Lexus CT Owner Blog: The Cross Country Trip

This summer, in partnership with OpenRoad Lexus in Richmond, BC, my wife Karissa and I drove across North America in our brand new Lexus CT 200h. The timing was interesting — we had originally planned to take a relaxing drive through Canada and the USA, but some unexpected events occurred and we need to be …

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Kevin · September 2nd, 2014

Driving Across North America in the Lexus CT 200h F SPORT

This summer, in partnership with the OpenRoad Lexus dealership of Richmond, BC, my wife Karissa and I drove across North America in our brand new Lexus CT 200h. Here’s how it happened, by the numbers: 6 days, 4,736 kms (2,943 miles), an average speed of 90km/hr (56mph), and $270 in gas. Wait, what? $270 to …

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Kevin · September 2nd, 2014

Giant Foam Obstacle Course at Lexus NX Launch Event in Japan

Lexus had a giant foam party at the Tokyo Tower last week to launch their new Japanese NX commercial — here’s some video from the event: My friend Danny was also in attendance, and sent over these photos: Automotive News writer Hans Greimel attended the event: While now a cringe-worthy memory for most hipsters in …

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Kevin · September 1st, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus LFA, RC F, IS F, & First-Generation SC Together

Motor Trend brought the first-generation Lexus SC, IS F, LFA, & RC F together for a photoshoot: To see Motor Trend featuring the history of Lexus performance cars is a clear indication that the perception of the brand is truly changing — too bad so many of their commenters are stuck in the past. [Source: …

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Kevin · September 1st, 2014

PETRONAS TOM’S Lexus RC F Wins Super GT Round 6

The PETRONAS TOM’S racing team of Kazuki Nakajima & James Rossiter have won the 2014 Suzuka Circuit Super GT Round 6 GT500 class in the #36 Lexus RC F. The ENEOS SUSTINA RC F team of Kazuya Oshima & Yuji Kunimoto were the next highest Lexus team at fifth place. Here are highlights from the …

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Kevin · September 1st, 2014

Lexus Enthusiast Membership Drive Now Complete!

Hello everyone, After just two weeks, the Lexus Enthusiast Membership Drive finished today. All founding memberships are now sold. With the first stage of massive project complete, I would like to give my deepest thanks to all founding members! Look for an email later tonight with some announcements, including a very special giveaway to celebrate …

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Kevin · August 28th, 2014

Lexus LX is 43% of All Lexus Sales in the Middle East

Lexus sales have grown 20% in the Middle East in the first six months of 2014, with 21,598 units sold across the region. Leading the charge is the LX, which has sold 9,178 units (!!!) and make up a staggering 43-percent of total Lexus sales in the area. [Source: AMEinfo]
Kevin · August 27th, 2014

Photos: The Lexus RC Press Event in New York

Yesterday in upstate New York, I had a chance to drive the RC 350, RC 350 F SPORT, and the absolutely insane RC F on the Monticello Motor Club racetrack. There’s an embargo on all information & driving impressions, but I can share a couple photos from the event: Full details on the RC family …

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Kevin · August 27th, 2014

Lexus Has No Plans to Manufacture Vehicles in China

According to Lexus International vice-president Mark Templin, there are no plans to start manufacturing vehicles in China: “We don’t have those conversations,” Templin said. “We haven’t gotten to the point where we have serious conversations about building cars in China yet.” The immediate priority is building the brand in the country, where German badges are …

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Kevin · August 26th, 2014

Lexus NX Commercial from Japan

Lexus Japan has released a commercial for the new NX compact crossover, and it has that same quirky cleverness seen in their recent campaigns: There’s also this behind-the-scenes look at all those bubbles:
Kevin · August 26th, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus RC F in Nebula Grey Pearl

Last week, a Nebula Grey Pearl Lexus RC F was on display at the Lexus of Riverside dealership in Southern California — here’s a photo gallery from our friends at Kaizen Factor: A very subtle color for the high-performance coupe — gives it a real sleeper look. (Thanks Ryan!)
Kevin · August 25th, 2014

2015 Lexus GS to be Available in Atomic Silver

After debuting with the third-generation Lexus IS , the Atomic Silver exterior color will be coming to the 2015 GS. So far, Japan & the USA have confirmed the color’s availability, and I imagine other markets will follow suit. [Source: Lexus Global Newsroom]
Kevin · August 25th, 2014

