Since I first drove a Toyota Prius prototype in Japan ten years ago, I was never really convinced about that technology. Yes it's a squeaky clean solution for what has so quickly become today's motoring needs and it's a superb statement of your own eco status, too.

But the manner in which Prius and other hybrids have always been shepherded into their own benign little niches has kept them apart from the rest ? they've never really been thrust to market directly against petrol or turbodiesel cars...

Turbodiesel, which has also manifested itself in the car market over the past ten years or so, has always had to compete directly against that long accepted petrol solution and of late, has proven itself beyond doubt as more than just a viable alternative ? most significantly in recent times of extreme petrol prices and green expectations.

That hybrid has never really had to compete head-on with petrol and diesel; and that Prius with its less than earth shattering performance versus the strides of the turbodiesel of late, has left us less than totally convinced about its overall viability... Then a high profile deputation of Lexus managers visited our offices recently, spent a few hours explaining its take on this technology and left us with a brand new RX400h and a GS450h, the subject of this test.

Most importantly though, they left us with two hybrids that we could at last set directly against compatible petrol and diesel rivals and I trust you've already had a read of the cover feature comparison, which covers how RX400h stacks up against its best petrol rivals...

Which leaves us with the GS450h, which it has to be said, comes to roost in a pretty difficult neck of the woods. The likes of the Audi A6 4.2 FSI, BMW 550i, Jaguar XF S-V8 and Merc E and CLS 500 et al are hardly what you'd call easy rivals.

But Lexus has taken them all by the scruff of the neck and even been a bit cheeky in calling it a 'Performance Hybrid'. So how does the GS450h stack up, then?

Firstly, in typical Lexus style, this thing has it all ? unlike its rivals, the price you see is the price you pay ? there's no 'options list' that can easily add another hundred and fifty grand to the price to get you to the car you expected in the first place, so there's a certain price advantage before we even start.

The way you drive a hybrid car is completely different. There's no rev counter but a 250W power gauge with a short light blue line where you are running on battery power only and the blue bit under that tells you that the battery is charging under braking or on the overrun as backed up by the centre dash energy display. It powers up silently and all too often runs totally quietly, which has a certain disadvantage in that people do not hear it coming, which can be dangerous to pedestrians who inadvertently tend to step into its path.

On the road however, it feels quite foreign ? its adequate petrol power backed up by all that electricity makes for a huge shove. And you quickly notice just how frugal this car is thanks to that ever-present battery power being impressively maintained at an appropriate level through the ebb and flow of general daily driving.

Performance is awesome ? especially on the Reef, where altitude sickness is completely overcome by the electric motor using some of its latent power to maintain that 250kW total. 0-100 in 6.9 seconds and lightning quick overtaking acceleration makes GS450h more than just a match for any of its rivals ? no matter what powers it. And on track, while its electric power only lasts one lap from a full charge, GS450h laps Kyalami as quickly as a Merc CLS 500 and it's deceptively quick too. Although it loses 1.2 seconds a lap along with that deceptive pace once the battery is depleted.

We noticed a little inconsistency in braking on track and had to adapt our brake markers a little earlier to be sure, and while handling out there is good, I would not exactly call it 'performance'.

That said; we now look at hybrid motoring in a completely different light. It won't take much to turn this type of car into something that will happily take on and beat an M-car or an AMG in every aspect, rather than just overtaking acceleration and savour the day that we can sample that.

But for now we can confidently report that hybrid technology is not just asking questions of petrol and diesel ? it's left them both with a bloody nose and a black eye, too. The Lexus GS 450h is much more than just a larney statement of your apparent eco status ? it's a most worthy alternative to today's accepted propulsion solutions.

WE LIKE
Powerful, fast & frugal; chic stylish & cool ? it's got it all
WE DON'T
Dangerously quiet, brakes inconsistent, handling not quite 'performance'

SAFETY (Euro NCAP)
Adult Occupant (5): n/a
Child Protection (5): n/a
Pedestrian (4): n/a
Airbags: Front, side, curtain and driver knee
Safety Equipment: ABS, EBD, Traction Control, VSC, tyre pressure monitor.
CIA Security Rating (5): 4

WE SAY
"This technology works surprisingly well in this application and if the diesel price continues to soar, hybrid petrols like this could well be the future. I love its eerie silence at parking speeds and its overall comfort and refinement, but the styling of this Lexus is too bland for my liking." -Jason Woosey
"A surprisingly innovative package that surely points to an exciting future ? not just for petrol/hybrid cars but other hybrid mixes too. The time will surely come when the full battery charge will linger for much longer to offer more than just a few minutes of excitement before suitable recharging ? one of the few downsides of an otherwise outstanding amalgam." -Mario Lupini

AT A GLANCE
Engine: Tomorrow's tech today = 9
Chassis: Meets its objectives well = 7
Transmission: The hybrid acme = 9
Brakes: Good if inconsistent = 6
Safety: Solid = 8
Handling: Could be sharper = 6
Specification: No options needed = 9
Cabin: Classy, interactive = 8
Styling: No complaints = 9
Fun Factor: Oddly brilliant = 9

Total: Shockingly good = 80

VERDICT
Lexus' Performance Hybrid leaves petrol and turbodiesel with a bloody nose and a black eye.