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4 WHEELS May 06 2010 Lexus has adapted its hybrid technology to a special bicycle concept with eight-speed transmission and carbon fibre frame. There are no plans to sell the bike. Lexus designs Hybrid Bicycle 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. There are no current plans for the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle to become a production model. 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 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 allwheel drive, by means of a belt system. It is equipped with an electric eightspeed Shimano internal gear system, which references the sophisticated eightspeed 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. --Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine