Features – Page 5 | Lexus Enthusiast

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New Lexus “Engineering Amazing” Marketing Campaign

Lexus USA has pushed out a brand new marketing campaign today - let's get to the videos right away, starting first with the actual commercial and followed by some further background material.

Kevin · June 13th, 2011

What should be the next Lexus F Model?

We already have the IS-F, and it's a pretty safe bet that we'll see a GS-F, but which Lexus model should come next? The LS-F? The CT-F? The ES-F? Vote for your choice.

Kevin · June 9th, 2011

Lexus May 2011 Sales Report

Lexus USA has published their sales figures for May, and if anything, it shows the drastic effect the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake has had on the Japanese automaker.

Kevin · June 1st, 2011

Poll: Lexus IS Coupe, Sedan, Hybrid Sedan or Convertible? IS-F Coupe or Sedan?

There's a good chance that when the next-generation Lexus IS arrives, it will be offered in all possible variations: coupe, sedan, hybrid sedan and convertible. This got me thinking -- which one would you choose? Let's vote!

Kevin · May 26th, 2011

Brilliant Lexus LFA & IS-F Desktop Wallpaper

While going through Lexus UK's Flickr photos from their recent LFA/IS-F track meet, I came across this super-fantastic image that just had to be made into a desktop wallpaper.

Kevin · May 24th, 2011

Lexus CT in this Weekend’s 6-Hour VLN Nürburgring Race

Gazoo Racing has entered a Lexus CT in the SP4 class for this weekend's VLN3 42. Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy race at Nürburgring.

Kevin · May 13th, 2011

Behind-the-Scenes Look at Building the Lexus LFA

Lexus Magazine has put together an absolutely stunning photo essay that illustrates the process of building the LFA at the Motomachi plant in Japan.

Kevin · May 11th, 2011

Lexus April 2011 Sales Report

USA Lexus reported total sales of 17,576 units, a 7.8% drop from last April — here are the model-by-model stats: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2011 2010 % CHG* 2011 2010 % CHG* ES 3,493 4,396 -23.5 12,038 13,528 -12.8 CT 875 0 N/A 3,074 0 N/A HS 279 1,076 -75.0 978 4,529 -78.8 LS …

Kevin · May 3rd, 2011

Lexus Future Plans to Include CT 300h & Smaller SUV?

Lexus Australia’s Chief Executive, Tony Cramb, has let loose with plenty of inside insight of what’s coming next for Lexus — starting with a possible CT engine variant: Lexus is already talking of a higher-performance version of its hybrid-only CT200h, which went on sale this week. Likely to be called the CT300h, the petrol-electric hatch …

Kevin · April 29th, 2011

Imagining the Next-Generation Lexus GS

Master photochopper Theophilus Chin has put together his best estimate of what the next-generation Lexus GS could look like, and I think he’s right on the money: By blending the LF-Gh with the other recent design cues we’ve seen with the refreshed 2011 IS and CT 200h, I think Chin has been able to hit …

Kevin · April 25th, 2011

Lexus LF-Gh Revealed!

With its official reveal now exactly a week away, Lexus has pulled the covers off their LF-Gh in advance of its New York Auto Show debut! There’s so much to go through right now, including a full photo gallery and all the various details, but let’s start with the full Lexus press release: LF-Gh concept …

Kevin · April 12th, 2011

2013 Lexus LS Photochop by Mag-X

Using elements of our sneak peek at next-generation GS LF-Gh Concept, Japanese magazine Mag-X has put together this rendering of the 2013 Lexus LS (click for a larger image): Not much to look at for the most part, but this rendering does a good job at turning the LF-Gh’s massive pinched grille into something that …

Kevin · April 11th, 2011

A Wicked Driver’s Ed: My Experience at the Lexus LFA Driver Development Program

It is with extreme excitement that I present my article about the Lexus LFA Driver Development program, which is now being featured on the Lexus Magazine website — here’s a quote: While no LFA owner myself, I did get the opportunity to attend this full-day driving school at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California — …

Kevin · April 7th, 2011

Lexus Releases Two LF-Gh Teaser Photos!

