December 2013 – Lexus Enthusiast | Lexus Enthusiast

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Top Ten Lexus News Stories of 2013

It’s been a busy year for Lexus — the launch of the new third-generation IS, plenty of speculation on the future of the brand, and the recent reveal of the Lexus RC coupe made for some exciting news. As 2013 draws to a close, let’s look back on the top ten Lexus news stories of …

Kevin · December 31st, 2013

Lexus RC F to be Powered by 460 Horsepower V8?

The Lexus RC F will be powered by a V8 with 460 horsepower, according to a Detroit Auto Show VIP event invitation leaked by Autoblog — here’s the invite in full (click for a larger version): Judging by the website, this event looks to be hosted by local dealerships (RSVP page asks to select one …

Kevin · December 30th, 2013

Is this the Lexus RC F?

A convincing rendering of the Lexus RC F has been published in an unnamed Japanese magazine — here’s the full page: While there’s been some talk that this might be the real thing, comparing the rendering with the second teaser image shows the truth — the deep lines in the hood reaching to the front …

Kevin · December 30th, 2013

Happy Holidays!

As we enter the festive season, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of my readers a safe and happy holidays! It’s been an extremely busy year, and I’m looking forward to spending this week with family and friends — look for normal posting to resume December 30th. Until then, all …

Kevin · December 24th, 2013

Details on the Lexus RC’s New Red Exterior Paint

The Lexus RC 350 will make its North American debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January, and today Lexus released information on the new paint process used to create the coupe’s red exterior color: The luminous red paint is achieved through a meticulous paint process using four base coats of paint which are then …

Kevin · December 24th, 2013

Lexus Concept Car Coming to Gran Turismo 6?

As part of the Vision Gran Turismo festival celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Gran Turismo video game, Lexus designers will be creating a two-door grand-touring concept car — here’s an advanced preview (click for a larger version): With the exception of the LFA-style hood vents, this image is identical to the LF-LC concept — …

Kevin · December 23rd, 2013

Video: Lexus GX 460 Tows a MIG-31 Fighter Jet

It might not be the space shuttle, but here’s a Lexus GX 460 towing a 24-ton MIG-31 fighter jet (be sure to turn down the sound): Have a great pre-Holiday weekend, everyone!

Kevin · December 20th, 2013

Lexus Releases Second Teaser Image of F Performance Model

Lexus has released another teaser image of the F performance model set to debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January — here the photo in high-resolution (click for the larger image): Believed to be a high-performance version of the RC that was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in November, this photo shows a …

Kevin · December 19th, 2013

Lexus ES 300h Named Best Luxury Value by Consumer Reports

The Lexus ES 300h has been named the top luxury car value in the Consumer Reports annual Best & Worst New Cars. Consumer Reports judges vehicles on a combination of reliability, resale value, fuel economy and driving performance — the ES 350, RX 450h, & RX 350 also ranked high in the list. Read more …

Kevin · December 19th, 2013

Introducing LEXUS: THE LINE Magazine

If you’ve been a reader of Lexus Enthusiast for a while, you may recall I spent the first few months of 2013 at Team One, Lexus USA’s advertising agency, working as a consultant on a secret project. Seven months later, here are full details — I helped to identify the stories used in The Line, …

Kevin · December 18th, 2013

Lexus IS F SPORT Nominated in 2013 Most Beautiful Car of the Year Awards

The Lexus IS F SPORT has been nominated in the 2013 Most Beautiful Car of the Year awards, an annual contest held by Festival Automobile International & Euro Sport. Public voting will determine the winner, which means you can get involved — be sure to vote before December 26th to help the IS F SPORT …

Kevin · December 18th, 2013

Lexus Places First in J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2013 China Initial Quality Study

Lexus has tied Mercedes Benz in the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2013 China Initial Quality Study, with each brand recording only 52 problems per 100 vehicles sold. The industry in China averages 119 problems per 100 vehicles. The study looks at problems experienced by new vehicle owners in the six months of ownership, dividing those …

