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Lexus ES 350 & IS 250/350 Recall Extended to Canada

The Lexus ES 350 & IS 250/350 safety recall that was announced in the USA has been extended to Canada. The recall will address the possible risk of unintended acceleration due to improperly installed floor mats by installing a new accelerator pedal and by installing a brake override system that will cut engine power went …

Kevin · November 27th, 2009

Lexus LFAs Limited to 150 Units in USA, 10 in Canada

There’s news today on the USA’s allotment of Lexus LFAs—initially thought to be “undetermined” and dependant on worldwide demand, it has now been announced that the USA will receive 150 of the total run of 500 units: A Lexus spokesman told Inside Line only 150 cars will be coming to the U.S. Previously, Lexus said …

Kevin · November 24th, 2009

More Information on the Lexus LFA Buying Process

As time goes on, we’re going to find the process of selling the Lexus LFA will almost be as interesting as the car itself—case in point, the Toronto Star has published some background information for potential Canadian buyers: For the first time in mainstream automotive memory, a car is being brought to market that drivers …

Kevin · November 2nd, 2009

Lexus LFA to make North American Debut Next Month

The Lexus LFA will be making its North American debut at November’s SEMA trade show in Las Vegas as it starts a serious cross country tour: The highly anticipated LFA supercar, which just made its global debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, will be on display for the first time in North America at two …

Kevin · October 22nd, 2009

Lexus HS250h Photos from Winnipeg

Given the short time frame, I wasn’t able to take too many photos during the Lexus HS 250h event in Winnipeg, but what I lacked in quantity I made up for in quality: {embed=“site/gallery” gallery_id=“1389”} I found the HS 250h in Matador Red very easy to photograph—unlike the Aurora White Pearl that absorbed all light. …

Kevin · October 19th, 2009

2010 Lexus HS 250h Canadian Preview

To mark the Canadian release of the Lexus HS 250h, Lexus Canada invited media from across the country to test drive the new hybrid sedan in Winnipeg, Manitoba, one of the most environmentally friendly cities in Canada. The event took place over two days, where we were blessed with some exceptionally wonderful weather and plenty …

Kevin · October 15th, 2009

Great Lexus IS Convertible Billboard in Toronto

Check out this cool Lexus IS-C digital billboard in downtown Toronto: What’s interesting is that the position of the IS-C roof changes depending on the current weather, which is also displayed underneath the car. Very nicely executed! (Hopefully this is still in place the top is down when I’m in Toronto next week…) [Source: DSE]

Kevin · September 21st, 2009

Spending Time with the 2010 Lexus HS 250h

Recently, I had a chance to get a quick look at a Lexus HS 250h prototype that was being used to develop dealership training materials by the people at Lexus Canada. Glenn Alkema of the Lexus Academy was nice enough to give me a tour of the new hybrid, which will be introduced here in …

Kevin · August 31st, 2009

2009 Lexus IS-F Review

As the story goes: the Lexus IS-F began as a secret project by Lexus chief designer Yukihiko Yaguchi, who wanted to build a Lexus that could rival Europe’s top sports sedans. Yaguchi, who also worked on the last Toyota Supra and the first generation LS 400, saw a unique opportunity to extend the Lexus brand …

Kevin · August 5th, 2009

2010 Lexus LX 570 Changes

Details on the 2010 Lexus LX 570 have been announced by way of a Lexus Canada press release, and as expected, changes are minimal. Four new features have been added: The latest generation of the Lexus Voice-Activated, Hard Disc-based Navigation System A USB audio input connection The Lexus customizable settings system Privacy glass for the …

Kevin · July 28th, 2009

Lexus IS-F Photo Gallery: Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a small town in Southern Ontario, full of historical significance and now home to some of the finest wine country in Canada. Over the last few years, a new collection of exceptionally modern looking wineries have been cropping up, and I thought it the perfect backdrop to some IS-F photos: {embed=“site/gallery” gallery_id=“1271”} (Really …

Kevin · July 27th, 2009

White Lexus IS 250 F-Sport Photos

Gabriel Forcier from the Spinelli Lexus Lachine in Quebec sent me this great photo of an IS 250 with all the F-Sport trimmings: I’m a huge fan of the Starfire Pearl, and it goes well with the F-Sport wheels. Gabriel also included some other photos of the IS, I’ve included them here: {embed=“site/gallery” gallery_id=“1256”}

Kevin · July 17th, 2009

Lexus RX 450h to be Built in Canada?

