July 2007 – Lexus Enthusiast | Lexus Enthusiast

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The Driving Woman Reviews the 2008 RX 350

It’s no secret that Lexus’ RX SUV is a hit with women drivers, so the fact that The Driving Woman’s review of the 2008 RX 350 is so positive really doesn’t surprise me: The first time I drove a Lexus SUV, I was so excited that I decided to put on red lipstick at a …

Kevin · July 31st, 2007

Spy Shots of the Next Gen RX

WorldCarFans has scored some spy shots of next generation Lexus RX SUV, which give some hints of what to expect in the vehicle’s future. Judging by the ill-fitting body panels and the extensive taping, the vehicle will be expanding in width and length. The cut bumpers and rear doors would indicate a shift in the …

Kevin · July 31st, 2007

Lexus & The Best Global Brands Report

Interbrand annually publishes a non-industry specific report on the Best Global Brands, ranked by “brand valuation”. This year, Lexus rings in at 92, same as last year, and was 10th overall in car brands. Much ado was given to Hyundai’s ranking, placing at the 72 position, above Porsche and Lexus. It can hardly be considered …

Kevin · July 30th, 2007

News on the Upcoming Lexus IS-F & GS 460

A user at Autospies has posted up some information on the new IS-F and GS, taken from the latest issue of Motor Trend: Lexus IS/IS-F:”…The first offering in the new Lexus F-series of ultra-perfomance cars, expect the IS-f to have 400-425-hp version of the 5.0L V-8 from the LS 600h, eight-speed paddle-shifted automatic, Brembo ABS …

Kevin · July 30th, 2007

Lexus Wins Big in 2007 Motorist Choice Awards

The Motorist Choice Awards is an annual ranking of vehicles that deliver both the highest customer satisfication and lowest cost of ownership, held by Intellichoice and AutoPacific. For 2007, Lexus came first in a number of categories: Premium Luxury Car: Lexus LS Premium Sports Car: Lexus SC Aspirational Luxury Car: Lexus IS The LS 460 …

Kevin · July 29th, 2007

An Argument for Painted Brake Calipers

Painted brake calipers are a nice enough touch, but they take on new significance when you see a photo like this: Taken from a feature on the G2 website, makers of caliper paint, this indigo ink Lexus IS 300 belongs to Brian Torak. The wheels are 18″ Katana ZR5’s, you can get a better look …

Kevin · July 29th, 2007

Site of the Week: Autopia

If you’re anything of a car buff, and I’m going to assume you are, you’ve probably already come across this week’s site: Autopia. In a nutshell, it’s the place to go when you want to get your car in tip-top shape, inside and out. When I bought the Lexus last year, I spent days here, …

Kevin · July 28th, 2007

The Times Reviews the Lexus LS 600hL

I’ll admit, it was somewhat disappointing that the Lexus LS 600hL review in The Times wasn’t written by Jeremy Clarkson, but Stuart Birch gives it his best shot, including some interesting stats on the customers Lexus plans to reel in, along with a rather interesting question: Lexus says that about 10 per cent of buyers …

Kevin · July 27th, 2007

Lexus Releases 2008 Prices

Lexus has released the first part of their 2008 price list, with plenty of information to go with it. Let’s break it down by model, shall we? (All prices are in USD) 2008 RX 400h The base price of the RX 400h remains unchanged for both front-wheel-drive ($41,180)and all-wheel-drive ($42,580), and will be spruced up …

Kevin · July 27th, 2007

Comparison: Lexus LS 460 vs. Volkswagen Phaeton

A member of German Car Zone was nice enough to translate an article from German car magazine Auto Motor Und Sport pitting the Volkswagen Phaeton against the Lexus LS 460. (The full text appears on Autospies, if you don’t feel like signing up for GCZ account.) Now, whether it’s a case of German bias or …

Kevin · July 26th, 2007

Flickr Find: Rolling

I’ve featured a IS 350 photo from Flickr user J.Garrido before, but this image was simply too stunning to ignore: I’m a sucker for streaking blurs, night shots and glowing instrument panels, and this shot has to rank right up there with the best. Brilliant.

