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Lexus RC & RC F Chief Engineers Discuss the Coupe’s Weight

Lexus RC chief engineer Eiichi Kusama has addressed the weight debate currently surrounding the new coupe — from Motoring Australia: “How fun to drive is more important than the other things I think,” Kusama told motoring.com.au at least week’s RC launch in New York. “But of course after launch if the market needs other performance, …

Kevin · September 25th, 2014

Custom Lexus NX F SPORT Designed by Will.i.Am

The custom Lexus NX F SPORT designed by musician Will.i.Am was revealed at an event last night in Paris — let’s start off with the official images: The exterior reminds me of the custom-built IS F SPORT from SEMA last year — the wide-body is well-integrated, and the white carbon wheel arches works well: It’s …

Kevin · September 25th, 2014

Lexus RC F Chief Engineer Confirms CCS-R Race Car Variant

Lexus RC F chief engineer Yukihiro Yaguchi has confirmed that a CCS-R variant of the coupe will be built — from Motoring Australia: Yaguchi confirmed the two RC Fs would share the same engine and eight-speed automatic transmission and the same outputs. If it follows the example of the IS F CCS-R, then the RC …

Kevin · September 24th, 2014

Photos: Black Lexus RC F with Full Carbon Fiber Package

A black Lexus RC F with the full carbon fiber package has been spotted in Europe — there’s the above photo taken from the RC F Facebook fanpage, and a couple more photos of the super coupe aboard the SS Rotterdam in The Netherlands: (An Obsidian RC F would be the only time I would …

Kevin · September 24th, 2014

Lexus NX Nominated for 2015 North American Truck/Utility of the Year

The Lexus NX has made the short list for the 2015 North American Truck/Utility of the Year, joining 11 other vehicles including the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford F-150, Porsche Macan, and Toyota Highlander. Next up, the award judges will choose three finalists from the group before naming a winner at the 2015 North American International Auto …

Kevin · September 23rd, 2014

Initial Lexus NX Orders in Japan Surpass Yearly Sales Goal

The Lexus NX is set to make a big sales impact in Japan — in just over a month, 9,500 orders have been made at dealerships. This is 1,357% of the expected sales goal of 700 units per month, meaning a full year’s inventory has already been sold. It’s important to note that the final …

Kevin · September 23rd, 2014

Updated Lexus RC F Performance Numbers

Lexus provided Motor Trend with an RC F updated with its final powertrain tuning for a raw performance test: It turns out we were able to achieve faster numbers than in the previous test. This time, our RC F hit 60 mph from a standstill in just 4.3 seconds, a 0.2 second improvement over the …

Kevin · September 22nd, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus RC 350 F SPORT in Downtown Toronto

Photographer Ste Ho recently took the Lexus RC 350 F SPORT on a late-night tour of downtown Toronto: (Ste has also just launched a new portfolio website that features plenty of Lexus vehicles — be sure to check it out.)

Kevin · September 22nd, 2014

CAR Magazine Reviews the Lexus RC F

Chris Chilton from CAR Magazine has reviewed the Lexus RC F, where the coupe is damned with faint praise in the way of most British Lexus reviews: On track, it feels absolutely faithful, the steering has a reassuring linearity to it and the brakes are strong. But it never feels as nimble or controlled as …

Kevin · September 22nd, 2014

Limited Edition Lexus NX Designed by Will.i.Am to Debut This Week

The limited-edition Lexus NX designed by musician Will.i.Am will be unveiled this week as part of Paris Fashion Week, and the above image has been released as a teaser for the custom model. (Going from the image, the NX exterior looks unchanged — it does appear that a custom color has been used, and the …

Kevin · September 21st, 2014

New Lexus HS 250 Special Edition Now Available in Japan

The Japan-only Lexus HS 250h will receive its second special edition of the year with this new Harmonious Leather Interior in Spindle Red: Any exterior color can be chosen (including Atomic Silver), and an exclusive Starlight Black option is available with the package. The HS 250h Harmonious Leather Interior II will launch in November and …