Listen to the Lexus RC F Exhaust Note

Lexus UK has released an audio clip of the RC F’s exhaust note in all its glory: Pure monster sound — here’s a direct download of an MP3 or iPhone-compatible M4A if you’re interested in using the revving as a ringtone.
Kevin · August 24th, 2014

Video: The Lexus RC Four-Wheel Steering System

There’s a new video from Lexus International demonstrating the four-wheel steering system offered on the RC: As a bonus, here’s some driving footage of the RC — pretty cool stuff:
Kevin · August 22nd, 2014

Toyota President Akio Toyoda Takes the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Surprise of the day — here’s Toyota president Akio Toyota participating in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge: The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is a social media charity campaign, where participants record themselves being dunked in ice-cold water in order to raise awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” So far, the campaign …

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Kevin · August 22nd, 2014

More Photos of the Starfire Pearl Lexus RC 300h

After the request for more photos of the Starfire Pearl RC 300h, Japanese Lexus enthusiast Yuki Okada sent in this image gallery: This RC 300h is currently on display at the Lexus Midland Square showroom in Nagoya.
Kevin · August 21st, 2014

Photo: Lexus RC 300h in Starfire Pearl

Lexus Japan is currently showing an RC 300h with a Starfire Pearl exterior at their Midland Square showroom in Nagoya. This marks the first time the standard RC has been seen in a color other than Infrared, and it looks great in this low-resolution photo — hoping for better images to surface shortly. [Source: Toyota …

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Kevin · August 20th, 2014

Lexus Named Best British Dealership by Auto Express Readers

Lexus has been named Britain’s top car dealer in the annual Auto Express Driver Power Survey. This year, more than 50,000 readers and website visitors voted in the survey — Lexus finished with a 92.1% approval rating, followed by Honda at 89.8% and Porsche at 89.3%. It’s the second year in a row that Lexus …

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Kevin · August 20th, 2014

Lexus CRAFTED LINE Special Editions Debut at Pebble Beach

The CRAFTED LINE special edition Lexus models were on display this weekend at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance — here are some photos from the Lexus USA Facebook page: The Crafted Line is a group of special edition vehicles with an exclusive Ultra White/Obsidian exterior and two-tone black/red interior. The LS, GS, RX, ES, & …

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Kevin · August 19th, 2014

Lexus Enthusiast Membership Drive Update: Funding Goal Reached

Hello everyone, Time for a big announcement — in just one week, the Lexus Enthusiast Membership Drive has reached 101% of its $10,000 funding goal! Thank you to all the founding members for showing their support, I’ve been humbled by this amazing response and the strong vote of confidence. This is only the beginning of …

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Kevin · August 18th, 2014

Lexus LFA Honored in EVO Magazine’s Top Five Cars of the Modern Era

In celebration of its 200th issue, the writers at EVO Magazine gathered their top five cars of the modern era in order to crown “the one that best represents the Thrill of Driving”. As you can probably tell from the image above, Lexus’ very own LFA was included alongside the Ford GT, Renaultsport Mégane R26.R, Porsche …

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Kevin · August 18th, 2014

Lexus UK Releases RC F Pricing & Package Information

Lexus UK has released pricing for the 2015 RC F coupe and its two option packages, with the base-model RC F starting at £59,995 and RC F Carbon package at £67,995. (Please note for anyone outside of the UK, these prices include a 10% import duty and 20% value-added tax. Calculating another country’s price is …

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Kevin · August 15th, 2014

New Lexus Model to Debut at LA Auto Show in November?

The LA Auto Show has announced that twenty-five production & concept vehicles will have their world debut at this year’s show in November, and will include a new model from Lexus. Here’s a press release quote with all the details so far: This year’s debuts will deliver production and concept vehicles representing the ever-growing luxury, …

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Kevin · August 14th, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus NX in Japan

Japanese website Response has an excellent photo gallery of the Lexus NX: (The NX is destined to be a huge hit in Japan — dealerships in the country have already taken 6,500 preorders.) [Source: Response.jp]
Kevin · August 14th, 2014

Sponsor: OpenRoad Lexus Cars & Coffee in Richmond

Lexus Enthusiast sponsor OpenRoad Lexus in Richmond, BC, is having a Cars & Coffee event at the dealership this weekend: We invite Lexus owners from around the Lower Mainland to start their day with delicious coffee and pastries, and meet other Lexus Enthusiasts for an engaging morning of cars and coffee. Where:  OpenRoad Lexus Richmond …

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Kevin · August 14th, 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 …

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Kevin · August 13th, 2014

Video: Exclusive Features of the Lexus RC F SPORT

Lexus International has released a video outlining the exclusive features included with the RC F SPORT, and in the process revealed the first look of the standard RC in the new orange exterior color: (So this new orange will be known as Nova Orange internationally, Solar Flare in the UK, and Molten Pearl in the …

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Kevin · August 13th, 2014

Is Lexus Building a Next-Generation LFA Supercar?