Kevin · July 26th, 2007

Super Street Magazine Reviews the Lexus LS 460

It’s far and few between to find an genuinely amusing car review, but Super Street Magazine manages just that with their review of the Lexus LS 460. Here’s a few of the more salient passages: Enter the LS 460. Right off the bat, this car is pimp. Scratch that, capital P-I-M-P. Plush roomy leather interior …

Kevin · July 25th, 2007

Lexus U.S. Open Commercial: Road Trip

The final Lexus commercial from the US Open has just appeared on the Internet, courtesy of my favorite Youtuber, bbakshow: Surprising as it may be, people searching for this commercial have made up an significant percentage of my traffic since launch, and I’m very happy to have found it. Being my first time seeing it, …

Kevin · July 25th, 2007

Andy Rooney Tracks Down His Old Lexus

When I started this site, never did I think I would see the day where I’d be writing about Andy Rooney, but the world’s a funny place, and I go where the Lexus news takes me. I’m sure that most people, after selling or trading in a car, have wondered where it ended up, who …

Kevin · July 24th, 2007

Photo Tour of the New Lexus of Bellevue Dealership

The newly relocated Lexus of Bellevue is a sprawling, beautifully appointed 275,000-square-foot dealership that takes the concept of customer experience and hits it into the stratosphere. No kidding, here’s a list of some of the more over-the-top features: A set of artificial putting greens A deli (!!!) Gas station on site Standalone automated car wash …

Kevin · July 24th, 2007

Lexus IS 250 Commercial: Ball Bearing Precision

The IS 250 may lack the IS 350’s power, but it definitely has a trump card if you need traction, namely All-Wheel Drive: The IS series is a confusing one, the IS 250 has the option of a manual transmission and AWD, while the IS 350 gets the bigger engine (with an extra 100hp) but …

Kevin · July 23rd, 2007

Lexus to Release IS 250X in Australia

Having to make due without the IS 350, Australians will have now have another IS option, the IS 250X. Limited to a run of 260, the IS 250X boasts the following upgrades over a base IS 250: Sports Tuned Suspension 18″ Alloy Wheels Revised Front Spoiler Alloy Pedals X Badging Starting at $64,390 AUD with …

Kevin · July 23rd, 2007

The GS 350 Exploding Donut

Two GS Donut videos in one day? Seriously? This second video continues on the grand tradition of Russian Lexus Destruction, only this time there’s blood and exploding rubber: For the life of me, I don’t understand why the cameraman inside the car didn’t pull back when he started seeing sparks. Crazy Russians!

Kevin · July 22nd, 2007

Lexus GS 300 Super Criminal Donut

For sheer volume, there’s few things I come across more on Youtube than Lexus’ doing donuts. Practically an everyday event, I’ve never thought to feature a single one until now. Crazy speed, residential area, tight turning radius: To top it off, if the description is to be believed, the car’s stolen, meaning this whole video …

Kevin · July 22nd, 2007

Site of the Week: LexLS.com

For any old-school LS 400 owners handy with a torque wrench and a willingness to get their hands dirty, there is no site better than Lexls.com: This site is jampacked with a range of useful information, with everything from changing your oil to replacing your timing belt/water pump. Each tutorial is extremely well written and …

Kevin · July 21st, 2007

Hyundai’s Veracruz vs. RX 350 Commercial

Hyundai has taken Motor Trend’s rather irksome comparison of the new Veracruz and the Lexus RX350 and ran with it, producing this cute but flawed commercial: Now, Hyundai can’t be faulted for wanting to draw attention to the Motor Trend results, but is it really a smart idea to celebrate the copycat styling of the …

Kevin · July 21st, 2007

Lexus Exploiting Hybrid Hype?

The NY Times article panning the LS 600h L has created quite a negative stir, with numerous claims that Toyota’s “green movement” is nothing but a farce. This is perhaps addressed most vehemently by The Auto Extremist, one of my favorite automotive opinion sites: It’s clear that the mainstream media is finally – finally – …

Kevin · July 20th, 2007

Nonsensical Criticism of West Coast Lexus Dealerships

The Truth About Cars has posted up a delusional article today badmouthing the buildings of Lexus dealerships in Newport and Bellevue, then making this grand-sweeping statement about all Lexus dealerships: While Lexus’ “L-Finesse” design language is moving their cars away from cod-Mercedes shapes, the Japanese automaker’s dealership architecture remains heavily influenced by parking garages, government …

