Updated Lexus CT 200h in 2014, Brand New CT in 2016?

In a recent interview with The Motor Report, Lexus Australia Sean Hanley confirmed that the CT 200h will receive a mid-cycle refresh ahead of an all-new model in 2016: Lexus Australia chief executive Sean Hanley is refusing to admit defeat – or even disappointment – with the CT 200h baby hybrid. “We see the CT …

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Kevin · October 10th, 2013

Lexus IS 350 F SPORT Named Esquire Car of the Year

The 2014 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT has been named the Esquire Car of the Year: This is a deeply Japanese machine in the best way, a hypersensitive steamroller of a car that has as much in common with a German autobahn weapon as a Gundam suit does with a Walther P38. The industry has …

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Kevin · October 10th, 2013

Lexus to Reveal Production Coupe at Tokyo Motor Show?

Lexus will debut a new production coupe at the Tokyo Motor Show in November, according to the Australian GoAuto website: Get set for another two-door Lexus stunner when the doors open at the 43rd Tokyo motor show next month. Lexus is tight-lipped on the exact nature of its big expose, but you can expect it …

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Kevin · October 9th, 2013

Lexus is the Second Most-Loved Brand in the USA

According to the 2013 LEAP Brand Index, Lexus is the second most-loved brand in the United States, behind only the iPhone. Lexus climbed 22 spots in 2013, jumping from 24th in 2012 to 2nd overall. Debuting in 2010, the LEAP, or Leveraging Emotional Attachment for Profit Brand Index, uses a proprietary methodology to gauge consumers’ …

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Kevin · October 9th, 2013

Interview with Lexus IS Deputy Chief Engineer Naoki Kobayashi

Lexus IS deputy chief engineer Naoki Kobayashi explains some of the car’s interior design decisions in an interview with Lexus UK: Lexus UK: What’s the difference between ordinary seats and the ‘integrated foaming construction’ seats that are a Lexus first in the F-SPORT? Kobayashi-san: A conventional car seat is designed like a stuffed toy, with a …

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Kevin · October 8th, 2013

Lexus Releases Four Commercials for 2014 SUV Lineup

Lexus has released a new commercial for each of their SUVs — here’s the complete set: 2014 Lexus GX Commercial 2014 Lexus RX Commercial 2014 Lexus LX Commercial There’s also a super-cut that splices together scenes from all three commercials:
Kevin · October 8th, 2013

Lexus LS, ES 350, & IS Convertible Get Minor Updates in 2014

Much like the rest of the lineup, the Lexus LS, ES 350 & IS C convertible all received minor updates for the 2014 model year — here is a list of changes for the models sold in the USA. 2014 Lexus LS Siri Eyes-Free mode. Revised auto headlamp on/off Ability to open trunk lid without …

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Kevin · October 7th, 2013

Custom Wide Body Lexus IS F SPORT Coming to SEMA

EST Styling is bringing a custom all-metal wide body Lexus IS 250 F SPORT to the SEMA show in November — here’s the promotional poster: Equipped with an Air Runner suspension & painted in a wild BASF orange, this IS F SPORT is being built by Gabriel Escobedo & Paul Tolson (who also built the …

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Kevin · October 7th, 2013

Petronas Lexus SC 430 Team Wins Super GT Round 7

The Petronas racing team of Kazuki Nakajima & James Rossiter have won the Super GT Round 6 GT500 class in the #36 Lexus SC 430, coming from behind to win the race in the final laps. The ZENT CERUMO #38 SC 430, winners of the Round 6 at the Fuji Speedway, finished second and are …

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Kevin · October 7th, 2013

Guest Review: 2013 Lexus RX 350 F SPORT

The following is a review of the 2013 Lexus RX 350 F SPORT by guest author Tim Esterdahl, an associate editor for the Tundra Headquarters enthusiast website. The new F Sport package for the Lexus RX 350 is an interesting new addition to the luxury SUV product line, and after spending a week driving it …

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Kevin · October 6th, 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 …

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Kevin · October 4th, 2013

Production Lexus NX Compact Crossover Released in August 2014?