Last week, a Bloomberg article from Craig Trudell suggested that Lexus is building a successor to the LFA supercar: Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus, which ended a two-year production run of the $375,000 LFA in 2012 after manufacturing 500 units, will build a successor to the 552-horsepower car, Executive Vice President Mark Templin told reporters today. …

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Kevin · August 12th, 2014

Lexus Enthusiast Membership Drive Starts Today

Hello all, Since launching in 2007, the Lexus Enthusiast website has become the single best independent source for daily news and insider information on all things Lexus. This fall, the site will be going through a large scale redesign that will introduce important & frequently requested new features — it’s an ambitious goal with plenty …

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Kevin · August 11th, 2014

No Podium Finish for Lexus Racing Teams at Super GT Round 5

The Lexus Racing teams missed a podium finish at the 2014 Super GT Round 5 at Fuji Speedway — the top team was fifth place PETRONAS TOM’S finishing 5th, followed by KeePer TOM’S team at 9th. Here are highlights from the race courtesy of the Super GT Youtube channel: Despite the 9th place finish, the …

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Kevin · August 11th, 2014

First Production Lexus NX Rolls Off Assembly Line in Japan

Earlier today, the very first Lexus NX rolled off the assembly line at Miyata factory in Kyushu, Japan — here’s video from the line-off ceremony: A Matador Red Mica NX 200t F SPORT and Eminent White NX 300h were the first to be built — here’s some footage from the assembly line: [Source: Lexus International]
Kevin · August 8th, 2014

Lexus Enthusiast: A New Chapter Begins on Monday

Hello everyone — my name is Kevin Watts, and I’m the founder and editor of the Lexus Enthusiast website. I’ve been writing Lexus Enthusiast since 2007, starting it as a hobby after buying my first car, a 1994 LS 400. Seven years later, and the site has been visited by millions of people and is …

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Kevin · August 7th, 2014

Lexus Japan to Offer Brand Experience Tour of Australia

Lexus Japan is offering an Amazing Experience tour of Australia, bringing together special luxury events with a driving tour of the country’s best roads. Open to owners, the eight day trip includes a day at the Melbourne Cup Carnival, a two-day driving experience through rainforests, and attending the Sculpture by the Sea exhibition. The Amazing …

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Kevin · August 7th, 2014

Lexus IS C Convertible Returns for 2015 Model Year

While the Lexus IS F has just ended its production run, the IS C will live to see another year — Lexus will continue to build the six-year-old convertible despite being based on the previous generation IS sedan. (This decision can be easily explained — while the RC F will succeed the IS F in …

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Kevin · August 6th, 2014

Three New Lexus RC F Videos

Lexus International has released three new RC F videos, with the first focusing on the 5.0L V8 engine: Next up is an overview of the Torque Vectoring Differential (TVD) and its three settings: Normal, Slalom, and Track: The final video is straight driving footage of the RC F — never a bad thing, that’s for …

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Kevin · August 6th, 2014

Video: Guided Tour of the Lexus NX

For anyone looking at purchasing a Lexus NX in the USA, this two-part video with Ming-Jou Chen of Lexus College is an excellent overview of the new crossover: (The new door handle is a real improvement over the current design — very stylish and functional. Look forward to seeing it on other models.)
Kevin · August 5th, 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 …

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Kevin · August 4th, 2014

Lexus Owners Meet in Toronto This Tuesday

Local event announcement — Erin Park Lexus in Mississauga will be hosting a Lexus owner’s meet this Tuesday night from 4-7pm. All Lexus owners are welcome — there will be some special vehicles on display, including an LFA and some other potential surprises. I’ll be attending with my new CT 200h F SPORT (which I …

