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Lexus Introduces New Global Racing Program

Lexus revealed details on their new racing program during their Detroit Auto Show press conference yesterday. Alongside a continued presence in the Japanese Super GT series, the brand plans to introduce the RC F GT3 race car into the FIA GT3 category in Europe this year, with plans to race in a “yet-to-be-determined series” in …

Kevin · January 14th, 2015

Seventy New Photos of the Lexus GS F

Lexus released a massive photo gallery of the GS F high-performance sedan, here’s all seventy images presented in high resolution:

Kevin · January 14th, 2015

Video: Introducing the Lexus GS F

Here’s the Lexus GS F introductory video shown at the Detroit Auto Show this morning: There’s also seven minutes of B-roll video footage — it’s completely silent, but shows off a lot of good angles: Finally, here’s the full press conference from earlier today with Lexus USA general manager Jeff Bracken introducing the GS F …

Kevin · January 13th, 2015

No Next-Generation Lexus RX at the Detroit Auto Show After All?

After spending the day at the Detroit Auto Show, I can say with some confidence that the next-generation Lexus RX will not debut tomorrow. Speculation started last year with the rumor that two models would debut in Detroit — Edmunds then followed this up with a definitive statement that the RX would be revealed alongside …

Kevin · January 12th, 2015

Drift-Modified Lexus LFA on Display at Tokyo Auto Salon

The Tokyo Auto Salon wrapped up yesterday, and one of the Lexus vehicles on display was a drifting-build LFA — here are photos from Auto Culture Japan: Details are far and few between, but judging from the booth display, the D1-spec LFA was built by Lexus dealership group Osaka Toyopet in partnership with Falken Tires. …

Kevin · January 12th, 2015

Liveblog: Lexus at the Detroit Auto Show 2015

The Detroit Auto Show starts today, and I’m here in Detroit to bring you live Lexus updates from the show floor. Update: Lexus will be streaming the reveal live — here’s the video player: (What to expect over the next two days? The next Lexus high performance model, the GS F sedan.)

Kevin · January 12th, 2015

Road & Track Reviews the Lexus RC F

Road & Track have reviewed the Lexus RC F, praising the coupe for its uniqueness: Instead of trying to beat the Bavarians around a racetrack, Lexus has gone its own way with a playful alternate to the über-sports-coupe blueprint. Forget “clinical” and “precise.” This new flagship thumbs its nose at the BMW M4, then pokes …

Kevin · January 9th, 2015

Lexus Japan Releases F SPORT X LINE Special Editions

To celebrate 10 years in Japan, Lexus has released a special edition X LINE trim level for the LS, GS, IS, & CT. Here are photos of all four models (nameplates added for easy identification): Similar to Lexus USA’s CRAFTED LINE, the X LINE features a heavy-contrast black/white exterior and a red/black leather interior — …

Kevin · January 8th, 2015

2016 Lexus RX Coming to the Detroit Auto Show?

Fresh off the spy photos of the next-generation Lexus RX comes the above rendering from photochopper Theophilus Chin and rumors that the new model may debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week. In a recent Detroit rumor rounded-up, Edmunds suggests the latest edition of the bestselling Lexus crossover will be unveiled in the Motor …

Kevin · January 7th, 2015

Next-Generation Lexus RX Prototype Spotted!

Spy photographers for Autoweek have spotted a camouflaged prototype of the next-generation Lexus RX — let’s take a look, starting with the front: The camouflage may be elaborate around the grille, but there’s no denying the NX influence in the hood shape and headlight placement. It’s worth noting that grille itself appears quite small in …

Kevin · January 7th, 2015

More Lexus GS F Photos from Road & Track

Road & Track had a sneak peek at the new Lexus GS F sedan: Say what you will about the gaping maw of the Lexus F cars. This GS has presence. The giant biting hourglass was first thing I saw when I walked into the studio, and the last thing I saw when I walked …

