Singapore will be the first country outside Japan to launch the Lexus LS600h petrol-electric hybrid and when it arrives later next month, authorised distributor Borneo Motors says it will redefine the global standard for luxury sedans.

'The hybrid technology in the flagship model represents the Lexus DNA,' explains William Choo, Borneo's director for Lexus sales and marketing.

He says that true luxury is no longer confined to just the smell of expensive leather or other commonly held benchmarks.

'The LS600h is a luxury sedan that will encompass technology, performance and luxury, while protecting the environment. The combination of these features equals true luxury,' he says.

The top-of-the-line hybrid Lexus is the first to have an electric motor harnessed to a V8 engine. In the LS600h's case, it is a five-litre V8 with 389 hp. Together the motor and battery have a combined output of 439 hp, thus making it the most powerful car in the entire Lexus line-up.

By comparison, the conventional LS460 model with its 4.6-litre V8 engine has 380 hp. It also has rear-wheel-drive, compared with the LS600h's all-wheel-drive.

Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, also likes to say that the LS600h has the power of a V12 but with the fuel economy of a V6. This translates to an average of 10.8 km per litre, according to the carmaker.

Mr Choo says the car will be available here in two variants and both in long-wheelbase form, or LS600h L. One has a five-seat configuration with a list price of $418,000, while the other is a four-seater with ottoman seats plus other specifications and costs $468,000. Both prices are before a 'green' rebate amounting to 40 per cent of the car's open market value until end-2007.

He adds that the buyers of the LS600h will be 'the super affluent who enjoy true luxury' from a luxury sedan'.

By contrast, an LS460 with a long wheelbase costs $363,000 while the standard wheelbase version is $299,000.

The LS600h joins the RX400h sport-utility vehicle and Toyota Prius to become the third hybrid model in the Borneo Motors stable. Only one other hybrid model is available in Singapore - the Honda Civic Hybrid.

'We believe that the hybrid is the automotive technology of the future,' says Mr Choo to explain the company's relatively wide range of hybrid models.

He also says that as the largest motor distributor in Singapore, the Inchcape group, of which Borneo Motors is a part, would like to support the government's efforts in protecting the environment.

'One of Inchcape's values is Caring for our environment', and this is one of the ways we bring to life our values.'