2008 Lexus LX 570 Colors

Autospies has a preview of the color combinations available for 2008 Lexus LX 570, including what may be the strangest hue to ever cover a Lexus: It resembles the Aquamarine Pearl color available for the ES 350, which is probably where it should have stayed. Not very flattering, to say the least. Be sure to …
Kevin · November 30th, 2007

1989 Lexus LS 400 Featured in Old Top Gear Episode

It’s hard to discount the power of Youtube when you can watch a 1989 episode of Top Gear detailing the introduction of the then-newly released Lexus LS 400 (jump ahead to 1:26 to get there directly): Not a full-on review, which is a slight disappointment, but the praise is astounding, let me quote presenter Tiff …
Kevin · November 30th, 2007

Flickr Find: Lexus IS 250 Silhouette

There’s something so classy about this silhouette profile shot of the Lexus IS 250 by Jason Kim: It really accentuates the rear slope, it’s such a smooth line. In the same spirit, Jason has another black & white photo of the IS 250, this time from the front. It’s a testament to the quality of …
Kevin · November 29th, 2007

2008 Lexus LX 570 can see around corners

The 2008 Lexus LX 570 is packed to the gills with some very interesting new technology, including a camera that gives the driver a full 180-degree view of what’s in front of the vehicle, effectively letting you look around corners. There’s a passenger-side camera that points down, as well, and when combined with the rear …
Kevin · November 29th, 2007

Video of the Toyota Driving Simulator

A video demonstration of the Toyota Driving Simulator has been posted on Youtube: Bit disappointed they didn’t show any virtual accidents. I know the simulator was built to examine potential safety features, but with that music in the background, they could probably test the driving characteristics of someone going insane. (Thanks Dan!)
Kevin · November 28th, 2007

Lexus Issues Recall of 2006 GS 300, IS 250 & IS 350

Lexus has announced a recall of the 2006 editions of the GS 300, IS 250 and the IS 350, in regards to a problem with the fuel pipe design. Over time, a crack may form in fuel pipes located in the engine compartment, the company said today in a statement. The problem is blamed on …
Kevin · November 28th, 2007

Toyota Builds New Driving Simulator

Toyota has built a new driving simulator at their Higashifuji Technical Center in Japan, and it looks straight out of science fiction. Inside the 15-foot-high, 23-foot-wide sphere is a Lexus IS attached to an elaborate rail system and surrounded by a 360-degree video screen that displays a virtual driving environment: The internal surrounding sides of …
Kevin · November 27th, 2007

The 2008 Lexus RX 400h’s Illuminated Scuff Plates

While browsing Club Lexus for details on the 2008 Lexus RX 400h’s updates, I found this great photo by tomv, a new hybrid owner, which shows off the illuminated scuff plates: Just to be clear, these would be visible when opening the doors. Great effect, I’m very impressed.
Kevin · November 27th, 2007

Lexus LS is the World’s Most Beautiful Large Sedan

Not exactly sure how it happened, but for the 15th Annual L’Automobile più Bella del Mondo (Most Beautiful Cars in the World) Awards, Lexus managed to snag first and second place in the Limousine (Large Sedan) category, with the LS 600h taking top spot and the LS 460 taking second. I’m surprised they didn’t just …
Kevin · November 26th, 2007

2008 Lexus RX 400h Gets Some Updates

It wasn’t until Lexus Australia announced the changes that I realized the 2008 RX 400h has received some minor updates, most notably new front & rear lights, which look great: Lexus also applied the hybrid blue badging, bringing it inline with the LS 600h and GS 450h, and added some new red or black wood …
Kevin · November 26th, 2007

Billionaire Takes the Lexus LS 600hL for a Spin

Driving.ca took a unique turn with their review of the Lexus LS 600hL, putting Jimmy Pattison, the fourth richest man in Canada, behind the wheel: Once the colourful self-made billionaire figured out how to operate the keyless ignition and push-button emergency brake on the 2008 Lexus LS600h L — and put his seat belt on …
Kevin · November 23rd, 2007

