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Flickr Find: The Project Lexus IS-F Revisited

The 5Axis Project IS-F for last year’s SEMA was a real eye-catcher, with many preferring the look to the production IS-F. Yet, there didn’t seem to be any real quality shots of the car, and certainly nothing like this photo from Scott Dukes: Just stunning, the photo really shows off the bulging bodywork, and makes …

Kevin · January 20th, 2008

Dedicated Lexus Hybrid = Hybrid ES?

In a short interview with Bloomberg, Lexus General Manager Mark Templin reiterated what he told the Free Press a couple days ago, though with a little more detail: “There is a whole section of the population that wants something different, and that’s high-efficiency,” Lexus general manager Mark Templin said in an interview at the Detroit …

Kevin · January 18th, 2008

More Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept Video Footage

It’s nice to see a purely car-focused video of the Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept show up, even if it suffers from the usual Youtube quality issues: I’m still in shock at how quickly I took to this concept. I wasn’t necessarily the biggest LF-A fan to begin with, though in comparing the two versions, I …

Kevin · January 18th, 2008

New Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept Video from Autospies

More video of the LF-A Roadster Concept shown at the Detroit Auto Show has emerged, this time up it’s Autospies, with an interview with Lexus event manager Brian Bolain(no video embedding, click here to watch the video.) I really believed that this concept was something that would fast-track to production, perhaps as part of a …

Kevin · January 17th, 2008

Details on the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept

Details are finally coming out in regards to the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon last week. Due to the body styling and rear wing, it was thought that this was a precursor to Lexus’ entry into the DTM Racing series, but in actuality, the vehicle was a one-off design experiment …

Kevin · January 17th, 2008

Special Edition Lexus IS to be released in Japan

Lexus Japan will be releasing a limited edition Elegant White Interior IS, an especially literal name to be sure: Beyond the white/grey two-tone semi-aniline leather seats, the interior will be replete with real wood paneling on the center console and doors, plus a rear privacy shade (not pictured): I think it’s gorgeous, the wood grain …

Kevin · January 16th, 2008

Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept Video

The first video of the Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept has been posted by Car & Driver to Brightcove (no embedding allowed, click here to view the video.) It’s a short video, but it’s still great to see the rear-adjustable wing in action. I could have done with less of presenter Dave Vanderwerp’s questionable disappointment and …

Kevin · January 14th, 2008

Lexus Dedicated Hybrid to Debut at Next Year’s Detroit Auto Show

During a media reception last night at the Detroit Auto Show, Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe announced that a dedicated Lexus hybrid will be introduced at next year’s convention: “Next year here in Detroit, we will expand our conventional hybrid line-up by staging world premiers of two all-new, dedicated hybrids, one for Toyota and one for …

Kevin · January 14th, 2008

The Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept Live @ The Detroit Auto Show

There’s more than a few photo galleries sprouting up of the Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept on the floor of the Detroit Auto Show, but the most comprehensive I’ve seen so far is at Autoblog. There’s times when the official manufacturer photos make a car seem utterly flawless, but this super-convertible looks even more impressive in …

Kevin · January 13th, 2008

The Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept is Unveiled

The suspense of the blue-tarped Lexus concept only lasted a few hours, as it was unveiled as the LF-A Roadster Concept, a convertible version of the LF-A and absolutely beautiful in red. The LF-A Roadster has the same front-mid engine layout as the LF-A, which places the engine between the front and rear passengers, and …

Kevin · January 13th, 2008

Surprise Lexus Convertible to be shown at Detroit Auto Show

How it was kept quiet, I do not know, but Autospies has blown cover on a surprise Lexus concept to be revealed at the Detroit Auto Show. There’s a number of guesses as to what’s hiding under that blue tarp: IS convertible? LF-A convertible? The new SC? Something entirely different? One thing’s for sure, there’s …

Kevin · January 12th, 2008

2008 Lexus IS-F Pricing Announced

After months of speculation, Lexus has released pricing for the IS-F, and it’s hard to find any fault with the totals. The base IS-F will carry a $56,000 USD price tag, which undercuts competitors significantly. The following amenities will be standard: Heated, leather-trimmed 10-way power front sport seats Dual-zone automatic climate control, a pollen filter …

