Matte Black Lexus ES 350 Surprise

The final vinyl wrap of the week also comes with a pretty funny story — but first, check out this matte black Lexus ES 350: As it turns out, Club Lexus member Somebody had his wife’s car vinyl wrapped as a surprise: Material used: one roll of 3M 1080-12M matte black purchased. (the material was …

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Kevin · December 10th, 2010

Rainbow Lexus LS

Once and a while, you find something so offensive on the Internet that the only way to reduce the anger is to share it — and that’s how I feel about the multi-colored first-gen Lexus LS in this video: The worst part? This LS probably still runs perfectly.
Kevin · December 10th, 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

Lexus LS 460 x Job Design Body Kit x VIP Modular Wheels

Stance Nation has posted photos of a super-fresh Lexus LS 460 decked out in a Job Design body kit and some 22″ VIP Modular wheels (click for larger images): The photos were taken by Jerry Troung from The Perfect Exposure blog, who did an excellent job — absolutely wild. [Source: Stance Nation]
Kevin · December 9th, 2010

Camouflaged Lexus RX 450h

Continuing on with the matte vinyl car wraps from yesterday, here’s a Lexus RX 450h camo’ed up especially for the UK Special Forces: The company responsible is Creative FX, who also put together a very detailed video converting a Ferrari F430 from red to matte black. [Source: Creative FX & Flickr]
Kevin · December 8th, 2010

Lexus CT 200h Manufacturing Video

Here’s a new video that gives a glimpse into the CT 200h’s manufacturing process at the Kyushu plant in Japan: I’m a huge fan of manufacturing videos no matter what, but there’s also a strong message in this video — even though the CT 200h will be the entry-level Lexus, it still benefits from the …

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Kevin · December 8th, 2010

Lexus Dealership Tips

Lexus Magazine has some tips on getting the most out of your local dealership — here’s just a couple of the suggestions: Tip 3: Many dealers make sales calls. Here’s a surprise. The previous tip about not having to come into the dealership also applies to sales. When looking for your next Lexus, you can …

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Kevin · December 8th, 2010

Lexus IS F Gets Wrapped in Matte Black

For whatever reason, I have a bunch of matte finish Lexus to show you this week — first off is this time-lapse video of a white IS-F being converted to matte black: I’ve really come around to the idea of wrapping a car, it’s just a larger version of putting a screen protector on your …

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Kevin · December 7th, 2010

Lexus LS L-Select Custom Color Combinations

L-Select, the Lexus LS customization program available in Japan, has a brand new website with some (very small) photos of potential color combinations: Iris Topaz Beige Scarlet Rose Olive Umber Snow White Blue Gray Dark Brown Both the Blue Gray & Dark Brown may very well be Alcantara, which is a very nice touch and …

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Kevin · December 7th, 2010

Lexus Sales in China

There’s a very interesting Bloomberg article on Lexus sales in China — here’s an excerpt: Even after China’s import duties and higher taxes on luxury cars, Lexus currently earns more per car in the world’s largest auto market, said Karl Schlicht, head of the marque’s global product and marketing division, citing a weaker dollar. Premium …

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Kevin · December 6th, 2010

A Visit to Lexus of Henderson

During last month’s visit to Las Vegas, I took the opportunity to get a good look at the newly opened Lexus of Henderson. The dealership is a massive facility and the largest one I’ve ever been to, but it’s not just the size that’s impressive, the design is pure classic — check out the showroom:
Kevin · December 5th, 2010

GT5 Lexus LFA Magazine Article

By now, we’ve all seen shots of the Lexus LFA cruising around the world of Gran Turismo 5, but here’s a unique take by GT Planet member Alejandro Gomez, who has created a full magazine article using only screenshots (click the pages to see a larger version): A brilliant job by Mr. Gomez — a …

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Kevin · December 3rd, 2010

Lexus Middle East GX 460 Commercial

While we’re in the Middle East, check out this sandy Lexus GX commercial: I’m a huge fan of the Lexus commercials from the Middle East — here’s another one that sticks out in my memory — there’s this iconic feel that really capture my imagination. (Must be my desire to drive a LX/GX out in …

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Kevin · December 2nd, 2010

World’s Largest Lexus Showroom Opens in Kuwait

This past weekend, the world’s largest Lexus showroom opened in Kuwait — The Arab Times reports from the grand opening ceremony: The new Lexus showroom is built on a 3,000 square meters (32,291 square feet), and offers 7-star service to Lexus customers. In the words of the chairman, “It is a true milestone in the …

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Kevin · December 2nd, 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 …

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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 …

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Kevin · December 1st, 2010

TLE Site Update

In order to keep things current and make room for some planned improvements, I’ve updated the website design — no major changes, and probably best compared to the 2011 Lexus IS refresh: all the same elements, just a little bit sharper. If things are looking a little weird for you, I suggest clicking your browser …