Kevin · September 19th, 2014

Photo Gallery: The Lexus IS F SPORT by Hypebeast

Hypebeast has released a stunning photo gallery of the 2014 Lexus IS F SPORT: (An excellent job by Photography by V — like photos from an official brochure.) [Source: Hypebeast]

Kevin · September 18th, 2014

Jalopnik Reviews the Lexus RC F

Travis Okulski of Jalopnik has reviewed the Lexus RC F, and it’s just full of that signature Jalopnik personality: Is the RC F better than a BMW M3? I haven’t driven the M3 yet, but I find it hard to think that the RC F would be better. But is that the point? Everyone in …

Kevin · September 18th, 2014

Lexus Europe Releases NX Commercial with Will.i.Am

Lexus Europe have released their new NX commercial featuring Will.i.Am: There’s also a behind-the-scenes look at how the commercial was created: Overall, the concept is great — the commercial takes the sharpness of the NX and applies it to the rest of the world. Clever. (Not crazy about the tie-in with Will.i.Am, as I’m not …

Kevin · September 17th, 2014

New Lexus IS F SPORT Commercial: Appearances

In the spirit of the F SPORT commercial released a couple months back, there’s a racy new Lexus IS commercial from the USA: (I liked it — the “it’s not what it looks like” bit is an old cliché, sure, but it works.)

Kevin · September 17th, 2014

Photochopping a Lexus RC F Convertible

Photochopper X-Tomi has created a Lexus RC F convertible for anyone curious what the super-coupe would look like with the roof gone. This X-Tomi’s second attempt, here’s the first from earlier this year: (Unlikely that a RC F convertible will be released due to super-coupe’s focus on rigidity and performance, but the standard RC is …

Kevin · September 16th, 2014

Video: The Sound of the Lexus RC F

Alborz Fallah of Car Advice has a video review of the Lexus RC F, and it has the best representation of the super-coupe’s sound I’ve heard so far: Fallah also has a written review: Behind the wheel the Lexus RC F is a true performance car; it feels just as a vehicle of its calibre …

Kevin · September 16th, 2014

Lexus Studying High-Performance Hybrids

Lexus is studying high-performance hybrids for inclusion in the F brand lineup — from Motoring Australia: However, F chief engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi told motoring.com.au that the sub brand’s high performance and circuit driving requirements meant hybrid technology still had issues. “In order to put the hybrid on track they need a little more development as …

Kevin · September 15th, 2014

Chris Harris Reviews the 2015 Lexus RC F

The Lexus RC F gets a mixed review from automotive journalist Chris Harris: Look, [the RC F is] just a very pleasant place to be. It ain’t no M4, but then it’ll be sold in tiny numbers, is arguably a much more appealing object, and for those who couldn’t care less about long powerslides, lap …

Kevin · September 14th, 2014

Driving the 2015 Lexus RC F

Two weeks ago, Lexus invited me to the Monticello Motor Club in Upstate New York, where I was able to test drive the all-new RC coupe in all its various forms. I posted a technical overview of the new model last week, and now it’s time for some personal impressions. The Sound. The sound is …

Kevin · September 11th, 2014

Autoblog Reviews the 2015 Lexus RC F

Seth Miersama of Autoblog has written a through and even-handed review of the 2015 Lexus RC F: Lexus made a big deal of the fact that performance from the RC F is truly accessible, and I think the automaker really nailed that. Unlike the rather barbaric IS F, the new coupe really will allow a …

Kevin · September 11th, 2014

Lexus Not Considering CT F or NX F High Performance Models

Lexus F chief engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi has dismissed the idea of a high-performance CT hatchback — from Motoring Australia: “He is not interested in building with front-wheel drive configuration,” [Yaguchi-san’s] interpreter told motoring.com.au. Asked if F could develop an all-wheel drive version Yaguchi replied via his interpreter: “Basically they have to consider taking whatever is …

Kevin · September 10th, 2014

Lexus RC F Video Review from Autoguide

Craig Cole’s Autoguide video review of the Lexus RC F is a hoot to watch: His verdict: Overall the 2015 Lexus RC F competes very favorably with its primary rivals, though it’s practically guaranteed to top all of them in at least one area: reliability. This is a Toyota after all. The car is a …