IGN Test Drives the Lexus IS-F

Can’t say I’ve ever visited IGN for auto news before, but they’ve put together a well-worded review of the Lexus IS-F as tested on the Laguna Seca Raceway: Though it’s not a lightweight car, the IS F handles with an impressively limited degree of body roll, to the degree to which it’s pretty easy to …
Kevin · November 22nd, 2007

The Lexus Symphony Orchestra Audio & Video

This past summer, Lexus staged two unique concerts in Britain using twelve LS 460s in place of an orchestra. These cars, with no modification or amplification, performed two pieces originally recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, which you can now listen to at a Lexus site dedicated to it. I really enjoyed the site, there’s …
Kevin · November 22nd, 2007

The Hybrid Debate

Sponsored by Lexus, The Hybrid Debate is a new website/weblog that will be examining the impact and importance of hybrids on society: The purpose of this debate is to look at hybrid cars in a completely new way. Rather than speculating about where the technology is going, we’re asking our contributors to imagine it has …
Kevin · November 21st, 2007

Lexus Europe Hopes to Triple Sales by 2010

According to Karl Schlicht, Head of Lexus Europe, Lexus is experiencing great success in Russia and hopes to increase their European sales three-fold by 2010: “If things continue as they are, by 2010 we will have doubled our Russian sales volume, which is currently at 17,000,” said Karl Schlicht, chief for Europe for the brand …
Kevin · November 21st, 2007

VIP Twin Turbo Lexus LS 430

Perhaps it’s my love of the stock Lexus LS 430, but this VIP’d up version is a real head scratcher: Can’t say I’m a real fan of the Fabulous body kit and its massive front lip, but the thing that stood out the most were the blown-out rear wheel wells. I understand the reasoning, massive …
Kevin · November 20th, 2007

The Hyundai Genesis Crosses the Line

A slew of Hyundai Genesis spy shots have surfaced, and it’s guaranteed that Lexus and BMW are none too happy with the car’s appearance: No matter the argument that all cars are derivative of each other, this is going over the line. The front-end is clearly inspired by the Lexus LS, but what’s much, much …
Kevin · November 19th, 2007

FiveAxis Lexus IS-F Makes an Appearance at the LA Auto Show

The Lexus Project IS-F by FiveAxis is moving its way up the west coast, making the trip from SEMA in Las Vegas to the LA Auto Show, where it was photographed in depth by Autoblog. There’s also been mention of a “Stage 2″ IS-F engine mod package being developed by FiveAxis, though there’s nothing in …
Kevin · November 18th, 2007

Lexus Technical Training Session Video

It may run a little long, but this video of the installation of a slippery surface for test driving Lexus’ is still pretty neat: From the video description, this was for a technical training session in Spain, and looks like it would be a lot of fun. Strangely enough, I played a PS3 game today …
Kevin · November 17th, 2007

Lexus GS vs. Jaguar XF: A Visual Comparison

I read about the Jaguar XF’s passing resemblance to the Lexus GS 460 in Motor Trend, but I didn’t realize the extent of it until I saw this Le Blog Auto visual comparison: Mind you, this is only a side profile comparison, the front and rears are entirely different, but the similarity in the photos …
Kevin · November 16th, 2007

WSJ Reviews the Lexus LS 600hL

The Wall Street Journal’s review of the Lexus LS 600hL isn’t so much a condemnation of the car, but rather the hybrid technology that spawned it: The biggest con running in the auto industry right now is the notion that hybrids represent some sort of quantum leap in green transportation. Not only is this patently …
Kevin · November 16th, 2007

Lexus Places First in Japanese Customer Service

Lexus sure knows how to treat their customers, at least according to JD Power. On top of a first place finish in the JD Power Sales Satisfaction Index, Lexus dominated the Japanese Customer Service Index as well: Now in its sixth year, the study identifies five factors that measure customer satisfaction with service performed at …
Kevin · November 15th, 2007

Lexus Rakes Up Their New Yorker Advertising

Included in the latest issue of the New Yorker was Lexus advertising of a different sort — mixed among the pages were leaves from the Salal bush, printed with slogans like the one above. NPR’s MJ Davis decided to investigate: Each leaf was unique, smelled like something derived from the earth and tasted — yes, …
Kevin · November 15th, 2007

