News – Page 71 – Lexus Enthusiast | Lexus Enthusiast

Latest News

Lexus RX 450h Long Term Review: Week 5

I’m now halfway through my time with the 2010 Lexus RX 450h— after six weeks, the interior controls and options has become second nature, and that familiarity has increased my appreciation of the design decisions throughout the cabin, particularly with the steering wheel layout.

Kevin · January 26th, 2010

Ode to the Lexus SC 430

Here’s a fantastic article on Automobiles De Luxe praising the Lexus SC 430 and its “clean beauty”—author Gunnar Heinrich manages to capture the very thing that made the sports convertible special, no matter what its critics may say. Read this story

Kevin · January 25th, 2010

Motorweek Reviews the Lexus GX 460

Motorweek has posted up their 2010 Lexus GX 460 video review: You can definitely see the effect of the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) on the handling—the lack of body roll is surprising given the speed in the corners—which is a nice counter-balance, bringing that expected Lexus luxury to the body-on-frame underpinnings. As a bonus, …

Kevin · January 25th, 2010

Lexus Taiwan Commercial: Perfect

Prepare yourself for what may be the greatest Lexus garage setup ever: Classic. The only thing, the car selection’s a little dated—I think my four-Lexus rotating garage would comprise of: LFA, GS 450h, LS 460 AWD & a GX 460 for the wife. How about you?

Kevin · January 24th, 2010

Lexus F-Sport Event in Miami This Week

Lexus is hosting an F-Sport event this Wednesday at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida—if you’re in the area, get yourself some free tickets and take the the F-Sport IS, GS and the IS F around the track. Even better, one person from every session will be randomly selected to take a lap with Scott Pruett …

Kevin · January 24th, 2010

Japanese Launch of Lexus CT 200h in May?

Japanese newspaper Chunichi Shimbun is reporting that the new Lexus CT200h will be on sale in Japan starting in May, adding credibility to rumors of a LF-Ch production model debuting at the Geneva Auto Show in March. The newspaper also claims the new hybrid hatchback will be powered by same hybrid engine as the third-gen …

Kevin · January 22nd, 2010

Lexus & Ryan Leslie Team up for GX 460 Ad Campaign

Lexus USA will be launching a new advertising campaign for the 2010 GX 460 during next month’s BET Honors ceremony—the commercial will feature RNB artist Ryan Leslie and has a very cinematic vibe—here’s a sneak peek: Along with the teaser clip, Lexus has released a behind-the-scenes interview with Ryan, who looks to fit the role …

Kevin · January 22nd, 2010

More Lexus GS-F Rumors

Pistonheads has published some very interesting quotes from Lexus representatives at the Detroit Auto Show about possible applications of the LFA’s V10 engine: “It’s not a straightforward job, because although the V10 is very compact its dry sump design means you have to find space under the bonnet for the oil tank,” said one insider. …

Kevin · January 21st, 2010

Autospies Reviews the Lexus LS 460L AWD

Agent 00R of Autospies drove from New York City to the Detroit Auto Show in a 2010 Lexus LS 460 AWD, and has shared some observations on how the sedan handled the trip. Read this story

Kevin · January 21st, 2010

Lexus LFA @ The Detroit Auto Show

After a concentrated effort, I finally got through all of my Lexus LFA photos from the Detroit Auto Show—seeing the LFA for the first time was a funny experience. After all the hours writing about it, poring over photos, watching videos, there wasn’t much room for surprise—or so I thought. From a distance, the LFA …

Kevin · January 20th, 2010

Lexus SC 430 to End Production, Japanese Special Edition Revealed

Lexus has announced that the SC 430 will cease production in July, ending the nine-year run of the second generation sports coupe. To mark the occasion, Lexus Japan will be offering a special, limited edition dubbed The Eternal Jewel, which will bring an extreme level of customization to both the interior & exterior color choices, …

Kevin · January 20th, 2010

Production Lexus LF-Ch Spotted!