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Kevin · August 3rd, 2014

Lexus July 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 27,333 total sales for July 2014, a 14.1% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,979 1,306 45.7 10,316 8,858 16.5 HS 0 2 ‐100.0 0 5 ‐100.0 IS 4,542 3,641 19.9 28,115 14,427 …

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Kevin · August 1st, 2014

End of an Era: Final Lexus IS F Rolls Off the Assembly Line

The very last Lexus IS F rolled off the assembly line last week at the Tahara plant in Japan, ending a seven-year production run. While the IS F never sold in large numbers — recent quotes suggest the worldwide sales were 12,000 units in total over its lifecycle — it was the very first Lexus …

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Kevin · July 31st, 2014

New Lexus NX F SPORT Video from Japan

The Lexus Japan website has been updated to include the NX crossover, and this F SPORT driving video is part of the new marketing:
Kevin · July 31st, 2014

2015 Lexus NX F SPORT Body Kit by Modellista Japan

Official Lexus tuner Modellista has released images of their new NX body kit The body kit consists of a front under spoiler, side skirts, and a rear diffuser with a design that changes depending on the NX 200t or NX 300h. A rear spoiler add-on and 19-inch aluminum wheels are also available. Modellista has also …

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Kevin · July 30th, 2014

Lexus GS 450h F SPORT Coming to America

Starting with the 2015 model year, Lexus USA will begin offering the GS 450h with the F SPORT package. Lexus USA has traditionally stayed away from offering the F SPORT package on hybrid models, with the hybrid-only CT 200h being the one exception. Hybrid F SPORT models have been available in other parts of the …

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Kevin · July 30th, 2014

Lexus Future Model Timeline?

Mark Rechtin at Automotive News has attempted to piece together the timeline for future Lexus vehicles, along with the changes that could accompany these new models. Here’s a summary — be prepared, it’s a heavy mix of dates and unverified information: CT: It may be spring 2017 before a new CT, as the model shares …

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Kevin · July 29th, 2014

Lexus NX F SPORT Body Kit by TRD Japan

Official Lexus tuner TRD Japan has released images of the world’s first NX aero parts: The kit is made up of a front under spoiler, rear diffuser, and a quad-exhaust muffler setup: There’s also aluminum forged 19-inch wheels: As with all things TRD, these aero parts are not cheap — the front spoiler is reasonable …

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Kevin · July 29th, 2014

Imagining the 600 Horsepower Twin-Turbo Lexus RC FS Coupe

Automotive artist Wild-Speed has created a rendering of the rumored 600 horsepower twin-turbo Lexus RC FS coupe by merging the “standard” RC F with elements of the LFA Nürburgring Edition. The rumor of this ultra-performance coupe comes from Motor Trend, who suggest the RC FS will arrive in 2017 with a price tag of $120,000 …

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Kevin · July 24th, 2014

Video: Lexus RC F SPORT Driving Dynamics

Lexus International has released a new video interview with RC chief engineer Eiichi Kusama, focusing on the driving dynamics of the RC F SPORT:
Kevin · July 23rd, 2014

Next-Generation Lexus LS in 2016?

Jonny Lieberman of Motor Trend is keeping the rumor train running with new speculation on the next-generation Lexus LS: While the LS has traditionally been something of a rival to the Mercedes S-Class, people I spoke with at Lexus have been hinting that the new big Lexus will in fact target the sportier end of …

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Kevin · July 22nd, 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 …

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Kevin · July 22nd, 2014

600 Horsepower Lexus RC FS Coming in 2017?

More rumors from Motor Trend, this time regarding a special edition ultra-performance Lexus RC F: In 2017 you can expect to see a super version of the RC F packing the 600-hp twin-turbo V-8. Think of it as an Infiniti Eau Rogue-fighter with a price tag to match — about $120,000. However, since Johan de …

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Kevin · July 21st, 2014

Zent Cerumo Lexus RC F Wins Super GT Round 4

The ZENT CERUMO racing team of Yuji Tachikawa & Hirate have won the 2014 Super GT Round 4 GT500 class in the #1 Lexus RC F. The KeePer TOM’S RC F team of Daisuke Ito & Andrea Caldarelli finished second. Here are highlights from the race courtesy of the Super GT Youtube channel: The next …

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Kevin · July 21st, 2014

Lexus to Build a Twin-Turbo 600-Horsepower LF-LC Coupe?

