January 2008 – Lexus Enthusiast | Lexus Enthusiast

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Longo Lexus gets larger

Longo Lexus, the largest Lexus dealership in the western US, will be growing even larger with the help of some substantial grants from El Monte, California (the dealership’s home) and the federal government. Along with the adjoining Toyota dealership, this grant of $3,000,000 will be used to construct a 50,000-square-foot service facility, additional parking, a …

Kevin · January 31st, 2008

Video of the Lexus LS 460L in Test Drive Unlimited

I have yet to play the Test Drive Unlimited video game, but my interest just went up ten-fold after discovering that the Lexus LS 460L is an available car. This video clip from the game is pretty funny, it even includes a fully-virtual Lexus dealership showroom: I don’t understand the inclusion of a flagship full-size …

Kevin · January 30th, 2008

Flickr Find: Lexus IS-F in Brussels

Reaffirming my belief that the Lexus IS-F should never have been marketed in electric blue, take a look at these photos by Flickr user PierterA from the 2008 Brussels motor show: The car really does have a fantastically muscular front 3/4 view, doesn’t it?

Kevin · January 30th, 2008

1996 Lexus LX 450 Commercial with a Surprise Twist

It turns out the IS-F isn’t the first time Lexus has marketed a vehicle as the opposite of what you’d expect from the company, take a listen to the tagline of this 1996 LX 450 commercial: “It’s everything a Lexus is, and everything a Lexus isn’t.” sounds pretty close to the IS-F’s “Everything you thought …

Kevin · January 29th, 2008

Lexus & the Chip Ganassi team win third consecutive Daytona 24

The No.1 Lexus Riley Prototype has won the Daytona 24 race for the third year in a row, marking the first time this has ever been accomplished in the race’s history. Piloted by Scott Pruett, Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti and Memo Rojas, the Chip Ganassi team powered through the 24 hour race with none …

Kevin · January 29th, 2008

Lexus to discontinue L-Finesse styling?

According to Winding Road, the new issue of Autocar is reporting that Lexus will be moving away from the L-Finesse design language used to style their cars over the last two years. L-Finesse, which was created by Leonardo Fioravanti, first appeared in production form with the introduction of the 2006 GS model, and was meant …

Kevin · January 28th, 2008

Another Glimpse into the Future Direction of US Lexus Dealerships

Building off his presentation at the Automotive News World Congress, Lexus general manager Mark Templin outlined the future direction of Lexus dealerships in the US in an interview with Ward’s. There’s a lot of information hidden in the details, but the primary point made is that Lexus will start to take on some characteristics of …

Kevin · January 25th, 2008

Flickr Find: The Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept

After a while, auto show photos of a specific model tend to blend in to one another, but Flickr user Luc Bernard managed to bring something new to the table with his photo of the Lexus LF-A Roadster, all stark contrast and saturated color: There’s been a lot of disappointment that a production model of …

Kevin · January 24th, 2008

Video of the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept @ The Tokyo Auto Salon

Putting aside the hoopla surrounding the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept for a minute, here’s some jumpy video footage of the car from the Toyko Auto Salon show: I think I would have liked this vehicle a whole lot better if it had been done up like an actual race car, with the decals and flashy …

Kevin · January 24th, 2008

Short Lexus LX 570 Video Profile

Save for the short appearance by Charles Hubbard of Lexus College, this Bumper2Bumper TV video profile of the Lexus LX 570 doesn’t really have much to it, except for one thing — it shows that this vehicle looks absolutely spectacular in movement (around 45 seconds in, to be precise): I think my devotion to the …

Kevin · January 23rd, 2008

Mark Templin on Improving US Lexus Dealerships

In a presentation at the Automotive News World Congress, Lexus General Manager Mark Templin outlined the automaker’s plans to enhance their US dealerships even further: ” We’re trying to create a feeling in our car dealerships more of a luxury hotel than a car dealership,” Templin said after his presentation. The dealerships also want to …