Kevin · January 6th, 2015

The Lexus GS F Revealed: First Photos & Information

Lexus has revealed the 2016 GS F high-peformance sedan a week before its official debut at the Detroit Auto Show. Details are limited right now, but one thing is for sure — the GS F will share the RC F’s 5.0-liter 467 horsepower V8 engine. Four photos in total were released, here they are in …

Kevin · January 6th, 2015

Jeremy Clarkson Reviews the 2015 Lexus NX 300h

Jeremy Clarkson has reviewed the 2015 Lexus NX 300h for The Sunday Times: So, a crossover hybrid with an N in its name and low-rent underpinnings from a company that’s capable of turning out a howler from time to time. This is not looking good. But here’s the thing: it does…It’s one of those cars …

Kevin · January 6th, 2015

Lexus December 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA finished the year with 39,879 total sales for December 2014, a 10.3% improvement over last year and the best selling month ever for the brand — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,608 1,787 -13.5 17,673 15,071 17.3 HS 0 …

Kevin · January 5th, 2015

Lexus USA Releases Two NX F SPORT Commercials

Lexus USA has released two commercials for the NX compact crossover: These first two ads will begin airing on network television today, and will be followed by two additional commercials shortly thereafter.

Kevin · January 5th, 2015

Lexus RC F Gets Five-Star Review from The Sunday Times

Giles Smith of The Sunday Times has given the Lexus RC F a full five-star review: The new Lexus RC F is expensive, cumbersome, blazingly immodest, fundamentally impractical, comes fitted with an unnecessarily large and uneconomical engine and is altogether, in a naggingly high number of ways, boilingly inappropriate. I can’t think of many cars …

Kevin · January 4th, 2015

Happy New Year from Lexus Enthusiast!

A fresh new year is here, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank my readers for their support over the past twelve months. 2015 is going to be an exciting year — the redesigned Lexus Enthusiast website will be launching in January with member forums and all-new features, and that’s just the …

Kevin · January 1st, 2015

Happy Holidays from Lexus Enthusiast

As we enter the festive season, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of my readers a safe and happy holidays! Like every year, I’ll be taking some time off over the holidays. Regular posting will resume on January 5th — a little longer than usual, but for good reason. Along …

Kevin · December 24th, 2014

Festive Photo Gallery with the Lexus RC F SPORT

With the holiday season just about here, there’s no better time to feature this festive Lexus RC photo gallery from Kevin King Uy: The photos were taken at Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia, and really capture the spirit of the area. Great work, Kevin!

Kevin · December 23rd, 2014

More Fuel Cell Lexus LS Rumors

Lexus will introduce a fuel cell version of the LS flagship, according to a new Motoring Australia article from Peter Lyon: According to one source, the LS’s nose section will be redesigned with larger air intakes to ventilate the hydrogen powered electric system. The car will incorporate a fuel-cell unit under the front seat, a …

Kevin · December 22nd, 2014

Lexus IS 200t Turbo Prototype Spotted in Colorado?

A camouflaged Lexus IS prototype with emissions testing equipment and manufacturer plates was spotted in the Colorado Rocky Mountains by The Fast Lane Car: As suggested by TFLCar, a plausible possibility for this IS prototype is the testing of the 2.0L turbo engine first introduced with the NX 200t. Lexus has already trademarked IS 200t …

Kevin · December 19th, 2014

Photoshop: Experimenting with the Lexus Teaser Image

One of the funnest things about automotive teasers is trying to pull something unexpected from the image, and that’s what reader Michael Pannone did with the Lexus photo from yesterday (click for a larger image): Flipping the original image and photoshopping a mesh grille from the RC F to fill in the gaps, Michael was …

Kevin · December 18th, 2014

New Lexus High Performance F Model Coming to Detroit Auto Show

Lexus has released two teaser images for new model set to debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January — here they are (click for a larger version): Here’s the full press release: Lexus announced it will be adding a second vehicle to its growing stable of F brand high performance models. Earlier this year, …

Kevin · December 17th, 2014

Toyota to Transform Scion into Small-Premium Brand?