It’s been rumored that the production Lexus LF-Ch would see its debut at the Frankfurt Geneva Auto Show in March, and now Autoblog has the first spyshots that may very well prove the point: For comparison, here’s a similar photo of the LF-Ch concept: It looks like the aggressive wheel arch has been retained, though …

Kevin · January 19th, 2010

VIP Auto Salon Lexus HS 250h @ The Detroit Auto Show

The modified Lexus HS 250h at the Detroit Auto Show was the centerpiece of the entire Lexus exhibit. Put together by Clark Ishihara and VIP Auto Salon, the HSh is decked out in Branew—front under-spoiler, side skirts, rear under-spoiler, trunk spoiler, stainless steel muffler, and the 20” wheels all come from the Japanese tuning company. …

Kevin · January 18th, 2010

Lexus GX 460 Commercial: Action Hero

The U.S. launch commercial for the 2010 Lexus GX 460 is a riff on the Bat-signal: Hilarious that the mom is really driving her kids to a soccer lacrosse practice. Update: I received an email from none other than Kevin Tucker, photographer for Lacrosse Magazine, to let me know that I had made a mistake—the …

Kevin · January 17th, 2010

2010 Lexus GX 460 @ The Detroit Auto Show

The Detroit Auto Show was only my second time seeing the 2010 Lexus GX 460, and I came away just as impressed as the first time—it’s the side profile with the muscular wheel wells that makes the new GX so appealing: Now, I didn’t mind that the side-opening rear door was retained from the previous …

Kevin · January 17th, 2010

Lexus IS F CCS Concept @ Tokyo Auto Salon

Marking the end of a two year rumor, Lexus has debuted the IS F Circuit Club Sports (CCS) concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon—a lightweight IS F with loads of carbon fiber, including the roof, hood, trunk, ground effects—just look at this wild rear wing: Along with the carbon fiber weight savings and a new …

Kevin · January 17th, 2010

Lexus LF-Ch Fashion Shoot

Not content just to sit at the Los Angeles Auto Show last month, the Lexus LF-Ch took part in a fashion photoshoot at the Hollywood & Highland Center, resulting in some rather racy images—first off, here’s a quick video behind the scenes, which has the bonus of showing the LF-Ch in motion: The finished photos …

Kevin · January 15th, 2010

2010 Detroit Auto Show: Lexus LF-Ch Photos

The Lexus LF-Ch was a cornerstone of Lexus’ Detroit Auto Show exhibit, its yellow exterior a beacon among the silver of the other Lexus cars on display. The aggressiveness of the front end is cartoonish with its muscular styling and the cute car-face, but that’s nothing a new bumper wouldn’t fix. The exaggerated design boosts …

Kevin · January 15th, 2010

Detroit Auto Show: 2010 Lexus LS 600hL & LS 460 Photos

The 2010 editions of both the Lexus LS 600hL & LS 460 were at the Detroit Auto Show—the LS 460 was optioned with the Appearance package option that adds the LS Sport grille and ground effects: Really liked the Sport grille, it looks 100x better up close than in photos. The body kit didn’t look …

Kevin · January 14th, 2010

Lexus NAIAS Detroit Exhibit Photos

I’m now settled back at home after two days at NAIAS in Detroit, faced with the task of going through the 700 photos stored on my camera’s memory card. In a very real way, the auto show was overwhelming—I don’t know that I was prepared for the scope of it. Of course, getting to see …

Kevin · January 13th, 2010

NAIAS Live Coverage

This morning, the North American International Auto Show has opened its doors to the worldwide automotive press, including myself, and I will be bringing you a Lexus perspective to America’s autoshow. I will be updating throughout the day as I go over every square inch of the Lexus exhibit, including the LFA supercar & the …

Kevin · January 11th, 2010

Lexus @ NAIAS Detroit Auto Show

The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit opens its doors on Monday, and while Lexus won’t be debuting any new vehicles or concepts this year, they will be trying something new with their exhibit—from the press release: Gone is the previous two-story structure with sweeping staircase. This year, the exhibit has a “landscape” …