Kevin · January 22nd, 2008

The Lexus IS-F Racing Concept gets even more confusing

The confusion surrounding the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept has taken a turn for the absurd, with German auto magazine AutoBild now asserting that it’s not a Lexus at all, but a reworked Opel Opel Vectra DTM racer: From the article, it’s not exactly clear how they came to this conclusion, but it clearly goes against …

Kevin · January 22nd, 2008

Lexus IS 350 V6 Engine Named as one of 2008’s Best

The 3.5L DOHC V-6 engine found in the Lexus IS 350 has been named as one of 2008’s top engines by Wards: As it earns its third consecutive 10 Best Engines award, Associate Editor Byron Pope sums up the Lexus-exclusive engine’s execution: “Good luck beating this in any category.” …where the IS 350 application really …

Kevin · January 21st, 2008

The Truth About Cars Reviews the Lexus IS-F

I have to appreciate The Truth about Cars review of the Lexus IS-F. Sure, it’s critical, but the writing is superb and full of character: Given a long, empty ribbon of road, the IS-F again reveals a sharply split personality. Flexing your right foot rips away the layers of Lexus fluff. At WOT, acceleration is …

Kevin · January 21st, 2008

Flickr Find: The Project Lexus IS-F Revisited

The 5Axis Project IS-F for last year’s SEMA was a real eye-catcher, with many preferring the look to the production IS-F. Yet, there didn’t seem to be any real quality shots of the car, and certainly nothing like this photo from Scott Dukes: Just stunning, the photo really shows off the bulging bodywork, and makes …

Kevin · January 20th, 2008

Dedicated Lexus Hybrid = Hybrid ES?

In a short interview with Bloomberg, Lexus General Manager Mark Templin reiterated what he told the Free Press a couple days ago, though with a little more detail: “There is a whole section of the population that wants something different, and that’s high-efficiency,” Lexus general manager Mark Templin said in an interview at the Detroit …

Kevin · January 18th, 2008

More Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept Video Footage

It’s nice to see a purely car-focused video of the Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept show up, even if it suffers from the usual Youtube quality issues: I’m still in shock at how quickly I took to this concept. I wasn’t necessarily the biggest LF-A fan to begin with, though in comparing the two versions, I …

Kevin · January 18th, 2008

New Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept Video from Autospies

More video of the LF-A Roadster Concept shown at the Detroit Auto Show has emerged, this time up it’s Autospies, with an interview with Lexus event manager Brian Bolain(no video embedding, click here to watch the video.) I really believed that this concept was something that would fast-track to production, perhaps as part of a …

Kevin · January 17th, 2008

Details on the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept

Details are finally coming out in regards to the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon last week. Due to the body styling and rear wing, it was thought that this was a precursor to Lexus’ entry into the DTM Racing series, but in actuality, the vehicle was a one-off design experiment …

Kevin · January 17th, 2008

Lexus Sales Projections for 2008

Considering the current climate of the US automotive market, Lexus US sales projections for 2008 are near identical to the 2007 totals. Lexus General Manager Mark Templin, speaking with the Free Press, announced that Lexus hopes to move 330,000 vehicles in 2008: Lexus was the best-selling luxury brand in the United States in 2007 with …

Kevin · January 16th, 2008

Special Edition Lexus IS to be released in Japan

Lexus Japan will be releasing a limited edition Elegant White Interior IS, an especially literal name to be sure: Beyond the white/grey two-tone semi-aniline leather seats, the interior will be replete with real wood paneling on the center console and doors, plus a rear privacy shade (not pictured): I think it’s gorgeous, the wood grain …

Kevin · January 16th, 2008

More on the Lexus Lounge @ The Detroit Auto Show

It almost seems like the LF-A Roadster Concept is playing second-fiddle to the Lexus amenities at the Detroit Auto Show — The Driving Woman weblog (who’s been providing insightful updates since the convention doors opened) shares their experience: Whenever I thought that the show was getting to me I just climbed that set of stairs, …

Kevin · January 15th, 2008

The Lexus Luxury Lounge @ The Detroit Auto Show

Lexus’ presence at the Detroit Auto Show isn’t just limited to their impressive booth, there was also a Luxury Lounge, where harried reporters could take some time to relax. MLive reports: I have heard that Lexus knows how to take care of their customers (think: fancy buffets and massages while getting your car serviced at …

