electric motors do not cope, pads and brake discs come into play. The start from the traffic light takes place on electric traction and only after 3-5 seconds the internal combustion engine starts up, the start is not as intense as on the RX 300 (it resembles a steam locomotive, a powerful push from a place, then measured acceleration to 4 thousand, after 4 again a push), rather, it is an electric train, with increasing speed, traction, insane traction, grows endlessly. Outside the city, a car projectile, the feeling that there is no equal to it up to 4.5 atmospheric liters on crossovers, came up with an entertainment for myself to tease flashers with distant ones on highways, driving 120-130 km / h in the left lane, seeing a flashing sraker crouching on my rear bumper, I step on the gas, the poor sracker catches up with me for another half an hour, after which it usually follows me without blinking. Consumption in the country about 10 liters.
SERVICE
Having studied the club forums, I realized that the only weak point in this car is the inverter, it has its own cooling circuit, if you miss antifreeze, you can get serious problems, everything else is pretty reliable, the number of drive belts is reduced to a minimum, pads and discs work much less frequently than in gasoline counterparts, the traction battery is segmented; when some blocks are released, you should not change it all. Theoretically, the oil should run longer than in conventional motors, because. less engine hours, but I did not check, I change according to the regulations, although it is much lighter than on the 300th with the same mileage.
