Lexus Europe Sales Jump 40 Percent in October

Lexus sales in Europe are growing — in October, the brand recorded a 40.1% increase over 2013, and are now up 24.7% on the year. Total sales from January to October are 24,679 units. (It’s going to be very interesting to watch European sales when the NX becomes less supply constrained — have to think …
Kevin · November 24th, 2014

10,000 Lexus NX Orders in First Month of European Sales

Right out the gate, the NX 300h has been a huge hit for Lexus in Europe — 10,000 orders have been placed across the continent in the very first month of sales. (For perspective, Lexus sold 43,281 vehicles across Europe in 2013. In a single month, the NX has sold nearly 25% of last year’s …
Kevin · November 10th, 2014

Lexus Europe to Offer GS 300h Hybrid Taxi

Lexus has debuted a GS 300h taxi concept at the European Taxi Fair in Cologne, Germany — from Car Scoops: Lexus’ move to offer the GS 300h as a taxi in Europe mirrors that of parent company Toyota and its Prius that has been available as a cab for many years. Gross prices start from …
Kevin · November 5th, 2014

Photo Gallery: Black Lexus RC F in Poland

The black Lexus RC F with the full carbon fiber package has shown up at the Lexus Warszawa-Wola dealership in Poland — here are some new photos: [Source: Lexus Warszawa-Wola Facebook] (Thanks Mariusz!)
Kevin · September 30th, 2014

CAR Magazine Reviews the 2015 Lexus NX 300h

CJ Hubbard at CAR Magazine has driven the 2015 Lexus NX 300h, and the resulting review speaks for itself: Combining one of the boldest SUV design statements ever with a sophisticated twin-motor E-Four hybrid four-wheel drive system, the NX is the best real world Lexus yet. The NX has a sense of style and purpose …
Kevin · September 30th, 2014

Photos: New Lexus GS F Prototype Spotted in Europe!

A new Lexus GS F prototype has been spotted in Europe — here are some photos from World Car Fans: Very clearly, the GS F will be heavily influenced by the new RC F — the front end is near identical with the integrated oil cooler & engine cooler vents: On the side, there’s the …
Kevin · September 29th, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus NX & World Tennis Star Agnieska Radwanska

Agnieska Radwanska, the number five ranked woman tennis player in the world, has modelled with the NX F SPORT as part of her sponsorship deal with Lexus: There’s also this behind-the-scenes video from the photo shoot: Lexus has sponsored Radwanska since 2012, when she faced off against seven-time champion Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final. [Source: …
Kevin · September 26th, 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

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

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

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

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

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

Lexus is the Fastest Growing Luxury Automotive Brand in Europe

Lexus Europe have released their sales report for the first half of 2014, and the results are encouraging — 24,586 vehicles have been sold across Europe so far this year, an increase of 25.4 percent compared to the same period last year. Leading the pack is the new IS, with sales up nine-fold at 6,923 …
Kevin · July 22nd, 2014

Photo Gallery: Up Close with the Lexus NX

Lexus Europe released a rather artistic set of NX photos on their Facebook page: Included in the photos is the best shot yet of the NX panoramic roof: Disappointing that this option won’t be coming to North America, it looks great on the NX. [Source: Lexus Europe Facebook]
Kevin · July 10th, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus RC F in Liquid Platinum

A Lexus RC F in Liquid Platinum was on display at the Nürburgring this weekend — Lexus Europe posted some photos on their Facebook page: This is the first time we’ve seen the full carbon fiber RC F in a color other than Ultra White — looks good! [Source: Lexus Europe]
Kevin · June 23rd, 2014

Nürburgring 24h Race: Lexus LFA Updates

Toyota President Akio Toyoda will be one of the four drivers racing the Gazoo Racing #48Lexus LFA in the 41st annual Nürburgring 24 hour race this weekend in Germany, joining the team of Takayuki Kinoshita, Hiroaki Ishiura, & Kazuya Oshima. The LFA will be racing in the SP8 class. A second prototype #53 LFA Code …
Kevin · June 21st, 2014

Two Lexus LFAs to Participate in This Weekend’s 24h of Nürburgring Race

This weekend, two Lexus LFA teams will be racing in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. This marks the eighth consecutive year that an LFA has participated in the race. The Teams The first team is the #48 LFA driving in the SP8 class, here’s some information about the drivers: Takayuki Kinoshita: Mr. Kinoshita started his …
Kevin · June 20th, 2014

Video: Lexus NX Music Video in Madrid

Lexus Europe has released a new two-minute music video featuring the NX F SPORT: Likely the first cut of the NX commercial filmed in Madrid, this video is very well put together — elegant, stylish, and very modern. Lexus Europe have captured the NX perfectly.
Kevin · June 11th, 2014