Kevin · July 20th, 2007

Lexus Places Third in J.D. Power Customer Service Study

Lexus has ranked third in the 2007 J.D. Power Customer Service Study, coming up behind Jaguar and Buick and tying with Cadillac: The study “measures the customer satisfaction of vehicle owners who visit the dealer service department for maintenance or repair work during the first three years of ownership”, and in its 27th year, is …

Kevin · July 19th, 2007

Earthquake Halts Lexus Production

Due to earthquake damage to a major parts supplier, Toyota has suspended all production for the remainder of the week. Riken Corp, a key supplier of Toyota transmission and engine parts, is located near the epicenter of Monday’s 6.8 magnitude quake, and as such sustained damage to their operations. The halt in production isn’t expected …

Kevin · July 18th, 2007

Lexus ES 350 Commercial: Goosebumps

The opening shot of this commercial is pure gold, though I have to admit a crash-test dummy getting goosebumps is a bit freaky: One of my favorite things about the new ES 350, which you can only catch of glimpse of in this commercial, is the optional Panorama Glass roof. It almost folds up like …

Kevin · July 18th, 2007

Gold Flecked Custom Painted ES 300

In running this site, I see a steady stream of beautiful cars, but once and a while , I come across an absolute gem: This ES 300 can not be beat, only $1,100! If you’re in Texas, it would be a crime not to give that number a call and see if it’s still available.

Kevin · July 17th, 2007

European LS 600h L Preview at Chauffeur Drive ‘07

European Chauffeurs will be getting a sneak peek of the Lexus LS 600h L at Chauffeur Drive ‘07, a new event “for Europe’s limousine and chauffeuring industry to see and drive the world’s most exclusive cars and limousines in one place”: Andy Simpson, Lexus’ Manager, National Corporate and Remarketing, commented: “We are pleased to be …

Kevin · July 17th, 2007

Lexus Hybrid Lineup to Expand

The Detroit News reports that Lexus plans to boost their hybrid lineup in hopes to increase their overall annual sales by 100,000: “Yes, there will be more hybrids in the Lexus lineup,” said James H. Colon, vice president for sales and dealer development at a meeting of auto reporters here. Lexus expects to sell just …

Kevin · July 17th, 2007

How Much Horsepower will the Lexus IS-F Have?

There’s a survey over at Autospies right now asking: How much horsepower with the new IS-F debut with? As of this writing, the leading guess is 440bhp to 450bhp with 23% of the votes, but what I found more interesting than the survey is the write up that accompanies it: A few months ago Car …

Kevin · July 16th, 2007

TOM’S LS460 Body Kit & Modifications

I spent some time today on TOM’S, Toyota’s authorized tuning shop, taking a look at their various Lexus body kits and modifications. Their new tuned LS 460 is a beauty, matching the exteriors of the Fabulous and Wald offerings in subtlety, but also adding an extensive range of very real performance modifications. Here’s a list …

Kevin · July 16th, 2007

NY Times Unimpressed with the Lexus LS 600h L

NY Times writer Lawrence Ulrich took the LS 600h L to task in today’s paper, unable to understand what possible benefit it could have over Lexus’ own LS 460, nevermind the V12 competitors the car is aimed at: On the performance front, forget about the Lexus hanging with V-12 sedans like the Mercedes S600. Turns …

Kevin · July 15th, 2007

Redneckin’ in a Lexus IS 350

I can’t conceive of a single reason why someone would take their brand new IS 350 into a field to do doughnuts, but it certainly isn’t the first time I’ve been left speechless by a Lexus owner.

Kevin · July 14th, 2007

Lexus Face?

