In the NewsLexusLexus ESLexus ES: Fifth GenerationUSA

Federal Government Continues Lexus ES 350 Investigation

  • Posted by Kevin on August 15th, 2007
The U.S. federal government is continuing its investigation into the Lexus ES 350, which has been linked to 40 separate complaints of unintended acceleration, causing eight crashes and twelve injuries. What’s the cause? All-weather floor mats: Toyota Motor Corp. told NHTSA [National Highway Traffic Safety Association] it sent a mailing to ES 350 owners in …

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FutureLexus RXLexus RX HybridLexus RX Hybrid: First GenerationLexus RX: Third Generation

Insider Reveals 2009 Lexus RX Details (Including the RX-F?!)

  • Posted by Kevin on August 14th, 2007
James Fabin, Senior Product Manager for MyRide.com, has dropped some major news regarding the 2009 RX on his blog. Here’s the specifics: The 2009 RX will be offered in two versions, a five-passenger model similar to the current model, and a new seven-passenger long wheelbase model. A six-speed transmission will be standard. The RX 350’s …

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AwardsDealershipsUSA

Lexus Tops American Customer Satisfaction Survey

  • Posted by Kevin on August 14th, 2007
Lexus has rated first with U.S. car buyers in the University of Michigan’s annual American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), scoring 87 out of a possible 100 points. Rounding out the top five were BMW, Buick, Mercury and Cadillac, all with a score of 86. The telephone survey, which asks car buyers to rate their satisfaction …

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EuropeHybrids

The Lexus Police Force

  • Posted by Kevin on August 14th, 2007
Being in Canada, where the police drive Chevy Impalas and Dodge Chargers, I can’t imagine being pulled over by a GS 450h, it just doesn’t compute. But that’s not the case in Britain, where Lexus has been steadily making inroads into the Police Fleet market, and will be attending its sixth consecutive National Police Fleet …

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Body KitsFeaturesLexus GSLexus GS HybridLexus GS: Third GenerationLexus GSh: First GenerationMods

The Lexus Body Kit Series: GS 300/350/430/450h

  • Posted by Kevin on August 13th, 2007
I’ve just posted the third part of my Lexus Body Kit Series, the GS 300/350/430/450h. With eighteen different body kits, it was the largest collection so far. Most are in the VIP style, evidenced by the tilted rear wheels. The additional styling brought by the kits change the GS appearance significantly, and bring a much …

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Uncategorized

Lexus GS: 3rd Generation Body Kits

  • Posted by Kevin on August 13th, 2007
Tom’s GS50 Body Kit Manufacturer: Tom’s Racing Direct Link to Body Kit: Tom’s GS50 Individual Pieces: Front Spoiler, Side Step, Side Garnish, Roof Spoiler, Rear Bumper Junction Produce Sports Body Kit Manufacturer: Junction Produce Direct Link to Body Kit: Junction Produce Sports Individual Pieces: Front Spoiler, Hood Spoiler, Trunk Lid Spoiler Exiv Concept Body Kit …

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FeaturesSite News

Lexus Model Timeline

  • Posted by Kevin on August 13th, 2007
By setting out to post my Lexus Body Kit Series in reverse chronology, it was necessary for me to put together a timeline to keep track of the when & whats. After compiling the list (with ample help from Wikipedia), it made for an interesting document, so I decided to add it to the site. …

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FutureSpy Shots

Are We Looking at the New Lexus JX?

  • Posted by Kevin on August 10th, 2007
Edmund’s Straightline Blog has some interesting analysis of the recent 2009 RX spy shots, suggesting that it’s not a RX at all, but an all-new model, the Lexus JX: What’s a JX 460? It’s yet another luxury sport ute, but unlike the softly sprung RX, the JX will be a performance-oriented crossover along the lines …

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Uncategorized

Lexus RX: 2nd Generation Body Kits

  • Posted by Kevin on August 9th, 2007
Auto Couture Complete Body Kit Manufacturer: Auto Couture Direct Link to Body Kit: Auto Couture Complete Individual Pieces: Front Spoiler, Side Step, Rear Spoiler, Over Fender Ings+1 LX Sport 1 Body Kit Manufacturer: Ings+1 Direct Link to Body Kit: Ings+1 LX Sport 1 (PDF Catalog) Individual Pieces: Front Spoiler, Side Step, Rear Spoiler Ings+1 LX …

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Uncategorized

Lexus Model Timeline

  • Posted by Kevin on August 8th, 2007
Model 80s 1990s 2000s 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IS Model IS 200/IS 300 IS 250/350/220d ES Model ES 250 ES 300 ES 300 ES 330 ES 350 GS Model GS 300 GS 300/400/430 GS 300/350/430/450h SC Model SC 300/400 …

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Body KitsFeaturesSite News

The Lexus Body Kit Series

  • Posted by Kevin on August 6th, 2007
With the site now more than two months old, I believe it’s time to introduce my first large-scale project: to document each and every body kit available to Lexus owners. My intention is work my way back in reverse chronology, beginning with the LS 460/460L/600hL and ending with Lexus’ first release, the LS 400. The …

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Tech

Lexus IS-F: 415hp = Disappointment?