New Lexus NX Photos from Europe

Lexus Europe has released three new NX images, including this shot of the all four NX variants (click for a larger image): Lexus Europe also released some nice behind-the-scenes from their upcoming NX brochure: (With the NX expected to bring in 20,000 additional sales for Lexus Europe, it’s no surprise that they’re pulling out all …
Kevin · May 28th, 2014

Lexus Expects NX Compact Crossover to be Big Seller in Europe

Lexus is expecting big things from the NX compact crossover in Europe — from Autocar: Asked to explain why customers would consider the NX over rival brands’ products, Alain Uyttenhoven, vice president of Lexus Europe, said: “The first reason people buy a car in this segment is because it is trendy in its design. We …
Kevin · May 28th, 2014

Lexus IS 200t Trademarked in Australia & Europe

Lexus has trademarked the IS 200t nameplate in both Australia and Europe, making way for the new 2.0L four-cylinder turbo engine to be introduced in the sports sedan. The turbo engine will debut this year with the NX compact crossover, where it generates 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The engine also features a …
Kevin · May 27th, 2014

New Lexus NX Video Shows Off Panoramic Glass Roof

As part of the an NX preview event last week in London, Lexus Europe released a new video showing off the compact crossover in F SPORT trim: Have to say, that optional panoramic glass roof is a beauty: (I’ve said it before, the panoramic glass roof is probably my favorite single option on a vehicle …
Kevin · May 27th, 2014

Lexus RC F GT3 Race Car Spotted in Japan

The first test of the Lexus RC F GT3 race car took place last week at the Okayama International Circuit in Japan: Developed over two years by Lexus International and subsidiary Techno Craft, the RC F GT3 concept is powered by a modified version of the RC F’s V8 engine that produces 540+ hp (397kw). …
Kevin · May 21st, 2014

New Lexus RC F Wheel Design Debuts in Madrid

A new Lexus RC F wheel design debuted today at the Madrid Auto Show — here are photos from Lexus Spain: A 20-spoke rim can be tough to keep clean, but it makes up for the extra work with pure style — my favorite RC F wheel yet. [Source: Lexus Spain]
Kevin · May 20th, 2014

Video: Full Lap of the Nürburgring in a Lexus LFA Race Car

The Lexus LFA teams didn’t race in this weekend’s VLN4 race at the Nürburgring, but Gazoo Racing did post a video showing a full lap of the track with driver Kazuya Oshima from an earlier race: This lap is from the VLN2 race in April, where Oshima-san & co-driver Kinoshita Takayuki won their class and …
Kevin · May 19th, 2014

Lexus Leads Customer Satisfaction in Sweden & Norway

Lexus was named the top brand in Auto Index 2014, an annual survey of Norwegian & Swedish car owners that measures vehicle quality, dealers, service and loyalty. In the Norwegian survey, Lexus achieved a record total score of 910/1000, and topped all four categories for the third year in a row. In Sweden, Lexus also …
Kevin · May 14th, 2014

Mint Green Lexus LFA Spotted in Germany

It’s the day of green LFAs — first was the Fresh Green LFA up for sale in Ohio, and now the world’s only Mint Green LFA has shown up in Germany — here are some photos from photographer Italian Car King: There’s also this video from the Cars & Coffee in Hamburg: (This has to …
Kevin · May 12th, 2014

Lexus NX to Debut New Audio Improvement Technology

The Lexus NX will introduce a world-first audio technology from Harman called Clari-fi, which significantly improves the sound quality of compressed audio: Unlike other solutions in the market today, Clari-Fi does not simply add equalization and boost bass, or focus only on leveraging high-resolution file formats on a proprietary device, according to Harman. Harman said …
Kevin · May 7th, 2014

Lexus LFA Code X Finishes First Race at Nürburgring

The Lexus LFA Code X had its first race this past weekend in the VLN3 ADAC ACAS H&R-Cup at the Nürburgring in Germany. Driven by Akira Iida, Wakisaka Juichi, and Iguchi Takuto, the new race car finished third in the SPPRO class and 67th overall — photographer Arndt Carsten sent over some photos of the …
Kevin · April 28th, 2014

Lexus LFA Wins Class in 4-Hour VLN2 Race at Nürburgring

The Lexus LFA team of Kinoshita Takayuki & Oshima Kazuya finished the second race of the 2014 Nürburgring VLN Series with a SP8 class win, placing 18th overall. The IS F team that won the first race of the season at the beginning April finished 3rd in the SP8 class and placed 40th overall. Gazoo …
Kevin · April 14th, 2014

