Lexus RX 400h Commercial: Hybrid Drive

I’ve featured a variation of this Lexus UK commercial before, but I like the concept enough to show it again: It might be missing the rain footage of the first version, but any invisible automobile video is good by me.
Kevin · June 9th, 2008

Tom’s New VP17 Lexus Rims

Checking out the latest offerings from Tom’s, the Japanese tuning company specializing in Lexus, I came across these fantastic VP17 wheels:
Kevin · June 9th, 2008

Lexus LF-A Wallpaper

Due to an email I sent out far too late, I wasn’t able to include Dougie Wand‘s great mirror image of the Lexus LF-A as part of my anniversary wallpaper collection, but all the better to offer it on a hot Friday afternoon. Here’s the various desktop sizes, enjoy! 1680×1050 | 1440×900 | 1280×1024 | …

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Kevin · June 6th, 2008

Lieberman reviews the Lexus LS 600h L (Part Two)

I may have found it a week late, but the time allowed this Lexus LS 600hL review by Jonny Lieberman to fill up with some of the best comments I’ve read regarding the hybrid limo’s appeal. Here’s a quote from the article itself: I disagree with every review of the Lexus LS600hL ever written. Categorically. …

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Kevin · June 5th, 2008

Lexus places third in JD Power Initial Quality Study

The 2008 JD Power Initial Quality Study has been released, and Lexus has placed third overall and just one point under Infiniti for second place. The lineup is well represented In the individual segments, with both the LS and RX placing first in their respective groups. Here’s a full breakdown: Large Premium Car: LS (1st …

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Kevin · June 4th, 2008

Lexus IS-F Ringtone

The Lexus Canada website is just full of surprises — first we had the web game that led to a secret video, and now TPP reader Jarrett mentions that there’s also an IS-F ringtone available for download. Here’s a preview, though I recommend turning your speakers down: Granted, it’s pretty intense, and only spent about …

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Kevin · June 4th, 2008

Lexus USA May 2008 Sales Report

Lexus sales in the US had another down month, dropping 19.6% since when compared to last May. Here’s the breakdown: 2008 2007 % Change IS250/350/F 5,420 5,722 -8.8 ES350 6,831 8,572 -23.3 GS350/460/450h 1,708 2,043 -19.5 SC430 216 410 -49.3 LS460/600h L 2,115 3,196 -36.3 Total Cars 16,290 19,943 -21.3 RX350/400h 8,082 9,798 -20.6 GX470 …

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Kevin · June 3rd, 2008

Lexus Web Game Video

I may have linked to the Lexus Canada’s IS 350 paddleshift game last year, but it turns out I didn’t do well enough to see this secret super revving video: I’m a big fan of these types of sound visualizations, and near the end it almost looks like the inside of an engine, which in …

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Kevin · June 2nd, 2008

Lexus LX 570 in short supply

The newly designed LX 570 is selling very well in the US. Since its introduction in January, it’s been selling an average of 680 units per month. In fact, Kicking Tires has reported that there’s currently only a four-day supply in inventory: …if you want to order one today, you may have to wait up …

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Kevin · June 2nd, 2008

Comments Fixed

Due to a technical mix-up, comments have been disabled for the past week. The problem is now fixed, and commenting is once again possible. It was a poor time for the comment system to go down, so now with the problem resolved, I’m interested to hear your reactions to my hypothesis that the Lexus LF-A …

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Kevin · June 1st, 2008

Motorweek 1990 Video Comparison of the Lexus ES 250 & Infiniti M30

This 1990 segment of Motorweek comparing the Lexus ES 250 and the Infiniti M30 just goes to show how far entry-level luxury cars have come over the last 18 years: It’s so rare to find anything about the ES 250, and this is the first video review I’ve seen. What’s more, comparing it the M30 …

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Kevin · May 31st, 2008

TPP: One Year Anniversary

Today marks the first anniversary of The Passionate Pursuit! It’s funny the way time works, at times it feels like I’ve only just started, and in another way, it seems like something I’ve always done. I’ve learned a lot over the past year, running this site is a very rewarding experience.  To mark the occasion, …

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Kevin · May 30th, 2008

Feature: Is the Lexus LF-A really the new SC?

