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Most expensive hybrid

Toyota Motor Corp., the world's biggest seller of gasoline-electric autos, will make its Lexus GS 450h sports car the most expensive hybrid in the United States, with a starting price of $54,900.

That's $2,830 more than the GS 430 sedan with a 4.3-liter gasoline V8 engine, Lexus spokesman Bill Ussery said Tuesday. The hybrid sports car, set to begin sales in May as a 2007 model, can cost more than $60,000 with a navigation system and high-priced audio system, he said.

The GS 450h is built to outperform the comparable gasoline-only model, with acceleration from 0 to 60 m.p.h. in 5.2 seconds, 0.5 second faster than the GS 430, Ussery said.

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ia a center console-mounted switch, the new transmission offers a choice of three power settings:

Normal, for the optimum balance of power and traction;

Power, for maximum acceleration; and

Snow, for excellent traction control under the most slippery road conditions.

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