Kevin · September 10th, 2014

Video: The Lexus NX Surround View Panoramic Monitor in Action

While unavailable in North America, the Lexus NX will have an available 360° panoramic view monitor in some markets around the world — here’s a quick demonstration of the system in action: The camera system works with four high-definition cameras in each corner of the vehicle, giving a full overview of the surroundings — very …

Kevin · September 9th, 2014

Motor Trend Reviews the 2015 Lexus RC F

Jonny Lieberman’s Motor Trend review of the Lexus RC F is driven by the super coupe’s weight: We weighed the RC F and it clocks in at a lardy 4040 pounds. For some comparison, the similarly sized and totally targeted BMW M4 weighs 3604 pounds, a 436-pound difference. Before you mount an angry letter-writing campaign …

Kevin · September 9th, 2014

Is Lexus Developing an RC Four-Door Coupe?

Along with their rumors on the Lexus GS F, Autocar also suggests a four-door RC F is on the way: Following the GS F will be a four-door version of the RC F, which will feature identical underpinnings to the coupé but extra practicality and a slightly lower price tag. Expect to see the saloon …

Kevin · September 8th, 2014

Lexus GS F to Arrive Next Year with 500 Horsepower?

Lexus GS F news stories are picking up steam — last week, Motor Trend confirmed the production model, and now Autocar has some details on the upcoming super sedan: Power will be close to 500bhp with torque rated at just under 400lb ft. Expect a 0-60mph time in the mid-4sec region with a top speed …

Kevin · September 8th, 2014

Lexus USA Releases RC 350 & RC 350 F SPORT Pricing & Package Information

When the Lexus RC arrives in USA dealerships this fall, the RC 350 RWD will start at $43,715 USD and the RC 350 AWD will start at $45,950 USD. Key standard features will include NuLuxe interior, 10-way power driver (8-way passenger) front seats, a 10-speaker 256 watt sound system, 7-inch VGA center screen, and 18-inch …

Kevin · September 7th, 2014

Lexus USA Releases RC F Pricing & Package Information

The Lexus RC F will start at $63,225 USD when it arrives in USA dealerships this fall. Key standard features will include Black NuLuxe interior, 10-way power driver (8-way passenger) front seats, a 10-speaker 256 watt sound system, 7-inch VGA center screen, and 19-inch split 5-spoke forged alloy wheels. From there, a $4,400 Premium Package …

Kevin · September 5th, 2014

2015 Lexus RC F Preview

Last week, Lexus invited me to the Monticello Motor Club, where I was able to test drive the all-new RC coupe in all its various forms. The following is a technical overview of the RC F — my personal impressions will posted early next week. As the first new F-badged Lexus in nearly five years, …

Kevin · September 4th, 2014

2015 Lexus RC 350 & RC 350 F SPORT Preview

Last week, Lexus invited me to the Monticello Motor Club, where I was able to test drive the all-new RC coupe in all its various forms. The following is a technical overview of the RC 350 & RC 350 F SPORT -— my personal impressions will posted early next week. There have been exactly two …

Kevin · September 4th, 2014

Next-Generation Lexus IS F & New GS F Confirmed for Production by Motor Trend?

Tucked away in a sidebar column of this month’s Motor Trend is a rather stunning claim — it appears the magazine has confirmed with Lexus that a next-generation IS F will be built, and will be joined by the all-new GS F: Rumors of both models have been circulating for some time — GS F …

Kevin · September 4th, 2014

Lexus Russia to Offer Special Edition LX 570 for Brand’s 25th Anniversary

Lexus Russia is offering a 25th Anniversary Edition LX 570 with an exterior style treatment much like the USA’s CRAFTED Line . Blacked out are the front grille, front bumper, fog lamps, side mirrors, door handles, roof rails, and rear diffuser — the special edition is also equipped with 20-inch black wheels, and features tinted …