Kevin · January 15th, 2008

A Unique Take on the Lexus Booth @ The Detroit Auto Show

Industrial Design website Core77 took a trip to the Detroit Auto Show and came away particularly impressed with the Lexus booth: Designed by Mark Lawrence of the George P. Johnson Company, Lexus’ new exhibit combines highly refined materials and strong organizational qualities. Much of exhibit design is marketing through architecture, and this stand speaks very …

Kevin · January 15th, 2008

Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept Video

The first video of the Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept has been posted by Car & Driver to Brightcove (no embedding allowed, click here to view the video.) It’s a short video, but it’s still great to see the rear-adjustable wing in action. I could have done with less of presenter Dave Vanderwerp’s questionable disappointment and …

Kevin · January 14th, 2008

Lexus Dedicated Hybrid to Debut at Next Year’s Detroit Auto Show

During a media reception last night at the Detroit Auto Show, Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe announced that a dedicated Lexus hybrid will be introduced at next year’s convention: “Next year here in Detroit, we will expand our conventional hybrid line-up by staging world premiers of two all-new, dedicated hybrids, one for Toyota and one for …

Kevin · January 14th, 2008

The Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept Live @ The Detroit Auto Show

There’s more than a few photo galleries sprouting up of the Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept on the floor of the Detroit Auto Show, but the most comprehensive I’ve seen so far is at Autoblog. There’s times when the official manufacturer photos make a car seem utterly flawless, but this super-convertible looks even more impressive in …

Kevin · January 13th, 2008

The Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept is Unveiled

The suspense of the blue-tarped Lexus concept only lasted a few hours, as it was unveiled as the LF-A Roadster Concept, a convertible version of the LF-A and absolutely beautiful in red. The LF-A Roadster has the same front-mid engine layout as the LF-A, which places the engine between the front and rear passengers, and …

Kevin · January 13th, 2008

Surprise Lexus Convertible to be shown at Detroit Auto Show

How it was kept quiet, I do not know, but Autospies has blown cover on a surprise Lexus concept to be revealed at the Detroit Auto Show. There’s a number of guesses as to what’s hiding under that blue tarp: IS convertible? LF-A convertible? The new SC? Something entirely different? One thing’s for sure, there’s …

Kevin · January 12th, 2008

2008 Lexus IS-F Pricing Announced

After months of speculation, Lexus has released pricing for the IS-F, and it’s hard to find any fault with the totals. The base IS-F will carry a $56,000 USD price tag, which undercuts competitors significantly. The following amenities will be standard: Heated, leather-trimmed 10-way power front sport seats Dual-zone automatic climate control, a pollen filter …

Kevin · January 11th, 2008

Lexus LX 570 Debuts in China for $179,000 USD

The Lexus LX 570 went on sale today in China today, retailing with the rather extraordinary price tag of 1.3 million yuan, which translates to $179,000 USD, or roughly 242.5% higher than the USA’s retail price of $73,800. Frankly, an increase of over $100,000 is astounding, yet it’s hardly out of place when looking at …

Kevin · January 10th, 2008

Autoblog Reviews the Lexus LS 460L

Right from the start, there was something off about Autoblog’s review of the Lexus LS 460L: It’s tough to pity Lexus LS owners. After all, Executive-Class luxury sedans don’t exactly suck. We wouldn’t blame LS drivers for feeling pangs of over-inconspicuousness whenever they see a Camry, though. Understated luxury is one thing, but when you’re …

Kevin · January 9th, 2008

Lexus IS 350 GT2 to Enter Le Mans Series

There’s certainly some confusion out there today in regards to the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept & the new Team Lexus racer. Thought to be the same car, it turns out that the orange Team Lexus race car may be something entirely different. One thing’s for sure, it’s destined for the Le Mans series GT2 class, …