Lexus DESIGN AMAZING Exhibit Opens at 2014 Milan Design Week

The Lexus Design Amazing exhibit opened today at Milan Design Week 2014 in Italy: Included in the exhibit are new works by three world renowned designers, who were tasked with creating an experience based on the Lexus “Amazing in Motion” theme.
Kevin · April 8th, 2014

More Details on the Lexus NX Compact Crossover

An automotive site in Slovakia had an advance look at the upcoming Lexus NX compact crossover last month, and have published the above photo along with a text teaser (please excuse the paraphrased Google-assisted translation): Despite the fact that the public has not yet officially seen the new Lexus NX, we had the pleasure to …
Kevin · April 7th, 2014

German Magazine Disassembles Lexus CT 200h After 100,000km Road Test

At the completion of their 100,000km extended road test of the Lexus CT 200h, German magazine Auto Bild disassembled the hybrid hatchback to look for signs of wear & tear: Looking through the accompanying photo gallery, there were some minor faults, but nothing major — in fact, the only two maintenance issues during the 100,000km …
Kevin · April 1st, 2014

Lexus Looking to Expand in Europe

The Lexus UK blog has an interview with International vice-president Mark Templin, and it’s filled with notable quotes: “The company has put a lot of resources into Lexus. Finally we are doing the things I wish we had done ten years ago,” he says with a smile. Templin, a straight- and fast-talking American, should know. …
Kevin · March 27th, 2014

Interview with Lexus RC F Chief Engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi

As mentioned earlier this week, Lexus RC F chief engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi participated in a Q&A during the Geneva Motor Show, answering questions from enthusiasts about the new Lexus high-performance coupe. The final interview has been posted by Lexus Europe — here’s some of the questions Yaguchi-san answered: Erich Kerner: Is the RC F Coupe …
Kevin · March 7th, 2014

New Lexus IS Receives European 5-Star Safety Recommendation

The Lexus IS 300h has been given a five-star safety ranking from Euro NCAP, making it the safest new car in the Large Family category and one of the top performing cars of 2013. Here’s a video of the crash tests: The IS scored the maximum points in the side barrier test for adult occupants …
Kevin · February 19th, 2014

A Visit to the World’s Most Northernly Lexus Dealership

Martyn Collins from the Lexus UK blog recently visited the city of Tromsø in Norway, home to the world’s most northernly Lexus dealership: The sales manager at Lexus Tromsø is a colourful character named Trond Johansen, a man who has enjoyed previous careers as a professional footballer before becoming coach for Norwegian Premiere League team Tromsø IL. Trond …
Kevin · February 17th, 2014

Lexus RC F SPORT & RC F GT3 Concept to Debut at Geneva Motor Show

The Lexus RC F SPORT will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, according to a new press release — here are the details: Based on the striking Lexus RC coupe, the F SPORT model features exclusive, even more sporting and aggressive exterior and interior design features, and enhanced driving dynamics. This announcement comes …
Kevin · February 13th, 2014

Four New Lexus CT 200h Commercials

With the release of the updated Lexus CT 200h, there are new commercials springing up around the world — let’s start with three from the USA: Here’s the CTh commercial for European markets, like the music in this one: (Any other regional Lexus CT commercials out there that I’ve missed? Leave a link in the …
Kevin · February 12th, 2014

More Information on the Lexus RC F Carbon Fiber Package

Outside of North America, the Lexus RC F carbon fiber package will also include the lightweight hood — here are some photos showing off the package with an Ultrawhite RC F: By utilizing the knowledge gained in creating the LFA, Lexus is able to augment their high-performance models with straight-from-the-factory carbon fiber — this is …
Kevin · January 19th, 2014

Lexus Europe 2013 Sales Report

Lexus Europe has reported 43,281 sales for 2013 — here’s a model-by-model breakdown for all Western, Central and Eastern European countries, including Turkey and Russia: 2013 Sales Hybrid Percentage CT 9,406 100% IS 7,562 79.1% ES 2,673 6.3% GS 3,714 38.0% LS 952 47.8% RX 13,501 48.8% Other Models 5,473 N/A Total Sales 43,281 53.3% …
Kevin · January 15th, 2014

Lexus to Enter Modified LFA CODE X in Nürburgring 24 Hour Race

Lexus & Gazoo Racing have announced that an “enhanced sports car research vehicle” called the LFA Code X will be racing in this year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race: Compared to the LFA’s base 4.8-liter V10 engine, the research vehicle’s engine displacement has been increased to 5.3 liters and system output and torque has been fine-tuned …
Kevin · January 10th, 2014

Production Lexus NX Compact Crossover to Debut at the Geneva Motor Show?

