Lexus – Page 67 – Lexus Enthusiast | Lexus Enthusiast

Latest News

Tokyo Motor Show: Lexus LF-Xh Concept Debuts

The Lexus LF-Xh concept made its Tokyo Motor Show debut today, and while no additional information was released, both Autoblog and The Winding Road have posted up galleries from the unveiling. Also of interest is this video from Japanese car site Carview, which shows the extent of Toyota’s offerings, including an all-too-short clip of the …

Kevin · October 24th, 2007

Autoweek: Lexus LS 460L Long-Term Test Update

Autoweek has had the Lexus LS 460L in their long-term fleet for nine months now, and while they continue to be impressed by the car’s luxury, they have picked up on some niggling issues: Here in the third quarter, however, we’ve noticed the car showing its age, just a bit. “After getting out of a …

Kevin · October 23rd, 2007

Car & Driver Previews the 2008 Lexus LX 570

Car & Driver has posted up their preview of the upcoming Lexus LX 570, which will include a feature I don’t recall reading about: The permanent four-wheel drive incorporates an electronically locking center differential and brake-based limited-slip traction assist. Toyota has developed “crawl control,” a low-speed, off-road cruise control. Up to 10 mph, the desired …

Kevin · October 23rd, 2007

Lexus IS-F in New PS3 Gran Turismo 5 Demo

A downloadable demo of Gran Turismo 5 was made available to Playstation 3 owners this weekend, and more to the point, the Lexus IS-F is one of the seven playable cars! The realism is nothing short of astounding, it even shows through in this filmed TV video clip:

Kevin · October 22nd, 2007

New Wald Lexus IS Body Kit Photos

Wald International has updated its website with Lexus IS Body Kit photos, and they’re surely a sight for sore eyes. When it debuted in August, the only official photos featured the car wet, of all things, and were certainly not up to their usual quality. As well, they hightlighted a number of unflattering characteristics, particularly …

Kevin · October 19th, 2007

2008 GS 460 Added to Lexus USA’s Website

In sync with the new Lexus GS commercial, the 2008 GS lineup has been added to the Lexus USA website, including the GS 460. I’m not sure if the introduction of the refreshed top-end GS could be any more low-key, though that might just be the enthusiast talking. The updated GS page has a slew …

Kevin · October 18th, 2007

More on the New Lexus RX Pop-Up Book Commercial

Creativity Online has posted up an interview with the art director and copywriter of the Lexus RX Pop-Up Book commercial that I featured yesterday, which explains exactly how the advert was made: What was the ratio of real footage versus VFX [Video Effects]? DH [Dave Horton, Copywriter]: It was really important to keep everything looking …

Kevin · October 18th, 2007

Lexus GS Commercial: Etiquette

It would be easy to write off the new Lexus GS commercial as a late reply to Audi’s Parking Assist mockvertisement, but in truth, it’s a much bigger statement than that: What a great distillation of Lexus — it may be a lot flashier than the ES 350 commercial I featured on the weekend, but …

Kevin · October 17th, 2007

Lexus RX Commercial: Pop-Up Book

I’ve been waiting to see this RX commercial ever since I was sent some behind-the-scenes photos of the filming, and the final cut doesn’t disappoint: It’s hard to imagine the amount of planning necessary to pull off something like this, which doesn’t seem to use any digital effects at all. I’m surprised by the factory …

Kevin · October 17th, 2007

Spy Shots: 2010 Lexus GX 470/4Runner?

Leftlane News has posted spy shots of either the 2009 Toyota 4Runner or the 2010 Lexus GX, you can take your guess picking which. In all honesty, with those extended tail lights, it looks more like a transformer in mid-change — a very effective camouflage job, indeed. The rear looks widened, and even a bit …

Kevin · October 16th, 2007

Consumer Reports: The Lexus GS AWD = Below Average

The news today is that the AWD versions of the Lexus GS, along with two Toyotas, have been dropped from Consumer Reports’ 2007 Recommended list. The net result, Toyota as a whole (including Lexus and Scion) has dropped from first overall to third, behind Honda and Subaru. What were the problems with the AWD GS, …

Kevin · October 16th, 2007

Video: Lexus LS 460 on Fire

Now this is something you don’t see every day: Don’t know exactly what would cause a car to catch fire like this, but I’m sure it’s a special sort of circumstance, especially with no other cars involved. I can’t believe people are driving right up near it, that’s just crazy.

