Lexus is painting the town green with its new luxury hybrid car.

The Japanese car maker launched its luxury hybrid car last month, on the back
of rising global concern about the environment.

The new Lexus LS600h L - which its maker says has the first full V8 hybrid
four-wheel powertrain - promises to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

"We wanted to provide a luxury sedan that also helps to protect the
environment," says William Choo, director of sales and marketing for the Lexus
division at distribution firm Borneo Motors.

Former US vice-president and environmental activist Al Gore will be chauffeured
in this car during the Global Brand Forum.

Lexus chose Singapore as its first market outside Japan in which to launch the
model. It says response has been overwhelming.

Since its launch in early June, the company has received 30 orders for the
$460,000 green car, says Mr Choo.

"We had expected to sell 30 in a year," he says, adding that they had to warn
their customers that the cars would only come in around Christmas.

"I'm practically on my knees, begging for Lexus to bring in more cars," he says
with a laugh.

He added that the car will be launched in Korea, Taiwan and the United States
by the end of this year.

The car combines a 5.0-litre V8 litre petrol engine with high output electric
motors and a high capacity battery pack.

Lexus also said its D-4S injection system employs two injectors per cylinder,
which helps to lower fuel consumption and emissions.

The design of the lightweight vehicle means that the company can conserve more
natural resources as well.

Lexus LS600h L follows a hybrid sports utility vehicle (SUV) model launched in
2006 known as the 400h. The company plans to introduce a new mid-range hybrid
car model next year, said Mr Choo.

The luxury petro-electric hybrids are certified as Super Ultra-Low Emission
Vehicles, and have specifications to ensure limited impact on the environment.

Lexus says it has dramatically cut down waste volume and scrap material
generation at its factories. All eight Lexus plants in Japan and the US are
ISO14001-qualified, a certification which recognises efforts in environmental
management systems.

According to the car maker, there is now less than a tenth the amount of lead
used in Lexus hybrid vehicle than there was in similar cars in 1996.

Responding to various calls to cease the use of hexavalent chromium, Lexus said
it has also developed alternative technology used in its bolts and nuts.

Hexavalent chromium compounds are considered to be potential occupational
carcinogens. Research has found that workers exposed to such compounds have had
an increased risk of lung cancer.

Lexus is also improving recycling technology. It has come up with vehicle
dismantling methods which will see its vehicles reaching a vehicle material
recovery rate of 95 per cent by 2015.

According to a Bloomberg report in June, Toyota Motor Corp, the parent firm of
Lexus, increased sales in the US by 14 per cent in May this year, thanks to
demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.

Toyota sold a record 24,009 Toyota Prius petrol-electric hybrid cars in the US,
three times as many as it did the month before.

Other players, including Honda, Volkswagen and Ford, are also gunning for the
green car dollar. Honda has launched its 2007 Civic Hybrid, while Ford will
present its new Escape Hybrid - an SUV - in 2008.