In advance of its full reveal at the New York Auto Show, Lexus has released a couple teaser images of the their next-gen GS concept, the LF-Gh — let’s tackle the front photo first: There are some LF-Ch design cues with the chrome accents on the front grille and the light housing design, but there …

Kevin · April 5th, 2011

Lexus March 2011 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported the brand’s March 2011 sales, which includes the CT 200h for the first time ever — here are the model-by-model stats: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2011 2010 % CHG* 2011 2010 % CHG* ES 3,732 3,860 -6.9 8,545 9,132 -7.7 CT 2,199 0 N/A 2,199 0 N/A HS 230 …

Kevin · April 1st, 2011

2012 Lexus GS Spy Shot?

Don’t know if it really classifies as a spy shot, but today on Twitter, Lexus Europe posted a photo of two cars under tarps, and mentioned that vehicle and dynamic development engineers would be driving around the UK — wonder if we could be looking at examples of the next-generation GS: From the profile of …

Kevin · March 24th, 2011

Lexus LF-Gh Concept to Debut at New York Auto Show

The rumors are true — Lexus will be unveiling a new concept at the New York Auto Show! Dubbed the LF-Gh, this concept will provide a stylized look at the next-generation GS. The current generation, which has just entered its sixth year of production, is expected to be replaced in 2012. While there’s nothing in …

Kevin · March 21st, 2011

Lexus CT 200h Lightshows from France & Singapore

Similar to the introduction of the CT 200h in Dubai, Lexus France also did an exceptional 3D display projection on the side of the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye: How brilliant that Lexus has managed to “sync” its regional launch events with a global theme. Here’s two more videos of a lightshow from Lexus Singapore — first …

Kevin · March 20th, 2011

Lexus Recreates Original LS 400 Commercial with LS 460

Welcome to the power of the Internet — after seeing a Lexus owner’s unsuccessful attempt to recreate the original Balance LS 400 commercial with his LS 460, Lexus and their ad agency Team One decided to try out the experiment themselves: There we have it, proof that the LS 460 is a worthy ancestor of …

Kevin · March 19th, 2011

Next-Gen Lexus GS to Debut at New York Auto Show?

Autoblog is reporting that the next-generation Lexus GS will be coming to the New York Auto Show: Although it’s unclear whether the GS we’ll see in NYC is a concept or a production model, we do know that it will be underpinned by an all-new platform that will also be used on the next-generation IS, …

Kevin · March 10th, 2011

Brilliant Lexus CT 200h Launch Event in Dubai

Not to be too sensational, but this video from the Lexus CT 200h launch event in Dubai is easily one of the best car introductions I’ve ever seen: Admittedly, it’s a little too long, but I can see why the designers would want to stretch it out — the colors, the soundtrack, the animations are …

Kevin · March 6th, 2011

Lexus February 2011 Sales Report

USA Lexus reported total sales of 13,814 units, which essentially matches sales from last February — here are the model-by-model stats: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2011 2010 % CHG* 2011 2010 % CHG* ES 2,598 2,349 10.6 4,813 5,272 -8.7 HS 183 712 -74.3 469 1,959 -76.1 LS 706 799 -11.6 1,440 1,891 -23.8 …

Kevin · March 1st, 2011

Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition Video

Here’s our first video look at the Lexus LFA Nürburgring edition set to debut at the Geneva motor show next week, courtesy of Yellow Wheels: I don’t know if it’s just the warehouse or what, but the NE LFA exhaust seems to have just a little bit more of a snarl. One thing’s for sure, …

Kevin · February 24th, 2011

Next-Generation Lexus IS F?