Toyota North America CEO Jim Lentz believes that Scion should become a small-premium brand, according to an interview with Wards Auto: “I still personally believe small-premium is the direction we should be going,” he tells WardsAuto in a recent interview here during a Toyota press event. “I think that (the) Toyota channel, itself, with vehicles …

Kevin · December 16th, 2014

The Lexus RC F Biometrics Test: How the Body Reacts to Driving the Lexus Coupe

AoL video series Translogic has bypassed the subjective parts of an automotive review and gone straight to the hard data — here’s host Jonathon Buckley hooked up to biometric equipment while driving the Lexus RC F: (Thanks Mohammad!)

Kevin · December 16th, 2014

The Lexus NX: Focus on the Details

Some interesting details on the Lexus NX development have been shared by Australian website GoAuto: Items such as body shake induced by windscreen wiper movement and changes in vehicle geometry due to differences in tyre tread were studied and addressed for the utmost refinement under a system dubbed microscopic force control. The engineers said almost …

Kevin · December 15th, 2014

Lexus Interested in Tesla’s Mall Showroom Strategy

Lexus USA general manager Jeff Bracken believes the Tesla shopping mall showrooms are “clever”, according to a recent interview with Wards Auto: “The model that Tesla has to open up their outlets in shopping malls is a clever one, (and) I think they’re getting a lot of folks to stop in and learn about Tesla,” …

Kevin · December 15th, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus RC F & LFA Together

Last weekend, I travelled to Erin Park Lexus in Mississauga to visit my friend Norman and his Ultra White RC F. While at the dealership, I had a chance to photograph the RC F and LFA #34 in the showroom: Side by side, you can see just how much of the RC F’s design was …

Kevin · December 14th, 2014

New Lexus RC F Commercial from Japan

Lexus Japan have released a new commercial for the RC F that draws on their recent success in the Super GT racing series: Not to be outdone, there’s also this RC commercial featuring a female minotaur (?!?):

Kevin · December 11th, 2014

Car Advice Comparison: The Lexus RC 350 F SPORT vs. BMW 435i

CarAdvice in Australia have compared the Lexus RC 350 F SPORT & BMW 435i in a realistic review: Lexus has thrown the gauntlet down to the opposition, pricing the RC350 F Sport at $74,000 – just $1000 over the IS350 sedan with which it shares its interior and rear suspension. The 435i coupe, meanwhile, costs …

Kevin · December 11th, 2014

Lexus NX 200t AWD: By the Numbers

Car & Driver has put the Lexus NX 200t AWD to the test and reports the results: The numbers we got at the track won’t exactly light your hair on fire, the NX accelerating from zero to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds and hitting the quarter-mile in 15.3 seconds at 92 mph. That 60-mph time …

Kevin · December 10th, 2014

Next Generation Lexus LS to be a Fuel Cell Vehicle?

According to Japanese magazine Best Car, the next-generation Lexus LS will be a Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) powered at least in part by hydrogen. Not being able to read Japanese, I can only go by the pictures on the page — here’s the key illustration: Let’s compare it to the Toyota Fuel Cell System found …

Kevin · December 10th, 2014

Lexus Considering V8 Supercars Racing Series in Australia

Lexus Australia recently confirmed its interest in taking part in the country’s V8 Supercars touring car championship series — from Car Advice: “We’ve had very high-level discussions with V8 Supercars,” Hanley told CarAdvice at the local launch of the Lexus RC350 in Melbourne today. “V8 Supercars never approached me, any interest we have shown has …

test · December 9th, 2014

Lexus IS Named Best Executive Car in Scottish Car of the Year Awards

The Lexus IS has been named Executive Car of the Year in the Scottish Car of the Year Awards: Alasdair Suttie, [Association of Scottish Motoring Writers] President, said: “In a marketplace dominated by German offerings, the Lexus IS delivers a unique take on the compact luxury theme. It feels fresh and different to the more …

