The Lexus RC as a Four-Door Coupe

Photochopper Theophilus Chin has created a four-door Lexus RC GT similar in concept to the BMW 4-Series Grand Coupe: Have to say, this is a real stunner — however unlikely it is that Lexus would ever release such a vehicle, I think it should be considered after seeing this rendering. What do you think? [Source: …

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Kevin · May 30th, 2014

Video: The Lexus RC F Development Story

Here’s an extensive video interview with Lexus RC F vehicle dynamics engineer Akihiro Osaka, who details the efforts made in developing the vehicle’s handling and performance: This is the second video that Lexus has released that profiles the key personalities behind the RC F development — if you missed it, be sure to watch the …

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Kevin · May 29th, 2014

Drive a Lexus Home from the Montréal-Trudeau Airport

Montreal-area Lexus dealerships are now offering vehicle test-drives from the Montréal-Trudeau airport, driving you home after returning from a trip: In setting up their test drive at the Lexus lounge prior to departure, guests will choose from a variety of Lexus vehicles, including the CT 200h, ES 300h, IS, and RX.  When their return flight …

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Kevin · May 29th, 2014

360 Degree Tour of the Lexus RC & RC F SPORT

The Lexus International RC product page has a nice 360 degree rotation of both the RC & RC F SPORT, showing off the coupe from all angles. (The RC F may be the star of the show, but the RC F SPORT is a real looker — can’t wait to see this car on the …

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Kevin · May 29th, 2014

New Lexus NX Photos from Europe

Lexus Europe has released three new NX images, including this shot of the all four NX variants (click for a larger image): Lexus Europe also released some nice behind-the-scenes from their upcoming NX brochure: (With the NX expected to bring in 20,000 additional sales for Lexus Europe, it’s no surprise that they’re pulling out all …

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Kevin · May 28th, 2014

Lexus Expects NX Compact Crossover to be Big Seller in Europe

Lexus is expecting big things from the NX compact crossover in Europe — from Autocar: Asked to explain why customers would consider the NX over rival brands’ products, Alain Uyttenhoven, vice president of Lexus Europe, said: “The first reason people buy a car in this segment is because it is trendy in its design. We …

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Kevin · May 28th, 2014

Lexus IS 200t Trademarked in Australia & Europe

Lexus has trademarked the IS 200t nameplate in both Australia and Europe, making way for the new 2.0L four-cylinder turbo engine to be introduced in the sports sedan. The turbo engine will debut this year with the NX compact crossover, where it generates 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The engine also features a …

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Kevin · May 27th, 2014

Slammed Lexus IS F SPORT from Japanese Tuner Lexon

Dino Dalle Carbonare from Speedhunters has a nice feature on Japanese tuner Lexon and their Lexus IS F SPORT show car: Before the Lexon company was set up, its owner, Takemi-san, was more into the performance side of things and was primarlily building and supplying parts for circuit and drift cars. But with changing trends …

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Kevin · May 27th, 2014

New Lexus NX Video Shows Off Panoramic Glass Roof

As part of the an NX preview event last week in London, Lexus Europe released a new video showing off the compact crossover in F SPORT trim: Have to say, that optional panoramic glass roof is a beauty: (I’ve said it before, the panoramic glass roof is probably my favorite single option on a vehicle …

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Kevin · May 27th, 2014

Dan Neil of the Wall Street Journal Pays Tribute to the Lexus IS F

Dan Neil of The Wall Street Journal has written a tribute to the 2014 Lexus IS F, arguing that the sedan will one day be a collector’s item: Among other things, the IS F curates a generation of dynamics software for which we will one day be nostalgic.This is the collectible quality the IS F …

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Kevin · May 26th, 2014

Lexus UK Releases NX 300h Pricing & Package Information

Lexus UK has announced pricing for the 2015 NX 300h and its various packages, with the entry-level NX 300h FWD starting at £29,495 and the fully loaded NX 300h Premier AWD topping out at £42,995. There are five packages in total, and all models will include the Pre-Crash Safety system, Adaptive Cruise Control, and the …

