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Toyota Builds New Driving Simulator

Toyota has built a new driving simulator at their Higashifuji Technical Center in Japan, and it looks straight out of science fiction. Inside the 15-foot-high, 23-foot-wide sphere is a Lexus IS attached to an elaborate rail system and surrounded by a 360-degree video screen that displays a virtual driving environment: The internal surrounding sides of …

Kevin · November 27th, 2007

The 2008 Lexus RX 400h’s Illuminated Scuff Plates

While browsing Club Lexus for details on the 2008 Lexus RX 400h’s updates, I found this great photo by tomv, a new hybrid owner, which shows off the illuminated scuff plates: Just to be clear, these would be visible when opening the doors. Great effect, I’m very impressed.

Kevin · November 27th, 2007

Lexus LS is the World’s Most Beautiful Large Sedan

Not exactly sure how it happened, but for the 15th Annual L’Automobile più Bella del Mondo (Most Beautiful Cars in the World) Awards, Lexus managed to snag first and second place in the Limousine (Large Sedan) category, with the LS 600h taking top spot and the LS 460 taking second. I’m surprised they didn’t just …

Kevin · November 26th, 2007

2008 Lexus RX 400h Gets Some Updates

It wasn’t until Lexus Australia announced the changes that I realized the 2008 RX 400h has received some minor updates, most notably new front & rear lights, which look great: Lexus also applied the hybrid blue badging, bringing it inline with the LS 600h and GS 450h, and added some new red or black wood …

Kevin · November 26th, 2007

Billionaire Takes the Lexus LS 600hL for a Spin

Driving.ca took a unique turn with their review of the Lexus LS 600hL, putting Jimmy Pattison, the fourth richest man in Canada, behind the wheel: Once the colourful self-made billionaire figured out how to operate the keyless ignition and push-button emergency brake on the 2008 Lexus LS600h L — and put his seat belt on …

Kevin · November 23rd, 2007

IGN Test Drives the Lexus IS-F

Can’t say I’ve ever visited IGN for auto news before, but they’ve put together a well-worded review of the Lexus IS-F as tested on the Laguna Seca Raceway: Though it’s not a lightweight car, the IS F handles with an impressively limited degree of body roll, to the degree to which it’s pretty easy to …

Kevin · November 22nd, 2007

The Lexus Symphony Orchestra Audio & Video

This past summer, Lexus staged two unique concerts in Britain using twelve LS 460s in place of an orchestra. These cars, with no modification or amplification, performed two pieces originally recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, which you can now listen to at a Lexus site dedicated to it. I really enjoyed the site, there’s …

Kevin · November 22nd, 2007

The Hybrid Debate

Sponsored by Lexus, The Hybrid Debate is a new website/weblog that will be examining the impact and importance of hybrids on society: The purpose of this debate is to look at hybrid cars in a completely new way. Rather than speculating about where the technology is going, we’re asking our contributors to imagine it has …

Kevin · November 21st, 2007

Lexus Europe Hopes to Triple Sales by 2010

According to Karl Schlicht, Head of Lexus Europe, Lexus is experiencing great success in Russia and hopes to increase their European sales three-fold by 2010: “If things continue as they are, by 2010 we will have doubled our Russian sales volume, which is currently at 17,000,” said Karl Schlicht, chief for Europe for the brand …

Kevin · November 21st, 2007

VIP Twin Turbo Lexus LS 430

Perhaps it’s my love of the stock Lexus LS 430, but this VIP’d up version is a real head scratcher: Can’t say I’m a real fan of the Fabulous body kit and its massive front lip, but the thing that stood out the most were the blown-out rear wheel wells. I understand the reasoning, massive …

Kevin · November 20th, 2007

The Hyundai Genesis Crosses the Line

A slew of Hyundai Genesis spy shots have surfaced, and it’s guaranteed that Lexus and BMW are none too happy with the car’s appearance: No matter the argument that all cars are derivative of each other, this is going over the line. The front-end is clearly inspired by the Lexus LS, but what’s much, much …

Kevin · November 19th, 2007

FiveAxis Lexus IS-F Makes an Appearance at the LA Auto Show

The Lexus Project IS-F by FiveAxis is moving its way up the west coast, making the trip from SEMA in Las Vegas to the LA Auto Show, where it was photographed in depth by Autoblog. There’s also been mention of a “Stage 2″ IS-F engine mod package being developed by FiveAxis, though there’s nothing in …

Kevin · November 18th, 2007

Lexus Technical Training Session Video

It may run a little long, but this video of the installation of a slippery surface for test driving Lexus’ is still pretty neat: From the video description, this was for a technical training session in Spain, and looks like it would be a lot of fun. Strangely enough, I played a PS3 game today …

Kevin · November 17th, 2007

Lexus GS vs. Jaguar XF: A Visual Comparison

I read about the Jaguar XF’s passing resemblance to the Lexus GS 460 in Motor Trend, but I didn’t realize the extent of it until I saw this Le Blog Auto visual comparison: Mind you, this is only a side profile comparison, the front and rears are entirely different, but the similarity in the photos …