Kevin · September 3rd, 2014

Lexus CT Owner Blog: The Cross Country Trip

This summer, in partnership with OpenRoad Lexus in Richmond, BC, my wife Karissa and I drove across North America in our brand new Lexus CT 200h. The timing was interesting — we had originally planned to take a relaxing drive through Canada and the USA, but some unexpected events occurred and we need to be …

Kevin · September 2nd, 2014

Driving Across North America in the Lexus CT 200h F SPORT

This summer, in partnership with the OpenRoad Lexus dealership of Richmond, BC, my wife Karissa and I drove across North America in our brand new Lexus CT 200h. Here’s how it happened, by the numbers: 6 days, 4,736 kms (2,943 miles), an average speed of 90km/hr (56mph), and $270 in gas. Wait, what? $270 to …

Kevin · September 2nd, 2014

Lexus RC F to Receive Yearly Performance Improvements?

Lexus RC F Chief Engineer Yukihiro Yaguchi plans to make continual improvements to his new super-coupe — from an interview with Motoring Australia: “We are already thinking about some changes to make for next year,” he confirmed via an interpreter. “The objective is to make the car more fun to drive. If you make the …

Kevin · September 2nd, 2014

Giant Foam Obstacle Course at Lexus NX Launch Event in Japan

Lexus had a giant foam party at the Tokyo Tower last week to launch their new Japanese NX commercial — here’s some video from the event: My friend Danny was also in attendance, and sent over these photos: Automotive News writer Hans Greimel attended the event: While now a cringe-worthy memory for most hipsters in …

Kevin · September 1st, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus LFA, RC F, IS F, & First-Generation SC Together

Motor Trend brought the first-generation Lexus SC, IS F, LFA, & RC F together for a photoshoot: To see Motor Trend featuring the history of Lexus performance cars is a clear indication that the perception of the brand is truly changing — too bad so many of their commenters are stuck in the past. [Source: …

Kevin · September 1st, 2014

Building the Lexus RX: A Tour of the Cambridge Manufacturing Plant in Canada

Lexus’ BEYOND Magazine has an in-depth feature on the RX manufacturing plant in Cambridge, Canada, the only place outside of Japan where Lexus vehicles are built: On average, it takes 24 hours to make an RX 350 – 10 hours are spent just in the paint shop – and about 2,400 components are required. Parts …

Kevin · August 29th, 2014

Lexus LX is 43% of All Lexus Sales in the Middle East

Lexus sales have grown 20% in the Middle East in the first six months of 2014, with 21,598 units sold across the region. Leading the charge is the LX, which has sold 9,178 units (!!!) and make up a staggering 43-percent of total Lexus sales in the area. [Source: AMEinfo]

Kevin · August 27th, 2014

Photos: The Lexus RC Press Event in New York

Yesterday in upstate New York, I had a chance to drive the RC 350, RC 350 F SPORT, and the absolutely insane RC F on the Monticello Motor Club racetrack. There’s an embargo on all information & driving impressions, but I can share a couple photos from the event: Full details on the RC family …

Kevin · August 27th, 2014

Lexus NX Commercial from Japan

Lexus Japan has released a commercial for the new NX compact crossover, and it has that same quirky cleverness seen in their recent campaigns: There’s also this behind-the-scenes look at all those bubbles:

Kevin · August 26th, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus RC F in Nebula Grey Pearl

Last week, a Nebula Grey Pearl Lexus RC F was on display at the Lexus of Riverside dealership in Southern California — here’s a photo gallery from our friends at Kaizen Factor: A very subtle color for the high-performance coupe — gives it a real sleeper look. (Thanks Ryan!)

Kevin · August 25th, 2014

2015 Lexus GS to be Available in Atomic Silver

After debuting with the third-generation Lexus IS , the Atomic Silver exterior color will be coming to the 2015 GS. So far, Japan & the USA have confirmed the color’s availability, and I imagine other markets will follow suit. [Source: Lexus Global Newsroom]

Kevin · August 25th, 2014

Listen to the Lexus RC F Exhaust Note

Lexus UK has released an audio clip of the RC F’s exhaust note in all its glory: Pure monster sound — here’s a direct download of an MP3 or iPhone-compatible M4A if you’re interested in using the revving as a ringtone.