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Kevin · May 23rd, 2014

More Information on the Lexus CT BG Concept

Japanese website Response.jp has more photos of the Lexus CT BG Concept from the Beijing Motor Show last month: The CT BG, or CT Black Gold, was built by Lexus China — I received some additional information on this concept: Q: What is the concept of CT BG show car? A: The concept of this …

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Kevin · May 22nd, 2014

Video: Lexus RC F on the Track

There’s a new video interview with Lexus RC F chief engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi, and it features some excellent footage of the RC F on the track: Right from the release of the IS F, it’s been clear that Yaguchi-san had a plan for Lexus performance — excited to see how that vision presents itself with …

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Kevin · May 22nd, 2014

Lexus RC F GT3 Race Car Spotted in Japan

The first test of the Lexus RC F GT3 race car took place last week at the Okayama International Circuit in Japan: Developed over two years by Lexus International and subsidiary Techno Craft, the RC F GT3 concept is powered by a modified version of the RC F’s V8 engine that produces 540+ hp (397kw). …

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Kevin · May 21st, 2014

New Technology Could Boost Lexus Hybrid Fuel Efficiency by 10 Percent

Toyota has developed a new semiconductor that will improve the fuel efficiency of their hybrid technology by 10 percent — from Automotive News: The new semiconductors eat up only a tenth of the energy of today’s chips and enable the PCU to be 80 percent smaller, Toyota engineers said today at a briefing. The technology …

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Kevin · May 21st, 2014

New Lexus RC F Wheel Design Debuts in Madrid

A new Lexus RC F wheel design debuted today at the Madrid Auto Show — here are photos from Lexus Spain: A 20-spoke rim can be tough to keep clean, but it makes up for the extra work with pure style — my favorite RC F wheel yet. [Source: Lexus Spain]
Kevin · May 20th, 2014

Ultrasonic Blue Lexus NX F SPORT Spotted in Madrid

Lexus Europe is testing the NX compact crossover in Madrid this week, and an Ultrasonic Blue NX F SPORT was one of the test models: Seeing the NX in blue shows me two things: the IS influenced the design more than I realized, and the NX is going to look great in darker colors. (I …

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Kevin · May 20th, 2014

Video: Full Lap of the Nürburgring in a Lexus LFA Race Car

The Lexus LFA teams didn’t race in this weekend’s VLN4 race at the Nürburgring, but Gazoo Racing did post a video showing a full lap of the track with driver Kazuya Oshima from an earlier race: This lap is from the VLN2 race in April, where Oshima-san & co-driver Kinoshita Takayuki won their class and …

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Kevin · May 19th, 2014

Video: The Lexus NX Driving Experience

Lexus International has released a new video detailing the driving dynamics of the new NX: Project manager Kei-ichi Nishiyama is bold in his description of the NX driving experience, which should bode well for the final vehicle handling — it’s a great sign that the IS sedan was used as a benchmark in development.
Kevin · May 19th, 2014

Regency Lexus Dealership in Vancouver Introduces Butler Service

Regency Lexus in Vancouver has just launched a personalized Butler Service Program for owners: Rather than just handing over keys to a nondescript shop vehicle when a customer brings in their car for maintenance or warranty work, an online survey is provided to them beforehand asking questions ranging from how they take their coffee or …

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Kevin · May 18th, 2014

Riding Along in Google’s Self-Driving Lexus RX 450h

Casey Newton of The Verge recently spent an afternoon riding around the Bay Area in Google’s self-driving Lexus RX 450h: It’s a warm day in Mountain View, and just outside the Computer History Museum, Lexus SUVs are pulling up to the curb. The Lexus RX450h is a beautiful car, but today my eye travels immediately …

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Kevin · May 16th, 2014

A Visit to Regency Lexus in Vancouver

Last month, I visited the new Regency Lexus dealership in Vancouver, British Columbia, as part of a trip through Western Canada. Taking up a full block in the downtown core of the city, the 17,000 square-foot facility is one of the first in Canada to be built to the new global dealership design standard.
Kevin · May 15th, 2014

Special Edition Lexus HS 250h Now Available in Japan

Lexus Japan will release a special edition HS 250h in June with the exclusive Harmonious Leather Interior II package. The interior features black & white leather with violet highlights, along with beautiful birds eye maple & ash wood trim — here are some photos: Any exterior color can be chosen, though an exclusive Starlight Black …

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Kevin · May 15th, 2014

Lexus GS F Prototype Spotted in Arizona?