Kevin · October 14th, 2007

Lexus ES 350 Commerical: Slice

On the face of it, this Lexus commercial is a statement of the obvious, highlighting an undoubtedly common number of sensors as though it was unique. Yet, at the same time, it manages to accurately sum up what I find so appealing about Lexus itself: “Behind every detail, there’s a detail” will now be my …

Kevin · October 13th, 2007

Another Look at the Lexus LF-Xh Interior

If not for its futuristic overtones, the interior of Lexus’ LF-Xh could almost be considered plain, but it’s actually something much more appealing, it’s simple, minimalist. I quite like it. The center console, more than anything, makes me pray that one day these types of interiors find their way into production models. There are a …

Kevin · October 12th, 2007

Flickr Find: A Real Bad Day

If you’re a LX 470 owner, you may want to steer clear of Jamaica, Queens: I asked the photographer, Flickr user underwaterdemolitionman if he had found this in a lake, here was his reply: I’m as sure as you are that it’s one hell of a tale but i got there after “the end.” The …

Kevin · October 11th, 2007

Lexus Japan’s IS-F Special Site

Watching the revving Flash loader of the Japanese IS-F “Special Site”, I thought I was about to see a varation of the US version, but that wasn’t the case at all. Instead, I was treated to something really special, in what could only be described as a bad soap opera, right down to the camera …

Kevin · October 10th, 2007

Tokyo Motor Show: The Lexus LF-Xh Concept

In preparation for the Tokyo Motor Show, Lexus has announced their latest concept, the LF-Xh, though I think it’s safe to call it by its real name, the 2009 RX. The exterior design is pure L-Finesse as applied to the RX. The front-end is a touch too stubby, and there’s a bunch of the standard …

Kevin · October 10th, 2007

The Lexus IS-F Price Guessing Game

Now that the performance figures of the IS-F have been released, there remains only one significant mystery surrounding the car: How much will it cost in the US? One way to figure it out is to take the Japanese price and go backwards, but a straight-up conversion of the ¥7.66 million retail in US dollars …

Kevin · October 9th, 2007

Lexus LS 460 Commercial: Anechoic Chamber

As a companion to the commercial I posted on the weekend, the message in this LS 460 advert is certainly much clearer: Something about this pair of commercials fails to impress me, the cabin isolation and ultra-quiet engine are definitely features to promote, but I found the sound in both to be incredibly abrasive. It’s …

Kevin · October 8th, 2007

Lexus LS 460 Commercial: Pin Drop

I’ll admit, the first time I watched this commercial I actually felt confused: I understood the concept, the LS 460 being so quiet while running that you could hear a pin drop, but the commercial is muddled enough that I had to watch it a couple times to really get it. I blame it on …

Kevin · October 6th, 2007

Lexus IS 350 Paddleshift Mini-Game

I found a neat little Lexus IS 350 mini-game today after clicking on a banner while reading the New York Times article on the BMW M Division. There isn’t much to it, you’re only in control of up/down shifting as you race other IS 350’s through a super short course, but there’s a leaderboard and …

Kevin · October 5th, 2007

Flickr Find: Lexus IS 300, Museum Style

Ken Brown, who spends his days photographing coachbuilt classics for the Blackhawk Museum in California, managed to squeeze in a shoot with a coworker’s IS 300: Just wonderful, makes the car look like a diecast model, but it doesn’t even touch the other photos in Ken’s Flickr Stream. The ‘57 Mercedes SL300 is fantastic, but …

Kevin · October 5th, 2007

The Official Lexus IS-F Numbers

It’s official, the Lexus IS-F was announced in Japan today at the Fuji Speedway, here are the details: The V8 5-litre engine will have 417hp and produce 373 ft-lb of torque. The Is-F will be available in Japan on December 25th, and will retail for ¥7,660,000 ($65,742 USD). The Japanese version will be limited to …