Auto Express is reporting that the production version of the Lexus LF-NX concept will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next March: Previewed by the striking LF-NX concept, first shown at the Frankfurt show in September, the compact SUV will retain the concept’s stand-out styling, according to Lexus’ European director Paul Van der Burgh. “What …
Kevin · December 4th, 2013

Video: Cruising Estonia in the Lexus IS 300h F SPORT

Time to take a little break and cruise Estonia in the Lexus IS 300h F SPORT: This video was produced by the Lexus Tallinn dealership in Estonia, and it’s extremely well done — the quality reminds me of a less intense Vossen video. (Thanks Taavi!)
Kevin · November 14th, 2013

New Information on the Twin-Turbo Lexus LS TS 650

CAR Magazine has a small feature on the Lexus LS-based, twin-turbo TS 650 from Toyota Motorsports in Germany, and it includes some new information on the history of the super sedan: It was back in 2010 that Toyota’s chairman, Akio Toyoda, felt the itch to build his own special LS luxury saloon. Allegedly inspired by …
Kevin · October 28th, 2013

Lexus Europe Announces Special Edition RX 450h

Lexus Europe has announced a special edition RX 450h with a blacked-out bumper color, LED headlights, exclusive 7-spoke 19″ alloy wheels, and an optional panoramic roof — here’s a couple high resolution photos without the glass roof: Even on a black RXh, the bumper stands out from the exterior color: I’m a big fan of …
Kevin · October 25th, 2013

Artist Creates Lexus IS F SPORT That Can Paint Pictures

Lexus Belgium has collaborated with artist Sergio Albiac to build an IS capable of painting pictures of its driver — best watch this video for a better explanation: It’s not for everyone, but there’s something very cool about a car that can generate images based on how you drive — I’d like to see the …
Kevin · October 24th, 2013

The Art of Driving by Lexus & Wallpaper Magazine

Lexus Europe & Wallpaper Magazine collaborated with two artists to create a pair of one-off art installations built around the new IS 300h. Cristina Parreño Architect Cristina Parreño works in Madrid & London, and has this to say about her installation: The installation is an attempt to capture movement in a still construction…The installation envisions …
Kevin · October 21st, 2013

Lexus Europe to Offer Internet Hotspot in Select Models

Select Lexus models in Europe are now available with an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, providing Internet connectivity to the car’s passengers: Always available and immediately activated when the car is switched on, Lexus Hotspot allows for the simultaneous use of up to five Wi-Fi devices on board. It also enables in–car interaction between them for both …
Kevin · October 17th, 2013

Video: Top Gear’s Richard Hammond Drives the 2001 Lexus GS 430

Let’s travel back to the year 2000 with Top Gear’s Richard Hammond reviewing the 2001 Lexus GS 430 for the Men & Motors TV show Much like his review of the LFA nearly a decade later, Hammond focuses on his unfortunate belief that Lexus lacks a soul — regardless, it’s still fun to flashback to …
Kevin · October 4th, 2013

How Will the Next-Generation Lexus Remote Touch System Work?

Italian website Quattroruote has an amazing photo collection of the Lexus LF-NX concept interior — here’s a selection: Of all the design details inside the LF-NX, the reinvented Remote Touch system deserves a closer look — there are two parts, the controller and the display screen: Most importantly, the current Remote Touch controller has been …
Kevin · September 30th, 2013

Lexus RC & Lexus NX Renderings from Autobild

German magazine Autobild has published two low-resolution estimations at what the Lexus NX compact crossover & RC coupe might look like: The hood line on the RC coupe rendering is a little awkward, but both images could be decent representations on what we can expect from Lexus in the near future. [Source: Autobild] (Thanks zverigor!)
Kevin · September 26th, 2013

Autoweek Comparison: Lexus IS 300h vs. BMW 320i EDE

Autoweek, the largest car magazine in The Netherlands, tested the IS 300h against the BMW 320i EDE in their latest issue — by way of a trusty translator, here’s how the two cars compared: Can the new IS be compared to the 3-series? If you are only after driving experience, you should opt for the …
Kevin · September 20th, 2013

EVO Reviews the Twin-Turbo Lexus LS TMG TS 650 Super-Sports Sedan

David Vivian of EVO Magazine has driven the TMG-developed Lexus LS-based TS 650, and clearly loved every second behind the wheel: There can be no argument here: the TS-650, when you put your toe all the way down, is blisteringly, almost surreally, rapid in a straight line. But what is surprising is how benign and …
Kevin · September 12th, 2013