Last week, when Edmund’s Inside Line blog printed a rumor that the production version of the Lexus LF-A could cost upwards of $225,000 USD, the backlash was instant and ruthless. Auto enthusiasts everywhere bristled at the idea that Lexus would be pitting their new supercar against the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini. To be quite …

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Kevin · May 29th, 2008

Flickr Find: Zues driving a Lexus IS 300

I wouldn’t call this a Lexus video necessarily, but this sped up footage by Flickr user sullivan1985 featuring an IS 300 is still pretty cool: (Direct link to video) Reminds me of this scene from movie Ghost Dog: (As a sidenote, I’ve wanted to post that Ghost Dog clip since I started this site.)
Kevin · May 28th, 2008

Lexus LF-A Prototype Crash

Details have been revealed today that the Lexus LF-A Racing Prototype was involved in some kind of crash during the qualifying session prior to the actual race. Autoblog has some more photos of the smash, but the damage seem to be around the driver-side front and rear bumper. Here’s what it looked like from the …

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Kevin · May 27th, 2008

Great Photos of the Lexus LF-A Racing Prototype

The french website Endurance Info has some very nice exclusive photos of the Lexus LF-A racing prototype, including the one above this shot of the interior and engine: Judging by the news date (May 21st) and the lack of emblems, it looks like this site might have had the first public engine shots.
Kevin · May 27th, 2008

Lexus LF-A Racing Prototype completes Nürburgring 24h Race

The Lexus LF-A racing prototype finished the Nürburgring 24H race in 121st place, mostly due to some extended pitstops. Over the 24 hours, the LF-A managed 100 laps, 48 back of the winning Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Motor Trend has a nice recap of the race, including this bit on the Lexus prototype: Did you …

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Kevin · May 26th, 2008

The Lexus LF-A in the Nürburgring 24H Race this weekend

The Nürburgring 24hour race is happening this weekend, which the Lexus LF-A is pretend-competing in, using the race environment to see how the supercar holds up over an intensive run. Well, as it turns out, it’s probably best Lexus didn’t throw its hat fully into the ring, because one hour after the race started, the …

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Kevin · May 24th, 2008

Lexus IS 300 Garage Drift Video

Ignoring everything that could have went wrong, this video of a Lexus IS 300 drifting 180° into a garage is just the thing for a Friday afternoon: Really though, that’s a perfect setup, how could you not try that if you had a driveway like that?
Kevin · May 23rd, 2008

Lexus planning two dedicated hybrids?

Edmund’s Inside Line blog has definitely living up to its name over the last couple days, first breaking the possibility of a $200,000 Lexus LF-A, and now revealing details that Lexus could be planning to bring out not one, but two hybrid-only vehicles in the near future: Toyota’s upscale Lexus brand is considering the addition …

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Kevin · May 22nd, 2008

Motor Trend visits the Lexus Hybrid Living Suite

Motor Trend spent some time in the Lexus Hybrid Living Suite, a suite created at the San Francisco Fairmont hotel to showcase Lexus’ commitment to environmental responsibility: The San Francisco Fairmont is located on top of the Nob Hill area, the highest point in the entire city. As one might imagine, such a location makes …

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Kevin · May 21st, 2008

Is the Lexus LF-A going to cost over $200,000?

Big LF-A news today, as Edmund’s Inside Line has sleuthed out a possible price on the Lexus supercar: With an estimated 500 horsepower coming from the LF-A’s 5.0-liter V10, we didn’t expect the Lexus to come cheap, but Inside Line has learned that the car will carry a price tag over $200,000. Ben Mitchell, corporate …

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Kevin · May 21st, 2008

Lexus wins UK Security Award, LS wins Best Luxury Car

Here’s story that slipped through as I was finishing up the new version of this site: Lexus won two awards in the 2008 Fleet World Honours, taking home the Security award and the Best Luxury Car award for the LS: The Security Award reflects Lexus’s high levels of protection against theft of or from its …

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Kevin · May 19th, 2008

Lexus F-Sport Air Intake Video

After seeing the video of the Lexus F-Sport exhaust system, I did some research into the other performance accessories offered in the line. Lo and behold, I found a very extensive video of the F-Sport air intake being installed and tested (along with a Tanabe exhaust system): In terms of sound, it’s hard to determine …

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Kevin · May 19th, 2008

Lexus F-Sport Exhaust Video

One of the accessories available through the new Lexus F-Sport Line of performance parts is a replacement exhaust system for the IS, and here it is fully installed and revving for action: The audio in the video is pretty bad, but it certainly delivers on Lexus’ promise of “powerful, sport-tuned exhaust sound”.  (The exhaust system …

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Kevin · May 16th, 2008

Lexus Pebble Beach Commercial Song

There’s been a lot of interest in just what song is playing in the recent Lexus Pebble Beach commercial, so I decided to look into it. First off, here’s the song in question: As for the answer, the company responsible for the music is Robot Repair, specifically composer Kael Alden, who is also a member …