Kevin · December 17th, 2013

Lexus IS in Atomic Silver Wins Japanese Color Award

The Atomic Silver/Sonic Titanium exterior color & Topaz Brown interior color offered on the Lexus IS has won the 2014 Auto Color award from the Japan Fashion Color Association, which may be the strangest award the sedan will win this year. (In all seriousness, the Atomic Silver/Sonic Titanium exterior color is a great addition to …

Kevin · December 17th, 2013

Photo Gallery: Lexus IS F in Matte Gray

The folks at Spinelli Lexus in Quebec sent in some photos of a matte gray IS F — they must know I’m a sucker for this color: The signature IS F elements (like the giant fender vents and massive hood) have aged well over the years — going to be interesting to see how the …

Kevin · December 16th, 2013

Lexus IS F CCS-R is the Benchmark for Future F Performance Models

Motoring Australia interviewed Lexus IS F chief engineer Yukuhiro Yaguchi about the next-generation of F performance models, and learned some interesting details: If you want a taste of the sort of handling and power delivery the new BMW M4-rivaling Lexus RC F coupe is expected to deliver then go and have a drive of the …

Kevin · December 16th, 2013

Beyond Magazine Feature on the Lexus LS

There’s a feature on the Lexus LS in the latest issue of Beyond Magazine, and the story has just been published online: The LS finally launched in the United States in 1989, to almost universal media acclaim. Its bulletproof reliability, great value specification and whisper-quiet cabin, as well as Lexus’s superior customer service, allowed it …

Kevin · December 16th, 2013

The Telegraph Reviews the Lexus GS 300h

Andrew English of The Telegraph has reviewed the Lexus GS 300h, and believes the 2.5L hybrid sedan compares favorably with its competition: This latest GS might not be as sporty or exciting as Lexus suggests, but it’s not bad and is at least on a par with its occasionally quite raucous 2.0-litre diesel German rivals. …

Kevin · December 15th, 2013

Lexus RC F, Illustrated

Building off the teaser photo released this week, Leftlane News has created an illustration of what the new Lexus RC F might look like — here it is in higher resolution: It’s certainly a valiant attempt, though I have to think the RC F will retain the standard RC’s 3-L headlights and separated daytime running …

Kevin · December 13th, 2013

Photo Gallery: Lexus RC in Detail

The Lexus International Facebook page posted a nice photo gallery showing the details of the RC coupe: This is nicely put together — there’s so many great individual elements to the RC design, and this gallery showcases them all. [Source: Lexus International FB Page]

Kevin · December 13th, 2013

Interview with Lexus International President Kiyotaka Ise

While at the Tokyo Motor Show last month, I had a chance to interview Kiyotaka Ise, the president of Lexus International. The following is a transcript of our conversation, by way of a Japanese translator. Lexus Enthusiast: It must have been daunting to transform the Lexus brand over such a short period of time, how …

Kevin · December 12th, 2013

Imagining a Lexus RC Convertible, Part Two

We’ve already seen one attempt at rendering the possible Lexus RC convertible, and now photochopper X-Tomi has given it a shot with the above image. (Will the next Lexus convertible be a hard or soft top? Have to think it would be a hard top — the IS-C roof was expertly done, and I believe …

Kevin · December 12th, 2013

Photo Gallery: Lexus GS 350 F SPORT on New Vossen CVT Directional Wheels

Here’s a Lexus GS 350 F SPORT on the new Vossen CVT directional one-piece cast wheels: Owned by one of the guys at Mr. Wheels in Florida, this GS F SPORT is running an Accuair Airrunner suspension, Lexon front spoiler, side skirt and roof wing and Nitto tires — here’s a video of the car …

Kevin · December 11th, 2013

Video: Lexus GS F SPORT vs. the Queen’s Guard

To demonstrate the capabilities of the GS 350 F SPORT, Lexus Puerto Rico imported two Queen’s Guards from England and put them into the sedan with a race car driver: While very similar to the fantastic video from Lexus Italia last year, it’s still a very effective (and hilarious) campaign.