Kevin · October 4th, 2007

Comparison: Lexus LS 600h vs. Mercedes S420 CDI vs. BMW 745d

I would have thought that Auto Motor Und Sport’s comparison test of the Lexus LS 460 vs. Volkswagen Phaeton would be hard to beat in terms of bias, but they’ve outdone themselves, their comparison of the Lexus LS 600h vs. BMW 745d vs. Mercedes S420 CDI is a absolute gem. Posted on Autospies, the bulk …

Kevin · October 3rd, 2007

Comparison: 2008 Lexus IS 250 vs. 2008 Mercedes C200k

British car mag Auto Express has pitted the Lexus IS 250 against the Europe-only C200K version of the new Mercedes C-Class, with the Mercedes coming up with the win: The IS’s V6 has more character than the C-Class’s four-cylinder engine, but isn’t any pacier, unless pushed hard. The IS250 costs more in SE-L trim, too, …

Kevin · October 3rd, 2007

Consumer Reports Comparison: The Lexus LS 460L vs. The Mercedes S550

In their November issue, Consumer Reports has compared the Lexus LS 460L and Mercedes S550, which the LS 460L handily won, scoring 99/100 versus 86/100 for the S550. While I certainly wouldn’t argue with the outcome of their comparison, I think Consumer Reports has gone off the deep-end, listen to this logic: The Lexus LS …

Kevin · October 2nd, 2007

The Neiman Marcus Lexus IS-F Special Edition

Lexus has started the party early by offering a special edition of the IS-F through the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalogue. Only fifty will be made, and will sport the following differences over the “regular” IS-F: Exclusive black with white accent stitching interior Hand-polished gun-metal rims F logo embossed into headrests Numbered Special Build badge Retailing …

Kevin · October 2nd, 2007

Lexus Introduces the IS-F to Dealers

There isn’t much to this video of the IS-F’s introduction at a Lexus District Dealer Seminar, but if you have a love of screeching tires, this one is going to be hard to beat: Chances are low, but if there’s really only one white IS-F in North America, it’s sure taken a beating. [Via: Club …

Kevin · October 1st, 2007

Another Look at Lexus’ IS-F Marketing

It was my supreme hope that with the introduction of the official Lexus IS-F website, we would see a change in direction in the way it was marketed, but it’s remained the same: Overly flashy Ultrasonic Blue Mica exterior color and the tagline F is everything you thought we weren’t. Clearly, Lexus wants to emphasis …

Kevin · October 1st, 2007

Lexus Launches IS-F Website

It may not have the production specs that everyone’s waiting for, but the new Lexus IS-F website makes up for it by providing just about every other detail you could possibly want, including five previously unseen videos, a ton of new photos and even the story behind the performance sedan: The IS F began with …

Kevin · September 30th, 2007

Jeff Chen’s Lexus SC 300 to JDM Soarer Conversion

Featured in this month’s Import Tuner is

Kevin · September 29th, 2007

SEMA: Video Build-Log of the Tuned Lexus IS-F by Five Axis

I’ve only just discovered a great ongoing video series being shown at MyRide, which follows the development of the tuned Lexus IS-F (plus a Toyota Yaris and Scion XD) by Five Axis that will be shown at this year’s SEMA. The series, serving as a weekly check into development, has two installments so far: Countdown …

Kevin · September 28th, 2007

Lexus IS-F Released to the Automotive Press

The automotive press has finally been given the keys to the upcoming Lexus IS-F, not that it means we’ll be getting any insight into the overly secretive final specs, at least according to Arthur St. Antoine of Motor Trend: Tonight I’m in Carmel, California, in preparation for tomorrow’s test drive of the all-new, hugely anticipated …

Kevin · September 27th, 2007

Photo: Lexus GS 450h Going the Wrong Way

Reminiscent of the illegally parked IS 350 I featured a few months ago, here we have another Lexus owner willing to break the law in order to get a great photo: Club Lexus member timeToy, who owns this GS 450h and took the photo, was nice enough to pass along some details, including links to …