Kevin · January 8th, 2010

Poll Results: Favorite Lexus of the Past Decade

Last week, I asked you to vote for your favorite Lexus of the past decade—510 votes later, here are the results: Ranking 1. Lexus IS F 20% 2. Lexus 2nd Gen IS 16% 3. Lexus 4th Gen LS 13% The IS F received 1 of every 5 votes and took the poll with ease, not …

Kevin · January 7th, 2010

Lexus Milan Design Week Retrospective

When Lexus’ L-Finesse design language debuted in 2005, it also marked the first year of the the company’s involvement with the annual Milan Design Week in Italy—and now, Lexus Magazine has posted a retrospective of the various exhibits over the last five years. It was at the Milan Design Week last year that the transparent …

Kevin · January 6th, 2010

Lexus #1 Luxury Car Brand in USA for 10th Consecutive Year

All 2009 US car sales have been reported, and Lexus has secured the top spot among its competitors as the #1 luxury car brand in the USA for the 10th consecutive year, with 215,975 vehicles sold. The closest rival was BMW, who had pulled ahead of Lexus earlier in July but fell behind after a …

Kevin · January 6th, 2010

Lexus December 2009 Sales Report (Plus Year-End Numbers)

USA Lexus USA has reported their sales numbers for December, putting 2009 in the books: December Year to Date 2009 2008 % CHG 2009 2008 % CHG IS 4,153 3,539 9.0 38,077 49,432 -23.0 HS 1,980 0 N/A 6,699 0 N/A ES 6,531 5,236 15.8 48,485 64,135 -24.4 GS 1,063 1,200 -17.7 7,430 15,759 -52.9 …

Kevin · January 5th, 2010

Matte Red Lexus LX 570

Speaking of custom Lexus finishes, here’s a LX 570 from Russia done up in matte red.

Kevin · January 5th, 2010

2010 Lexus RX 450h Long Term Report: Weeks 2 & 3

Travelled: 1077km (669 miles) Gas Mileage: 8.8l/100kms (26.7 mpg) The second and third week of my 2010 Lexus RX 450h road test blended in together as I powered through day after day of holiday visiting, a pile of snow and ice, and a lengthy head cold. It was in this blur of activity that I …

Kevin · January 4th, 2010

Chromed Lexus LS 460

The shiny foil is usually reserved for the Lexus LX, but someone in Kuwait went ahead and decided to give it a go with an LS 460: Chrome-wrapping is a disturbing trend, though there’s some solace in the fact that it’s unlikely to catch on in North America—too much potential for vandalism and public humiliation. …

Kevin · January 4th, 2010

Lexus LFA on Top Gear

Earlier today, the Lexus LFA made its Top Gear appearance—first off, you can watch The Stig’s lap around the track (likely on Youtube for a limited time only): The LFA, in wet track conditions, made it around the track in 1:22.3, which beat the Lamborghini Gallardo as the fastest wet lap on the show so …

Kevin · January 3rd, 2010

Happy New Year!

2010 is ringing in all over the world, I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy New Year! Much happened over 2009—we saw the introduction of the LFA right in the middle of an automotive market meltdown, the LF-Ch and the promise of a compact Lexus, the long awaited …

Kevin · December 31st, 2009

Rumor: Lexus GS F to have LFA V10 Engine

Japanese magazine Best Car is reporting that Lexus is working on a GS F that would pair the current sedan with the LFA’s 4.8L V10 engine. It seems unlikely to be true, especially the idea that Lexus would be working on a variant of the oldest sedan in the lineup, and is probably wishful thinking …

Kevin · December 30th, 2009

Happy Holidays!

The festive season has arrived, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish every one of my readers a safe and happy holidays! Regular posting will resume December 28th with a report on how the RXh handled the holidays, along with some year-end wrap-ups and what to expect in 2010. All my best, …

Kevin · December 24th, 2009

2010 Lexus RX 450h Long Term Report: Week 1

Last week, I took the delivery of my first long-term road test vehicle from Lexus Canada—a 2010 Smoky Granite Mica RX 450h: This is the full deal—an RX 450h with the Ultra Luxury package that includes Heads-Up Display, rear entertainment system, LED headlights, and fifteen-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. As far as I can tell, …

Kevin · December 21st, 2009

Flickr Find: Photos of the Gold Lexus LX 570

It was announced last week that a 24k gold-leaf Lexus LX 570 would be displayed at the Dubai Auto Show—and now the first images have arrived by way of Flickr user AlBargan: Be sure to check out AlBargan’s photo gallery for larger images of the LX and plenty more from the Dubai Auto Show. Surprised …

Kevin · December 20th, 2009

Japanese Lexus LFA Commercial!

