Photo Galleries

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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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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3D designer Artur Szymczak took a model of the Lexus 2054 featured in the movie Minority Report and built some spectacularly beautiful concept ads:

Amazing to think that Minority Report is now eight years old and the 2054 still looks like it’s forty-four years in the future.

(Be sure to check out the rest of Artur’s ads, which also includes a short video.)

[Source: Artur Szymczak's Portfolio via Bit Rebels]

Yesterday was the public unveiling of the red & black Lexus CT 200hs, and I was on hand to take some photos — here’s a few of my early favorites:

The Matador Red Mica is an absolutely brilliant color on this car — perfectly suited and great to look at.

The black CT was also at the event, and I have more pictures of both cars — including a ton of interior shots — which I’ll be posting as soon as I get a chance.

We’ve already taken a look at the RX & IS Art Works special editions released by Lexus Japan today, but I’ve saved the best for last — just take a look at this GS in Sunset interior:

Here’s some close-ups:

This color combo is really something else (reminds me of the LS Sport interior), tasteful but energetic — I can’t stop looking at this pic:

(Hopefully this interior mimics the infamous Passionate Black GS and makes its way over to North America.)

[Source: Lexus Japan]