Kevin · September 26th, 2007

Two Tuned Lexus Models from the Upcoming SEMA 2007

As previously mentioned, this year’s SEMA event will showcase nine Lexus models tuned up by aftermarket companies. Most of these companies make little or no mention of this fact on their websites, but two of the tuners have put up some teaser images: Blitz Tuned Lexus GS 430 The Blitz GS hasn’t gone over the …

Kevin · September 25th, 2007

The Lexus IS-F Shows Off

When the Lexus IS-F hit the Laguna Seca Raceway during the California Taste of Lexus Event, there was a deluge of video released by spectators, but nothing, and I mean NOTHING that compares to the following video: Expert editing, amazing angles, fantastic sound — until I find out otherwise, I’m going to assume this is …

Kevin · September 25th, 2007

Lexus ES 350 Commercial: Panoramic

This Lexus ES 350 commercial highlights my favorite feature of the car, and perhaps one of my favorite optional features of all time, the panoramic glass roof: The glass roof is perfectly suited to the overall design of the ES, and really the only Lexus I could picture with it. Perhaps it’s only because I’ve …

Kevin · September 24th, 2007

Motor Trend: Long-Term Lexus LS 460 Update 2

Now five months into their long-term test, Motor Trend continues to appreciate what the Lexus LS 460 brings to the table: [Truck Trend art director] Voehringer, a guitar-playing rock aficionado, adores the 19-speaker Mark Levinson reference surround-sound system, observing that it “supplies a lush spectrum of highs, mids, and especially bass” — the ideal setup …

Kevin · September 24th, 2007

Lexus LS 460 with Air Runner Suspension

Ridiculously dropped suspensions can be a great look, but not without a huge sacrifice of ride quality and the potential for some serious body damage. However, for every problem there is a (expensive) solution, as evidenced by this video of an LS 460 with an Air Runner suspension system, which allows for variable ride height …

Kevin · September 23rd, 2007

Flickr Find: A Scenic Lexus GS 400

Flickr photographer capt4inslow has posted up some incredible shots of a second-gen GS 400, here’s a couple of my favorites: I’ve always been a big fan of this GS generation, with its equally elegant and aggressive styling. More than anything, though, these photos remind me of the tough decision I had to make when choosing …

Kevin · September 22nd, 2007

SEMA 2007: Lexus IS-F Events

Also announced for 2007 SEMA Show is a host of events centering around the Lexus IS-F, which will be available for test drives for the first time ever. The car will also be mounted on a dynamometer, just like the recent Taste of Lexus events, where attendees can spin the wheels to their heart’s content …

Kevin · September 21st, 2007

Behind-The-Scenes of a New Lexus RX Commercial

Yesterday, I received an anonymous email containing photos from the production of a new RX commercial being filmed in Los Angeles, with the following information: The commercial filmed in Los Angeles in August and will feature the giant pages of a pop-up book being operated by actors playing stage hands. I believe the ad is …

Kevin · September 20th, 2007

Lexus GS 450h Completes Targa Newfoundland Rally

Targa Newfoundland, a 2,200 km (1,367 miles) rally through the winding province of Newfoundland, Canada, had an interesting entry this year, a 2007 Lexus GS 450h. The course is so grueling that it’s an accomplishment to finish, which the GS 450h did, coming in 18th overall, eight minutes behind the leader, a 1969 BMW 2002. …

Kevin · September 19th, 2007

Lexus IS-F & LF-A Together on Nürburgring

This spy video montage, which shows a collection of upcoming cars taking their turn at Nürburgring, has an interesting segment featuring the Lexus IS-F and the LF-A taking a lap together (skip to 3:09 in the video for the action): The LF-A sounds like a monster compared to the IS-F, and I’m sure the additional …

Kevin · September 19th, 2007

Lexus IS-F in Silver!