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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 …

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Kevin · November 30th, 2010

Lexus December to Remember Commercials

It’s likely that US readers are more than a little familiar with the latest round of Lexus December to Remember commercials, but I’ve just seen them for the first time: The house in the last commercial is crazy, but not half as crazy as receiving a car for Christmas — no way I’d be able …

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Kevin · November 30th, 2010

More Details on Lexus Customer Dinner Parties

In order to gain insight into consumer perception of the brand, Lexus USA General Manager Mark Templin has been arranging dinner parties for both current and previous buyers in their own homes — Automotive News has the details: Lexus Division boss Mark Templin figures the best way to get up close and personal with his …

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Kevin · November 29th, 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 …

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Kevin · November 29th, 2010

Gran Turismo 5 Lexus LFA Video

Just in case you haven’t the Lexus LFA tearing up the track in Gran Turismo 5 yet, here’s a video by CoolColJ24 that shows the LFA buying process in the game and its dealer demo: Here’s a quick preview of the new photo creation option, along with a full behind-the-wheel lap of Nürburgring: I bought …

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Kevin · November 29th, 2010

Lexus LFA Oil Pastel Desktop Wallpaper

Out of left field, I know, but how about this Lexus LFA oil pastel sketch by our very own World of Luxury? It makes for a great desktop wallpaper: Select Resolution: 1680×1050 | 1440×900 | 1280×1024 | 1280×800 | 1024×768 Color me impressed! *** I’d also like to take an opportunity to wish all my …

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Kevin · November 26th, 2010

Lexus IS F: Gran Turismo 5 vs. Reality

With Gran Turismo 5 being released today, auto writer Dan Lyons tells the story of his experience racing with Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi at this year’s Nürburgring 24h race, and how their laptimes compared in GT5: …while Yamauchi was playing out one of his dreams – to drive in a real Nürburgring 24-hour race …

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Kevin · November 24th, 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. …

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Kevin · November 23rd, 2010

Repainting the Lexus LFA

The Pearl Grey Lexus LFA revealed at SEMA earlier this month has led an eventful life — going from its Matte Black days at the 2009 LFA launch in Miami to its commercial appearance in Starfire Pearl — and now we can see just how the supercar transforms from shade to shade, courtesy of Lexus …

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Kevin · November 23rd, 2010

Joe Bacal’s Lexus LX 570 Tire Test

While on the topic of Joe Bacal’s Lexus LX 570, here’s a look at the super-modified SUV testing out a new set of tires: What a monster.
Kevin · November 22nd, 2010

Joe Bacal’s Lexus LX 570 Wins Baja 1000 Race

JTGrey Racing’s Lexus LX 570 has won the Stock Full class of SCORE Baja 1000 after a hard-fought race that saw plenty of adversity for Joe Bacal & his team: “I felt great and we were making excellent time until a wheel came loose around mile 180,” said Bacal. “The loose wheel caused some damage …

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Kevin · November 22nd, 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 CT 200h Media Presentation

AutoNetwork has posted the full video of a recent Lexus presentation on the CT 200h, and it has plenty of information on how the new hybrid hatchback will be sold in the US. Be forewarned, this is the full hour long presentation, but Brian Bolain & Charles Hubbard keep it interesting: CT 200h Overview CT …

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Kevin · November 18th, 2010

Lexus to Join Australia’s V8 Supercars Racing Series?

Fans of the Australian V8 Supercar series may one day see a Lexus lined up beside the Holdens and Fords: Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus could be on the V8 Supercar grid in 2012 under the category’s new Car of the Future rules, which aim to remove the stranglehold that Holden and Ford have on the …

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Kevin · November 18th, 2010

Forza 3 Lexus LFA Giveaway

Not to be outdone by the recent Gran Turismo screenshots of the Lexus LFA, here are some exceptional “photos” from the Forza 3 version of the supercar from Flickr user WeezyMac: Pure fantastic, the realism is just unbelievable — be sure to check out the other screenshots in WeezyMac Flickrstream. *** Speaking of the Stig’s …

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Kevin · November 17th, 2010

Interview with Lexus IS Chief Engineer Junichi Furuyama

Lexus Magazine has an interview with IS Chief Engineer Junichi Furuyama and his thoughts on the new 2011 update– here are some select quotes: “There is more emphasis on the car’s individuality than before,” says Furuyama. “Take the headlights. The daytime running lights, where fitted, use L-shaped LEDs that are constantly illuminated when you’re driving …

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Kevin · November 16th, 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 …

