Elite Traveler Summer 2020

Lexus 2020 LC 500h

Lexus designers use to evoke the lines of a traditional Japanese Samurai sword. Understated modishness influences everything from its tail lights, which culled inspiration from the glow of a jet’s afterburners, to the hand-stitching and draping of the Alcantara interiors, an allusion to the Takumi craftsmanship paramount to Lexus’ design philosophy. (Considered the highest honor of the 7,700 workers at the Miyata Lexus Plant in Kyushu, Japan, there are only 19 Takumi masters.) Equally equipped to conquer the open road and face rush hour traffic, where the electric assist will dominate at lower vehicle speeds, the LC500h achieves a combined 30 miles per gallon — a novel thought for some daily sports car drivers. From $97,500, lexus.com

Undoubtedly the way of the future, electrification excites, but many still find it impractical, unwieldy or lacking infrastructure. Steering away from purely naturally aspirated engines, Lexus continues to rule the hybrid space. The LC500h coupe functions as the first-ever multistage hybrid system, which pairs a gasoline engine with a duo of electric motor/generators. The result is a 3.5-liter V6 engine with D-4S direct fuel injection and a dual VVT-i valvetrain. It’s oddly curious, the silence that comes with 354 hp. Lexus avoids strong narratives; rather than thrusting harsh lines and garish colors into the limelight, the brand instead favors a softer approach. Make no mistake, the LC500h’s elongated grille provokes, as does its chrome-plated moldings, which

The LC500h’s Multistage Hybrid System allows the coupe to operate with the gasoline engine off at speeds up to 87 mph

BMW 2021 Alpina XB7 To create the ultimate driving machine, the BMWAlpina XB7 culled inspiration from across the BMW universe. A sport activity vehicle (SAV) — BMW patois for SUV — the Alpina XB7 gleans its stance and refinements from BMW’s X7 model line as well as the B7 sedan, Alpina’s other American-built offering. A privately owned company, Alpina has a long-standing technical partnership with BMW. An all-wheel-drive vehicle, the up-to-seven-passenger Alpina XB7 is based on the BMW intelligent xDrive system, which variably distributes torque between the front and rear axles. Producing 608 hp courtesy of a 4.4-liter biturbo V8, the Alpina XB7’s originality and ingenuity lies in its driver-assist system and superior mechatronics. Far from being fully autonomous, the robust suite of standard assist programs includes a host of options that extend beyond most manufacturers, like rear collision warning, city collision mitigation (including cyclist detection) and a stop-and-go function within its active cruise control. Deployable up to 130 mph, it monitors both traffic and programmable distance control while maintaining a desired speed. Take ride height: the low-speed raise of 1.6 inches (for a total ground clearance of 10 inches) is expected, but the vehicle can also lower the same amount, dependent upon driver request or speed. Imperceptible to a quick glance, a lower center of gravity alters the automobile’s suspension geometry — Alpina’s expertise and arguably the XB7’s raison d'être. From $141,000, bmwusa.com

The BMW Alpina XB7 marks the privately owned company’s first foray into sport activity vehicles for the US market