2015 Lexus LS 600HL

The Lexus LS 600hL is a flagship model of a flagship vehicle line, positioned as both the most luxurious version of the big LS sedan range, and the Lexus brand's poshest hybrid model.

Riding on a long-wheelbase chassis shared with the LS 460 L, the 600h L combines a 5.0L V8 engine with a pair of electric motors and a continuously variably transmission (CVT) to generate 439 hp and at least 384 lb-ft of torque, a figure that doesn't factor in the electric motors.

Fuel consumption estimates, according to Natural Resources Canada test methods, are 12.7/10.1 L/100 km (city/highway).

The LS competes with big German cars like the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Benz and BMW have experimented with hybrid powertrains in their full-size sedans, but we'd suggest Lexus is the way to go if you want such a combination, based simply on the wealth of experience the brand, and its Toyota parent company, have in engineering gas-electric powertrains.

True to its flagship position, the LS 600h L is the best-equipped version of this car, coming standard with stuff optional in lesser versions, not to mention the features it gets that aren't even offered in the lower trim levels.

Those 600h L exclusives include soft-touch heater controls, rear seats with power adjustments, massage settings and heating and cooling functions, powered rear headrests and lumbar, acoustic glass, LCD gauge cluster, wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel, leather-trimmed lower dashboard, power open/close trunk, radar cruise control, power-folding side mirrors and adaptive headlights.

That's a full car's worth of stuff, and it doesn't even include items carried over from the LS 460 models, like a power-adjustable steering column, four-zone automatic climate control with infrared body temperature sensor, 19-speaker stereo, heated and cooled front seats with 16-way power adjustments, a right-side rear-seat ottoman, navigation, woodgrain interior trim, rear-seat cool box and powered rear door sunshades, intelligent keyless entry, power-assist doors, front and rear parking sensors, easy-close trunk and night vision assist.

The LS 600h L carries an MSRP of $127,550; there are no options to add.