Lexus

Here’s a Lexus ES 350 commercial from China with some great footage of the panoramic glass roof:

I’ve said it a thousand times but I can’t resist — that roof is one of my favorite options ever. It takes the ES to a whole other level.

Last weekend, Lexus Canada held a concert series in Toronto that also provided the first public look at the latest CT 200h prototypes, one a Euro-spec Matador Red Mica and the the other an Obsidian CT built for the US market.

Living only a couple hours away from Toronto, I spent the weekend in the city with my little family, where I had ample time to get a good look at Lexus’ latest newest model.

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The Lexus CT 200h North American tour arrives in Chicago tomorrow for a four-day stay — here are the event details:

• Thursday, September 2
  Location: Big Star
  1531 N. Damen Avenue
  Chicago, IL 60622
  Hours: 2:00pm-10:00pm
• Friday, September 3
  Location: Big Star
  1531 N. Damen Avenue
  Chicago, IL 60622
  Hours: 7:00pm-10:00pm
• Saturday, September 4
  Location: Lot on Broadway
  3116 N. Broadway
  Chicago, IL 60657
  Hours: 2:00pm-10:00pm
• Sunday, September 5
  Location: Lot on Broadway
  3116 N. Broadway
  Chicago, IL 60657
  Hours: 1:00pm-9:00pm

Anyone lucky enough to attend this event will be the first people to drive the red & black CT 200hs — be sure to register on the Lexus Facebook page. If you do end up going, please leave a comment here with your impressions!

[Source: Lexus Facebook]

Lexus Europe has released further details on the 2011 Euro-spec IS F, which will be getting a number of exterior & interior design changes for the new year:

• 5.0 litre V8 is now Euro 5 compliant
• The HID headlights will get getting the arrowhead LED daytime running light strip
• New Starlight Black exterior color
• Dark silver fibre insets
• Contrast stitching changed from white to blue
• Revised seat design
• New steering wheel
• LFA-inspired instrument panel

Here’s the full photo gallery:

The biggest change has to be the new instrument panel, which is dominated by a massive tachometer:

With no way to swap the tachometer & speedometer dial position, I was somewhat lukewarm on the new IP — until I saw the digital speed display, a feature I absolutely love.

Great update — I’ve included all the European details after the jump.

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For 2011, the Lexus IS 220d in Europe the UK will be replaced by the IS 200d, which will be using an updated version of the same 2.2L diesel engine that brings better fuel economy, lower CO2 emissions and a more refined and smoother drive:

The new 148bhp version of the 2.2-litre diesel engine benefits from detailed engineering revisions and is equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to meet Euro 5 emissions standards and enhance the engine’s driving quality.

The changes include a re-shaped combustion chamber and the use of new-generation piezoelectric fuel injectors to give a more efficient, cleaner and complete fuel burn. Pressure in the common rail injection system has been increased. a higher flow exhaust gas recirculation valve has been introduced and the adoption of a new oil-cooled, variable nozzle turbocharger improves torque performance at low speeds and cuts overall engine noise.

Along with the announcement of the new diesel, Lexus UK released some great photos of the updated IS:

I’m all over this photo of the IS 250 F-Sport:

Update: The UK will only be selling the IS 200d, but the rest of Europe will have the choice between both the IS 200d & IS 220d.

For the full details on all the IS options in the UK, I’ve included the full press release after the jump.

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Edmunds’ Inside Line is reporting that the next generation Lotus Esprit may be powered by the same V10 engine used in the Lexus LFA:

The next-generation Lotus Esprit supercar, details of which will be announced at the2010 Paris Auto Show next month, could be powered by the 552-horsepower Lexus LFA V10, says a source close to the company.

That would be for the Esprit in its ultimate form — the more mainstream version would be offered with a V8, also likely to be sourced from Lexus. That engine will probably be a version of the 416-hp 5.0-liter engine fitted to the Lexus IS F sedan. When asked to confirm this possibility, a Lotus spokesman said that he “couldn’t comment.”

This isn’t the first time this rumor has been reported, and given that Toyota has been supplying Lotus with engines for over 25 years, this has a very good chance of being true. Should that be the case, it’s good for everyone involved. Lotus gets a supercar powerplant that can compete with the best in the game, and Toyota gets to recoup some of the development cost of limited-edition, high-cost LFA.

Seems like a win all round to me.

[Source: Inside Line]