The rear Ottoman-function seat is even more exalting. The front passenger seat moves all the way forward, and rivals the first-class seat of any airline you could possibly name. The centre stack folds up to hold a third occupant, but anyone in their right mind would want the stack down, and its touchscreen control systems at hand for two occupants.
The display allows for 22-way seat adjustment, individual controls for the calf and thigh support, recline angle, and even a choice of massage functions. It’s utterly pampering. The electrically-operated side window and rear blinds make it even easier to comfortably isolate yourself from the outside world, or cut the glare on the large monitors. But, this isn’t about me enjoying the spoils of the back seat. Time to get behind the wheel.
Dramatic, indeed, is the start-up sequence. No, there’s no roaring V8 engine, but, on the contrary, complete silence. However, the steering wheel adjusts itself, as does the seat, and the head-up display and centre screen simultaneously display something akin to the warp-drive Han Solo experiences on the Millennium Falcon. Breath back, I adjusted the 28-way driver’s seat until it defined comfortable like never before. It truly is a masterpiece seating system. The leather-wrapped steering-wheel adjusts for rake and reach and, soon, I’m heading out of the aforementioned gate.
A ‘Multi-stage Hybrid System’ powers the LS 500h. Its heart is essentially a 3.5-litre petrol V6 with dual variable valve timing and direct fuel injection, delivering 299 PS and 350 Nm. It is assisted by two electric motors that add 187 PS and a supplemental wave of torque. Peak combined output is 359 PS and, what quite easily feels like, 550+ Nm of torque. What’s even more interesting is the transmission: a combination of a four-speed automatic and a CVT (continuously variable transmission) that emulate a 10-speed gearbox — accessible using the shift-paddles. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, imagine a bicycle gear-set with four ahead and the rest behind; a wider range of ratios. In the city, the LS stays silent and the motor only kicks in when charge is low in the battery pack. Even then, a slight hum and 1,500 rpm on the dial is all you see. It can coast at up to 140 km/h on pure electric power. Getting up there, however, requires a few swigs of petrol. And, there are drive modes, too. Time for Sport S+, then.
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