January 2015 – Lexus Enthusiast | Lexus Enthusiast

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New Lexus Super Bowl Commercial Features Remote Control RC F

A new Lexus commercial will be a last minute addition to the Super Bowl pre-show, and the star will be a remote control RC F

Kevin · January 30th, 2015

Lexus Racing Announces 2015 Schedule with Super GT & Nürburgring 24 Hour Race

Lexus Racing has announced their schedule for 2015, and it includes the Super GT series in Japan and two cars in the Nürburgring 24h race.

Kevin · January 30th, 2015

Photo: All White Lexus Wall in INTERSECT Tokyo

In the INTERSECT by Lexus brand space in Tokyo is a wall filled with Lexus parts painted white.

Kevin · January 30th, 2015

EVO Comparison: Lexus RC F vs. BMW M4 vs. Audi RS 5

EVO has a new article comparing the Lexus RC F, BMW M4, and the Audi RS 5 -- just wait to s

Kevin · January 30th, 2015

Lexus LF-LC GT Concept Coming to Gran Turismo 6

Gran Turismo has released two teaser images for the Lexus LF-LC GT concept set to appear in the game.

Kevin · January 29th, 2015

Photo: Road & Track Rocks the Lexus RC F

This is just one of thirty photos by Andrew Trahan for a recent Road & Track feature on the Lexus RC F.

Kevin · January 29th, 2015

What will the 2016 Lexus GS Update Look Like?

Now that everyone's seen the Lexus GS F, it's time to think what the new design might mean for updates to the current model.

Kevin · January 28th, 2015

Welcome to the New Lexus Enthusiast

After years of planning and months of development, the new Lexus Enthusiast website is here. Here are the details on the new features and changes.

Kevin · January 28th, 2015

Photo: The Lexus LFA in Richmond, British Columbia

Lexus Enthusiast editor Kevin Watts threw caution to the wind and stood up in an IS convertible to get this shot of an LFA in British Columbia.

Kevin · January 27th, 2015

Video: Alex Wurz Drives the Lexus RC F for Top Gear

It's going to be a big week, so let's start it off right with this Top Gear video of two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Alex Wurz driving the Lexus RC F.

Kevin · January 25th, 2015

Lexus Dominates KBB 2015 Best Resale Value Awards

For the fourth year in a row, Lexus has been named the top Luxury Brand in the Kelly Blue Book Best Resale Value Awards.

Kevin · January 23rd, 2015

Lexus NX Customization Options Available in Japan

As a followup to yesterday’s post, it turns out Lexus Japan offers color-coded wheel arches for the NX: It’s a ¥151,200 ($1,275 USD) option, and just one of the many customizations Lexus Japan offers. There’s also a door garnish, door handle garnish, plated side door molding, and a chrome trunk lip: I was also pointed …

Kevin · January 22nd, 2015

The Lexus RC F Carbon Fiber Manufacturing Process

Lexus International has published an article about the RC F’s carbon fiber and how it’s made: Examine a unit of carbon under a microscope and you’ll find the material to be an extremely fine acrylic fiber measuring only several micrometers (a unit of length equal to one thousandth of a millimeter) in diameter. Depending on …

Kevin · January 22nd, 2015

Custom Color-Coded Lexus NX Spotted in Japan

An eagle-eyed reader in Japan spotted this Lexus NX with color-coded wheel arches: No information on if this was a custom job or an aftermarket accessory — hopefully someone out there has more details. I’ve always wondered how the NX would look without its dark grey wheel arches, and to be honest, I don’t know …

Kevin · January 21st, 2015

Lexus Europe Sales Up 23% in 2014

Lexus Europe has released its sales data for 2014, and it was an excellent year for the brand — here’s a model-by-model breakdown for all Western, Central and Eastern European countries, including Turkey and Russia: 2013 Sales Hybrid Percentage CT 10,340 100% IS 11,521 79.4% ES 3,038 3.9% GS 3,880 54.7% LS 480 46.3% RX …

Kevin · January 20th, 2015

Videos: The Lexus RC F GT3 Race Car on Fuji Speedway

Lexus Japan has released two expertly filmed videos of the RC F GT3 race car: The RC F as a consumer car is a necessary vehicle in the Lexus lineup, but it’s arguably more important as a racing platform — nothing will bring more performance credibility to the brand than winning on the track.