Kevin · January 8th, 2008

Lexus Launches LX 570 Driver Empowered Mini-Site

Mentioned in the Lexus’ LX 570 marketing presentation, the Driver Empowered LX mini-site is now live. The site’s jam-packed with video footage extolling the SUV’s capabilities. Of particular note is the 360° tour, which manages to inject an infusion of character and presence that has been lacking in images seen so far. An interesting sidebar, …

Kevin · January 8th, 2008

Evo Magazine Reviews the Lexus IS-F

Somewhere along the line, I missed Evo Magazine’s review of the Lexus IS-F, which does a fantastic job at heaping substantial amounts of praise onto the super-sedan: Before the end of the pit straight, one thing is already beyond dispute. For the way it slaughters distance and the noise it makes, the IS-F is a …

Kevin · January 7th, 2008

Lexus to Enter the DTM Racing Series?

According to Touring Car Times, the photo of the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept could be an indication that Lexus will be joining the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters car racing series: The rumors on which manufacturer would join Audi and Mercedes in the Deutche Tourenwagen Masters have been many during the recent years. Since the talks about …

Kevin · January 7th, 2008

Flickr Find: Lexus IS Tail Lights

There’s so many different ways to photograph a car, there’s the scenic shots, the speed shots, the close-ups, and once and a while, you get something a bit more expressive. This photograph by Flickr user AlieN is a good illustration of this: I’m a big fan of symmetry, so this appealed to me right off …

Kevin · January 6th, 2008

The Lexus LX 570 Already Winning Awards

I’m not sure how much stock you can put in an award given to an unreleased vehicle, but that didn’t stop WealthTV viewers from awarding the 2008 Lexus LX 570 “The Most Luxurious SUV” award. There wouldn’t be much to see here if the Lexus spokesman Paul Williamsen hadn’t pull the engine cover off : …

Kevin · January 6th, 2008

The Lexus IS-F Racing Concept to be Shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon

The Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan’s annual automotive aftermarket tradeshow, will see the debut of the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept, with all the body molding and performance modifications you’d expect. Details are non-existent, and the only image is the one shown above, taken from Lexus Japan’s TAS mini-site. In all honesty, I didn’t think it possible …

Kevin · January 4th, 2008

Lexus 2007 Year-End Sales Report

With the release of the December 2007 numbers, it’s now possible to look at Lexus’ 2007 sales figures as a whole, which contain a fair share of surprises. Here’s the numbers, in a handy-dandy chart: 2007 2006 % Change IS250/350 54,933 54,267 0.9 ES350 82,867 75,987 8.7 GS350 21,314 23,665 -10.2 GS460/450h 2,067 3,725 -44.7 …

Kevin · January 3rd, 2008

Lexus December 2007 Sales Report

For the second month in a row, Lexus sales dropped when compared with the previous year. Here’s the details: 2007 2006 % Change IS250/350 5,651 5,538 2.0 ES350 8,005 8,736 -8.4 GS350 2,254 1,989 13.3 GS460/450h 325 299 8.7 SC430 348 486 -28.4 LS460/600h L 3,257 3,865 -15.7 Total Cars 19,840 20,913 -5.1 RX350/400h 11,835 …

Kevin · January 3rd, 2008

Dubai’s Lexus Mega Raffle

Normally, a car raffle wouldn’t be anything to post about, but they do it differently in Dubai. The Lexus Mega Raffle, which will be held during Dubai’s annual Shopping Festival, will see an ES 350 and a RX 350 given to one winner every day for 32 days, though they can opt instead for a …

Kevin · January 2nd, 2008

Lexus’ IS-F Presentation Videos

The Auto Network has served up another Lexus presentation, this time a full blown dissertation about the IS-F. This presentation, along with the previously noted LX 570 breakdown, took place in Point Clear, Alabama, and provided the automotive press with an opportunity to learn about the vehicles to an extraordinary level of detail. The first …

Kevin · January 2nd, 2008

Lexus’ LX 570 Presentation Videos

The Auto Network has posted up the full LX 570 presentation given by Lexus to the press in late 2007, and it’s a incredible collection of facts and information, detailing every aspect of the vehicle, from its technical specifications to its marketing plan. The first part is a general overview of the LX 570, presented …

Kevin · January 1st, 2008

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