Along with their photochop of the next-generation Lexus IS, Best Car also tried their hand at the future IS F (click for a larger image): From the Japanese blurb, it looks like Best Car is suggesting the engine output will remain unchanged in the next-gen IS F, which is something I doubt very much. It …

Kevin · February 23rd, 2011

Full Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package Details

Lexus Europe has released the full details on the LFA Nürburgring package that’s set to debut at next week’s Geneva auto show — there’s plenty to go over, first here’s a quote from the press release: To improve track driving even further, the aerodynamic performance of the LFA with the Nürburgring package will be modified …

Kevin · February 22nd, 2011

Next-Gen Lexus IS Hybrid?

Japanese magazine Best Car is reporting the next-generation Lexus IS will be coming this September, and will be available as a V6 hybrid capable of 58 MPG (4l/100kms) — here’s their photochop attempt at the third generation IS (click for a larger version): Considering the huge marketing push for the 2011 IS update, I have …

Kevin · February 22nd, 2011

Lexus LFA Launch Control Video

Here it is, the first recorded use of the Lexus LFA’s Launch Control feature: It almost looks like the driver was startled by the Launch Control and let’s up a bit, but no matter, the speed here is just plain insane. Going by a guesstimate time, it looks like the LFA hits 260km (163 mph) …

Kevin · February 14th, 2011

Live Photos of the Lexus Project CT by Five Axis

Today was the first press day at the Chicago Auto Show, which means our first live look at the Lexus Project CT by Five Axis — here are some photos from Autoblog: I’m not sure that the photos really do the car any justice, but when you compare it with the previous Project GS & …

Kevin · February 9th, 2011

Lexus LS 600hL Sports Line Black Bison Body Kit by Wald

Japanese tuner Wald International has released a new Sports Line Black Bison body kit for the Lexus LS 600h/hL: The full kit is extensive, and includes a front bumper spoiler, side steps, sports fender ducts, LED daytime running lights, a rear bumper spoiler, roof spoiler, trunk spoiler (Version 2), plus a new exhaust system. The …

Kevin · February 9th, 2011

The #014 Lexus LFA Arrives in Costa Rica

The following is an email I received from Purdy Motor employee Mauricio Barquero. Purdy Motor is the Lexus distributor in Costa Rica and is run by Lexus race driver Javier Quirós, who has just taken delivery of his red #014 LFA. *** Javier Quirós´ LFA arrived to Costa Rica today. Mr. Quirós is the president …

Kevin · February 1st, 2011

Lexus & Five Axis Team Up for Project CT Show Car

Just in time for the Chicago Auto Show, Lexus has once again teamed up with Five Axis to produce a concept car — this time based on the CT 200h. Here’s a teaser sketch released today (which I’ve made to fit wallpaper size): Select Resolution: 1920×1080 | 1680×1050 | 1440×900 | 1280×1024 | 1280×800 | …

Kevin · February 1st, 2011

Lexus LFA with Blue Interior & No Remote Touch

While looking through the Lexus LFA owner’s manual, I came across this very unique interior configuration (click for a larger image): While it’s nice to see a different color scheme after the sea of red we saw with the first North American LFAs, the biggest thing about this interior isn’t the color, but the lack …

Kevin · January 28th, 2011

Details on the Lexus LFA Launch Control

Although we’ve known for some time that the Lexus LFA is equipped with Launch Control, details have been far & few between. This system, which optimizes fast starts off the line by holding the transmission at a higher RPM, is essential for racing and providing the best track times. Now, with the first production models …

Kevin · January 26th, 2011

First Production Lexus LFAs Arrive in North America

The first production Lexus LFAs have arrived in North America, and Club Lexus editor Flipside909 was there to see them “unboxed” from their cargo containers — tuns out it’s quite the production: Each LFA ships in its own clean container with a pink painted metal pallet designed specifically to secure the car during transport. Each …

Kevin · January 21st, 2011

The Man Behind the Lexus LFA Manufacturing

Lexus Magazine has a new feature on the man responsible for leading the LFA Works manufacturing team, Shigeru Yamanaka: Shigeru Yamanaka, manufacturing manager at the LFA Works, sums it up with characteristic precision: “We are actually a Takumi team.” Within Lexus, a Takumi—literally, “artisan”—is one of the 10 to 12 top guns of manufacturing. To …