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Kevin · May 16th, 2008

Flickr Find: Lexus Nürburgring Duo

There’s been plenty of photos of the Lexus IS 250/LF-A duo currently racing in the ADAC Rundstrecken Trophy Endurance series, but I just wanted to feature these two images from Flickr user nordschleifenfan, a photographer seemingly stationed at Nürburgring: nordschleifenfan has put together quite a collection of Nürburgring racing images, be sure to check them …

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Kevin · May 15th, 2008

Synchronized Lexus SC 430s

It’s with much amusement that I bring this video of a Lexus SC 430 fleet performing a synchronized convertible roof switch: Judging from the characters above the cars, I’d say this is from Japan, and it looks to be close to 20 SCs in the formation. Just remember, fanaticism has many faces. Update: Found another …

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Kevin · May 15th, 2008

The Lexus LS 600h/Paul McCartney Fiasco

So, the big news of the day concerns an LS 600h that was sent by Lexus to Paul McCartney as a gift for his work promoting the company’s hybrids. Pretty uneventful so far, right? Well, turns out the car was sent by plane rather than by boat, creating a carbon footprint almost 100 times larger: …

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Kevin · May 14th, 2008

Lexus UK launches IS 250 SR

Lexus UK is launching a special edition of the Lexus IS 250, dubbed the SR edition, and it features a full body kit, some very nice 10-spoke alloy rims and some sporty interior upgrades, including some aluminum pedals. The body kit’s very subtle, but it works, especially with the wheel combo.  Once again, I was …

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Kevin · May 14th, 2008

Lexus ranked #2 Luxury Auto Brand in the USA

The Luxury Institute has released their annual report on the top prestige auto brands in the USA, and Lexus ranked #2, just behind Porsche and in front of Mercedes. Here’s some details about the survey: The proprietary Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey is the only measure of the prestige of leading brands among wealthy …

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Kevin · May 13th, 2008

The Lexus LF-A Racing Prototype in Action

The just-revealed IS 250 race car wasn’t the only Lexus to be part of the festivities this weekend, as the LF-A racing prototype also made its debut in the ADAC Rundstrecken Trophy Endurance series. Edmunds reports: The race was run on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, combined with a sprint portion of the famous Grand Prix circuit. …

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Kevin · May 13th, 2008

Lexus UK tops JD Power Customer Satisfaction study for 8th straight year

Count this among the news I missed last week when my head was buried in code, Lexus UK has topped the annual JD Power Customer Satisfication Index for the eighth year in a row: In the nameplate rankings, luxury Japanese brand Lexus ranks highest for an eighth consecutive year, receiving a customer satisfaction score of …

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Kevin · May 13th, 2008

Mystery Lexus IS Solved

The mystery Lexus IS making the rounds round Nürburgring last week turned out to be the most obvious: it was a race car, and it appeared in the ADAC Rundstrecken Trophy Endurance race in Germany this weekend: The TME/Team Gazoo IS competed in the first of seven four-hour endurance races. One six-hour and a 24-hour …

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Kevin · May 12th, 2008

Welcome to The Passionate Pursuit 2.0

After extensive development, the new version of The Passionate Pursuit is ready. First thing’s first, if you’ve visited the site any time recently, please be sure to hit the refresh button, otherwise things might look pretty strange. The most significant addition to the site is the Lexus database, which contains every model built by Lexus. …

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Kevin · May 11th, 2008

TPP 2.0 This Week

Update: The new site design will be launching Sunday evening, and things will be quiet around here until then. The site will more than likely be down for a few hours on Sunday as we prepare for launch. Thanks for your patience! If you’re a regular visitor to this blog, you may remember the mention …

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Kevin · May 10th, 2008

Car Magazine Video: Lexus IS-F vs. BMW M3 vs. Mercedes C63

UK’s Car Magazine has put in their video vote in the Lexus IS-f/BMW M3/Mercedes C63 race, and it’s probably the least qualitative comparison yet: I’m all for a little character in car reviews, but not to this extent. The gimmicks and poor lap timing method detract from an otherwise enjoyable watch. Surely this isn’t how …

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Kevin · May 9th, 2008

Video of the mystery Lexus IS surfaces

The mysterious Lexus IS spotted yesterday has made a video appearance, albeit rather brief and shaky: The engine note is hard to read, though I would say it’s a V6. The hood bulge would indicate there’s something unusual going on, but whether it’s a hybrid system or even a supercharger is anyone’s guess. [Via: Jalopnik] …

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Kevin · May 8th, 2008

Mystery Lexus IS Spotted at Nürburgring

Motor Authority’s at it again, this time spotting a camouflaged Lexus IS running the track at Nürburgring. The excessive tape & tarp are definitely hiding something, especially in the hood, where there’s a extra-large engine bulge: Judging by the awkward rear stance and the presence of a roll cage, I’m thinking this is a mule …

