O.k, I am all about motorized bicycles. It has a motor. It also breaks the bank, so if Lexus is going to do it, expect it to break the bank a little more. It looks like it might hurt the boys a bit too. Anyhow, Lexus has established itself as an industry leader in bringing advanced technologies to the premium car market. Now it has applied the same thinking on a smaller scale to create the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle, a design concept the captures the fundamental engineering and design values of the brand, but with two wheels rather than four.

In every aspect this is Lexus, from the L-finesse design language of the engaging and elegant frame, to the application of hybrid power, an electric eight-speed transmission and lightweight carbon fibre construction.

Lexus has brought what is one of the only two examples in existence to the UK for the first time, following the bicycle's debut at the 2009 Tokyo motor show. Its arrival coincides with the announcement of Lexus's title sponsorship of the Great British Bike Ride, a four-day charity fun ride that will see hundreds of cyclists following a course from Land's End to the home of English rugby at Twickenham.

Lexus has pioneered high performance, low emissions and optimum fuel efficiency with its full hybrid Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain technology. The Hybrid Bicycle adopts similar principles, with the pedal power of the rider boosted by assistance to the front wheel from a 240W electric motor, via a 25.9V Lithium-ion battery, with a choice of Eco or Power modes. And, as with Lexus Hybrid Drive, there is an energy regeneration function that helps recharge the battery by capturing kinetic energy generated under braking.

The Lexus Hybrid Bicycle has all-wheel drive, by means of a belt system. It is equipped with an electric eight-speed Shimano internal gear system, which references the sophisticated eight-speed shift-by-wire automatic transmission of Lexus's LS 600h limousine. The carbon fibre construction shares the same light-but-strong composite materials technology that was used on Valentino Rossi's MotoGP-winning motorcycle.

There are no current plans for the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle to become a production model.

Rate this story

Rating: 1 ... Bad 2 ... Not the best 3 ... Average 4 ... Good 5 ... Awesome

Related Stories

04/22/2010 06:12 AM: TSW Alloy Wheels introduces the Nurburgring Rotary Forged Face Alloy Wheel. by Whiplash
TSW Custom Alloy Wheels, manufacturer of the largest selection of custom one piece alloy wheels in the world, introduces the highly anticipated rotary forged face wheel, the Nurburgring. This afterma...

04/15/2010 06:13 PM: Introducing the Hyper-SubTM by Marion Hyper-Submersible Powerboat Design by TimothyT
Marion Hyper-Submersible Powerboat Design is proud to introduce the Hyper-SubTM Submersible Powerboat, a revolutionary new vessel with a design flexible enough to open the seas to industry and to indi...

03/31/2010 08:33 AM: Lincoln introduces its first hybrid – the new 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid by TimothyT
Lincoln today introduces its first hybrid – the new 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid – a premium midsize car poised to be the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America. Ford Motor Company – America's large...

03/29/2010 07:13 AM: A Picture Tells a Thousand Horsepower: Introducing the Hennessey Venom GT by Whiplash
Hennessey Performance is pleased to introduce the first official images of its Venom GT supercar. Based upon the Lotus Elise, the Venom GT combines a high-tech, lightweight British chassis with a pow...

03/04/2010 04:51 PM: Introducing 'Skyaking': skydiving with a kayak by TimothyT
Paddling across the sky, 13,000ft up in a kayak has become a new daredevil craze dubbed 'Skyaking'. ...

Your Name:


Subject:


Icon:
                     
             

Message:


Disable smilies in this post.
Disable block tag code.
Add [url] tag at URLs.