Even more manufacturing news—Automotive News is reporting that Lexus RX 450h production may move from Japan to the Toyota Cambridge plant. Motor Authority has more details: During a press event, a Lexus executive Paul Williamsen said the first hybrid built outside of Japan will go into production this summer in Ontario, Canada, reports Automotive News. …

Kevin · June 30th, 2009

Lexus RX Discovery Special Now on Lexus.com

Last night, the Discovery Channel show Factory Made had a short behind-the-scenes feature on the 2010 Lexus RX 350 manufacturing process, and today that video has been posted on the Lexus USA website. As the video shows, the RX 350 is built in Cambridge, Ontario, and is an incredibly detailed process—even painting the RX takes …

Kevin · June 20th, 2009

2009 Lexus LX570 Photo Gallery: Out in the Wilderness

There are some tight & twisty roads in my area, and this first set of Lexus LX 570 photos are taken at the only stop on one of my favorites: {embed=“site/gallery” gallery_id=“1188”} The LX 570 engine roared climbing some of the massive hills, like driving the world’s smoothest, best handling tank.

Kevin · June 8th, 2009

Lexus Canada May 2009 Sales Report

Lexus Canada May 2009 sales slipped 13% under last year, with a total of 1,587 units sold—but there was also good news, as SUV sales hit their highest point ever with 913 units sold, besting the previous record by 14.1%. Of course, this was due entirely to the success of the new 2010 RX 350, …

Kevin · June 3rd, 2009

Photos of the Lexus GS Passionate Black Interior

Lexus enthusiast Harinder from Vancouver has done me two big favors—first he told me about the Passionate Black availability in Canada, and now he’s sent photos of his very own PB Lexus GS: {embed=“site/gallery” gallery_id=“1126”} (The all-season mats are in place, but Harinder assured me that black carpet mats were also included. Also, in Canada, …

Kevin · May 5th, 2009

Lexus Canada April 2009 Sales Report

While auto sales are enduring a major slump in the US, Lexus Canada has just reported their best April ever, moving a total of 1,621 vehicles last month. This is a 4% increase over last year. Some specific points: The new Lexus RX 350 enjoyed an all-time record month, selling 748 units, up 48.4% over …

Kevin · May 4th, 2009

More Details on the Lexus GS Passionate Black Interior

After the discovery of the Lexus GS Passionate Black interior in North America, I was possessed to find out more details, so I arranged a quick email interview with Greg Thome, Lexus USA’s Communications Supervisor: TLE: Lexus Japan released the Passionate Black interior as a special edition last year, and now Lexus USA has started …

Kevin · April 28th, 2009

Lexus GS Passionate Black Interior Now Available in North America!

In what could only be described as “my dreams come true”, Lexus USA and Canada have started offering the Passionate Black interior on select models of the GS! This unique blood red & black interior color combination was first seen in a Japan-only limited edition of 500 models—here are some more photos: In Canada, the …

Kevin · April 16th, 2009

Lexus RX 450h Commercial from Canada

Last up is a Lexus RX 450h commercial from Canada, which also manages to feature a canine (however brief): Strange that it’s taken me so long to post this, considering that I’ve seen this commercial repeatedly over the last month or so. Filmed in Vancouver, the song is Clair de Lune by Debussy. I’m always …

Kevin · April 7th, 2009

Lexus Canada March 2009 Sales Report

The release of the 2010 RX 350 has been a huge success for Lexus Canada, helping them set an all-time March sales record of 1,363 units sold, 25.5% higher than last year. Most importantly, these positive numbers certainly a nice change in the face of the automotive meltdown in the USA. The new RX 350 …

Kevin · April 2nd, 2009

Canadian Driver Reviews the Lexus ES 350

The Lexus ES 350 doesn’t get a lot of play, particularly with it in the third year of its design cycle, but this Canadian Driver review of the 2009 model is worth noting, as it manages to capture the ES’ appeal and includes a previously unheard (and likely untrue) rumor: The 2009 model retains the …

Kevin · March 23rd, 2009

Lexus Canada February 2009 Sales Report

After a year of setting sales records in 2008, Lexus Canada is feeling the pinch of the shaky economic climate with sales in February dropping 24.4% compared to last year to 1,303 units sold. That said, the RX 350 continues to be a strong seller, and with the introduction of the 2010 model mid-month, sales …

