As there’s only one of these hybrids available, selecting your own Lexus GS 450h is really about how you like your leather, what kind of wood grain moves ya, and whether you want to pony up for one of the ultimate sound systems available in a car.

Well – there’s a little more to it than that, but not much. Priced at $55,595 (including the $695 shipping charge), the GS 450h comes with a wide array of standard equipment. Consider it the top trim of the GS chain, as you get additional standard goodies compared to the GS 300 or GS 430, such as a moonroof, rain-sensing wipers, headlamp washers, intuitive parking assist system, ventilated front seats, rear sunshade, back-up camera, and Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS). Of course, the main difference between a regular GS and this new hybrid model is that advanced hybrid powertrain that generates 339 horsepower, sending it to the rear wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While $55,595 may seem like a hefty premium for the hybrid, it’s quite reasonable: a like-equipped Lexus GS 430 runs up to a sticker price of $53,705 – including shipping – which works out to a $1,850 hybrid “tax.” When you consider the fuel economy difference, plus the $1,550 tax credit through September 2006 ($775 after Sept.) AND the performance boost, the GS 450h just may be a better deal.

As with the rest of the GS family, the 450h gets a long list of standard safety features, such as side-impact and side-curtain airbags, knee airbags and Toyota’s Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system (VDIM). VDIM integrates key stability, steering and braking systems including Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD); Brake Assist (BA); Traction Control (TRC) Vehicle Stability Control (VSC); Electronic Throttle Control with intelligence (ETC-i), Electric Power Steering (EPS), Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS), and Electronically Controlled Brakes (ECB).

Inside, the Lexus GS 450h comes with your choice of bird’s eye maple or walnut wood, located on the steering wheel, transmission knob and center console. Leather color choices include black, cashmere or ash. Also standard is the Lexus Smart Access and Engine Start System (the start button), ten-way power front seats that offer lumbar, a tilt and telescopic steering column, and a stereo system with ten speakers and a six-disc CD changer.

Options include an active stabilizer bar and run-flat all-season tires combo ($3,400), a Pre-Collision System (PCS) with radar cruise control ($2,850), and G-Spider alloy wheels ($1,375). You can also opt for run-flats without the stabilizer bar, which will set you back $480 for summer tires and $400 for all-seasons. Add a rear spoiler ($200), and then get to work on the inside, with a navigation system ($1,900) and a 14-speaker Mark Levinson Sound System ($1,780). Also, note that beginning with GS 450h models built in August, Lexus will make its “Lexus Link” GPS and monitoring service available as an option.