Lexus Tops JD Power’s Sales Satisfaction Index

According to the latest JD Power Sales Satisfaction Index Survey, when it comes to selling cars, Lexus is tops: “Lexus improves by four rank positions from 2006, which is a gain driven primarily by increased customer delight with the dealership facility, salesperson performance and vehicle price,” said Tom Gauer, senior director of automotive retail research …
Kevin · November 14th, 2007

Great Lexus IS-F Video from SEMA 2007

There’s lots of details in this WebRidesTV video from SEMA 2007, from a great look at the Five Axis Project IS-F to Scott Pruett’s demonstration of IS-F with VDIM on/off: Looks like the IS-F’s release date is firming up. Brian Bolain, the Lexus national advertising and media manager, reveals that the car should hit the …
Kevin · November 14th, 2007

Lexus LF-A Development Hits a Bump

When the same-old Lexus LF-A concept was displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show instead of the expected production model, it was a clear sign that something was amiss in the supercar’s development. There’s no official word, but according to a Winding Road source, there’s certainly been some bumps in the road: Rumblings from inside Toyota …
Kevin · November 13th, 2007

Is this the 2009 Lexus IS?

An Autospies reader recently posted up this scanned-in Japanese auto mag page depicting the facelifted 2009 Lexus IS: “Top Secret” banner aside, this is likely a photochop, though subtle enough to be believable. The differences are slight, there’s some GS design incorporated into the front end, and the side panels look to be tucked in. …
Kevin · November 12th, 2007

Comparison: Lexus LS 600hL/Jaguar Super V8/Mercedes-Benz S550/Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT

Motor Trend assembled some super saloons in their latest ultra-luxury sedan comparison test, pitting the Lexus LS 600hL against the Jaguar Super V8, Mercedes S550 & Maserati Quattroporte Sport. The LS 600hL didn’t have a great showing, at least in the driving department: The all-wheel-drive Lexus exhibited pigheaded understeer in most corners, often attended by …
Kevin · November 12th, 2007

Comparison: Lexus LS600h vs. Audi A8

Right out the gate, the Audi A8 had a very significant advantage over the Lexus LS 600h in Autoweek’s recent comparison test — After all, the A8 is £20,000 cheaper than the LS 600h, and £20,000 is a steep hill to climb: More crucially, while the low 219g/km emissions are very impressive, it’s hard to …
Kevin · November 11th, 2007

The Small Lexus Moves Forward

There’s been rumblings for some time that Lexus could release a super-small sedan to compete with the likes of BMW’s 1-series and Audi’s A3, and a recent article from GoAuto suggests it’s much further in development than previously thought: To be manufactured in sedan and/or hatch guises beyond 2010, the new entry-level model plan was …
Kevin · November 10th, 2007

Limited Toy Lexus GS 430 by Tomica

I don’t know what’s better, the fact that there’s a limited edition Lexus GS 430 die-cast car available from Tomica, or that I discovered it on a japanese miniature car weblog. I was huge into die-casts as a kid, and I swear, seeing this makes me want to dig out my collection.
Kevin · November 9th, 2007

Video Comparison of the Lexus IS-F, BMW M3 & Audi RS4

Coming from an automotive marketing company that counts Lexus as a client, this AMCI video comparing the IS-F with the BMW M3 and Audi RS4 does seem more than a little bias, but that doesn’t stop it from being a great watch: To be fair, test driver Dave Sherman doesn’t proclaim the IS-F the king, …
Kevin · November 9th, 2007

SEMA 2007: Lexus GS 430 by GReedy

I’ll admit it, I was sitting on posting this GReedy tuned Lexus GS 430 from SEMA in the hopes that it would disappear, but it’s time to admit defeat. Beyond the gaudy stickers and coffee-can exhaust tips, there’s a supercharger under the hood, though no horsepower figures were released. If there’s one thing about this …
Kevin · November 8th, 2007

Lexus LS 460 Commercial from The Middle East

While I’m certainly no expert about what it’s like to be wealthy in the Middle East, this Lexus commercial really captured my imagination — beautiful homes, giant yachts, private jets and LS 460s all round: As strange as it is to say, they picked a great actor for this ad, who carries it with his …
Kevin · November 8th, 2007