Kevin · December 11th, 2013

Video: Justin Bell Drives the Lexus LFA

In the latest episode of The One, Motor Trend presenter Justin Bell hits the track in a Lexus LFA borrowed from the Toyota Museum in Torrance, California: Haven’t been a fan of this show in the past, but I love seeing that red LFA out on the track — worth it for the visuals.

Kevin · December 11th, 2013

Lexus: No Plans to Release Sub-$30k Models

Lexus will not be heading downmarket to compete with its German competitors, says Lexus USA general manager Jeff Bracken in an interview with Automotive News: “We will not head down below $30,000,” said Bracken in an interview here. “We have Toyota and Scion to handle that price level for us.” Bracken acknowledges the CLA and …

Kevin · December 10th, 2013

Camouflaged Lexus NX Prototype Spotted in Japan

A Lexus NX prototype has been spotted by Japanese magazine Mag-X in some pretty wild camouflage — here are the two photos: The vehicle has been expertly disguised, with only the front spindle grille giving away that fact the model is a Lexus at all — makes me wonder, wouldn’t this amount of camouflage affect …

Kevin · December 10th, 2013

Autocar Reviews the 2014 Lexus GS 300h

The European press have started driving the all-new Lexus GS 300h, and finding it a compelling alternative to its German competitors — here’s the first review from Autocar: Until now, Lexus’s E-segment saloon had been without a [Benefit in Kind]-friendly car capable of competing with the ultra efficient diesel-engined offerings of the Big Three at …

Kevin · December 10th, 2013

Interview with Lexus RC Chief Engineer Junichi Furuyama

While at the Tokyo Motor Show last month, I had a chance to interview Junichi Furuyama, the chief engineer of the new Lexus RC coupe. The following is a transcript of our conversation, by way of a Japanese translator. Kevin: First question — were the Lexus IS & RC in development at the same time? …

Kevin · December 9th, 2013

Lexus Announces RC F to Debut at Detroit Auto Show

Lexus today confirmed that the F performance model will be making its debut at the Detroit Autoshow in January — here’s the full high-resolution teaser image: Not much can been seen in the photo other than the Michelin Pilot Super Sports and the large fender side vent, but this is clearly a F version of …

Kevin · December 9th, 2013

Lexus GS 350 F SPORT Named Best Large Car over $60k in Australia’s Best Cars

The Lexus GS 350 F SPORT has been named Best Large Car over $60,000 in the Australia’s Best Cars awards. This is the second year in a row that the Lexus sports sedan has won this category. The GS 450h took third in the same category. The IS 300h placed second in Best Medium Car …

Kevin · December 9th, 2013

Lexus IS F Racing Team Finishes Fourth Overall in 25 Hours of Thunderhill

Earlier today, the Lexus IS F CCS-R team of Jeff Westphal, Tom Dyer & Ken Dobson finished 4th overall in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race. Only a late-night axle replacement kept them off the podium — the team completed 659 laps, finishing just 3 laps behind the third place GMG Motorsports Audi R8. …

Kevin · December 8th, 2013

Live: Lexus IS F CCS-R Racing in 25 Hours of Thunderhill

The Lexus IS F CCS-R will be racing in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill this weekend in California — drivers Jeff Westphal, Ken Dobson & Tom Dyer are competing in the ES class of the longest endurance race in North America, which runs Saturday morning to Sunday morning. With the help of my friend Paul …

Kevin · December 7th, 2013

Two Lexus LFA Convertibles Spotted in Japan

At the Odaiba Motor Festival celebrating the Tokyo Motor Show last month, Toyota President Akio Toyoda brought out two Lexus LFA Spyders — here they are, briefly: (The white LFA Spyder I can only assume is the same one Jay Leno drove earlier this year, but the yellow Spyder is completely new to me.)