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Kevin · November 16th, 2010

Hiromu Naruse on the First-Gen Lexus IS Development

Stumbled on an insightful speech given by the late Hiromu Naruse, Master Test Driver of Toyota, at a Toyota Altezza/Lexus IS 300 owners event at the Fuji Speedway in 2007 — here are some direct quotes that detail his part in the car’s development: After enhancing the rigidity, I test drove 2,000 km for two …

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Kevin · November 16th, 2010

Lexus Project GS on Air Runners

The Lexus Project GS by 5Axis also made an appearance at SEMA earlier this month, and it was sporting a new Air Runner suspension — here it is in action: Seeing this car at the Air Runners booth was one of my highlights of Las Vegas — in fact, during my visit to Lexus of …

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Kevin · November 15th, 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 …

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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 …

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Kevin · November 12th, 2010

Dinner with Lexus USA General Manager Mark Templin

Speaking of meals with Lexus General Manager Mark Templin, he recently made a visit to a customer’s home to discuss Lexus & its competitors, along with sharing a meal — here’s a short clip of the visit: Between this and tomorrow’s online chat, we’re certainly seeing an evolution in the conversation between Lexus & its …

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Kevin · November 11th, 2010

Virtual Lunch with Lexus USA General Manager Mark Templin

This Friday, Lexus USA Vice President and General Manager, Mark Templin, will be taking part in a special online chat on Facebook & Twitter, and will be available to answer any questions you may have about Lexus, past, present or future. Even better, Lexus has asked me to provide a question to start off the …

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Kevin · November 10th, 2010

Adam Carolla Drives the Lexus LFA

Radio personality & one-time Top Gear USA presenter Adam Carolla had a chance to talk with Lexus’ Paul Rohovsky about the LFA — here’s the full 20 minute video of their discussion: It’s during these types of walkarounds when you really get a feel for the level of detail and attention put into the LFA …

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Kevin · November 10th, 2010

Two Lexus Models in US Federal Fuel Economy Top Ten

Here’s something — The US Environmental Protection Agency has released its Top 10 Fuel Economy Leaders for 2011, and two Lexus models made the cut. The HS 250h placed fifth with a 35 mpg average, and the RX 450h FWD ranked ninth at 30 mpg, which is impressive given the SUV’s size and power. The …

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Kevin · November 10th, 2010

Lexus LFAs at Fuji Speedway

During a recent visit to the Fuji Speedway, JDM news site 7Tune stumbled onto two Lexus LFAs performing some “secret” track testing, and managed to snap a few photos: The exact reasons for the tests wasn’t revealed, but the lack of a center cap in this photo suggests it may have something to do with …

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Kevin · November 9th, 2010

Lexus IS Precision Tour in New York

If you’re anywhere near Monticello Motor Club in New York, I have some excellent news — this Saturday, Lexus USA is kicking off the IS Precision Tour, which means track-time with both the 2011 IS 350 & IS F! There will be six two-hour sessions throughout the day, and one lucky participant from each group …

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Kevin · November 8th, 2010

Lexus LX 570 with Orange Leather Interior

According to Drive Arabia, the Middle East edition of the 2011 Lexus LX 570 is offered with an orange leather interior: Far too intense for my liking, but unique enough that I can see the appeal — though I wouldn’t be holding out for this option to be available in North America any time soon. …

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Kevin · November 8th, 2010

Lexus CT 200h Darkcasting Episode 1

The first episode of the Lexus CT 200h Darkcasting talkshow hosted by Whitney Cummings is up, and it’s a tour around New York with DJ Harley Viera-Newton, author Baratunde Thurston, and chef Carlo Mirarchi: Besides repeated usage of the backup camera, the CT 200h plays a supporting role in the videos, and according to an …

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Kevin · November 8th, 2010

Lexus RX Commercial: Photocopier

The Lexus RX goes on the offensive in this new commercial: Bringing competitors into the mix is something that we saw last month in the IS & ES commercials, and it signals a new, more aggressive direction in Lexus advertising. Cool concept, too.
Kevin · November 8th, 2010

Red Lexus LFA in Toyota City

Last month, the red Lexus LFA made an appearance in Toyota City, Japan — here’s a couple videos from the event: No matter how many videos I watch of this red Lexus LFA, it’s never enough — absolutely breathtaking. [Via: Club Lexus]
Kevin · November 5th, 2010

Car & Driver Comparison: Lexus LFA vs. Ferrari 599 HGTE

As proof that anything can happen once, Car & Driver has declared a Lexus the winner in a comparison — even more shocking, it was the LFA against the Ferrari 599 HGTE: The Ferrari is beautifully made and trimmed, but it isn’t quite as special inside as the LFA. The Lexus feels more athletic than …

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Kevin · November 5th, 2010

Video Tribute to Hiromu Naruse

Lexus has published a touching video tribute to Toyota Chief Test Driver, Hiromu Naruse: The very core of Toyota’s sporting hertiage, Naruse-san will be deeply missed by the company and all of its fans. May he rest in peace.
Kevin · November 4th, 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 …