Kevin · January 11th, 2008

Lexus LX 570 Debuts in China for $179,000 USD

The Lexus LX 570 went on sale today in China today, retailing with the rather extraordinary price tag of 1.3 million yuan, which translates to $179,000 USD, or roughly 242.5% higher than the USA’s retail price of $73,800. Frankly, an increase of over $100,000 is astounding, yet it’s hardly out of place when looking at …

Kevin · January 10th, 2008

Autoblog Reviews the Lexus LS 460L

Right from the start, there was something off about Autoblog’s review of the Lexus LS 460L: It’s tough to pity Lexus LS owners. After all, Executive-Class luxury sedans don’t exactly suck. We wouldn’t blame LS drivers for feeling pangs of over-inconspicuousness whenever they see a Camry, though. Understated luxury is one thing, but when you’re …

Kevin · January 9th, 2008

Lexus IS 350 GT2 to Enter Le Mans Series

There’s certainly some confusion out there today in regards to the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept & the new Team Lexus racer. Thought to be the same car, it turns out that the orange Team Lexus race car may be something entirely different. One thing’s for sure, it’s destined for the Le Mans series GT2 class, …

Kevin · January 8th, 2008

Lexus Launches LX 570 Driver Empowered Mini-Site

Mentioned in the Lexus’ LX 570 marketing presentation, the Driver Empowered LX mini-site is now live. The site’s jam-packed with video footage extolling the SUV’s capabilities. Of particular note is the 360° tour, which manages to inject an infusion of character and presence that has been lacking in images seen so far. An interesting sidebar, …

Kevin · January 8th, 2008

Evo Magazine Reviews the Lexus IS-F

Somewhere along the line, I missed Evo Magazine’s review of the Lexus IS-F, which does a fantastic job at heaping substantial amounts of praise onto the super-sedan: Before the end of the pit straight, one thing is already beyond dispute. For the way it slaughters distance and the noise it makes, the IS-F is a …

Kevin · January 7th, 2008

Flickr Find: Lexus IS Tail Lights

There’s so many different ways to photograph a car, there’s the scenic shots, the speed shots, the close-ups, and once and a while, you get something a bit more expressive. This photograph by Flickr user AlieN is a good illustration of this: I’m a big fan of symmetry, so this appealed to me right off …

Kevin · January 6th, 2008

The Lexus LX 570 Already Winning Awards

I’m not sure how much stock you can put in an award given to an unreleased vehicle, but that didn’t stop WealthTV viewers from awarding the 2008 Lexus LX 570 “The Most Luxurious SUV” award. There wouldn’t be much to see here if the Lexus spokesman Paul Williamsen hadn’t pull the engine cover off : …

Kevin · January 6th, 2008

The Lexus IS-F Racing Concept to be Shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon

The Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan’s annual automotive aftermarket tradeshow, will see the debut of the Lexus IS-F Racing Concept, with all the body molding and performance modifications you’d expect. Details are non-existent, and the only image is the one shown above, taken from Lexus Japan’s TAS mini-site. In all honesty, I didn’t think it possible …

Kevin · January 4th, 2008

Lexus’ IS-F Presentation Videos

The Auto Network has served up another Lexus presentation, this time a full blown dissertation about the IS-F. This presentation, along with the previously noted LX 570 breakdown, took place in Point Clear, Alabama, and provided the automotive press with an opportunity to learn about the vehicles to an extraordinary level of detail. The first …

Kevin · January 2nd, 2008

Lexus’ LX 570 Presentation Videos

The Auto Network has posted up the full LX 570 presentation given by Lexus to the press in late 2007, and it’s a incredible collection of facts and information, detailing every aspect of the vehicle, from its technical specifications to its marketing plan. The first part is a general overview of the LX 570, presented …

Kevin · January 1st, 2008

AutoWeek’s Preview of the 2008 Lexus LX 570

There’s a bit of a sarcastic bent to AutoWeek’s preview of the 2008 Lexus LX 570, but it still manages to fill in some blanks, including the differences between the LX 570 and the Toyota Land Cruiser: Hey, wait a second, you say, is this just a Land Cruiser with a Lexus badge on it, …