Kevin · August 24th, 2014

Video: The Lexus RC Four-Wheel Steering System

There’s a new video from Lexus International demonstrating the four-wheel steering system offered on the RC: As a bonus, here’s some driving footage of the RC — pretty cool stuff:

Kevin · August 22nd, 2014

More Photos of the Starfire Pearl Lexus RC 300h

After the request for more photos of the Starfire Pearl RC 300h, Japanese Lexus enthusiast Yuki Okada sent in this image gallery: This RC 300h is currently on display at the Lexus Midland Square showroom in Nagoya.

Kevin · August 21st, 2014

Photo: Lexus RC 300h in Starfire Pearl

Lexus Japan is currently showing an RC 300h with a Starfire Pearl exterior at their Midland Square showroom in Nagoya. This marks the first time the standard RC has been seen in a color other than Infrared, and it looks great in this low-resolution photo — hoping for better images to surface shortly. [Source: Toyota …

Kevin · August 20th, 2014

Video: Lexus USA Golden Opportunity Commercial Featuring the RC F & Donuts

Lexus USA has released a funny Youtube-only video for their Golden Opportunity Sales Event featuring the new orange RC F and some serious donuts:

Kevin · August 18th, 2014

Lexus LFA Honored in EVO Magazine’s Top Five Cars of the Modern Era

In celebration of its 200th issue, the writers at EVO Magazine gathered their top five cars of the modern era in order to crown “the one that best represents the Thrill of Driving”. As you can probably tell from the image above, Lexus’ very own LFA was included alongside the Ford GT, Renaultsport Mégane R26.R, Porsche …

Kevin · August 18th, 2014

Lexus UK Releases RC F Pricing & Package Information

Lexus UK has released pricing for the 2015 RC F coupe and its two option packages, with the base-model RC F starting at £59,995 and RC F Carbon package at £67,995. (Please note for anyone outside of the UK, these prices include a 10% import duty and 20% value-added tax. Calculating another country’s price is …

Kevin · August 15th, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus NX in Japan

Japanese website Response has an excellent photo gallery of the Lexus NX: (The NX is destined to be a huge hit in Japan — dealerships in the country have already taken 6,500 preorders.) [Source: Response.jp]

Kevin · August 14th, 2014

Lexus RC & Lexus NX Nominated for European Car of the Year

Despite not yet being available for sale, both the Lexus RC & Lexus NX have been nominated for the 2015 European Car of the Year award. The annual award is decided by a jury of automotive journalists representing publications throughout Europe. There are currently are 32 candidate vehicles — a shortlist of seven nominees will …

Kevin · August 13th, 2014

Video: Exclusive Features of the Lexus RC F SPORT

Lexus International has released a video outlining the exclusive features included with the RC F SPORT, and in the process revealed the first look of the standard RC in the new orange exterior color: (So this new orange will be known as Nova Orange internationally, Solar Flare in the UK, and Molten Pearl in the …

Kevin · August 13th, 2014

Is Lexus Building a Next-Generation LFA Supercar?

Last week, a Bloomberg article from Craig Trudell suggested that Lexus is building a successor to the LFA supercar: Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus, which ended a two-year production run of the $375,000 LFA in 2012 after manufacturing 500 units, will build a successor to the 552-horsepower car, Executive Vice President Mark Templin told reporters today. …

Kevin · August 12th, 2014

No Podium Finish for Lexus Racing Teams at Super GT Round 5

The Lexus Racing teams missed a podium finish at the 2014 Super GT Round 5 at Fuji Speedway — the top team was fifth place PETRONAS TOM’S finishing 5th, followed by KeePer TOM’S team at 9th. Here are highlights from the race courtesy of the Super GT Youtube channel: Despite the 9th place finish, the …