Kevin · December 9th, 2014

More Details on the Production Lexus LF-C2 Convertible

Automotive News has more details on the Lexus LF-C2 and its chances of reaching production: Bracken says the LF-C2 was “purely a concept” and not slated for production. But according to a person familiar with Lexus’ planning, the brand is considering whether to produce a version of it to sell as the convertible RC — …

Kevin · December 9th, 2014

Lexus CT Owner Blog: The CT 200h F SPORT in Winter

Winter has arrived, and I’m getting my first exposure to driving the CT 200h in the snow & ice. The cold weather has given me real appreciation for the product planners at Lexus Canada, who have outfitted the CT F SPORT package with heated front seats and side mirrors. I’ve driven Lexus press cars in …

Kevin · December 8th, 2014

Motor Trend Comparison: Lexus RC F vs BMW M4

Motor Trend has published a comparison between the Lexus RC F & BMW M4, and it’s a total mess of conflicting information: We preferred the Lexus around town, as it’s a more interesting car to sit in thanks to its wealth of technical and visual details. The styling may be a large miss, but we …

Kevin · December 8th, 2014

Video Comparison: Lexus RC F vs. BMW M4 & Audi RS 5

AMCI Testing, one of the most respected independent automotive testing companies in the world, has conducted a comparison between the Lexus RC F, BMW M4, and Audi RS 5: Considering the video is being hosted on the Lexus USA Youtube page, it would be easy enough to write off the results — however, this quote …

Kevin · December 8th, 2014

2015 Lexus RC F Configurator Now on USA Website

For those US readers interested in purchasing an RCF, the Lexus USA website has been updated with an online configurator to help you build the exact car you want. As detailed earlier, pricing for the RC F will start at $63,325 — unfortunately, it appears the carbon fibre Performance Package has been delayed, as it’s …

Kevin · December 7th, 2014

Interview with Lexus International President Tokuo Fukuichi

The Lexus UK blog has an insightful interview with Tokuo Fukuichi, the president of Lexus International — here he is talking about the brand’s current design direction: Within the premium brands, there are the German three: Mercedes, BMW, and Audi. We have to consider how Lexus should position itself against the German three. So I …

Kevin · December 5th, 2014

Lexus Trademarks LC 500 & LC 500h in Canada, USA, and Australia

Lexus has just trademarked LC 500 & LC 500h in the USA, Canada, & Australia, giving us the first clear indication of what to expect from the upcoming production LF-LC coupe. This is huge news on multiple levels — there had been talk that the production LF-LC could resurrect the SC nameplate, but it appears …

Kevin · December 4th, 2014

Lexus NX Receives Five Star Safety Rating in Europe

The Lexus NX has received a Euro NCAP five-star rating with scores well above the necessary minimum, making the new compact crossover one of the safest vehicles in its segment. Testing focuses on four areas: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist technologies — here are two NX crash-test videos: Here are the …

Kevin · December 4th, 2014

Video: Lexus and the Future of Hybrid Technology

In a collaboration between Lexus & TED, here’s Paul Williamsen from Lexus International and Alex Shen from Calty Design discussing the future of Lexus vehicles, including some insight into the production LF-LC: (From Paul’s comments, we can definitely cross off the LF-LC production model from the list of potential debuts at the Detroit Auto Show …

Kevin · December 3rd, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus RC F SPORT, NX F SPORT, and IS F SPORT All Together

Ace photographer Ste Ho pulled together the Lexus RC F SPORT, NX F SPORT, and IS F SPORT for a tidy little photoshoot: There’s a great shot with all three models together: (Before seeing all these models side-by-side, I would have said the spindle grille was different on every vehicle — surprised by how similar …

Kevin · December 3rd, 2014

The Lexus RC F: By The Numbers

Car & Driver have gone technical with the Lexus RC F, measuring its performance and sharing how it performs against its competitors: In a three-way drag race, the Bimmer walks away, with the [RC] F and RS5 keeping pace through the quarter-mile. By 130 mph, the RC F has eked out a nearly two-second lead …

