I'm shocked European reviewers would call the 500h "inadequate". I thought only Americans complain about a car not being able to do 0-60 in 5s.
I've driven enough roads (about 7,000km) in UK to say road conditions are similar to China. They are narrow and slow, and honestly even the LS350 with its "puny 318hp" feels overpowered on these roads.
If anything, the LS could need a even lower-spec hybrid drivetrain like 300h to scoop up some people buying 2.0 diesels. But they don't since it's embarrassing for the brand.
indeed. Consider that most automotive media in Europe is owned by German companies.
Just makes you wonder how important these were at any point of time. If you read mags, you will never ever buy an Lexus. Especially non-US mags which are more realistic, especially recently. But for instance, GS was best reviewed Lexus in the US and also sold the worst.
Then again you have other examples, with EVO UK, which is really a sports car mag, writing how Toyota/Lexus is for him the best car company in the world because they produce wide range of performance vehicles, more so than anyone and you have quoted Yaris GRMN, 86, upcoming Supra and then multitude of F vehicles. I dont think many, many so called enthusiasts would believe EVO UK wrote that just few days back.