Kevin · January 20th, 2015

Details on the Lexus RC F CCS Concept from Tokyo Auto Salon

Let’s circle back to the Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this month and take a closer look at the Lexus show booth. On display was the RC F GT3 car and something else entirely: the RC F CCS Parts Concept. Here are some photos from Japanese website Response: Most important is this graphic behind the RC …

Kevin · January 19th, 2015

Tomica Releases Lexus RC F Diecast Cars

Tomica released two Lexus RC F diecast cars in Japan this weekend, and in amazing Internet fashion, there are already unboxing videos on Youtube: The RC F diecast cars are available in Ultra White and Molten Pearl, both with the full carbon fiber package. Available only in Japan for the time being, they retail for …

Kevin · January 19th, 2015

Lexus Increases NX Production to 10,000 Units Per Month

Lexus has increased production of the NX compact crossover to 10,000 units per month in order to capitalize on the vehicle’s impressive launch. The initial expectation was for 80,000 NXs to be sold worldwide in 2015, but the forecast has now been raised to more than 100,000 units. The NX is produced at Toyota Motor …

Kevin · January 18th, 2015

Report: Next-Generation Lexus RX to Debut at New York Auto Show

Edmunds has now confirmed that the next-generation Lexus RX will be revealed at the New York Auto Show in April: The RX 350 is expected to be larger, a strategy that will separate it in terms of size and price from the recently introduced 2015 Lexus NX 200t SUV, which shares a platform with the …

Kevin · January 15th, 2015

Video: New Lexus NX Commercial for Superbowl XLIX

Lexus returns to the Superbowl advertising game with a commercial for the new NX compact crossover: The commercial was created by Walton Issacson — Variety talked with one of the ad agency’s founders about the spot: The Lexus ad is remarkable for what it lacks. The spot features no surprise appearances by a movie star …

Kevin · January 15th, 2015

Lexus will have “Nine Product Stories” in 2015

Lexus will have nine “product stories” in 2015 — here’s what Lexus USA general manager Jeff Bracken had to say in an interview yesterday at the Detroit Auto Show: “In addition to the four new or mid-cycle product refreshes that I revealed at the show this morning, there will also be an all-new generation introduction …

Kevin · January 14th, 2015

Lexus Introduces New Global Racing Program

Lexus revealed details on their new racing program during their Detroit Auto Show press conference yesterday. Alongside a continued presence in the Japanese Super GT series, the brand plans to introduce the RC F GT3 race car into the FIA GT3 category in Europe this year, with plans to race in a “yet-to-be-determined series” in …

Kevin · January 14th, 2015

Seventy New Photos of the Lexus GS F

Lexus released a massive photo gallery of the GS F high-performance sedan, here’s all seventy images presented in high resolution:

Kevin · January 14th, 2015

Video: Introducing the Lexus GS F

Here’s the Lexus GS F introductory video shown at the Detroit Auto Show this morning: There’s also seven minutes of B-roll video footage — it’s completely silent, but shows off a lot of good angles: Finally, here’s the full press conference from earlier today with Lexus USA general manager Jeff Bracken introducing the GS F …

Kevin · January 13th, 2015

No Next-Generation Lexus RX at the Detroit Auto Show After All?

After spending the day at the Detroit Auto Show, I can say with some confidence that the next-generation Lexus RX will not debut tomorrow. Speculation started last year with the rumor that two models would debut in Detroit — Edmunds then followed this up with a definitive statement that the RX would be revealed alongside …

Kevin · January 12th, 2015

Drift-Modified Lexus LFA on Display at Tokyo Auto Salon

The Tokyo Auto Salon wrapped up yesterday, and one of the Lexus vehicles on display was a drifting-build LFA — here are photos from Auto Culture Japan: Details are far and few between, but judging from the booth display, the D1-spec LFA was built by Lexus dealership group Osaka Toyopet in partnership with Falken Tires. …

Kevin · January 12th, 2015

Liveblog: Lexus at the Detroit Auto Show 2015

The Detroit Auto Show starts today, and I’m here in Detroit to bring you live Lexus updates from the show floor. Update: Lexus will be streaming the reveal live — here’s the video player: (What to expect over the next two days? The next Lexus high performance model, the GS F sedan.)