Kevin · December 2nd, 2014

Lexus November 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 27,472 total sales for November 2014, a 11.6% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,322 1,002 37.2 16,065 13,284 21.4 HS 0 2 ‐100.0 0 5 ‐100.0 IS 4,610 3,973 20.7 45,419 29,603 …

Kevin · December 2nd, 2014

Lexus Japan Offers RC F with Orange & Black Leather Interior

Lexus Japan is offering a unique orange & black leather interior colorway with the RC F — here’s some photos from Japanese website Response.jp: There’s also some official photos on the Lexus Japan website: For the moment it appears only Japan will be getting this interior color option, which is a real shame — pairing …

Kevin · December 2nd, 2014

Lexus will Sell 300,000 Vehicles in the USA This Year

Lexus will sell over 300,000 vehicles in the USA this year, marking the first time the brand has hit the 300k mark since 2007. Lexus USA general manager Jeff Bracken confirmed the sales figure in an interview with Automotive News last week, also stating that the company’s goal is to once again be the best-selling …

Kevin · December 1st, 2014

Initial Lexus RC F Orders in Japan Surpass Two Year Sales Goal

In just one month, Lexus Japan has received 900 orders for the new RC F coupe, or roughly 30 times the estimated monthly sales goal of 30 units. In short, over two years of RC F inventory have been sold in 30 days. The same holds true for the RC 350 & RC 300h — …

Kevin · December 1st, 2014

Auto Express Comparison: Lexus IS 300h vs. Mercedes C300 BlueTEC Hybrid

Auto Express prefers the Lexus IS 300h over the new Mercedes C300 BlueTEC Hybrid: In the battle of the hybrid saloons, the IS 300h takes a narrow win. Its hybrid powertrain feels better resolved than the Mercedes’, as it relies on the electric motor more frequently to save fuel, is more refined and switches between …

Kevin · November 30th, 2014

Next-Generation Lexus RX to Debut at Detroit Auto Show?

Wards Auto is speculating that the next-generation RX could be one of two vehicles that Lexus debuts at the Detroit Auto Show in January: Meanwhile, [Lexus USA general manager Jeff] Bracken says Lexus will have at least one, if not two, models debuting at January’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit. He doesn’t divulge …

Kevin · November 27th, 2014

Guided Tour of the 2015 Lexus RC 350 & RC 350 F SPORT

Here’s Ming-Jou Chen from Lexus College with a guided tour of the RC 350 & RC 350 F SPORT: (Always enjoy these videos with Ming-Jou, they’re great for anyone interested in purchasing a new Lexus vehicle.)

Kevin · November 26th, 2014

Lexus to Offer New Safety Package Starting in 2015

Lexus has announced a new active safety package called the Lexus Safety System +, which will be offered on select models starting next year and on all models in Japan, North America, and Europe by 2017. Lexus Safety System + brings together four existing Lexus safety features and one new technology — here are videos …

Kevin · November 26th, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus GS F SPORT Crafted Line Edition

While in Las Vegas for SEMA, I stopped by Lexus of Henderson for a quick visit. On display in front of the dealership was a Crafted Line GS 350 F SPORT — this was my first time seeing the special edition in person: The interior has red contrast stitching and Shimamoku wood trim: There’s some …

Kevin · November 25th, 2014

Lexus to Debut Two New Models at Detroit Auto Show?

In a speech to the Automotive Press Association, Lexus USA general manager Jeff Bracken suggested that two new models could be revealed at the Detroit Auto Show — from the Detroit Free Press: The growth plans for Lexus are focused on performance and high-end vehicles, including the global debut of a performance vehicle in January …

Kevin · November 25th, 2014

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

Photo Gallery: The Lexus RC F in Ultra White

With the Lexus RC & RC F now being delivered to owners, the floodgate of photos has opened — here’s the first North American RC F, as photographed by my friend Ste Ho:

Kevin · November 24th, 2014

Report: No Production Model for Lexus LF-C2 Convertible Concept?