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Kevin · May 7th, 2008

Lexus LF-A Prototype Interior Spy Shots

Motor Authority has scooped some new close-up photos of the LF-A prototypes currently zooming around Nürburgring, including the supercar’s carbon fiber roof (pictured above) and this interior pic (click on either for a larger image): Testing equipment aside, the interior looks very close to the one seen in the LF-A Roadster concept, with the multi-level …

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Kevin · May 7th, 2008

Lexus US Price Increases

Lexus vehicles will see a bump in their prices by the end of this month, here’s a full table with the increases: Increase New Price IS 250 Manual $300 $30,855 IS 250 Auto $300 $32,025 IS 250 AWD $300 $34,485 IS 350 $300 $36,305 ES 350 $300 $34,120 SC 430 $900 $66,355 GS 350 $400 …

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Kevin · May 5th, 2008

Crazy Lexus IS-F Donut

At first, this video didn’t strike me as anything really, until it just kept going on and on: Sure, the road surface is slicked down, but it was still good for 45 seconds of amusement.
Kevin · May 5th, 2008

More Video of the Lexus LF-A Racing Prototype

It’s a simple equation: The more time the Lexus LF-A racing prototype spends on Nürburgring racetrack, the more video footage pops up. The proof: The folks over at Motor Authority have a lengthy video of the supercar making its rounds around the ‘ring (click on this image to visit the video): My favorite part of …

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Kevin · May 2nd, 2008

Lexus USA April 2008 Sales Report

The month of April was not kind to Lexus, as sales dropped 17.1% since last year. Here is, as always, a breakdown: 2008 2007 % Change IS250/350/F 4,550 4,363 -3.7 ES350 5,439 6,544 -23.3 GS350/460/450h 1,568 1,887 -23.3 SC430 217 341 -41.3 LS460/600h L 1,992 3,182 -42.2 Total Cars 13,766 16,317 -22.1 RX350/400h 7,160 7,861 …

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Kevin · May 1st, 2008

Mother Proof Reviews the Lexus LX 570

Mother Proof, a site that reviews cars from a mother’s point of view, has posted a review of the Lexus LX 570: The sheer number of buttons that greeted me on that first drive was also a bit overwhelming; I thought I might need pilot training just to get it home. I was sorely disappointed …

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Kevin · April 29th, 2008

Extended Footage of the Lexus LF-A (not the racing prototype)

It’s not the Lexus LF-A racing prototype, but this extended spy video of the LF-A is still something to watch: It’s been rumored that one of the major reasons for the supercar’s production delay was the engineer’s desire to push the top speed higher. Well, when comparing this video, which was filmed last year, with …

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Kevin · April 28th, 2008

Top Gear’s Richard Hammond Reviews the Lexus IS-F

I am, it must be said, a very big fan of Top Gear, so it was with great interest to find a review of the Lexus IS-F by Richard Hammond, one of the show’s presenters. Like his Fifth Gear counterpart Tom Ford, Hammond was more than impressed: And, like a penguin reincarnated as a lion …

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Kevin · April 28th, 2008

Lexus trademarks IS 250C, IS 300C & IS 350C

The IS Coupe is one step closer to reality, as a moderator over at my.IS discovered some trademark applications filed by Lexus in both the USA and Canada: IS 250C, IS 300C and IS 350C. These digits lead to some interesting speculation, particularly in the case of the IS 300C. The 102-hp gap between the …

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Kevin · April 25th, 2008

More Details on the Lexus LF-A Racing Prototype

Easier Motoring has a few more details on the Lexus LF-A racing prototype that will be part of the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race: Testing the vehicle on the famous Nürburgring circuit for 24 hours under gruelling race conditions will provide Lexus engineers with a unique opportunity to acquire knowledge that can be used to further …

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Kevin · April 24th, 2008

WebRidesTV Comparison: Lexus IS-F vs. Audi RS4

Eager to see how the Lexus IS-F did against their “beloved” favorite, the Audi RS4, WebRidesTV.com had accomplished race car driver Craig Stanton put them through the paces in this very enjoyable video: In my mind, the RS4 is probably the best “rival” for the IS-F, and between this video and Tom Ford’s RS4/IS-F/C63/M3 comparison, …

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Kevin · April 24th, 2008

Lexus Commercial: Imagination is Everything

This is, without a shadow of a doubt, the weirdest Lexus commercial I’ve ever seen: A creepy man chasing a crying princess while riding a stick horse. Sure it’s a fairy tale, sure it’s a child’s imagination, but if I saw this as a kid I would have been completely freaked out.
Kevin · April 23rd, 2008

