George Orwell coined the term “Newspeak” nearly sixty-years ago largely because language is a tricky thing. Case in point: We used our Department of Defense (emphasis added) to invade Iraq. I mention this because the car world doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Say the word “hybrid” to most people and they automatically think green, high-mileage, planet-saving goodness. When in fact all the word “hybrid” means in a vehicle is the use of two (or more) types of propulsion. Meaning that technically speaking the Space Shuttle — with its solid and liquid fuel boosters — is a hybrid. And speaking of gravity-defying thrust, I’d like you to meet the Lexus LS600hL.

Lexus maintains that they built world’s most expensive hybrid not to save polar bears but to give luxury customers V12 power with V8 fuel economy. Mating the same 5.0-liter V8 found in the hopped up IS-F to a torquey electric motor gets us to pronounce, “Mission accomplished.” If you’re interested, the LS600hL is the priciest Japanese car ever sold in the States. Most complicated, too. And the sensation you get under full acceleration is like wearing ear plugs in a Bentley. You can see time and space warping around you, but you can’t hear a damn thing. Remember, electric motors make 100% of their torque at zero rpm while big-ish V8s make tons of twist low down in the rev-range. Combine the two and you’re piloting a leather-trimmed missile.

Speaking of leather, the LS600hL is nice inside. True, it’s not an amazing tactile experience like an Audi A8 W12. There are far too many parts recognizable from other, lesser Lexari (and gasp – even plain Jane Toyotas). But what the big guy lacks in haptic happiness, it more than makes up for with electronic overkill. For real: the owner’s manual is the size of a Britannica volume. Feeling drousy? The Cyber Barge monitors your body and wakes you up when it thinks you’re tired. In fact, the LS600hL’s brain monitors the body temps of all four passengers and adjusts the independent 4-zone climate control accordingly. The cruise control utilizes radar and can actually slow the car to a complete halt should you encounter traffic. And then take you back up to your set speed. We tried this on LA freeways, and it’s almost as eerie as the near-silent jet propulsion. Though it works. Also, of course, the LS600hL can (kinda) parallel park itself (not really).

The best gizmo? Let’s say you opt for the $12,000 executive rear-seats. You’ve got your feet up on the Maybach-type footrests. The seat is not only reclined, but massaging you. All five window shades are up, you just pulled a cold one from the fridge and you’re ready to watch a movie in glorious 5.1 Mark Levinson-quality surround sound. But the angle of the flip down screen (which you lowered by pressing a button) isn’t right. Now, on “ordinary” near-limos you’d need to lean forward and adjust the screen, right? Not here. That’s right, there’s a switch on the DVD’s remote to adjust the screen’s rake. Absurd. Do we care that it’s a hybrid? Not a bit. What about it’s more than $100,000 price tag? Compared to a similarly fast V12 Mercedes, the Lexus is a (relative) bargain. Flatly, we love it.