Lexus 600h hybrid news - Green pound - 2008

We still can't decide whether the Lexus 600h is a eco-futuristic masterpiece or a cynical green cash-in. Whatever it is, it ain't cheap.

Lexus has today announced the pricing for its luxury hybrid, which goes on sale on these shores in October, and unsurprisingly you're going to need a well-oiled wallet to massage those pangs of eco-guilt.

The base-spec (and never has the term been less appropriate) 600h weighs in at £81,400, but if you want the 'Rear Seat Relaxation Package' - and let's face it, you really do - the price bumps up to a nice round 88 grand.

Yes, that's £6,600 for a chair that massages your buttocks. Presumably you could buy a masseur for that.

Lexus reckons that the 600h will return 30.4mpg on the combined cycle, which admittedly isn't in Prius territory but represents a 5mpg gain over the smaller V8 in the LS 460. The V12 hybrid is also a bit friendlier to the air around too, with CO2 emissions of 219g/km.

None of which makes it any clearer whether the LS 600h is deeply confused or a miracle of modern engineering. A good Cachunga massage on the outside lane of the M6 should clear things up.