Video of the Lexus LF-A Racing Prototype on Nürburgring

A short video of the Lexus LF-A Racing prototype beaming its way through Nürburgring has emerged: The sound of the supercar is practically insane, and judging by the ridiculous speed it’s capable of, could Toyota just being playing mindgames when they stated that they would not be looking to win the 24hour Nürburgring in May? …

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Kevin · April 22nd, 2008

Lexus LF-A Racing Prototype confirmed for 24 Hour Nürburgring Race

The Lexus LF-A Racing prototype has been confirmed as an entrant into the the Nurburgring 24 hour endurance challenge next month. The race, officially called the 36th ADAC Zurich 24h Race 2008, will take place in Germany on May 23-24. Although it seems contrary to the idea of racing, Toyota also announced that they would …

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Kevin · April 21st, 2008

Lexus SC’s Gone Wild Video

A group of dedicated first-gen Lexus SC owners from Club Lexus have put together an extraordinary video tribute to their cars, complete with synchronized routines and even a touch of humor: Great job by everyone involved, it’s definitely “the passionate pursuit” in full effect.
Kevin · April 20th, 2008

Lexus Lifestyle Marketing

Autoweek has a story about Lexus’ latest grassroots marketing campaign, and it’s much more than teaming up with the Fairmont Hotel chain to create the “hybrid-living suites”: For a more routine hotel stay, Lexus owners at 13 other boutique hotels receive $100 vouchers for dining and spa services. Those hotels also will offer no-charge access …

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Kevin · April 17th, 2008

Lexus IS-F TV Commercial

Though the Lexus IS-F’s national advertising campaign is limited strictly to movie theaters, dealers were also given a commercial made up of three of the 15-second ads. Here’s one for Lexus Stevens Creek, located in San Jose: They work really well sewn together like this, the end result is very impressive.
Kevin · April 17th, 2008

Race-Ready Lexus LF-A spotted near Nürburgring!

The Lexus LF-A is certainly causing a stir with its return to Nürburgring, as spy photographers were treated to a special surprise today with the appearance of the prototype supercar decked out in a full assortment of racing trim. Here’s a breakdown: Super-large fixed rear wing Redesigned front bumper with stacked side plates and a …

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Kevin · April 16th, 2008

Does the Nissan GTR have anything to do with the Lexus LF-A delay?

Looks like whatever the problem was yesterday has been solved, because the Lexus LF-A was seen moving on its own power today, no doubt prepping for its time on Nürburgring. With that in mind, Motor Trend seems to think the real reason the LF-A has been absent from the ‘ring for so long is that …

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Kevin · April 15th, 2008

Autoweek Comparison: Lexus IS-F vs. Nissan GTR

I’ve been waiting for a magazine to compare the Lexus IS-F and the Nissan GTR for a while now, and Autoweek has done just that, though it’s a much friendlier affair than the usual head-to-head: The GT-R is the faster car, but it is not necessarily better to drive. With the cars hot-shoed back-to-back, the …

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Kevin · April 15th, 2008

New Lexus LF-A Spy Shots

The good news: Two new Lexus LF-A prototypes were just spotted at Nürburgring, which could quite possibly mean that the rumored development problems may finally be solved. The bad news: The LF-A had to be pushed into the garage, which could quite possibly mean that the rumored development problems may still be causing trouble. You …

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Kevin · April 15th, 2008

Hennessey to Tune Lexus IS-F

Best known for for their insanely souped-up Dodge Vipers, Hennessey Performance Engineering will be turning their attention on the Lexus IS-F: In an interview with Inside Line, John Hennessey dropped some broad hints as to his next project: “We have a new IS-F coming in next week. Our plan with that car is to test …

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Kevin · April 15th, 2008

Lexus Performance Driving Academy

Last month, it was announced that the annual Taste of Lexus traveling test drive tour would be discontinued and replaced with smaller, more targeted events. The reasoning was that too many current owners were taking part, even making up 75% of the audience in some locations. Regardless of how much sense it makes to close …

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Kevin · April 14th, 2008

A Weekend Away

Just a quick note, I’ll be away from a computer for the next couple days and will resume posting on Monday. (Hopefully the GS-F isn’t announced this weekend!)
Kevin · April 11th, 2008

Hybrids (Still) Central to Lexus Strategy in Europe

For whatever reason, Business Week has become particularly concerned with how Lexus is doing in other parts of the world. First there was an article a couple weeks ago about the company’s sales in Japan (which I partially refuted), and now a new story has sprung up about how hybrid technology may be the key …

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Kevin · April 10th, 2008