As if on cue, photos emerged today on Club Lexus of a silver Lexus IS-F, taken by Claude Feltz at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. Without a doubt, my point is proven, the IS-F doesn’t just look a little better in colors other than blue, it looks fantastic! (Special thanks to Claude for letting me …

Kevin · September 18th, 2007

Lexus IS-F Preview @ Edmunds

With all of the negative opinion circulating around the IS-F, this Edmunds preview seems almost upbeat: On paper the 2008 Lexus IS-F stacks up well against the M3, not to mention the Audi RS4 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. In the metal, the IS-F’s appearance is polarizing (“F stands for FUGLY! The car looks wack,” said …

Kevin · September 17th, 2007

Japanese Lexus LS 600h/L Commercial: Blue Lines

In the same vein as the LS 600h/L advert posted earlier this month (and which turned out to be part of Lexus’ new UK hybrid marketing campaign), this Japanese commercial also features a practically invisible LS hybrid, though this time it’s a case of speed: Wonderfully done, I was very impressed by it.

Kevin · September 17th, 2007

Flickr Find: The Lexus LF-A @ Concours D’Elegance

It may be the processing, but this photo of the Lexus LF-A concept, taken by John Hietter at this year’s Concours D’Elegance, really shows the supercar in a different light: The over-saturation makes the LF-A look almost menacing, with the muted audience in the back finally giving me some perspective as to the size of …

Kevin · September 16th, 2007

The Lexus Body Kit Series: GX 470

At first, the latest part in my Lexus Body Kit Series seemed to be taking the same road as my last feature, the ES 350, which yielded no kits at all. However, it turns out that there are a couple body kits for the GX 470. Two of the kits come from Toyota, built for …

Kevin · September 11th, 2007

A Look at the Lexus LS 600h/L’s Driver Monitoring System

When released next month, the Lexus LS 600hL will be equipped with a group of technologies, collectively dubbed the Driver Monitoring System, that takes automotive safety to an entirely new level. From the Lexus press release: The system uses an algorithm to map the position of the driver’s facial features and monitors movement of the …

Kevin · September 8th, 2007

2008 Lexus GS Press Release Confirms the Rumors

Lexus has issued a press release regarding the upcoming 2008 GS models, which confirms the previously leaked GS 460 details: All 2008 GS models will feature a revised front-end, with a new bumper, deeper intakes, and a subtly changed chrome grille. Other exterior changes: The alloy wheels have been redesigned, and turn signals have been …

Kevin · September 7th, 2007

Flickr Find: Mike IS

This black & white photo, by Flickr user toyangel immediately caught my attention because of the perfectly captured wheels, looking exceptionally crisp. From my own experiments, it’s difficult to photograph a car-in-motion, and this photo does a fantastic job of just that.

Kevin · September 4th, 2007

Lexus LS 600h Commercial: Hybrid Drive

The Lexus 600h is available only in Japan and Europe, which might explain why this commercial hasn’t made it to North American shores: It’s funny, because the invisible digital effect featured here reminds me of the car option I’m looking most forward to: the portable force field. Sure, there’s deeper, more important applications for the …

Kevin · September 3rd, 2007

The Lexus Body Kit Series: ES 350

My initial thought was to pass over it without mention, but the more I think about it, it’s quite surprising that the ES 350 has absolutely no body kits. Why is that? I think the major reason has to be that the ES 350 is no longer available in Japan, where most Lexus kits come …

Kevin · September 1st, 2007

2008 Lexus GS Facelift Revealed

Lexus has announced that the 2008 Lexus GS 450h will be debuting at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. In preparation of the event, a press photo, shown above (higher resolution here), has been released, revealing the expected front-end redesign that will be applied to all GS models. The changes are subtle, but numerous. First …

Kevin · August 30th, 2007

China Gets Lexus LF-A Pricing & Release Information

It’s been less than two weeks since the LS 600hL was released in China, and now the latest news is that the LF-A is next in line: “We are planning to import the latest Lexus models to the Chinese market at the earliest time possible,” said Zeng Lintang, vice president of Toyota Motor (China) Investment …

Kevin · August 30th, 2007

Official Specifications for the Lexus GS 460

Lexus has issued a press release with the specs for the new GS 460, and there’s some serious disappointment ahead if you were hoping for similar numbers to the LS 460. The GS 460 will be getting the LS 460’s 1UR-FSE V8 engine, but detuned from 380hp to 342hp, and if you can believe it, …

Kevin · August 29th, 2007

Lexus GS-F News!