Kevin · August 11th, 2014

First Production Lexus NX Rolls Off Assembly Line in Japan

Earlier today, the very first Lexus NX rolled off the assembly line at Miyata factory in Kyushu, Japan — here’s video from the line-off ceremony: A Matador Red Mica NX 200t F SPORT and Eminent White NX 300h were the first to be built — here’s some footage from the assembly line: [Source: Lexus International]

Kevin · August 8th, 2014

Lexus IS C Convertible Returns for 2015 Model Year

While the Lexus IS F has just ended its production run, the IS C will live to see another year — Lexus will continue to build the six-year-old convertible despite being based on the previous generation IS sedan. (This decision can be easily explained — while the RC F will succeed the IS F in …

Kevin · August 6th, 2014

Three New Lexus RC F Videos

Lexus International has released three new RC F videos, with the first focusing on the 5.0L V8 engine: Next up is an overview of the Torque Vectoring Differential (TVD) and its three settings: Normal, Slalom, and Track: The final video is straight driving footage of the RC F — never a bad thing, that’s for …

Kevin · August 6th, 2014

Video: Guided Tour of the Lexus NX

For anyone looking at purchasing a Lexus NX in the USA, this two-part video with Ming-Jou Chen of Lexus College is an excellent overview of the new crossover: (The new door handle is a real improvement over the current design — very stylish and functional. Look forward to seeing it on other models.)

Kevin · August 5th, 2014

Will.i.am to Design Limited Edition Lexus NX

Lexus Europe has teamed up with artist Will.i.am for the NX crossover marketing campaign — the first collaboration is a music video for the song “Dreaming about the Future”, which features the NX heavily: Will.i.am will star in the very first European NX commercial later this year, and will also be designing a limited edition …

Kevin · August 4th, 2014

End of an Era: Final Lexus IS F Rolls Off the Assembly Line

The very last Lexus IS F rolled off the assembly line last week at the Tahara plant in Japan, ending a seven-year production run. While the IS F never sold in large numbers — recent quotes suggest the worldwide sales were 12,000 units in total over its lifecycle — it was the very first Lexus …

Kevin · July 31st, 2014

New Lexus NX F SPORT Video from Japan

The Lexus Japan website has been updated to include the NX crossover, and this F SPORT driving video is part of the new marketing:

Kevin · July 31st, 2014

2015 Lexus NX F SPORT Body Kit by Modellista Japan

Official Lexus tuner Modellista has released images of their new NX body kit The body kit consists of a front under spoiler, side skirts, and a rear diffuser with a design that changes depending on the NX 200t or NX 300h. A rear spoiler add-on and 19-inch aluminum wheels are also available. Modellista has also …

Kevin · July 30th, 2014

Lexus GS 450h F SPORT Coming to America

Starting with the 2015 model year, Lexus USA will begin offering the GS 450h with the F SPORT package. Lexus USA has traditionally stayed away from offering the F SPORT package on hybrid models, with the hybrid-only CT 200h being the one exception. Hybrid F SPORT models have been available in other parts of the …

Kevin · July 30th, 2014

Lexus Future Model Timeline?

Mark Rechtin at Automotive News has attempted to piece together the timeline for future Lexus vehicles, along with the changes that could accompany these new models. Here’s a summary — be prepared, it’s a heavy mix of dates and unverified information: CT: It may be spring 2017 before a new CT, as the model shares …

Kevin · July 29th, 2014

Lexus NX F SPORT Body Kit by TRD Japan

Official Lexus tuner TRD Japan has released images of the world’s first NX aero parts: The kit is made up of a front under spoiler, rear diffuser, and a quad-exhaust muffler setup: There’s also aluminum forged 19-inch wheels: As with all things TRD, these aero parts are not cheap — the front spoiler is reasonable …

Kevin · July 29th, 2014

Comparing the Lexus NX & Toyota RAV4

How similar is the Lexus NX to the Toyota RAV4? As Chief Engineer Takeaki Kato explains to Automotive News, 90% of the parts used are different: From the center to the rear is basically new, with no commonized parts. The front bumpers and crash box are totally different. But while the inside rocker panel is …

Kevin · July 28th, 2014

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