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Kevin · November 4th, 2010

More Lexus SEMA Photos

After two intense days at SEMA and a poorly thought-out red-eye flight, I’m now back at home safe & sound — there’s been plenty of Lexus news released over the last few days that I’ll be working through, but first I want to point you towards some photos I took at SEMA for Lexus Magazine …

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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 …

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Kevin · November 3rd, 2010

Lexus SEMA Video Preview

SEMA starts in an hour, but before the doors open, here’s a great HD video preview of the Lexus SEMA cars: I’ll be at the show today with a plan to update throughout the day and take plenty of photos, so if you have any picture requests, please let me know!
Kevin · November 2nd, 2010

CEC Wheels Dresses Up the Lexus LFA for SEMA

In preparation for its feature spot at the CEC Wheels SEMA display, the Pearl Grey Lexus LFA will be getting some new shoes — here’s a sneak peek: Hard to judge without seeing the full vehicle, but right now, it’s tough to imagine any else but the original wheels on the LFA. (Thanks Allison!) Update: …

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Kevin · October 31st, 2010

Lexus SEMA 2010 Show Cars in Detail

Here’s a full breakdown of the models along with their descriptions, all courtesy of Lexus: CT200h F SPORT CONCEPT Description How do you take a fun to drive sporty five-door premium compact hybrid that has a combined EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 42 mpg to the next level? Build a CT200h F Sport Concept. Although …

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Kevin · October 29th, 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 …

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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

Lexus CT 200h Darkcasting Talk Show

The next chapter of the Lexus CT 200h’s marketing push is Darkcasting, a video talkshow that takes place inside the new hybrid hatchback — Lexus Magazine explains: Darkcasting, a new talk show that’s filmed, well, after the sun goes down, and that will soon run on the Lexus Darker Side of Green site. Lexus’ Darkcasting …

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Kevin · October 28th, 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 …

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Kevin · October 27th, 2010

Lexus LX 570 with 22″ F-Sport Wheels

Speaking of the Lexus LX 570, a photo on the Lexus USA website shows the SUV in optional 22″ F-Sport forged aluminum polished wheels: Here’s another look: I’m pretty impressed with the design and the size — hard as it is to believe, the standard 20″ wheels look small, and this extra two inches is …

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Kevin · October 26th, 2010

Lexus Performs Well in Consumer Reports 2010 Auto Survey

Consumer Reports has released the findings of its 2010 Annual Auto Survey, where Lexus performed very well in light of recent safety recalls. First off, the Lexus LX 570 was named the most reliable luxury SUV overall, and only the AWD GS & IS 250C scored below average. All other Lexus models were named average …

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Kevin · October 26th, 2010

Customized Lexus IS Billboards

The New York Times reports about a new IS billboard campaign from Lexus USA customized by highway: Toyota’s Lexus division recently mind-melded this contradiction in an outdoor advertising campaign that declares in supersize lettering that the 2011 Lexus IS is “overqualified for the B.Q.E.,” as the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is known locally. That was just in …

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Kevin · October 25th, 2010

Lexus LFA Footage from Forza Motorsports 3

Tomorrow, the Lexus LFA will be available in the Forza Motorsport 3 Ultimate Collection, and we’re now starting to see footage from the game, including this pretty flawless run around Circuit de la Sarthe: Check out the detail in these screenshots: Even the interior is fully detailed (minus the key): As mentioned earlier this month, …

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Kevin · October 25th, 2010

Lexus Kuwait Planning World’s Largest Lexus Showroom

Lexus Kuwait is planning to build the world’s largest Lexus showroom — here’s a virtual look at the proposed building: The effort put into these new mega-dealerships is amazing — it’s hard to even imagine the scale of that showroom. Construction should be begin soon, can’t wait to see some real life photos. [Source: Lexus …

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Kevin · October 25th, 2010

Lexus CT 200h F-Sport Video

By way of Car@Nifty, here we have the very first video of the Lexus CT 200h F-Sport in (super slow) motion: Also posted was a video of the Japanese CT press presentation, which didn’t have much that we haven’t seen before, but did include this slide on the available CT wheels in Japan: Interesting to …

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Kevin · October 22nd, 2010

Car & Driver Video: Lexus LFA & Ferrari 599 HGTE

Car & Driver has posted a video featuring the Lexus LFA & a Ferrari 599 HGTE driving through Wales: The video’s all well and good, but what’s with this quote?: [The LFA] has got a fantastic chassis, great steering that’s Ferrari-like, chassis is really well balanced, tons of grip, tons of downforce, fantastic carbon-ceramic brakes, …

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Kevin · October 21st, 2010