Lexus Trademarked LS500h in Europe

Lexus has filed a trademark on the continent what hints at a new LS offering.

The producer has trademarked the LS500h nameplate on the continent. This is not the first attempt of using the 500h designation for the Japanese automaker’s trademark filings. Towards the end of 2014 the brand trademarked LC500 and LC500h for usage in the United States, Canada and Australia. By the way, those nameplates have not been used for any other models yet. Knowing the automaker’s naming convention for the hybrid offerings, there is a chance that the producer has created a new hybrid powerplant which matches a 4.0-litre six-cylinder or eight-cylinder engine with a hybrid system. The name can be used for it.

The GS450h is equipped with a 3.5-litre six-cylinder hybrid engine now. At the same time, the LS600h has a 5.0-litre eight-cylinder hybrid. Therefore, it is obvious that the automaker adds one litter to the badge designation for the hybrid system. In such a way, the 500h can equate a 4.0-litre powertrain. The company can also retain the 3.5-litre six-cylinder and join it to a powertrain with more power. Lexus is unlikely to revamp its naming convention for the hybrid offerings in order to show only the powertrain under the hood. This means that the LS600h would become the LS500h.

The LS600h totally outputs 438 hp and torque of 385 lb-ft. At the same time, the LS460 equipped with a regular petrol engine generates 389 hp and torque of 367 lb-ft. If the company moves forward with an LS500h for production, it will be placed somewhere between those offerings.