Fantastic news has emerged regarding the existence of a Lexus GS-F: According to Motortrend, the GS-F will be receiving the LF-A’s V10 engine, meaning 500-plus horsepower, making it a worthy entry into the super sedan class. The next-gen GS, scheduled for a 2011 release, is being designed to allow for the V10 engine, which could …

Kevin · August 29th, 2007

2008 GX 470 Now on Lexus USA Website

The 2008 Lexus GX 470 has been added to the Lexus USA website, and as expected, the changes are minimal and completely cosmetic. What has changed? New dark metallic finish on the front grille Chrome roof rack side rails Liquid graphite on the standard 17-inch alloy wheels Clear rear combination lamp turn signal lens cover …

Kevin · August 28th, 2007

Tony Soprano & The Lexus LS 400

It’s always a blast seeing your favorite cars featured in TV and movies, and what what an appearance the Lexus LS 400 made in the first episode of the Sopranos (Warning: Contains coarse language and violence, viewer discretion advised): I don’t even like my girlfriend driving my car, and she’s not in the habit of …

Kevin · August 28th, 2007

Lexus IS 250 Commercial: The Valet

There’s something about the sound in this Lexus IS 250 commercial that really commanded my attention, the overprocessed blues music, the paddleshift click, the breathlessness, it all comes together so well: I wonder why the IS 250 and IS 350 have separate commercials, wouldn’t it make more sense to market them as a single model?

Kevin · August 27th, 2007

The Lexus Body Kit Series: SC 430

The next part of my Lexus Body Kit Series is up, this time for the SC 430. For a car closing in on seven years of production, and a purported sports coupe at that, there’s surprisingly few body kits to choose from, and the kits that are available are low in options, with most consisting …

Kevin · August 24th, 2007

Wald International Releases Lexus IS 250/350/220d Body Kit

Wald International has just released their IS 250/350/220d body kit, and it’s a marked improvement over the photoshop mockups: The sports fender ducts are still in development, and will hopefully stay that way. As it stands, the kit consists of a front spoiler, side step, a rear skirt and a trunk lid spoiler. The front …

Kevin · August 23rd, 2007

Lexus Working on GS Facelift?

A taped-up GS was recently seen in Europe, sporting a revised front bumper, which could indicate that there’s a refresh in the pipeline. The changes are admittedly subtle, and focus around the bottom grille, which has been reduced in size and given some extra height. The openings around the grille have been deepened as well. …

Kevin · August 23rd, 2007

Lexus Russia’s GS 450h Interactive Experience

Brandstudio, a Russian design firm, has been creating some wonderful websites for Lexus Russia, where each model has a separate Internet presence. Their latest work, for the GS 450h, is a incredibly interactive experience, though slightly confusing if you lack understanding of the Russian language. Still, with the extensive use of video, and a very …

Kevin · August 22nd, 2007

Some Quality Time with the New LX 570

Agent 001 of Autospies was busy this weekend, first discovering the the new GS 450h Bridgehampton Concept, then spending a few minutes with the Lexus LX 570: I’m reserving my judgment of the LX 570 exterior until I see it up close and personal, which looks to me to be rather “bubbly”, particularly around the …

Kevin · August 20th, 2007

Lexus GS 450h Bridgehampton Concept

Lexus debuted a special edition this weekend at The Quail Event: The GS 450h Bridgehampton Concept: From the display plaque: In the late 1950’s, and through the “glory” days of the ‘60s, affluenty sports car racers descended on a unique racing circuit near Sag Harbor on Long Island to test their mettle and their machines. …

Kevin · August 19th, 2007

The Lexus Body Kit Series: IS 250/350/220d

For the fourth part of my Lexus Body Kit Series, I bring you the IS 250/350/220d. I was surprised to find that the IS 250/350/220d had less body kits available than the third-gen GS, as I was expecting far, far more. Thinking on it, I figure it must have something to do with the great …

Kevin · August 17th, 2007

This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.

Accept Learn more…