Kevin · December 6th, 2013

First Impressions of the Lexus LF-NX Turbo Concept

After staring at photos for months, I finally had a chance to see the Lexus LF-NX concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. Before seeing the LF-NX in person, I had no idea how Lexus was going to transform it into a production model — the concept appeared architectural, more structure than automobile, like a solid …

Kevin · December 5th, 2013

Photo Gallery: 2014 Lexus CT F SPORT with Redline Exterior

On display at the San Francisco Auto Show was this 2014 Lexus CT 200h F SPORT in the brand new Redline exterior color — here are some photos from Kaizen Factor: This new Redline color looks much brighter than Matador Red Mica, it almost looks like the same tone as the red offered on the …

Kevin · December 5th, 2013

Quick Interviews with Lexus LFA Chief Engineer Tanahashi & IS F Chief Engineer Yaguchi

While in Japan for the Tokyo Motor Show, I had a chance to meet Lexus LFA chief engineer Tanahashi Haruhiko & IS F chief engineer at the Fuji Speedway — time was limited with so many journalists in attendance, but I did get a chance to ask each of them a couple questions. Here are …

Kevin · December 4th, 2013

Production Lexus NX Compact Crossover to Debut at the Geneva Motor Show?

Auto Express is reporting that the production version of the Lexus LF-NX concept will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next March: Previewed by the striking LF-NX concept, first shown at the Frankfurt show in September, the compact SUV will retain the concept’s stand-out styling, according to Lexus’ European director Paul Van der Burgh. “What …

Kevin · December 4th, 2013

Lexus IS 350 Named Best New Luxury Car Under $50,000 by Canadian Automotive Journalists

Big win for Lexus today — the 2014 IS 350 has been named the best new Luxury Car under $50,000 by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. The IS won over the Buick Regal, Kia Cadenza, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid & Mercedes CLA 250. [Source: Lexus Canada]

Kevin · December 3rd, 2013

Lexus November 2013 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 25,611 total sales for November 2013, a 8.4% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2013 2012 % CHG* 2013 2012 % CHG* CT 1,002 1,264 -23.8 13,284 16,075 -17.7 HS 0 3 -100.0 5 647 -99.2 IS 3,973 1,988 92.2 29,603 25,211 …

Kevin · December 3rd, 2013

Lexus NXB Mountain Bike Concept Displayed at Tokyo Motor Show

Debuting alongside the Lexus LF-NX Turbo concept at the Tokyo Motor Show was the Neo eXtreme Bike Concept, a mountain bike produced using the same carbon fiber loom that weaved the LFA — here are some photos: Beyond the frame, the NXB concept features XeNTiS Kappa2 CC carbon fiber aero wheels with a custom Spindle …

Kevin · December 3rd, 2013

Lexus Set to Break Global Sales Record This Year

Lexus is on track to sell over 520,000 vehicles worldwide this year, which will break their all-time global sales record set in 2007 — from Automotive News: Mark Templin, executive vice president of Lexus International, today said worldwide sales would “finish on the north side of 520,000,” edging Lexus’ all-time high of 518,300 units in …

Kevin · December 2nd, 2013

Lexus December to Remember 2013 Commercials

As we enter the holiday season, Lexus USA has launched their annual December to Remember Sales Event, along with the inevitable “Red Bow” commercials — here’s the full collection: All in all, it’s a fairly harmless round of commercials — the only thing I really noticed is how great the updated GX looks in white. …

Kevin · December 2nd, 2013

High Performance Lexus RC F to Debut at Detroit Auto Show?

Drive Australia is reporting that the high performance Lexus RC F will debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January: [RC chief engineer Junichi] Furuyama-san says the new model – which is expected to wear the RC F badge – will boast different styling to the regular RC coupe, including a “bulging” bonnet line to …

Kevin · December 1st, 2013

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