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Lexus, Mazda win KBB 5-Year Cost To Own Awards

We focus a lot on what new cars are like to drive, but it's difficult on a one-week loan to really get a sense of what a car is like to live with. Sure, we try to recreate that sense with our long-term vehicles, but even after a year, it's impossible to know fully learn about a car, particularly in terms of reliability and cost of repairs. For 2014 model year vehicles, Kelley Blue Book has put together a list of the most affordable vehicles over a five-year period.
At the tippy top of the list are Mazda and Lexus, with the Zoom-Zoom automaker winning the award for best non-luxury brand. Lexus, meanwhile, was the most affordable luxury marque over a five-year period. It's interesting to note, though, that not a single Mazda won its segment in this year's awards.
General Motors did quite well, taking eight segments, including both the subcompact and plug-in segments, with the gas-powered Chevrolet Spark and Spark EV. The Chevy Camaro SS and ZL1 took the high-performance car award. Toyota was well represented, with five winners split between the main brand (Corolla, Prius C and Tacoma) and Lexus (LS and RX).

The new 2018 Lexus LS 500h hybrid V6 makes V8 power

With hybrids en vogue in Geneva, Lexus has taken the opportunity to debut the all-new 2018 Lexus LS 500h. The V6 is paired to two electric motors for a healthy total of 354 horsepower, just not far off the a V8-powered LS 460. It is down quite a bit from the outgoing 438-horsepower LS 600h but still enough to send the LS 500h to 60 miles per hour in 5.4 seconds. The hybrid system is similar to the one in the new LC 500h coupe, which combines the traditional Toyota hybrid two-motor CVT with a 4-speed automatic for better responsiveness, less of the "rubber band" CVT sensation, and (of course) greater efficiency. It should also help keep the LS 500h relatively quiet at full bore, keeping it in line with the "whisper quiet" mantra of the new LS. The new lithium-ion battery pack is 20 percent smaller than the outgoing nickel-metal battery, though Lexus claims power density has been improved. Styling changes to the hybrid are minor. It still features the love-it-or-hate-it spindle grille that's permeated throughout the Lexus lineup, but other than a handful of hybrid badges and the typical blue ring around the badge, it's hard to spot the difference between the models. The interior appears to have a few minor trim changes, including some new reptile scale-like door panels. While fuel economy hasn't been announced, expect improvements over the outgoing model's 19 city/23 highway rating. Look for more news on fuel economy and pricing in the next few months. Related Video:

Lexus rounds out the LS line with 500h hybrid

The 2018 Lexus LS range will feature a full hybrid LS 500h version, which will be presented to the public at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The LS 500h is expected to use a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6, also seen in the LC 500h coupe. The platform sibling LC 500 coupe does have an available V8 version in its non-hybrid guise, but perhaps Lexus has seen fit to equip only the sportier coupe with an eight-cylinder – a major deviation from the previous V8-only LS series bloodline. The earlier LS 600h was the first production full hybrid vehicle with a V8 engine, producing 439 horsepower; since the LC 500h's hybrid powertrain only produces 354 hp, the earlier car is likely to remain the horsepower king. The coupe still hits 60 mph under five seconds, so the big sedan should also be able to move briskly. Almost 30 years have passed since Toyota unveiled its Lexus luxury brand and the LS 400 flagship, as the UCF10 body LS 400's design was locked in spring 1987 and the wraps came off in January 1989. The LS 400 of those days was often deservedly revered, and in the following decades it has spawned numerous new generations of high-end Lexus LS sedans. But in case the latter-day LS models have become just a touch too Camry- or Avalon-like, the 2018 version should bring a new edge. Related Video: News Source: LexusImage Credit: Lexus Green Geneva Motor Show Lexus Hybrid Luxury lexus ls