  • Posted by Kevin on August 6th, 2007
While attending the Orange County Taste of Lexus, a travelling showcase of Lexus autos, an Autospies member questioned a Lexus representative on the IS-F, who revealed the super-IS will be packing 415hp, a single horse more than the BMW M3. It’s quite possible that the representative was incorrect, though the number does fall inline with …

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FeaturesPhotosWebsites

Site of the Week: Car Walls

  • Posted by Kevin on August 4th, 2007
To a compulsive computer wallpaper changer, finding the right desktop image is paramount, and for a fan of Lexus, no site has a greater collection than Car Walls. The collection of Lexus wallpapers here is strictly high quality, sourced from the official Lexus sites. As new models replace old, the desktop images would disappear from …

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In the NewsUSA

The High Cost of Low Impact Collisions

  • Posted by Kevin on August 2nd, 2007
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released a report today to bring attention to the rather high cost of low-impact collisions in luxury automobiles. To illustrate their point, each of the test cars were subjected to four low-impact impacts: full front and rear collision, and front and rear side collisions. The damage was then …

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AudioEuropeLexus LSLexus LS: Fourth GenerationOfficial Events

The LS 460 Symphony Orchestra Takes the Stage

  • Posted by Kevin on August 2nd, 2007
Twelve LS 460’s will be filling in for a symphony orchestra this August for two very special performances in Britain: The twelve vehicles will be arranged onstage to emulate a typical orchestral layout of individual instruments, with strings, brass, woodwind, basses and percussion being performed by each section. In essence each LS 460 will be …

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AdvertisingLexus RX HybridLexus RX Hybrid: First Generation

Analyzing the Chemical Properties of the Lexus RX 400h Advert

  • Posted by Kevin on August 1st, 2007
The new Lexus RX 400h print ad may be a good looker, but according to the Chemist’s Laboratory Notebook blog, it’s just a pretty picture: Whenever I see chemical information or structures in real world situations, it makes me excited that non-chemists are getting a little exposure to what I work with every day. Usually …

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Sales ReportsUSA

Lexus USA July 2007 Sales Report

  • Posted by Kevin on August 1st, 2007
Toyota’s July sales may have dropped 3.5%, but Lexus managed to gain 4.9% in a month that was especially difficult for automakers. Here’s a by-model breakdown of the numbers: 2007 2006 % Change IS250/350 4,892 4,848 5.1 ES350 6,909 7,803 -7.8 GS350 1,798 1,776 5.5 GS430/450h 156 299 -45.7 LS460 2,696 971 189.2 Total Cars …

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AwardsBranding

Lexus & The Best Global Brands Report

  • Posted by Kevin on July 30th, 2007
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 …

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AwardsUSA

Lexus Wins Big in 2007 Motorist Choice Awards

  • Posted by Kevin on July 29th, 2007
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 …

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FeaturesPersonalWebsites

Site of the Week: Autopia

  • Posted by Kevin on July 28th, 2007
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, …

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In the NewsSales ReportsUSA

Lexus Releases 2008 Prices

  • Posted by Kevin on July 27th, 2007
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 …

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CommercialsSponsorshipsVideos

Lexus U.S. Open Commercial: Road Trip

  • Posted by Kevin on July 25th, 2007
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, …

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DealershipsPhotosUSA

Photo Tour of the New Lexus of Bellevue Dealership

  • Posted by Kevin on July 24th, 2007
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 …

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Lexus GSLexus GS: Third GenerationRussiaVideos

The GS 350 Exploding Donut

  • Posted by Kevin on July 22nd, 2007
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!
Lexus GSLexus GS: Second GenerationVideos

Lexus GS 300 Super Criminal Donut

  • Posted by Kevin on July 22nd, 2007
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 …

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Lexus LSLexus LS: First GenerationWebsites

Site of the Week: LexLS.com

  • Posted by Kevin on July 21st, 2007
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 …

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1st GenerationHybridsLexus LS Hybrid

Lexus Exploiting Hybrid Hype?

  • Posted by Kevin on July 20th, 2007
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 – …

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DealershipsUSA

Nonsensical Criticism of West Coast Lexus Dealerships

  • Posted by Kevin on July 20th, 2007
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 …

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JapanLexus LFAVideos

Lexus LF-A Promo Video?

  • Posted by Kevin on July 19th, 2007
I’m unable to say for sure, but this three-minute video clip of the Lexus LF-A has a very authentic air to it: It’s similar in look to the video shown during the LF-A unveiling at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, and could very well be direct from the source. Still, there’s enough of a rough …

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AwardsUSA

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

  • Posted by Kevin on July 19th, 2007
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 …

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In the NewsJapanManufacturing

Earthquake Halts Lexus Production

  • Posted by Kevin on July 18th, 2007
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 …

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1st GenerationLexus LS HybridPreviewsUnited Kingdom

European LS 600h L Preview at Chauffeur Drive ‘07

  • Posted by Kevin on July 17th, 2007
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 …

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FutureHybrids

Lexus Hybrid Lineup to Expand

  • Posted by Kevin on July 17th, 2007
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 …

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FeaturesTech

How Much Horsepower will the Lexus IS-F Have?

  • Posted by Kevin on July 16th, 2007
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 …

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DealershipsJapan

Lexus Face?

  • Posted by Kevin on July 14th, 2007
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 …

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FeaturesWebsites

Site of the Week: Club Lexus

  • Posted by Kevin on July 13th, 2007
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 …

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Site News

New Feature: Site of the Week

  • Posted by Kevin on July 13th, 2007
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 …

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RussiaVideos

Man Smashes Lexus With a Steel Pipe

  • Posted by Kevin on July 13th, 2007
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’?