Barry Brownstein, professor of economics and leadership at the University of Baltimore, has served up some criticism of Lexus Japan’s new sales techniques: A “Lexus Face” [a peaceful Ogasawara-style closed mouth smile said to put customers at ease] put on the face of a Lexus employee will fool nobody if either the employee does not …

Kevin · July 14th, 2007

Site of the Week: Club Lexus

One of the best things about being a car owner in the Internet age is access to people who know far more about your car than you do, and are willing to share their knowledge and help you at any turn. There are plenty of Lexus enthusiast forums online, but one stands heads above the …

Kevin · July 13th, 2007

New Feature: Site of the Week

Today marks the beginning of a new feature: Site of the Week. There’s a multitude of valuable websites out there, and it’s going to be hard choosing just one a week. Admittedly, they won’t all be exclusively Lexus, but each one will relate back to our favourite car brand. If you have any suggestions,please contact …

Kevin · July 13th, 2007

Man Smashes Lexus With a Steel Pipe

If you’re adverse to automotive violence, best avert your eyes, as this guy has some serious pedestrian rage: As is the nature of this type of video, I’m left with more questions than answers: What was that all about? Where did he get the steel pipe? What is it with Russia and destroying Lexus’?

Kevin · July 13th, 2007

Motor Trend: Long-Term Lexus LS 460 Update

Motor Trend staff have been driving their LS 460 for three months now, which makes it time for a seasonal update: “The first time I tried it [parallel parking], it worked perfectly. Since then, however, I’ve tried it twice more, and it’s either scared me or just refused to work at all. Undoubtedly, I need …

Kevin · July 12th, 2007

SC400/Soarer Commercial from Japan

All in all, this Japanese SC400/Soarer is so dull it almost doesn’t bear mentioning, save for a tagline that could stand as one of the greatest ever: Seriously, “Mind Cruising” is something that could only come from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Kevin · July 12th, 2007

Additional Footage of the LF-A at Nürburgring

We’ve all seen the Edmunds video of the prototype LF-A tearing up Nürburgring, but this additional footage, posted by Viper Productions on Youtube, really shows off the confirmed V-10 engine: Seems much faster than in the Edmunds video, it’s practically a black roaring blur. Now, the only question is, when is this blasted car going …

Kevin · July 11th, 2007

Lexus IS-F Prototype Filmed on the Streets of LA

You can forgive the shakiness of this cameraman, it’s not every day you see a IS-F prototype sitting at a stoplight: What stands out most for me are the wheels, they’re absolutely fantastic and easily my favourite design from Lexus yet. Still can’t say I’m feeling those massive side vents though. But the one thing …

Kevin · July 11th, 2007

Flickr Find: A Pristine 1991 Lexus ES 250

It may be considered the blacksheep of Lexus’ entire model history, but Flickr user grateful420angelina sure lucked out finding such a pristine ES 250: With 147,000 miles on it, it’s seen a fair share of asphalt, but it looks like the Ohio winters have been suprisingly kind.

Kevin · July 10th, 2007

Fifth Gear: Melanie C & Her RX 400h

It’s fairly bereft of any substance, but Fifth Gear had a mini-interview with Melanie C (of Spice Girls fame) about her choice of vehicle: Seems like she couldn’t stop herself from plugging her album, though listening to her own albums to learn the lyrics is so appropriate it could almost be true.

Kevin · July 10th, 2007

Raccoon Destroys Lexus IS 350

It’s a unique circumstance to destroy your engine after hitting a raccoon, but that’s what happened to Nathan Pitzel in his brand new IS 350: While driving through Texas a raccoon ran right in front of my car. It was the middle of the night 100 miles outside of Amarillo @ 1:30am, at first I …

Kevin · July 10th, 2007

Samurai Warriors = Japanese Lexus Dealers?

From the very start, Lexus strived to elevate their buying experience and customer service above their competitors, it was a defining characteristic, and a very strong reason for their success in the North American market. However, introducing the Lexus brand in their home country has so far been a bitter disappointment. In order to wow …

Kevin · July 9th, 2007

Fabulous Body Kit for the Lexus LS 460

My favorite part about the body kits put out for the Lexus LS 460 is how absolutely subtle they are — first was the Wald International’s offering, and now we have the full gear from Fabulous: The changes are so minute, the only part of the kit that’s immediately obvious is the mini-wing on the …

Kevin · July 7th, 2007

Repurposed 1991 Lexus involved in Drug Bust

How do you transport $1,000,000 dollars of cocaine in a single car? Use a 1991 Lexus LS 400: …nine kilograms of cocaine were found in a 1991 Lexus with Arizona license plates. “This is close to a million dollars in cocaine,” Jones said Friday, holding up long plastic-wrapped logs of cocaine that had been concealed …

Kevin · July 7th, 2007

Lexus Commercial: Which Golfer Will You Be?