I wasn’t expecting this—Lexus Japan has released an actual commercial for the LFA: Also from Lexus Japan is this new cut of the LFA’s launch video, featuring new music and some 3D animation of the supercar’s engine and brakes: The Roar of an Angel—what a tagline. (Both of these videos were posted by O.N.O., who …

Kevin · December 17th, 2009

Autoblog Reviews the 2010 Lexus LS 460 Sport

Autoblog has posted their review of the 2010 Lexus LS 460 Sport, where they were pleasantly surprised by the sedan’s newfound sportiness: Approaching the first tight turn along this curvy hillside ribbon of asphalt, we instinctively wanted to tap into the upgraded Brembos to scrub off some momentum. Expecting a fair amount of body roll, …

Kevin · December 16th, 2009

Flickr Find: Lexus IS Dark Knight

I love this atmospheric Lexus IS photo by Jiaren Hui that I found on Flickr: Looks straight out of a getaway movie. [Source: Jiaren Hui’s Flickr Photostream]

Kevin · December 15th, 2009

1993 Lexus ES Commercial: Brass Sound

Blast from the past with this 1993 Lexus ES 300 commercial: Reminds me of the ES 350 commercial that was one of Jim Sloyan’s last Lexus voiceovers—can’t help but miss his confident (and smug) tone.

Kevin · December 14th, 2009

Gold Lexus LX 570 at Dubai Auto Show

Al-Futtaim Motors, the company that distributes Lexus in the United Arab Emirates, has announced that they will be applying 40,000 gold leaves to a Lexus LX 570 as part of their display at the Dubai International Motor Show this week: At the end of the process, the vehicle will be finished off with varnish before …

Kevin · December 14th, 2009

Lexus LFA Review from The Sunday Times

Jason Barlow has reviewed the Lexus LFA for The Sunday Times: You can make up your own mind about the LFA’s looks, but it is aerodynamically efficient, authentically Japanese and more chunky Transformer than curvy Megan Fox. The sci-fi theme continues inside…after 10 minutes of fiddling I felt as befuddled as Bill Murray in Lost …

Kevin · December 13th, 2009

Lexus Japan IS 250 Black X Orange X-Edition

Lexus Japan has announced a new Lexus IS 250 X-Edition with a custom black interior with orange contrast stitching: I’d like to see some higher resolution images to be sure, but I’m such a fan of these custom interiors. I hope this makes it to North America like the Passionate Black GS interior. Japanese customers …

Kevin · December 11th, 2009

2011 Lexus GS Rumors

Motor Trend has some new rumors on the next-generation Lexus GS expected to debut in 2011, including some questionable information on engine specifications that make me doubt their source: Gone is the current 4.6-liter V-8, replaced by a 2.5-liter V-6—most likely a version of the engine presently found in the IS. The present 3.5-liter V-6 …

Kevin · December 10th, 2009

Lexus LFA Sound Gallery

The Lexus LFA mini-site has been updated to include a Sound “Gallery”, where you can listen to the LFA in its various aural states—and lucky for us, Youtube user supercargasm has posted up each soundclip for our listening pleasure: Engine Start Acceleration Full Flight Downshift Every time I almost get used to Lexus having a …

Kevin · December 10th, 2009

Lexus LFA to Appear on Top Gear

It was inevitable—Lexus UK has announced that Top Gear driver The Stig has taken the LFA around the track for an upcoming episode of the British car show. The Lexus UK Twitter account posted earlier today that a Stig lap at the Top Gear test track had taken place, but didn’t mention just how well …