A possible Lexus GS F prototype has been spotted in Arizona by Club Lexus member I8ABMR: It may look like a roughed-up GS F SPORT, but there are a couple key details that suggest otherwise — the Michigan manufacturer plates and the proximity to the Toyota Arizona proving grounds are the first clues, but the …

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Kevin · May 15th, 2014

Photos: Matte Grey Lexus IS F SPORT in Australia

Lexus of Perth in Australia continues to try new things with their inventory — first it was the matte black IS F SPORT, then a blacked out RX 450h, and now we have this matte grey IS F SPORT: Something mean about a matte grey finish — might even prefer it to matte black. Excellent …

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Kevin · May 14th, 2014

Lexus Leads Customer Satisfaction in Sweden & Norway

Lexus was named the top brand in Auto Index 2014, an annual survey of Norwegian & Swedish car owners that measures vehicle quality, dealers, service and loyalty. In the Norwegian survey, Lexus achieved a record total score of 910/1000, and topped all four categories for the third year in a row. In Sweden, Lexus also …

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Kevin · May 14th, 2014

Video: Lexus Canada Autoshow Display Timelapse

Here’s a quick timelapse video of the Lexus Canada display being built at the Toronto Auto Show: I attended the auto show this year in Toronto, and the Lexus setup was great — the shared global design really works. (Thanks Karen!)
Kevin · May 14th, 2014

BEYOND Article: The RC F Performance Path

The latest issue of Lexus BEYOND Magazine arrived in the mail today, and I’m proud to announce that I have a story in the USA edition. It’s the article on how previous Lexus performance models influenced the RC F super-coupe — the Lexus Drivers website has the full text online: Despite its implied adrenaline-charging sensibilities, …

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Kevin · May 13th, 2014

Mint Green Lexus LFA Spotted in Germany

It’s the day of green LFAs — first was the Fresh Green LFA up for sale in Ohio, and now the world’s only Mint Green LFA has shown up in Germany — here are some photos from photographer Italian Car King: There’s also this video from the Cars & Coffee in Hamburg: (This has to …

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Kevin · May 12th, 2014

Fresh Green Lexus LFA For Sale (Again)

The Lexus LFA #250 in Fresh Green is now available on the duPont Registry — here are some photos of the vibrant supercar: This is the second time LFA #250 has been up for sale — it was originally sold by Lexus of Orlando last year to a car collector in Ohio. The asking price …

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Kevin · May 12th, 2014

More Lexus & BMW Supercar Rumors

Japanese magazine Best Car remains convinced that Lexus & BMW are working together on a new LFA supercar, devoting their cover to the idea for the second time in six months. Here’s a better look at the rendering: The rumor of BMW & Lexus working on a next-generation supercar is a recurring theme, but it …

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Kevin · May 11th, 2014

Jeremy Clarkson Reviews the 2014 Lexus CT 200h

Jeremy Clarkson has reviewed the Lexus CT 200h for The Sunday Times, and it’s a rather harsh read: Today we live in a part of the world where miles per gallon has surpassed miles per hour as “the thing that matters”. And this car is a hybrid, which means it can do nigh-on 70mpg. I …

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Kevin · May 9th, 2014

Lexus & BMW Lead in Luxury Auto Purchase Consideration

According to a study by marketing firm YouGov BrandIndex, Lexus & BMW are the top two purchase considerations among potential luxury car buyers in the USA: For Lexus, this has been a huge bounce back from a first quarter slide that briefly took them down below brands like Infiniti, Audi and Mercedes Benz. They have …

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Kevin · May 8th, 2014

BEYOND Magazine Feature: The Lexus RC F

The Lexus RC F is the feature vehicle in the latest issue of BEYOND Magazine — here’s a quote from the lead story: “The RC F presented us with a tougher challenge than the IS F,” [RC chief engineer Yukihiko] Yaguchi admits. “We were, of course, under pressure when working on the IS F. But …

