Electric motors make gobs of torque, yes.
Torque (and a suitable frame) allows you to tow stuff better.
The stress that is induced by towing however, does that really fuck up the hybrid drive systems in a car?
I was wondering because a Lexus RX400h would be a perfect vehicle.
It gets very good gas mileage, is moderately fast (14 sec 1/4), and has an assload of torque. Granted the frame wasn’t exactly designed with towing in mind, I know they can tow some stuff.
Thoughts?
wouldnt it drain the battery pretty quick though?
dont forget that suspension has ALOT to do with it aswell
Go by the manufactures recommended towing capacity? :gotme:
check and see if it has towing limits on it, if so like jeeves said, with more load the battery is gonna die a lot faster.
they have a tow rating of 3500 lbs. per lexus.
http://www.lexus.com/models/rx_hybrid/specifications.html
The battle between hybrid and clean-diesel vehicles continues.
I have been very interested in the new Lexus RX400 hybrid, which should be available by the time you read this. The gas engine is the 230 horsepower V6 that we have been using with excellent results in the Sienna Van and Lexus RX330. The electric motor adds 40 horsepower and 130 pounds-feet of torque without adding additional weight, because Lexus uses the electric power to provide the four-wheel-drive. The electric portion will provide power for about 60 seconds at full pop, so it will help accelerate along an on-ramp, get you started on a steep hill or provide power for passing. It will not help in a head wind or to climb a very long grade. In most highway situations, you will have V8 power with V6 economy. Around town, however, fuel economy is equal to that of a four cylinder Camry.
the CVT would be my bigger concern.
well i’ve never thought about it before … thinking about it now it would make sence. However i don’t think they had towing in mind when bulding it. I think it would wear the electric motors out prematurley and not be fun alla round … hybrid cars just aren’t worth it in general.
Thats a pretty high capacity. I don’t see a problem.
agreed
Just go by the manufacturer’s towing capacity like everyone else said, the warranty is always there. 
But CVT transmissions aren’t very durable when it comes to stuff like this, it seems. They used to use CVT transmissions on A4s and everyone blew em up.
OT: what year A4 where they used on?
There was never a CVT offered in the A4 (in this country, but they were offered in other models in the US)
-edit- clarified
Last I checked we lived in the united states. You want to talk about how many engine and trans options aren’t offered by Audi/VW in the states that should be?
anything else smartass?
:owned:
Howie you’d have no problem using that to tow something as long as its within the towing capacity. The Prius we have in our shop has a tow hitch on it and it still works fine. Who knows what the hell they pulled with it though haha.
It was a B6, not sure what year.
The wheelbase is way, way too short to tow anything substantial. I laugh at people in jeeps who try and tow. THey have the wheelbase of a civic.
they dont run on batteries all the time so it cant die, thats why its paired with an internal combustion engine. its a gas hybrid, that means it uses two different power systems in conjunction.
back on topic, i dont see any specific reasons why you cant, though i dont think just because its a hybrid it can tow more than a regular RX. i would just go by what lexus recommends.