Kevin · December 9th, 2009

Autoblog Reviews the 2010 Lexus GX 460

Autoblog has just published their first drive of the 2010 Lexus GX 460—here’s a excerpt of their impressions: The engine feels strong on the road and the new six-speed transmission makes the most of that power. The cabin is quiet even when matting the throttle to the floor, and over the course of a 30-minute …

Kevin · December 9th, 2009

Lexus LS 460 Sport Photos from Australia

Lexus Australia has just released what has to be considered the best LS 460 Sport photos since the vehicle’s introduction, including a good look at the new daytime running light design: {embed=“site/gallery” gallery_id=“1482”} My initial disappointment with the Sport grille design has subsided to a point where I may be going the other way. I …

Kevin · December 9th, 2009

Edmunds Track-Test: Lexus LS 460 Sport vs. BMW 750i Sport

Edmund’s Inside Line has pitted the new Lexus LS Sport package against the BMW 750i Sport in a performance track test, and in the process, somehow managed to add a full second to the LS 460’s official 0-60 time. According to the Edmunds numbers, the LS 460 Sport hits 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds compared …

Kevin · December 9th, 2009

Lexus USA General Manager talks with Ward’s Auto

Lexus USA General Manager Mark Templin recently spoke with Ward’s Auto on a number of different subjects, including the LFA’s “value pricing” and a possible X3 competitor. I recommend reading the whole article, but here are some choice quotes: On Lexus LFA Pricing “If you think of the other carbon-fiber supercars, Enzo Ferraris and Porsche …

Kevin · December 8th, 2009

More Lexus GX 460 LA Auto Show Video

Here’s some more footage of the Lexus GX 460 from the LA Auto Show—this time, someone filmed a crowd demonstration of the newest Lexus SUV: Biggest part of the spokesman’s speech is that Taste of Lexus may have been reactivated after its hiatus. This US event, put on hold for much of 2008-2009, is a …

Kevin · December 7th, 2009

2010 Lexus GX 460 at the LA Auto Show

It’s only a quick look, but Kicking Tires has some footage of the Lexus GX 460 on display at the LA Auto Show: With the presenter in the video, it’s easier to get a better idea of the vehicle’s size—don’t know that I would compare it to Subaru Outback, though. [Source: Kicking Tires] *** Road …

Kevin · December 6th, 2009

Lexus December to Remember 2009 Commercials

The Christmas season is upon us, which means another round of Lexus USA commercials announcing their December to Remember sales event: I’ve seen both a Hyundai and a Honda commercial mimicking this giant bow car surprise, making me wonder if this might be the last year we see Lexus using this theme. And yet, it’s …

Kevin · December 4th, 2009

Lexus GX 460 First Impressions

I wanted to wait a little while after the Lexus GX 460’s introduction before weighing in with my own impressions of the SUV, which I had a chance to see for myself at a Lexus Canada sneak peek dinner a couple weeks ago. Much like the RX redesign, the new GX is a more masculine …

Kevin · December 3rd, 2009

Lexus LFA European Buying Process

New information on the European Lexus LFA buying process has been released—London’s Park Lane dealership, the same dealership that’s hosting the only LFA in Europe, will be the center for all LFA sales, which will be handled by Personal Liaison Manager Devshi Varsani—from the press release: The man at the heart of the operation is …

Kevin · December 3rd, 2009

Lexus LFA Review from jruhi4

jruhi4 from My.IS, who you may remember was responsible for an epic Lexus IS convertible review, has taken it one step further with his latest—a Lexus LFA review so large and full of detail, it had to be split into two parts: The 1LR-GUE 4.8-liter V10 is such an all-new, clean-paper engine for Lexus that, …

Kevin · December 2nd, 2009

Lexus Magazine Looking for Feedback

Lexus Magazine, the monthly owners magazine from Lexus USA, has recently made the switch from print publication to part of the Lexus Drivers website, and are now looking for feedback on the changes from Lexus Enthusiast readers. My own experience with the old Lexus Magazine was limited to reading PDF versions, and for the most …