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Kevin · May 8th, 2014

Lexus NX to Debut New Audio Improvement Technology

The Lexus NX will introduce a world-first audio technology from Harman called Clari-fi, which significantly improves the sound quality of compressed audio: Unlike other solutions in the market today, Clari-Fi does not simply add equalization and boost bass, or focus only on leveraging high-resolution file formats on a proprietary device, according to Harman. Harman said …

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Kevin · May 7th, 2014

Interview with Lexus NX Chief Engineer Takeaki Kato

Lexus NX chief engineer Takeaki Kato answered fan questions during the Beijing Auto Show — here are some of the highlights from the interview: Q: How will you differentiate NX from RX? Both vehicles have the same innovation and finesse of Lexus. One customer could choose the RX for its elegant, stately, sophisticated shape, just …

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Kevin · May 7th, 2014

AutoART Releases Lexus LS 600hL Diecast Model

Diecast car company AutoART has released a 1:18 scale model of the 2014 Lexus LS 600hL: The detail is astounding, here’s a photo of the interior: The model is available in Obsidian, Sonic Silver, and Starfire Pearl, and retails for $235 USD. [Source: AutoART] (Thanks Matt!)
Kevin · May 6th, 2014

Forbes Review: The Lexus GX 460

Jason Fogelson of Forbes has reviewed the 2014 Lexus GX 460: When I slip into the driver’s seat of a mid-size SUV, I feel at home. I’m not cramped like a sardine, and I don’t feel like I’m in an airplane hanger. Add the premium details that distinguish the GX, and I feel like I’m …

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Kevin · May 6th, 2014

Lexus GS F Prototype Gets Stuck in Traffic

The Lexus GS F prototype has resurfaced after being spotted last year at the Nürburgring — here are some photos of the car sitting in traffic, courtesy of Blend Cars: Judging from the plates, The GS prototype is still in Germany. There doesn’t look to be any further exterior modifications since the last time it …

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Kevin · May 5th, 2014

Lexus NX: Turbo vs. Hybrid Sales

In a recent Automotive News interview, Lexus International vice president Mark Templin discussed NX sales projections and the expected take-rate between the turbo & hybrid powertrains: Although Lexus gave no official fuel economy estimates for the hybrid, a source said it should get in the 34-36 mpg range in combined city and highway driving. The …

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Kevin · May 5th, 2014

Two Lexus RC F Teams Reach the Podium in Super GT Round 2

The ZENT CERUMO RC F #1 racing team of Yuji Tachikawa & Kohei Hirate placed second in the 2014 Super GT Round 2 held at Fuji Speedway earlier today. The ENEOS SUSTINA RC F team of Kazuya Oshima & Yuji Kunimoto finished third. Here are highlights from the race, from the Super GT Youtube channel: …

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Kevin · May 4th, 2014

Video: Driving the Lexus NX 300h

Update: Both videos have been removed by request of their owners. When a Lexus NX 300h prototype visited Flow Lexus of Greensboro in North Carolina this week, YouTube channel Saabkyle04 took the opportunity to film this twenty minute video packed with nearly every detail of the Lexus NX 300h: (Video Removed) There’s so much information …

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Kevin · May 3rd, 2014

Lexus: An XCAR Video History

XCAR Films has put together a nice video retrospective on Lexus and its history: It’s all very high-level and the facts well known, but it’s still a nice way to spend ten minutes on a Friday afternoon. Have a great weekend everyone!
Kevin · May 2nd, 2014

Lexus April 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 23,165 total sales for April 2014, a 23.1% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,054 1,171 -13.5 5,054 4,416 14.4 HS 0 1 ‐100.0 0 1 ‐100.0 IS 3,780 1,797 102.3 15,238 6,970 …

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Kevin · May 1st, 2014

Google Makes Improvements to Self-Driving Lexus RX 450h

Google has made some significant improvements to their self-driving car, which just so happens to be a Lexus RX 450h: The level of intelligence and capability of these Google vehicles is astounding — very easy to see a future where self-driving cars make up the majority of vehicles on the road. (Worth pointing out that …

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Kevin · May 1st, 2014