Japanese magazine Mag-X has published some information on the upcoming Lexus NX compact crossover — here are the main points, roughly translated: The Lexus NX will use the same chassis platform as the RAV4. The production model could reach dealerships in August 2014. Measurements could be 4550 × 1845 × 1660mm (length x width x …

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Kevin · October 3rd, 2013

Lexus China Commerical: Living in a CT 200h

Really like this CT 200h commercial from Lexus China: There’s something very authentic about this video and the way it captures the emotion of hybrid technology — job well done.
Kevin · October 3rd, 2013

Photo: VIP Auto Salon Builds Custom Lexus IS F SPORT for SEMA

SEMA is now a month away, and as you can see in the above photo, VIP Auto Salon is hard at work creating the custom Lexus IS F SPORT from this summer’s Lexus IS Design contest — as a reminder, here’s the winning design from Rob Evans: The finished car will be shown at the …

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Kevin · October 2nd, 2013

2014 Lexus IS Nominated for North American Car of the Year Award

The Lexus IS has been nominated for the 2014 North American Car of the Year, an annual award given by a jury of 50 North American auto writers. The IS is currently up against 12 competitors, including the BMW 4-Series, Cadillac CTS & Corvette Stingray — the next round of voting will pare down the …

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Kevin · October 2nd, 2013

Video: Lexus LFA Special Event at Nürburgring

At the beginning of September, two Lexus LFA owners attended a driving event at the Nürburgring in Germany — here’s a fast video recap of their day on the track: The Lexus International website has more details: Craig Zinn of Florida, USA and Aberhard Jung from Switzerland joined with fellow enthusiasts of other illustrious car …

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Kevin · October 1st, 2013

Lexus September 2013 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 19,522 total sales for September 2013, a 4.1% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2013 2012 % CHG* 2013 2012 % CHG* CT 798 1,195 -27.4 11,440 13,612 -15.6 HS 0 8 -100.0 5 641 -99.2 IS 3,201 2,248 54.8 22,060 21,107 …

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Kevin · October 1st, 2013

Lexus RX 350, RX 450h, & ES 300h Get Minor Updates in 2014

The Lexus RX 350, RX 450h & ES 300h all received minor updates for the 2014 model year — let’s break down the changes for the models sold in the USA. The 2014 RX 350 The available Pre-Collision System now features Pre-Brake technology and forward collision warning system. Luxury Package adds rear-seat 115v AC power …

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Kevin · October 1st, 2013

2014 Lexus GS 450h Gets Reprogrammed Transmission & New Climate Control System

The 2014 Lexus GS 450h will receive many of the same updates as the GS 350 — here’s a full list of the new changes: Siri Eyes Free technology licensed from Apple; compatible with iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 models Flush-mounted sensors for Intuitive Parking Assist Full-color display added to Head-Up Display Climate Concierge feature …

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Kevin · September 30th, 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 …

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Kevin · September 30th, 2013

Photos: Lexus IS 350 F SPORT on the Move

Photographer Ste Ho of Shutterlit recently spent some time with an Ultra White 2014 Lexus IS 350 F SPORT, and here are the results: Ste is one of my favorite photographers, and a master of the “rig shot” — make sure to check out more of his work on his website, or follow Shutterlit on …

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Kevin · September 30th, 2013

Video: Lexus Super GT GT500 Race Car in the Rain

Here’s the very first video of the Lexus Super GT GT500 race car — this thing is a monster: The race car is powered by a Lexus-developed 2000cc, inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine — could it be related to the 2.0L four-cylinder turbo expected to reach the Lexus lineup next year? (Thanks knoxviue!)
Kevin · September 29th, 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

2014 Lexus IS F Announced with Minor Updates

The 2014 Lexus IS F has been announced, and for the fourth year in a row, the high-performance model has received some updates: LED foglamps (bulbs changed to LEDs) Carbon fiber rear spoiler All headrests embossed with “F” logo Alcantara trim (black) added to doors and center console cover Black full semi-aniline leather-trimmed seats (replaces …

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Kevin · September 26th, 2013

LIVE: Lexus F SPORT Event in Las Vegas

This morning, I’m in Las Vegas to drive Lexus F SPORT performance models at the Las Vegas Speedway, as part of the #WhatstheF media event. Every Lexus F model is here, from the CT F SPORT to the LFA — the IS F CCS-R will also be making an appearance with pro driver Ken Gushi. …

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Kevin · September 25th, 2013

Should the Production Lexus RC F Look Like This?

Another day, another rendering of the rumored Lexus RC F — this time, Japanese magazine Best Car takes a guess at what the Lexus coupe might look like (click images for a larger version): Illustrating the RC F is well traveled territory (see examples one, two, three, four, five) — most look good from the …

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Kevin · September 24th, 2013

Special Lexus Event in Las Vegas Tomorrow

Heads up to everyone in the Las Vegas area — Lexus is planning a video shoot on tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday September 25th, and they’re looking for some Lexus enthusiasts to attend. Perfect for Sin City, Lexus will be playing Drift Roulette with an IS F — attendees will place (non-monetary) bets on a giant wheel, …

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Kevin · September 24th, 2013