Kevin · January 19th, 2011

The First Production Lexus LFA

The Lexus LFA website has been updated to include a very important milestone — the manufacturing of the very first production LFA: December 15th, 2010. The production of the Lexus LFA begins at the Motomachi Factory LFA Plant. The LFA will be produced by a total of 170 people including the CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced …

Kevin · January 17th, 2011

Lexus CT 200h Modellista Body Kit

More news about the Japanese launch of the Lexus CT 200h — Japanese buyers will have the option of purchasing a Modellista body kit right from their dealership — here’s some detail shots of the front lip, the side-skirts and the rear diffuser with a reconfigured exhaust: If I’m reading the price list (PDF link) …

Kevin · January 13th, 2011

Lexus Japan CT 200h F-Sport Details

The Lexus CT 200h F-Sport also launched today in Japan, and like the regular CT, there’s been some new details revealed by way of the Lexus Japan website. Here’s a good look at some of the package upgrades: Lexus Japan will also be offering some unique interior options with the F-Sport package — really impressed …

Kevin · January 13th, 2011

Lexus CT 200h Launches in Japan

The 2011 Lexus CT 200h went on sale in Japan today, and with it comes a fresh new website with plenty of new Japan-only details — but first, here’s some new photos: Here’s a chart with the full exterior color choices — note the F-Sport package in the middle: Here’s Japan’s range of interior options, …

Kevin · January 12th, 2011

New Lexus Videos: “The Hard Way”

Revisiting "The Hard Way" -- these are some of my favorite Lexus videos of all time.

Kevin · January 12th, 2011

Lexus @ 2011 Detroit Auto Show

The press days at the Detroit Auto Show are in full swing, and Lexus has gone all out with their exhibit, which includes a massive 5,000-ft LED display — here’s the Fox Marketing LS 600hL illuminated by the light: Of course, the centerpiece of the Lexus display is the orange LFA, and Auto Evolution has …

Kevin · January 10th, 2011

Lexus December 2010 Sales Report (Plus Year-End Totals)

USA December 2010 is in the books, meaning it’s time for both the month-end and year-end sales totals for Lexus: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2010 2009 % CHG* 2010 2009 % CHG* ES 5,469 6,531 -13.2 48,652 48,485 1.0 HS 1,121 1,980 -41.3 10,663 6,699 60.2 LS 1,516 2,085 -24.6 12,275 11,334 9.0 SC …

Kevin · January 4th, 2011

EVO Engine of the Year: The Lexus LFA V10

One point I lost in the shuffle of EVO’s Car of the Year showdown — the magazine named the Lexus LFA’s V10 the 2010 Engine of the Year (click for a larger version): Some quotes: There’s the noise [the LFA engine] makes, for a start, a dense shriek like a V10 F1 car’s, fired out …

Kevin · January 2nd, 2011

Lexus 2010 Year-in-Review

With 2010 coming to a close, there’s no better time to look back on the year that was, so here’s a bullet-point breakdown of the last twelve months: January The year started off strong with a Top Gear review of the Lexus LFA, complete with crazy graphics and the usual badge snobbery. TLE readers voted …

Kevin · December 31st, 2010

Massive Lexus Die-Cast Model Collection

Today, I would like to share a very special article from Eric Janssen, a retired Sales & PR Manager from Lexus Belgium, who has been collecting Lexus models since the very introduction of the brand, and was gracious enough to share a full history and photos of his collection. The history of Lexus scale models …

Kevin · December 29th, 2010

Happy Holidays!