Kevin · January 12th, 2015

Interview with Lexus GS F Chief Engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi

In advance of the Lexus GS F’s debut at the Detroit Auto Show this week, Automobile Magazine has an interview with chief engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi answering one of the bigger questions about the new super-sedan: Automobile: Was there any thought given to increasing power given that the Lexus GS F is bigger and heavier than …

Kevin · January 11th, 2015

Road & Track Reviews the Lexus RC F

Road & Track have reviewed the Lexus RC F, praising the coupe for its uniqueness: Instead of trying to beat the Bavarians around a racetrack, Lexus has gone its own way with a playful alternate to the über-sports-coupe blueprint. Forget “clinical” and “precise.” This new flagship thumbs its nose at the BMW M4, then pokes …

Kevin · January 9th, 2015

Lexus Japan Releases F SPORT X LINE Special Editions

To celebrate 10 years in Japan, Lexus has released a special edition X LINE trim level for the LS, GS, IS, & CT. Here are photos of all four models (nameplates added for easy identification): Similar to Lexus USA’s CRAFTED LINE, the X LINE features a heavy-contrast black/white exterior and a red/black leather interior — …

Kevin · January 8th, 2015

2016 Lexus RX Coming to the Detroit Auto Show?

Fresh off the spy photos of the next-generation Lexus RX comes the above rendering from photochopper Theophilus Chin and rumors that the new model may debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week. In a recent Detroit rumor rounded-up, Edmunds suggests the latest edition of the bestselling Lexus crossover will be unveiled in the Motor …

Kevin · January 7th, 2015

Next-Generation Lexus RX Prototype Spotted!

Spy photographers for Autoweek have spotted a camouflaged prototype of the next-generation Lexus RX — let’s take a look, starting with the front: The camouflage may be elaborate around the grille, but there’s no denying the NX influence in the hood shape and headlight placement. It’s worth noting that grille itself appears quite small in …

Kevin · January 7th, 2015

More Lexus GS F Photos from Road & Track

Road & Track had a sneak peek at the new Lexus GS F sedan: Say what you will about the gaping maw of the Lexus F cars. This GS has presence. The giant biting hourglass was first thing I saw when I walked into the studio, and the last thing I saw when I walked …

Kevin · January 6th, 2015

The Lexus GS F Revealed: First Photos & Information

Lexus has revealed the 2016 GS F high-peformance sedan a week before its official debut at the Detroit Auto Show. Details are limited right now, but one thing is for sure — the GS F will share the RC F’s 5.0-liter 467 horsepower V8 engine. Four photos in total were released, here they are in …

Kevin · January 6th, 2015

Jeremy Clarkson Reviews the 2015 Lexus NX 300h

Jeremy Clarkson has reviewed the 2015 Lexus NX 300h for The Sunday Times: So, a crossover hybrid with an N in its name and low-rent underpinnings from a company that’s capable of turning out a howler from time to time. This is not looking good. But here’s the thing: it does…It’s one of those cars …

Kevin · January 6th, 2015

Lexus December 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA finished the year with 39,879 total sales for December 2014, a 10.3% improvement over last year and the best selling month ever for the brand — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,608 1,787 -13.5 17,673 15,071 17.3 HS 0 …

Kevin · January 5th, 2015

Lexus USA Releases Two NX F SPORT Commercials

Lexus USA has released two commercials for the NX compact crossover: These first two ads will begin airing on network television today, and will be followed by two additional commercials shortly thereafter.

Kevin · January 5th, 2015

Lexus RC F Gets Five-Star Review from The Sunday Times

Giles Smith of The Sunday Times has given the Lexus RC F a full five-star review: The new Lexus RC F is expensive, cumbersome, blazingly immodest, fundamentally impractical, comes fitted with an unnecessarily large and uneconomical engine and is altogether, in a naggingly high number of ways, boilingly inappropriate. I can’t think of many cars …

Kevin · January 4th, 2015

Happy New Year from Lexus Enthusiast!

A fresh new year is here, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank my readers for their support over the past twelve months. 2015 is going to be an exciting year — the redesigned Lexus Enthusiast website will be launching in January with member forums and all-new features, and that’s just the …

Kevin · January 1st, 2015

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