Kevin · December 28th, 2007

Popular Mechanics Test Drives the 2008 Lexus LX 570

Next up with a LX 570 test drive article is Popular Mechanics, who shower the new SUV with praise, and include some detailed information how exactly Crawl Control works: One of the technologies introduced on the LX570 is Crawl Control, which takes hill descent control several steps further. With the rollover sensing system turned off …

Kevin · December 21st, 2007

Lexus LS 430 Commercial: The Rear-View Camera

Here we have a commercial for the revised Lexus LS 430 that debuted in 2004, demonstrating the then-new backup camera option: That crazy spin at the end is icing on the cake.

Kevin · December 20th, 2007

Motor Trend First Drive: The 2008 Lexus LX 570

As the Lexus LX 570 gets closer and closer to the dealerships, the test drives are starting to come in. First one to the press is Motor Trend, and it’s heavy in praise: This largest Lexus has no more business vamoosing through chicanes than it does scaling 45-degree slopes, fording two-foot-deep streams, or straddling nine-inch-tall …

Kevin · December 20th, 2007

Lexus LF-A News from Australia

Austalian website Drive has posted an interesting article about the Lexus LF-A, including some further verification that the car’s being delayed until the engineers can reach a top speed of 220mph: As for when the Lexus LF-A will appear in dealerships, the company hasn’t set an exact date yet. But Lexus insiders suggest the car’s …

Kevin · December 19th, 2007

Flickr Find: Lexus SC, Oakland Style

If these first-gen Lexus SC’s are any indication, Oakland rolls with a style all of its own: Both of these photos were captured by Oakland resident Kitty Holmes, who was lucky enough to glimpse these wonders in real life.

Kevin · December 19th, 2007

Drive Jack Bauer’s Lexus GS 430 (sorta)

Having only seen bits and pieces of the TV show 24, I didn’t know Jack Bauer drove a Lexus GS 430, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting this RC version of his car: After posting about the die-cast GS 430 last month, I’ve toyed with buying some 1:18 replicas, but better sense has prevailed. …

Kevin · December 18th, 2007

Lexus Takes Potential IS-F Customers to the Track

Rather than the mass-media marketing campaign expected with the release of a new vehicle, the Lexus IS-F will be promoted in a different fashion — letting potential customers test drive the car on race tracks across the United States: Lexus will try and lure in buyers at the track, said Brian Bolain, Lexus’ national manager …

Kevin · December 17th, 2007

Lexus LS 460 Lane Keep Assist Video Demonstration

The Lane Keep Assist feature, which effectively locks you into a highway lane, may only available on the European & Asian Lexus LS, but it’s incredibly effective, at least in the context of this video: I’m of two minds with this feature. You can never discount added safety, but the movement towards automated driving makes …

Kevin · December 16th, 2007

2008 Lexus LX 570 Prices Announced

The newly-redesigned 2008 Lexus LX 570 will start at $73,800, according to a dealer announcement that made it’s way to Autospies. It’s a $6,405 jump up from the outgoing LX 470, but there’s some significant new features (Crawl Control and front/side cameras, for example) that no doubt added to the production cost. Also included in …

Kevin · December 16th, 2007

Did the Lexus LF-A Set a Nürburgring Record?

If Japanese magazine Holiday Auto is to be believed, the Lexus LF-A has put in a dominant performance on Nürburgring, lapping the track in 7:24. If true, it would make the LF-A the fastest production car to run the ring. This comes on the heels of Pagani Zonda F setting the record in October of …

Kevin · December 14th, 2007

Japanese Lexus IS-F Promotional Video

A IS-F promotional DVD has been available from Lexus Japan for some time, but it’s only just made its way onto the Internet: I’m not sure if this is the full extent of the video sent out, but I do know one thing: It wouldn’t be possible to find a more ill-suited soundtrack.

Kevin · December 14th, 2007

Lexus Announces Assorted 2008 Prices (Plus the 2009 RX 350 Price)

Lexus has set the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for an assortment of models, including the 2009 RX 350, which will skip up $100, bringing the front-wheel-drive version to $37,500 and the all-wheel-drive version to $38,900. The 2009 RX 350 is expected in dealerships by early February 2008. Other models see a price bump as …

Kevin · December 14th, 2007

Lexus IS-F/R Planned?