Kevin · March 9th, 2009

TAS 2009: The Lexus IS 350C in Silver

Now a few days removed from the Toronto Auto Show, I’ve been going through the virtual stack of photos that I took, and have compiled my first gallery — here’s the IS 350C in silver: {embed=“site/gallery” gallery_id=“1044”} As I mentioned previously, convertibles just don’t do it for me (likely due to dealing with bitterly cold …

Kevin · February 16th, 2009

Trying the Lexus Remote Touch System @ The Toronto Auto Show

After reporting stories and videos about the new Lexus Remote Touch system, I had the chance yesterday to try the technology for myself — and managed to record it despite my (noticeable) excitement: Being an interface technology, there’s really no way to describe the haptic feedback feeling, save to say that it’s intuitive and incredibly …

Kevin · February 13th, 2009

Toronto Auto Show Interview with John-Paul Farag

As I mentioned, I had an opportunity to talk with John-Paul Farag, Lexus Canada’s Advanced Technology & Powertrain Consultant, who answered some questions that have come up over the last few months. TPP: Where is the battery located on the HS, is it underneath the vehicle? John-Paul: It’s similar to the Camry, where it’s partially …

Kevin · February 12th, 2009

CIAS 2009: Day One Impressions

Kevin · February 11th, 2009

TPP @ The Canadian International Auto Show

Just wanted to post a quick update on some things that will be happening this week, namely the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. I’ll be attending the event during the Media Days, and will be able to spend some quality time with the new Lexus models. The HS 250h will be presented at Lexus’ …

Kevin · February 8th, 2009

Lexus 2010 RX Heads-Up Display (HUD)

Lexus Canada has launched a very nice promo site for the upcoming 2010 Lexus RX release, and one of their photos clearly displays the new Heads-Up Display (HUD) feature, which features a great looking navigational aid: The photo is Photoshopped, but obviously entirely accurate. Creating such clear and precise directional cues directly in front of …

Kevin · January 20th, 2009

Lexus Cuts Output from Ontario Factory

Reuters is reporting that the only Lexus plant outside of Japan will also be idling its production, as the Toyota factory in Cambridge, Ontario will halt RX 350 production for five days in January. This news comes after a report that the Lexus plants in Japan would be offline for ten days during December. Both …

Kevin · December 11th, 2008

Lexus Canada November 2008 Sales Report

With November 2008 sales up 19.1% over last year, Lexus Canada continues to see strong growth. A total of 1,152 models were sold, marking the eighth consecutive record sales month. One interesting fact, Lexus RX 350’s are built in Cambridge, Ontario, and are marketed heavily as a Made-in-Canada product. This has resulted in an opposite …

Kevin · December 3rd, 2008

Lexus Canada October 2008 Sales Report

Lexus sales continue to grow in Canada, with October 2008 sales of 1,126 total units, a 15.8% increase when compared to 2007. What’s more, total sales for the year are up 15.6% to 12,943 vehicles sold. This number is almost equal to the annual sales of 2007, with two months still remaining! Some other points: …

Kevin · November 5th, 2008

Lexus IS-F Wins Big in AJAC Test Fest

When the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) gathered together for their annual event to name the best vehicles for 2009, they brought in two Lexus’ to compete: The IS-F in the Best New Sports/Performance Car over $50k, and the LX 570 in the Best New SUV/CUV over $60k. The LX 570 ended up being …

Kevin · October 27th, 2008

2010 Lexus RX 350 Optional Equipment

Continuing in on the breakdown of the 2010 Lexus RX 350, here’s a list of newly available optional equipment: Bi-Xenon HID Headlamps Automatic High Beam Feature Auto-dimming Rearview Mirror with Integrated Backup Camera Wallet-Size Card Key 12-Speaker Premium Audio System USB Audio Input 15-Speaker Mark Levinson Audio System Voice-activated HDD Navigation System XM Real-Time Traffic …

Kevin · October 22nd, 2008

2010 Lexus RX 350 Standard Equipment

As I mentioned in the previous post, due to a forwarded dealership document, I have the full breakdown of the next-generation 2010 Lexus RX 350. In that first post, I covered the specification side of things, and now here’s a list of the new standard equipment, along with the standard equipment no longer offered: New …

Kevin · October 22nd, 2008

Full 2010 Lexus RX 350 Specs!

