WolfpackS2k

That is incorrect. Lexus did update the v8 in the GS.
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Well damn you are correct. I had no idea. Man that must have been a boring car since nobody bought that...

JonBoy

Sure - every enthusiast would love a 400 hp RWD V8 from Honda. It isn't going to happen, though, and more to the point, most of us aren't interested in ANY luxury sedan this big, regardless of the drivetrain. I don't see many big luxury car owners on here, even if they can afford them...

A couple of other comments:

1. For those that make a hybrid luxury car, it's usually the more expensive option, not the base or even middle-class option. With the RLX, it is the highest option level you can get BUT the pricing seems to indicate that it will still undercut cars with V8s for price and should be comparable for performance but better in fuel economy.

2. The Lexus GS 450h (hybrid) is their quickest model (my uncle just bought one) and their top performance model, currently. It has been for some time since the 450h was faster than the GS430 with the V8 and the GS460 with the V8, per Lexus' own performance data. In terms of success, the V8s never sold well and the 450h probably isn't either (no data to break the sales out of all GS sales). That goes back to my earlier point about big motors not being a big seller.

3. Pricing isn't locked in but $60K-$65K (est) for an AWD, 370 hp Acura is still significantly less than the competition with their V8s and AWD (if available). Acura's model is to offer the top model (hybrid, in this case) for less than the competition's standard V8 models (and potentially less than their 6-cylinder models). Lexus, with the GS450h, priced it highest which automatically meant sales would be slow, regardless of performance (just like the V8 models).

WolfpackS2k

On a related note Mercedes-Benz's hybrid S class model is the lowest price S Class available.

JonBoy

But it's not the performance leader (acceleration- and handling-wise), which was the other qualification.