From the Japanese mag BestCar to Winding Road to you comes a rumor of the Lexus IS-F/R, a lighter and slightly boosted version of the super sedan. The specs, as reported, will see the IS-F’s weight cut down by 220lbs, and a performance boost of 12hp and 6 pound-feet torque increase, bringing the totals to …

Kevin · December 12th, 2007

Lexus ES Shopping

It’s been a long time coming, but tomorrow begins my search for a suitable car for my girlfriend, Karissa. Having driven a 1993 Toyota 4runner for the last five years, she’s looking for an upgrade in comfort, gas mileage and safety. Of course, it’s going to be a Lexus. Now, there was talk of buying …

Kevin · December 12th, 2007

Jalopnik Reviews the Lexus LS 600hL

The minute I saw that Jalopnik Jonny Lieberman had gotten his mitts on an LS 600hL for a week, I knew we were in for a treat, and I was not disappointed in the least: Why am I laughing like such an idiot? Seriously, my cheeks hurt from grinning. Well, the reason why is that …

Kevin · December 10th, 2007

Japanese Video Review of the Lexus IS-F

This Lexus IS-F segment from Start your Engines, a Japanese auto news show, is a pleasant switch from the norm, as it’s all subtitled in English: “It’s been a long time since I’ve had so much fun driving a Toyota”, the host says after ten laps of the Fuji Speedway. “The shifting really is like …

Kevin · December 10th, 2007

Road & Track Reviews the Lexus IS-F

It’s a little late coming, but Road & Track’s review of the Lexus IS-F is quite informative. First off, their impressions: After spending half a day lapping around Laguna Seca, we were won over by the car’s accurate steering, minimal body roll and outright grip. Its 71.2-mph slalom speed is damn impressive for such a …

Kevin · December 8th, 2007

CNet Reviews Lexus LS 460 Technology

No doubt it’s a little old, but this video from CNet detailing the technology in the LS 460 is quite entertaining: Being such a fan of the LS 460, I didn’t even get bored during the inevitable parking assist demonstration.

Kevin · December 7th, 2007

Lexus IS 250 & GS 450h Place First in Australia’s Best Car Awards

The winners of Australia’s 2007 Best Car Awards have been announced, and Lexus was well represented, taking first place in two categories. For the second year in a row, the IS 250 was named the Best Prestige Car. The GS 450h placed first in the Best Luxury Car category, also for the second time in …

Kevin · December 5th, 2007

Lexus LS 600h Sales Exceed Expectations by 300%

One thing that I failed to notice when posting up the Lexus LS 600h’s sales figures is just how far the total was over the projected sales. By selling 6,093 units by October, the LS 600h has exceeded Lexus’ yearly sales estimate of 2,000 by over 300%. These numbers are nothing short of exceptional, especially …

Kevin · December 5th, 2007

Lexus IS-F vs. Nissan Skyline Coupe Type S

The January 2008 editon of Best Motoring, one of Japan’s most popular automotive TV/DVD shows, has a Lexus IS-F vs. Nissan Skyline Coupe 370GT Type S (Infiniti G37 Sport in North America) showdown: While it can’t match the IS-F in a 0-60 race, the 333hp Skyline Coupe Type S holds its own on the track, …

Kevin · December 4th, 2007

Flickr Find: Custom Lexus SC 430 with Sevas Wheels

William Stern, the in-house photographer for Sevas, has posted up some shots of a custom Lexus SC 430 on Flickr: The custom work, including some subtle fender vents and not-so-subtle LED side-step lighting, was done by Cartel Customs in Miami. There’s quite a collection of photos in William’s Flickr stream, be sure to check them …

Kevin · December 3rd, 2007

Lexus LS 600h Sales Start Strong

Lexus LS 600h sales are off to an exceptionally strong start, selling 6,093 units worldwide as of October 2007. Japan is especially enamored, scooping up 4,533 of the total, though this is likely due to its earlier release. Both North American and European sales are decent, with 818 and 569 sales respectively. These numbers have …