The festive season has arrived, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a safe and happy holidays! As can be imagined, things will be quiet over the next few days, but regular posting will resume December 29th with the history of Lexus die-cast models, followed by a look back …

Kevin · December 24th, 2010

TLE Christmas Party

Christmas is fast approaching, and to celebrate the upcoming holiday season, I’ll be giving away a Lexus t-shirt every day next week, from Monday to Christmas Eve! Winners will be randomly selected — there are four custom CT 200h t-shirts that I picked up at the NYC event in September, and then on Christmas Eve …

Kevin · December 18th, 2010

Lexus ES 300h Hybrid Trademark Registered

Once again, the North American Trademark offices have given us a glimpse into the future, as both Lexus USA & Lexus Canada have filed for the ES 300h trademark (Canadian Trade-Mark 1507011 & U.S. Trademark No. 85193249, both registered on December 8, 2010.) Although it’s hardly a full confirmation, this certainly points to a hybrid …

Kevin · December 17th, 2010

Lexus LFA Die-Cast Model by Auto Art

As unbelievable as it may be, the image above is not actually the Lexus LFA, but a 1:18 scale die-cast model by Auto Art — here’s the proof, as I hope we never see an LFA in this position: The detail is exceptional: Here’s the full gallery in high-resolution glory: Although it would make a …

Kevin · December 16th, 2010

Lexus USA CT 200h Pricing!

The U.S. pricing for the Lexus CT 200h has been announced by way of Nevada’s Lexus of Reno dealership, who have posted the full details to their blog one day before the official announcement. To start with, the MSRP of the Entry-Level CT will be $29,120 USD ($29,995 after delivery charges), and includes standard equipment …

Kevin · December 14th, 2010

Matte White Lexus IS-F

These Matte White Lexus IS-F photos from Import Bible are the next instalment of my unofficial Vinyl Wrap week: Matte white is funny — white is hardly the most reflective paint color to begin with, but that extra opacity just gives the surface a subtle boost that I really like. (Thanks for the idea, Mark!)

Kevin · December 10th, 2010

2012 Lexus GS-F?

Road & Track sure are rumor-happy this week — first there was their report that the next-generation Lexus IS will be built in 2013 on a modified FT-86 platform, and now today they’re back with news of the 2012 GS-F: Our sources tell us that [the GS-F] will come with a 5.0-liter V-8 that will …

Kevin · December 1st, 2010

Lexus November 2010 Sales Report

USA November has flown by, here are the model-by-model sales numbers for Lexus USA: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2010 2009 % CHG* 2010 2009 % CHG* ES 4,070 4,110 -5.1 43,183 41,954 3.3 HS 788 1,407 -46.3 9,542 4,719 102.9 LS 1,270 1,057 15.1 10,759 9,249 16.7 SC 17 34 -52.1 315 670 -52.8 …

Kevin · December 1st, 2010

Lexus LFA Challenge Event at Fuji Speedway

Stop what you’re doing and watch this video — it’s pure LFA madness: Just to count them off: There’s a Black, White, Red, Yellow and a brand new (what looks to be) Grey LFA all racing the Fuji Speedway in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Toyota Motorsports Festival. Absolutely amazing — that Black …

Kevin · November 30th, 2010

2014 Lexus IS?

Road & Track is reporting that the next-generation Lexus IS will debut in 2013 as a 2014 model: The reason, according to our sources, is that work has started on a new 4-door sedan based on the FT-86 platform. …this car will be built atop a stretched version of the FT-86 chassis. Toyota boss Akio …

Kevin · November 29th, 2010

Five New or Updated Lexus Hybrids by 2012?

Earlier this year, it was announced that Toyota would be releasing 6 new hybrids by 2012 (four from Toyota and two from Lexus), and now Automotive News is reporting that a total of 11 new or redesigned models will be available in that same timeframe, along with a new focus on turbochargers: Toyota Motor Corp. …

Kevin · November 23rd, 2010

Lexus CT 200h in Black

While on the topic of the Lexus CT 200h, here are a few photos of the black CT 200h taken at the September press launch in France (click for a larger version): The best part about the last picture is that the brick wall is actually the bottom of a castle.