According to Motor Trend, the LF-C2 convertible concept will not be made into a production vehicle: In fact, under the original plan, the RC Convertible was set to be the next all-new car in Lexus’ lineup. As convertibles make up 1 percent of the total U.S. Market, though, the decision to not do a 3-row …

Kevin · November 23rd, 2014

A Closer Look at the Lexus LF-C2 Concept

It’s been two days since the Lexus LF-C2 concept was revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show, so there’s no better time to take a closer look at the “open-air” coupe design. Using these photos from Darren Yasukochi Photography, let’s start with that massive monster front grille: The front end is an amalgamation of RC …

Kevin · November 21st, 2014

Lexus RC F SPORT Parts Debut at LA Auto Show

Along with the LF-C2 concept, Lexus also debuted new F SPORT parts for the RC 350 — let’s start with some photos of the display: The parts are as follows: F SPORT Rear Bumper Exhaust Diffuser · F SPORT Performance Exhaust & Exhaust Tips · F SPORT 19-inch wheels · F SPORT Lowering Springs No …

Kevin · November 20th, 2014

Live Photos of the Lexus LF-C2 Concept

It’s one thing to see a car in the highly polished official images, and another to see photos straight from the show floor — here’s a Lexus LF-C2 gallery from my friend Ryan at Kaizen Factor:

Kevin · November 19th, 2014

Video: Introducing the Lexus LF-C2 Concept

Here’s the video shown at the debut of the Lexus LF-C2 concept today at the LA Auto Show: It’s funny the video mentions the past — the Lexus logo between the LF-C2’s rear seats immediately reminded me of the first-gen SC 400:

Kevin · November 19th, 2014

The Lexus LF-C2 Concept: Full Details & Information

The Lexus LF-C2 concept has been revealed at the LA Auto Show, and there’s plenty of new photos and details to get through — let’s start first with the official press release. Beautiful sunshine, warm weather, and winding roads are the perfect complements to the Lexus LF-C2 concept that made its global debut at the …

Kevin · November 19th, 2014

Live Video: The Lexus LF-C2 Reveal at the LA Auto Show

The Lexus LF-C2 convertible concept will be revealed today at 1:40pm PST/4:40pm EST at the LA Auto Show — here’s a live video stream to follow along:

Kevin · November 19th, 2014

Lexus USA December to Remember Commercials 2014

Lexus USA have released the latest round of their annual December to Remember holiday commericals: (Like this year’s commercials quite a bit — I could picture myself giving similar explanations to my daughter if there was a new car in the driveway this Christmas.)

Kevin · November 19th, 2014

The Lexus LF-C2 Convertible Concept: What We’ve Seen So Far

Over the last three days, Lexus International has been slowly revealing the Lexus LF-C2 convertible concept — here’s a recap of the images we’ve seen so far: From these three images, it’s a good guess that the LF-C2 will be a convertible based on the RC — there’s too much of the coupe’s shape to …

Kevin · November 18th, 2014

Photo Gallery: The Instabuilt Lexus RC F in Motion

Vossen Wheels have released a new video detailing their involvement with the #Instabuilt Lexus RC F that was displayed at SEMA: There’s also this fantastic photo gallery of the #Instabuilt RC F in Red Rock, Nevada: The #Instabuilt Lexus RC F was built by VIP Auto Salon based on voting from Lexus USA’s Instagram followers. …

Kevin · November 18th, 2014

Lexus RC F Teams Finish Second & Third Overall in Super GT Season

The KeePer TOMS’s racing team of Ito Daisuke & Andrea Caldarelli have won the Super GT Round 8 GT500 class in the #37 Lexus RC F. The race took place at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan. This was the final race of the season. Here are highlights from the race courtesy of the Super GT …

Kevin · November 18th, 2014

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