It’s starting to feel like an everyday occurrence to find something linking Lexus with golf, and today’s no exception. As part of their U.S. Open sponsorship, three commercials were made, one of which I’ve already posted about, and here’s another: I’ll admit, at first this commercial confused me, as I searched for some connection between …

Kevin · July 7th, 2007

Flickr Find: Lexus ES 300 with Scissor Doors

Flickr user anlee took in the Everton Family Freedom Festival on July 4th, and managed to snap off a photo of a heavily modded ES 300, complete with scissor-doors: I guess dropping the frame, upping the wheels, getting the custom paint job and snapping on a body kit just wasn’t enough. (Not sure about that …

Kevin · July 6th, 2007

More on the Upcoming Lexus Dedicated Hybrid

More information has been revealed about the upcoming dedicated hybrid from Lexus — Scheduled for release in 2010 (and not 2009, as previously reported), this new vehicle will be postioned between the IS and GS models: The car would be aimed at well-to-do individuals who are after a roomy sedan but not prepared to step …

Kevin · July 6th, 2007

Car & Driver: Lexus RX 400h Long-Term Test

Easily, my favorite car magazine feature is the long-term test, where the magazines various writers and editors spend twelve months behind the wheel of a car then share the results. Well, not satisfied with a single year, Car & Driver enjoyed a two year-long visit with the RX 400h. The magazine’s staff managed to put …

Kevin · July 5th, 2007

Lexus LS 600hL on a Norwegian Test Track

Norwegian website Dinside Motor took an LS 600h L through its paces, hitting 160mph and showing off some major bodyroll: I like to see these kind of tests, it’s so much more interesting to see the handling instead of reading about it.

Kevin · July 5th, 2007

Lexus Sponsors New Cars.com Mobile Site

Lexus will be the first sponsor of Cars.com Mobile, a new site created exclusively for car info on-the-go. While their involvement is seem to be limited to a simple banner ad directing visitors to the Lexus’ mobile offering, the actual site sounds like a very interesting service: Visitors will be able to search Cars.com’s inventory …

Kevin · July 5th, 2007

Classic Lexus SC 400 Commercial

Old Lexus commercials have been popping up on Youtube non-stop — First was the LS 400 double shot, and now we have the inaugural SC 400 ad: The snapshot camera effect has to be my favorite part, it just screams of the nineties.

Kevin · July 4th, 2007

Autoweek & The 2007 Lexus GS 350

Autoweek has picked up a 2007 Lexus GS 350 for their fleet, and their first impressions are decidedly mixed: Some of our drivers loved the exterior styling of the GS, while others found it amorphous. The interior also divided drivers; they called it either comfortable or eerily numbing. I have to agree with any criticism …

Kevin · July 4th, 2007

Lexus ES 350 Commercial: Instinct

The most impressive aspect of this Lexus ES 350 commercial is how real the situation feels: The different perspectives of the same accident, the unavoidable crash, the skittering truck, the click-whirr of the advanced safety system, all make for a very immersive experience. Before impact, I actually recoiled in my chair.

Kevin · July 3rd, 2007

The Lexus LS 460 Riding on Sevas Forged Wheels

Here we have an LS 460 dropped low on a set of Sevas Forged Wheels: Not a very big fan of the multi-mini-spoke rim, and the sheer size of these wheels overpower the car, but they do have a certain charm. I especially like the look of these wheels in motion, they give off an …

Kevin · July 3rd, 2007

Lexus USA June 2007 Sales Report

The Lexus sales numbers for June 2007 are in, which sees a minor gain over last year’s figures. Total sales are up just 0.4%, with the ES 350 and RX 350/400h still leading the pack. The LS 460 is quite a hit over the outgoing LS 430, which isn’t much of a surprise. Here are …

Kevin · July 3rd, 2007

New Interactive Lexus Web Adverts

Broadband TV is really coming on, and ABC has launched a service through their website that allows US viewers to watch full-length episodes of last season’s shows. Lexus is taking advantage of this high bandwidth stream to push insanely detailed interactive ads, based around their current print campaign. Four of these ads are available for …

Kevin · July 1st, 2007

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