Motor Trend has the scoop on possible engines powering the new Lexus coupe based on the LF-LC concept: Word on the Tokyo street is that there’s a Lexus LF-LC Coupe mule running around Japan packing a 600-hp twin-turbo version of the upcoming RC F’s 5.0-liter V-8. That power rating may be on the conservative side. …

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Kevin · July 20th, 2014

Lexus Considering a Compact Crossover Below the NX?

Lexus is considering a crossover even smaller than the NX, according to an Autocar interview with Lexus Europe vice president Alain Uyttenhoven: Uyttenhoven said the launch of a small SUV was “not impossible” for Lexus and such a model “made sense” for the brand, but he stopped short of confirming it for production. Lexus is …

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Kevin · July 18th, 2014

New Lexus Model Every Year Until 2020?

New information today about the Lexus coupe based on the LF-LC concept — from Autocar: The dramatic LF-LC was first seen at the Detroit motor show in 2012, and [Lexus Europe’s vice-president Alain] Uyttenhoven said that company boss Akio Toyoda “doesn’t want the production car to look any different from the concept”. Uyttenhoven said that …

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Kevin · July 17th, 2014

My New Car: The 2014 Lexus CT 200h F SPORT

Time for a major announcement — after seven years of driving a 1994 Lexus LS 400, I took delivery of a 2014 CT 200h F SPORT last week at OpenRoad Lexus Richmond in British Columbia. While I have plenty of experience driving Lexus vehicles, this will be my first time being a new owner. The …

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Kevin · July 17th, 2014

Kelley Blue Book Drives the 2015 Lexus NX

Jack Nerad from Kelley Blue Book has a positive review of the 2015 Lexus NX: Designed to look like it was poured from a single batch of molten metal, the all-new NX isn’t just the right size, but it is also so filled with technical innovation and engineering sleight of hand that it is hard …

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Kevin · July 16th, 2014

A Closer Look at the Lexus RC F Instrument Panel

Let’s take a closer look at the RC F instrument panel in this new video from Lexus International: The video goes by in a blur, so here’s a static video showing the RC F instrument panel:
Kevin · July 16th, 2014

Lexus Unconcerned with LS Sedan Sales Decline

WardsAuto has an interesting interview with Brian Smith, the Lexus USA vice-president of sales, regarding the current LS sedan and its sales struggle against new competitors: “We don’t feel it’s a problem with the car,” Brian Smith, vice president-marketing for Lexus in the U.S., tells WardsAuto here during a Lexus NX media event. “Many of …

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Kevin · July 15th, 2014

Video: Car Advice Drives the 2015 Lexus NX

Car Advice Australia have published their video preview of the Lexus NX: There’s also a text review for a more in-depth assessment of the new compact crossover: The German brands have worried about rival Lexus models since the LS made a noise in 1989 with its hushed refinement. The Lexus NX isn’t going to upset …

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Kevin · July 15th, 2014

Lexus IS Aero Kit Released by Japanese Tuner TOM’S

Japanese tuner TOM’S has released their first aero kit for the third-generation Lexus IS: The full kit includes a front spoiler, side skirts, rear under spoiler and a trunk spoiler — a quad exhaust system is also being offered. Here’s a video with the car in motion: The TOM’S aero package will retail in Japan …

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Kevin · July 15th, 2014

Lexus CT Owner Blog: The New Car

Time for a major announcement — after seven years of driving a 1994 Lexus LS 400, I took delivery of a 2014 CT 200h F SPORT last week at OpenRoad Lexus Richmond in British Columbia. While I have plenty of experience driving Lexus vehicles, this will be my first time being a new owner. The …

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Kevin · July 14th, 2014

Special Edition Lexus RX Debuts in Japan

Lexus Japan have announced the [RX Radiant Aero Style special edition] package (http://lexus.jp/models/rx/ras/index.html) with some exterior modifications and a unique interior color scheme: The special edition includes a blacked out front bumper to match the spindle grille, LED fog lamps, 19-inch aluminum wheels, and a very nice black & red leather interior. The Radiant Aero …

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Kevin · July 14th, 2014

Video: Lexus RC F Racing at Goodwood

Lexus UK has released a final wrap-up video of the RC F at the Goodwood Festival of Speed: One thing that went unmentioned in the video was a spinout by Didier Auriol during the race days — here’s a photo from GT Spirit: The spinout had no lasting effect — the RC F prototype was …

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Kevin · July 12th, 2014