New Info on Lexus IS-F Quad Exhausts

The Lexus IS-F has taken a lot of flak from the automotive community regarding its looks, but when Edmunds revealed the stacked quad “resonators” weren’t connected to the exhaust system, it became a flashpoint for criticism. Well, turns out the quad exhausts are functional after all — Autospies had the pleasure of spending a few …
Kevin · November 7th, 2007

The Lexus IS-F Engine Uncovered

Perhaps the most amusing part of Jalopnik’s review of the IS-F, and something I forgot to mention in my post, was their removal of the engine cover, revealing this jumbled up pile: You can check out more photos of the engine innards at the Jalopnik site. *** Another thing I missed, or rather didn’t realize, …
Kevin · November 7th, 2007

Toyota on the Lexus F Model Design

Ward’s Auto had a chance to sit down with Toyota Design Chief Wahei Hirai to discuss the unfavorable reaction to the Lexus IS-F’s design: Critics say the derivative does not distinguish itself enough from the current IS, especially with the interior, and that its bulbous nose is downright ugly. Toyota Motor Corp. design chief Wahei …
Kevin · November 6th, 2007

Jalopnik Reviews the Lexus IS-F

Spanning two parts, the Jalopnik review of the Lexus IS-F is a real fun read, but the most interesting aspect is how contrary it is to other published reviews. First off, whereas every other review, bar none, praised the IS-F on the track, Jalopnik came away shaking their heads: If it sounds like I wasn’t …
Kevin · November 6th, 2007

New Lexus IS-F Photos

Lexus has issued a new batch of IS-F photos today, replete in every available color but Starfire Pearl. It’s really a shame that this car was featured in that awful blue for so long, all the other colors suit it much better. That black is just perfect.
Kevin · November 5th, 2007

Edmunds Sport Sedan Comparison Test

Edmunds has posted up a comparison test of 2007-2008 sports sedans, pitting the 2007 Lexus IS 350 and Infiniti G35 Sport against 2008 models of the Cadillac CTS, Mercedes C350 Sport and BMW 335i. How did Lexus fare? Fourth place: Not one editor who scored this test was able to find the kind of personal …
Kevin · November 5th, 2007

SEMA 2007: Lexus GS 430 by Blitz

The tuned Lexus GS 430 by Blitz, created for SEMA, is a real sleeper. Done up in a tasteful custom body kit, the real action is under the hood, where Blitz equipped the GS with a supercharger, boosting the V8 up 73hp to 363hp total. I’m really digging the embedded supercharger control in the console, …
Kevin · November 3rd, 2007

SEMA 2007: Lexus LS 460 by VIP Auto Salon

Here’s the Lexus LS 460 by VIP Auto Salon that’s now showing at SEMA 2007, which is basically an application of the Wald International kit, right down to the Portofino wheels. Additionally, the Dakota Digital Air Ride System was installed, allowing for direct manipulation of the car’s height, making it easy to VIP your wheels …
Kevin · November 2nd, 2007

SEMA 2007: The Lexus RX 400h by 714 Motorsports & MOMO

The 714 Motorsports/MOMO Lexus RX 400h has been revealed at SEMA, and as expected, it’s a full-on cosmetic overhaul. The RX has been dropped, kitted, and outfitted with an interior makeover. However, the mesh grille, roof rack, and slightly lowered stance make up a package that resembles an overgrown Pontiac Vibe. The wheels are fantastic …
Kevin · November 2nd, 2007

SEMA 2007: Project IS-F by Five Axis

You may recall the video build log of Five Axis making this heavily modified IS-F, but the videos hardly prepared us for the final product — this is one muscular looking car through and through, and perhaps best of all, it’s painted matte black! Fantastic. Removing the massive side air vents makes a big difference …
Kevin · November 1st, 2007

Flickr Find: Seeing Double

Flickr user Dougie Wands had to wait for the crowds to disperse around the Lexus LF-A at the Tokyo Frankfurt Motor Show before taking these photos, but the effect was well worth it: I can’t even imagine what the result might have been if the LF-A had been painted in high-gloss black!
Kevin · November 1st, 2007