Kevin · November 19th, 2010

Lexus Gran Turismo 5 Car List

To say I’m excited about the upcoming release of Gran Turismo 5 would be an extreme understatement, and now these in-game screenshots of the Lexus LFA have me calculating the seconds until the game hits stores on November 24th: The LFA isn’t the only Lexus available in GT5, here’s the full list of the eighteen …

Kevin · November 16th, 2010

Online Chat with Lexus USA’s Mark Templin (Live)

With the Facebook & Twitter online chat with Lexus USA General Manager Mark Templin scheduled to begin in just under a hour from now, I thought it would be a good idea to set up a place to follow along. I will be updating this post with direct quotes from the Q&A session, along with …

Kevin · November 12th, 2010

Lexus GS 450h Photos: Cryogenic

Down the street from my house is Industrial Cryogenic Enterprises Ltd., which is basically an old, (seemingly) abandoned garage out in the middle of nowhere. Not only does it make me think of cryogenically frozen Futurama heads every time I pass, but it’s also the perfect place to take grunged-out car photos — so that’s …

Kevin · November 12th, 2010

Lexus October 2010 Sales Report

USA A little late to the party, but here are the Lexus USA sales figures for October 2010: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2010 2009 % CHG* 2010 2009 % CHG* ES 5,153 4,413 21.1 39,113 37,844 4.2 HS 792 1,527 -46.2 8,754 3,312 166.4 LS 1,202 804 55.0 9,489 8,192 16.7 SC 15 41 …

Kevin · November 4th, 2010

SEMA: Day 1 Photos

Perhaps I should have expected it, but SEMA has turned out to be a whirlwind of activity, with little time to do much but take photos and move along to the next exhibit. First off, the LFA was unveiled at the CEC booth yesterday with two different wheel styles: The passenger-side ten-spoke alloys were a …

Kevin · November 3rd, 2010

2010 SEMA Lexus Show Car Lineup

Lexus have announced their SEMA show car lineup, and it’s a hybrid-exclusive affair — here’s what to expect next week: CT 200h F Sport Concept HS 250h by VIP Auto Salon GS 450h by 0-60 Magazine RX 450h by Paul Tolson of EST LS 600hL by Fox Marketing LS 600hL by VIP Auto Salon Joining …

Kevin · October 29th, 2010

2010 Lexus GS 450h Photos: Electricity

The first set of photos from my time with the 2010 Lexus GS 450h are all about the electricity (click on any image for a larger version): Taking photos with an electrical backdrop was my #1 goal with the GSh, and luckily I had been saving a hydro station for such an occasion. Electro-shock!

Kevin · October 29th, 2010

2010 Lexus GS 450h Review

A few weeks back, I had the chance to spend some time with a 2010 Lexus GS 450h, which stands as one of my favorite models in the lineup. Now, having reviewed the 2009 model last year, my main focus this time around was trying out some new photography techniques, but I did want to …

Kevin · October 27th, 2010

Lexus Announces Voluntary Recall on 2006 GS 300, IS 250 & IS 350, 2004-2006 RX 330

Lexus has announced a worldwide voluntary recall on the 2006 Lexus GS300, IS250 & IS350, plus the 2004-2006 RX 330 for an possible issue with brake fluid slowly leaking from the brake master cylinder — here’s the full technical explanation: The Toyota genuine brake fluid used during vehicle assembly for vehicles sold in the United …

Kevin · October 21st, 2010

Lexus CT 200h in Daybreak Yellow

Of all the Lexus CT 200h exterior color options, Daybreak Yellow was the last color I expected to like, but seeing it in person changed my mind, at least to a degree — depending on the sun or shade, it could shift from gold to garish in the blink of an eye, and it was …

Kevin · October 19th, 2010

SEMA Preview: Lexus LS 600hL by Fox Marketing

With just a couple weeks before SEMA, Fox Marketing has unveiled their modified LS 600hL that will be shown as part of the Lexus display: Like what was done to the front grille: Here’s probably the best look at the real color: I like the blacked/greened-out look well enough, especially in the way it tones …

Kevin · October 18th, 2010

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