Early this morning, I was sent a dealership document outlining the full details of the North American Canadian 2010 Lexus RX 350, right down to the available packages (still no production model photos though, the pic above is the LF-Xh concept). I’m going to break up the information over a series of posts today, starting …

Kevin · October 22nd, 2008

Lexus Canada September 2008 Sales Report

Lexus Canada saw sales soar 37.6% in September, bucking the direction of country’s softening auto market and marking the ninth straight record month. Overall, the brand sold 1,351 units, and although Lexus Canada doesn’t publish it’s full model-by-model breakdown, there were a few choice tidbits in the press release: Lexus IS sales jumped 51.9% The …

Kevin · October 6th, 2008

National Post Comparison: Lexus IS-F vs. Nissan GT-R

David Booth, a columnist with Canada’s National Post, has posted up his latest column comparing the Lexus IS-F with the Nissan GT-R, and it’s just as expertly written and to the point as I’ve come to expect: With the IS-F, you have time to prepare for the acceleration as the big 5.0-litre V8 gathers itself …

Kevin · September 26th, 2008

Lexus GS 450h Finishes 6th in Targa Newfoundland

The Targa Newfoundland race concluded on Saturday, with Lexus GS 450h making a late push to finish 6th place. Here’s the summary written by Team Lexus’ driver, Mark Lachapelle: Team Targa Lexus chose to make a very different entrance and arrival. Co-driver Alan Ockwell and I simply drove up in total silence, running on electric …

Kevin · September 21st, 2008

Lexus GS 450h Targa Racer Video (Plus an Update)

Today, we have some seriously short video clips of the Lexus GS 450h currently racing around the Targa Newfoundland course. There’s quite a few on Youtube, but these two here are the best indication of the speed and conditions: As far as the race itself, Team Lexus had a great showing yesterday: Results for Day …

Kevin · September 16th, 2008

2009 Lexus IS Pricing

The upcoming changes to the 2009 Lexus IS won’t be causing much in the way of a price increase in the United States. The new facelift will only see a $300 jump in price, regardless of which version is purchased. In Canada, the 2009 IS 250 RWD & IS 350 will both see a $400 …

Kevin · September 5th, 2008

Lexus Canada Model Price Reduction

TPP commenter Jesse P.S reminded me of something that was lost in the shuffle of the RX prototype video and the June sales reports — Lexus Canada dropped their prices significantly on July 1st. Here’s the table: Canadian Model Price Reductions Vehicle Old MSRP New MSRP 2008 IS 250 $36,550 $31,900 2008 ES 350 $42,900 …

Kevin · July 4th, 2008

Lexus Canada June 2008 Sales Report

In contrast to the current US sales situation, Lexus Canada had their best June ever, posting a 22.4% increase over last year. At 1,557 total units sold, the number pales in comparison to the US sales volume, but the rate of growth is very impressive, particularly in regard to the SUV market. Lexus Canada sold …

Kevin · July 2nd, 2008

Lexus IS-F Ringtone

The Lexus Canada website is just full of surprises — first we had the web game that led to a secret video, and now TPP reader Jarrett mentions that there’s also an IS-F ringtone available for download. Here’s a preview, though I recommend turning your speakers down: Granted, it’s pretty intense, and only spent about …

Kevin · June 4th, 2008

Crazy Lexus IS-F Donut

At first, this video didn’t strike me as anything really, until it just kept going on and on: Sure, the road surface is slicked down, but it was still good for 45 seconds of amusement.

Kevin · May 5th, 2008

The Toronto Auto Show & Some Site News

It’s a bit last minute, but I’ll be heading to the Canadian International Auto Show tomorrow in Toronto, where I’m finally going to get chance to see the Lexus IS-F (among other assorted vehicles). It’s my first auto show in years, and I’m really looking forward to it. As expected, I’ll be taking a ton …

Kevin · February 22nd, 2008

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

Lexus Commercial: H is for Hybrid

I don’t know about the rest of the world, but here in Canada, the Lexus commercial Moments was in heavy rotation for quite some time, and was incredibly received (I know this, because people actually talked to me about it). In light of that, it comes as no surprise that the ad execs went for …

Kevin · October 12th, 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

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

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