Kevin · December 2nd, 2007

G Living Reviews the Lexus GS 450h

G Living, a lifestyle magazine/net show dedicated to living green, has posted up a very complimentary video review of the Lexus GS 450h: It’s hardly an analytical review, with host Sarah Backhouse declaring she has a crush on the car, “If this car was a bloke, it would be a stock broker, or a talent …

Kevin · December 1st, 2007

2008 Lexus LX 570 Colors

Autospies has a preview of the color combinations available for 2008 Lexus LX 570, including what may be the strangest hue to ever cover a Lexus: It resembles the Aquamarine Pearl color available for the ES 350, which is probably where it should have stayed. Not very flattering, to say the least. Be sure to …

Kevin · November 30th, 2007

1989 Lexus LS 400 Featured in Old Top Gear Episode

It’s hard to discount the power of Youtube when you can watch a 1989 episode of Top Gear detailing the introduction of the then-newly released Lexus LS 400 (jump ahead to 1:26 to get there directly): Not a full-on review, which is a slight disappointment, but the praise is astounding, let me quote presenter Tiff …

Kevin · November 30th, 2007

Flickr Find: Lexus IS 250 Silhouette

There’s something so classy about this silhouette profile shot of the Lexus IS 250 by Jason Kim: It really accentuates the rear slope, it’s such a smooth line. In the same spirit, Jason has another black & white photo of the IS 250, this time from the front. It’s a testament to the quality of …

Kevin · November 29th, 2007

2008 Lexus LX 570 can see around corners

The 2008 Lexus LX 570 is packed to the gills with some very interesting new technology, including a camera that gives the driver a full 180-degree view of what’s in front of the vehicle, effectively letting you look around corners. There’s a passenger-side camera that points down, as well, and when combined with the rear …

Kevin · November 29th, 2007

Lexus Issues Recall of 2006 GS 300, IS 250 & IS 350

Lexus has announced a recall of the 2006 editions of the GS 300, IS 250 and the IS 350, in regards to a problem with the fuel pipe design. Over time, a crack may form in fuel pipes located in the engine compartment, the company said today in a statement. The problem is blamed on …

Kevin · November 28th, 2007

The 2008 Lexus RX 400h’s Illuminated Scuff Plates

While browsing Club Lexus for details on the 2008 Lexus RX 400h’s updates, I found this great photo by tomv, a new hybrid owner, which shows off the illuminated scuff plates: Just to be clear, these would be visible when opening the doors. Great effect, I’m very impressed.

Kevin · November 27th, 2007

Lexus LS is the World’s Most Beautiful Large Sedan

Not exactly sure how it happened, but for the 15th Annual L’Automobile più Bella del Mondo (Most Beautiful Cars in the World) Awards, Lexus managed to snag first and second place in the Limousine (Large Sedan) category, with the LS 600h taking top spot and the LS 460 taking second. I’m surprised they didn’t just …

Kevin · November 26th, 2007

2008 Lexus RX 400h Gets Some Updates

It wasn’t until Lexus Australia announced the changes that I realized the 2008 RX 400h has received some minor updates, most notably new front & rear lights, which look great: Lexus also applied the hybrid blue badging, bringing it inline with the LS 600h and GS 450h, and added some new red or black wood …

Kevin · November 26th, 2007

Billionaire Takes the Lexus LS 600hL for a Spin

Driving.ca took a unique turn with their review of the Lexus LS 600hL, putting Jimmy Pattison, the fourth richest man in Canada, behind the wheel: Once the colourful self-made billionaire figured out how to operate the keyless ignition and push-button emergency brake on the 2008 Lexus LS600h L — and put his seat belt on …

Kevin · November 23rd, 2007

IGN Test Drives the Lexus IS-F

Can’t say I’ve ever visited IGN for auto news before, but they’ve put together a well-worded review of the Lexus IS-F as tested on the Laguna Seca Raceway: Though it’s not a lightweight car, the IS F handles with an impressively limited degree of body roll, to the degree to which it’s pretty easy to …

