Lexus 600h On-Sale Date Moved Back

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.’s Lexus division will begin selling the new, $100,000-plus LS 600h hybrid luxury sedan later than planned.

Lexus originally said the car would go on sale in early June, but a spokesman now tells Ward’s the model won’t arrive until “early summer,” although he denies the car is delayed.

“There’s always a timeframe prior to actual production where we are fine-tuning all the processes,” he says, adding a vehicle with as much technology as the 600h, powered by a 5.0L V-8 with two high-output electric motors, requires extra attention to make sure it is right before sales begin.

The LS 600h, available only in a long-wheelbase body style, is built at Toyota’s Tahara, Japan, plant, the same production site as its less-expensive sibling, the LS 460.