Kevin · December 2nd, 2009

Three Ridiculous Lexus LFA Videos

All in the span of a 15 minute period, I watched these three absolutely ridiculous Lexus LFA videos—first up, a car blogger apparently snuck into the storage area where the matte black LFA was being prepped for the LA Auto Show and drove it around the garage: Now that’s just plain crazy. Next up, someone …

Kevin · December 1st, 2009

Lexus November 2009 Sales Report

Note: I’m going to try something new this month and collect worldwide Lexus sales in one post. This will be updated as country numbers become available. USA Lexus USA has reported their sales numbers for November 2009: November Year to Date 2009 2008 % CHG 2009 2008 % CHG IS 2,851 2,749 12.7 33,924 45,893 …

Kevin · December 1st, 2009

Automobile Magazine Reviews the 2010 Lexus LS 460 Sport

Automobile Magazine sure did fall for the 2010 Lexus LS 460 Sport: A previously geriatric sedan is finally alive with youthful vigor and enthusiasm for twisty roads. Lexus has revealed an inner self we never knew existed. The LS platform has the moxie to handle much more power, speed, and throttle pressure. This toe dipped …

Kevin · November 30th, 2009

Jay Leno’s Garage Features Lexus LFA

Just got around to watching the Lexus LFA coverage on Jay Leno’s Garage and it’s well worth the time (even without Leno driving): The side-long footage simulates what it might look like to pull beside the LFA, and also shows just how large the car really is (which is to say, not very). It’s also …

Kevin · November 29th, 2009

Lexus LFA Spending Christmas in London

The only Lexus LFA in Europe has been parked at the Park Lane dealership in London, where prospective buyers can take a closer look and talk with Devshi Varsani, the man responsible for selling the supercar in Europe. From Autocar: “At the moment, we’re in the process of taking orders and deposits for the car …

Kevin · November 27th, 2009

Lexus ES 350 & IS 250/350 Recall Extended to Canada

The Lexus ES 350 & IS 250/350 safety recall that was announced in the USA has been extended to Canada. The recall will address the possible risk of unintended acceleration due to improperly installed floor mats by installing a new accelerator pedal and by installing a brake override system that will cut engine power went …

Kevin · November 27th, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of my American readers a warm and plentiful Thanksgiving! Please drive safe if you have travels ahead of you, and enjoy this time with your family over the holiday weekend. All the best, Kevin Watts, Editor, The Lexus Enthusiast.

Kevin · November 26th, 2009

Lexus LFA Crystallised Wind Video

Loved this video of the transparent acrylic Lexus LFA created earlier this year for the Milan Design Week: An extraordinary model, and a beautifully filmed video. Must-see. (It was very hard to visualize the model by photos alone—I didn’t release there was an entire transparent engine sitting under the hood!) (Thanks WoL!)

Kevin · November 25th, 2009

AutoSpies Video of the Lexus GX 460

Here’s some (shaky) AutoSpies footage of the new 2010 Lexus GX 460: I’m taken by that Sepia interior—it really is the perfect color for this type of vehicle.

Kevin · November 25th, 2009

2010 Lexus GX Now on Lexus USA Website

The Lexus USA website has been updated with all the details on the 2010 Lexus GX 460, including the full specifications and package/option pricing. Even better, the website photos paint the GX in a better (non-Satin Cashmere Metallic) light: I also came away very impressed with the Sepia interior selection: There’s also the virtual tour …

Kevin · November 25th, 2009

Lexus ES 350 & IS 250/350 Recall Announced

Toyota has announced the recall of the Lexus ES 350 & IS 250/350 models to have their accelerator pedals reshaped and/or replaced. This recall is to be a permanent solution to the risk of unintended acceleration, no matter what floor mat is being used. Starting in early 2010, dealerships will be equipped to reshape the …

Kevin · November 25th, 2009

Lexus LFA Interior Walkthrough Video

This Urban Racer video of the Lexus LFA at SEMA features some nice detail footage of the interior, including a nice walkthrough of the instrument panel options: That LFA instrument panel is spectacular—can not wait to see something similar in other Lexus models down the road. [Source: Urban Racer]

Kevin · November 24th, 2009

This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.

Accept Learn more…