World’s Largest Lexus Showroom Opens in Taiwan

The world’s largest Lexus showroom has just opened in Kaohsiung, Taiwan — here are some photos: No further details at this time, but the massive size is visible in every one of these photos. What’s most impressive to me is how tasteful & understated the showroom is — very nicely done. [Source: Lexus Taiwan & …

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Kevin · September 24th, 2013

The Legacy of Toyota President & Lexus Founder Eiji Toyoda

It’s now been a week since the passing of former Toyota president & Lexus founder Eiji Toyoda, and today, James B. Treece from Automotive News has published an insightful memorial: When the Korean War broke out in 1950, the U.S. military decided that rather than scrap Toyota’s truck factories, as had been the Occupation’s plan, …

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Kevin · September 23rd, 2013

2014 Lexus IS iPad App

Finally had a chance to download the Lexus IS iPad app, and it’s a surprisingly comprehensive tool for showing how the new Lexus sedan stacks up against the competition. There are full 360° exterior and interior interactive comparisons of 2014 IS, Audi A4, Mercedes C250, & BMW 328i — here’s a couple sample screenshots: There’s …

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Kevin · September 23rd, 2013

How to Clean a Lexus LFA

When Lexus UK brought in the Perfection Detailing team to deep-clean their Pearl Blue LFA, they also used the opportunity to document how professional detailers take care of a supercar. (The level of detail shown by Perfection Detailing is extraordinary — very impressive results.) How to clean a Lexus LFA
Kevin · September 23rd, 2013

Consumers Excited About Future of Lexus

According to a worldwide survey of 30,000 consumers by brand strategy firm Lippincott, Lexus has the best momentum in the entire automotive industry. The Momentum Index measures the number of consumers that believe a brand’s best days are in front of them over those who feel the opposite — here’s what the study had to …

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Kevin · September 22nd, 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 …

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Kevin · September 20th, 2013

Lexus RX 200t Test Mule Spotted in Japan?

Japanese magazine MAG-X has published photos of what they claim is a test mule for the turbocharged four-cylinder Lexus RX 200t — here’s the full page from the September issue: The very first mention of a possible RX 200t came in April of this year, when Lexus filed a trademark for the nameplate in Australia …

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Kevin · September 19th, 2013

Lexus to Create Live Comedy Commercials During Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Starting tonight during Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Lexus will be staging two live IS commercials performed by improvisational comedy troupes: In an intriguing ploy meant to harness both TV advertising and social media, NBC will allow Lexus to run a live commercial in two different ad breaks accompanying the show. In the first, set …

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Kevin · September 19th, 2013

Video: Lexus Canada Takes the 2014 IS to the Track

Lexus Canada recently held a track day event in Montreal, and created a video of the event using high-resolution RED cameras & an octocopter: There’s also a behind-the-scenes look at how the video was filmed: Both videos do a super job of demonstrating the capabilities of the new IS, and the image quality is off …

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Kevin · September 18th, 2013

More Illustrations of the Rumored Lexus RC F Coupe

The September issue of Japanese magazine Holiday Auto has a five-page spread on the upcoming Lexus RC F, and included in the article are several illustrated attempts at what the new Lexus coupe might look like — here are the full pages (click for higher resolution): As is the case with any Japanese magazines, I’m …

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Kevin · September 17th, 2013

Eiji Toyoda, Toyota President & Lexus Founder, Dies at Age 100

Eiji Toyoda, the longest-serving president in the history of Toyota and the man responsible for the creation of the Lexus brand, died today at the age of 100. His legacy extends through every corner of Toyota’s success — under his leadership, the company grew to become the world’s biggest automaker and revolutionized modern manufacturing with …

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Kevin · September 17th, 2013

Is Lexus Planning an Even Smaller Crossover?

According to Car Advice, Lexus may be considering something even smaller than the LF-NX: Asked about the potential for a compact SUV during a media round-table at the Frankfurt motor show, Lexus design division project general manager Takeshi Tanabe responded: “Why not?” Larger than originally expected at 4640mm long, the LF-NX concept – set to …

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Kevin · September 16th, 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 …

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Kevin · September 12th, 2013

Video: The Lexus LF-NX Concept

Following the debut of the Lexus LF-NX at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the very first promotional video of the concept has been released.
Kevin · September 10th, 2013

Lexus August 2013 Sales Report

Lexus USA has reported 29,792 total sales for August 2013, a 18.5% improvement over last year.
Kevin · September 4th, 2013

Lexus Reveals the LF-NX Compact Crossover Concept

Less than a week before its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Lexus has revealed their LF-NX compact crossover concept. Let’s start with the full press release (click on any image for a high resolution version). A new Lexus mid-size crossover concept, the LF-NX, will make its world debut at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show, …

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Kevin · September 4th, 2013