Kevin · November 22nd, 2007

The Lexus Symphony Orchestra Audio & Video

This past summer, Lexus staged two unique concerts in Britain using twelve LS 460s in place of an orchestra. These cars, with no modification or amplification, performed two pieces originally recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, which you can now listen to at a Lexus site dedicated to it. I really enjoyed the site, there’s …

Kevin · November 22nd, 2007

VIP Twin Turbo Lexus LS 430

Perhaps it’s my love of the stock Lexus LS 430, but this VIP’d up version is a real head scratcher: Can’t say I’m a real fan of the Fabulous body kit and its massive front lip, but the thing that stood out the most were the blown-out rear wheel wells. I understand the reasoning, massive …

Kevin · November 20th, 2007

The Hyundai Genesis Crosses the Line

A slew of Hyundai Genesis spy shots have surfaced, and it’s guaranteed that Lexus and BMW are none too happy with the car’s appearance: No matter the argument that all cars are derivative of each other, this is going over the line. The front-end is clearly inspired by the Lexus LS, but what’s much, much …

Kevin · November 19th, 2007

FiveAxis Lexus IS-F Makes an Appearance at the LA Auto Show

The Lexus Project IS-F by FiveAxis is moving its way up the west coast, making the trip from SEMA in Las Vegas to the LA Auto Show, where it was photographed in depth by Autoblog. There’s also been mention of a “Stage 2″ IS-F engine mod package being developed by FiveAxis, though there’s nothing in …

Kevin · November 18th, 2007

Lexus GS vs. Jaguar XF: A Visual Comparison

I read about the Jaguar XF’s passing resemblance to the Lexus GS 460 in Motor Trend, but I didn’t realize the extent of it until I saw this Le Blog Auto visual comparison: Mind you, this is only a side profile comparison, the front and rears are entirely different, but the similarity in the photos …

Kevin · November 16th, 2007

WSJ Reviews the Lexus LS 600hL

The Wall Street Journal’s review of the Lexus LS 600hL isn’t so much a condemnation of the car, but rather the hybrid technology that spawned it: The biggest con running in the auto industry right now is the notion that hybrids represent some sort of quantum leap in green transportation. Not only is this patently …

Kevin · November 16th, 2007

Great Lexus IS-F Video from SEMA 2007

There’s lots of details in this WebRidesTV video from SEMA 2007, from a great look at the Five Axis Project IS-F to Scott Pruett’s demonstration of IS-F with VDIM on/off: Looks like the IS-F’s release date is firming up. Brian Bolain, the Lexus national advertising and media manager, reveals that the car should hit the …

Kevin · November 14th, 2007

Lexus LF-A Development Hits a Bump

When the same-old Lexus LF-A concept was displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show instead of the expected production model, it was a clear sign that something was amiss in the supercar’s development. There’s no official word, but according to a Winding Road source, there’s certainly been some bumps in the road: Rumblings from inside Toyota …

Kevin · November 13th, 2007

Is this the 2009 Lexus IS?

An Autospies reader recently posted up this scanned-in Japanese auto mag page depicting the facelifted 2009 Lexus IS: “Top Secret” banner aside, this is likely a photochop, though subtle enough to be believable. The differences are slight, there’s some GS design incorporated into the front end, and the side panels look to be tucked in. …

Kevin · November 12th, 2007

Comparison: Lexus LS 600hL/Jaguar Super V8/Mercedes-Benz S550/Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT

Motor Trend assembled some super saloons in their latest ultra-luxury sedan comparison test, pitting the Lexus LS 600hL against the Jaguar Super V8, Mercedes S550 & Maserati Quattroporte Sport. The LS 600hL didn’t have a great showing, at least in the driving department: The all-wheel-drive Lexus exhibited pigheaded understeer in most corners, often attended by …

Kevin · November 12th, 2007

Comparison: Lexus LS600h vs. Audi A8

Right out the gate, the Audi A8 had a very significant advantage over the Lexus LS 600h in Autoweek’s recent comparison test — After all, the A8 is £20,000 cheaper than the LS 600h, and £20,000 is a steep hill to climb: More crucially, while the low 219g/km emissions are very impressive, it’s hard to …

Kevin · November 11th, 2007

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