Kevin · November 16th, 2007

WSJ Reviews the Lexus LS 600hL

The Wall Street Journal’s review of the Lexus LS 600hL isn’t so much a condemnation of the car, but rather the hybrid technology that spawned it: The biggest con running in the auto industry right now is the notion that hybrids represent some sort of quantum leap in green transportation. Not only is this patently …

Kevin · November 16th, 2007

Lexus Places First in Japanese Customer Service

Lexus sure knows how to treat their customers, at least according to JD Power. On top of a first place finish in the JD Power Sales Satisfaction Index, Lexus dominated the Japanese Customer Service Index as well: Now in its sixth year, the study identifies five factors that measure customer satisfaction with service performed at …

Kevin · November 15th, 2007

Lexus Rakes Up Their New Yorker Advertising

Included in the latest issue of the New Yorker was Lexus advertising of a different sort — mixed among the pages were leaves from the Salal bush, printed with slogans like the one above. NPR’s MJ Davis decided to investigate: Each leaf was unique, smelled like something derived from the earth and tasted — yes, …

Kevin · November 15th, 2007

Lexus Tops JD Power’s Sales Satisfaction Index

According to the latest JD Power Sales Satisfaction Index Survey, when it comes to selling cars, Lexus is tops: “Lexus improves by four rank positions from 2006, which is a gain driven primarily by increased customer delight with the dealership facility, salesperson performance and vehicle price,” said Tom Gauer, senior director of automotive retail research …

Kevin · November 14th, 2007

Great Lexus IS-F Video from SEMA 2007

There’s lots of details in this WebRidesTV video from SEMA 2007, from a great look at the Five Axis Project IS-F to Scott Pruett’s demonstration of IS-F with VDIM on/off: Looks like the IS-F’s release date is firming up. Brian Bolain, the Lexus national advertising and media manager, reveals that the car should hit the …

Kevin · November 14th, 2007

Lexus LF-A Development Hits a Bump

When the same-old Lexus LF-A concept was displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show instead of the expected production model, it was a clear sign that something was amiss in the supercar’s development. There’s no official word, but according to a Winding Road source, there’s certainly been some bumps in the road: Rumblings from inside Toyota …

Kevin · November 13th, 2007

Is this the 2009 Lexus IS?

An Autospies reader recently posted up this scanned-in Japanese auto mag page depicting the facelifted 2009 Lexus IS: “Top Secret” banner aside, this is likely a photochop, though subtle enough to be believable. The differences are slight, there’s some GS design incorporated into the front end, and the side panels look to be tucked in. …

Kevin · November 12th, 2007

Comparison: Lexus LS 600hL/Jaguar Super V8/Mercedes-Benz S550/Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT

Motor Trend assembled some super saloons in their latest ultra-luxury sedan comparison test, pitting the Lexus LS 600hL against the Jaguar Super V8, Mercedes S550 & Maserati Quattroporte Sport. The LS 600hL didn’t have a great showing, at least in the driving department: The all-wheel-drive Lexus exhibited pigheaded understeer in most corners, often attended by …

Kevin · November 12th, 2007

Comparison: Lexus LS600h vs. Audi A8

Right out the gate, the Audi A8 had a very significant advantage over the Lexus LS 600h in Autoweek’s recent comparison test — After all, the A8 is £20,000 cheaper than the LS 600h, and £20,000 is a steep hill to climb: More crucially, while the low 219g/km emissions are very impressive, it’s hard to …

Kevin · November 11th, 2007

The Small Lexus Moves Forward

There’s been rumblings for some time that Lexus could release a super-small sedan to compete with the likes of BMW’s 1-series and Audi’s A3, and a recent article from GoAuto suggests it’s much further in development than previously thought: To be manufactured in sedan and/or hatch guises beyond 2010, the new entry-level model plan was …

Kevin · November 10th, 2007

Limited Toy Lexus GS 430 by Tomica

I don’t know what’s better, the fact that there’s a limited edition Lexus GS 430 die-cast car available from Tomica, or that I discovered it on a japanese miniature car weblog. I was huge into die-casts as a kid, and I swear, seeing this makes me want to dig out my collection.

Kevin · November 9th, 2007

Video Comparison of the Lexus IS-F, BMW M3 & Audi RS4

Coming from an automotive marketing company that counts Lexus as a client, this AMCI video comparing the IS-F with the BMW M3 and Audi RS4 does seem more than a little bias, but that doesn’t stop it from being a great watch: To be fair, test driver Dave Sherman doesn’t proclaim the IS-F the king, …

Kevin · November 9th, 2007

SEMA 2007: Lexus GS 430 by GReedy

I’ll admit it, I was sitting on posting this GReedy tuned Lexus GS 430 from SEMA in the hopes that it would disappear, but it’s time to admit defeat. Beyond the gaudy stickers and coffee-can exhaust tips, there’s a supercharger under the hood, though no horsepower figures were released. If there’s one thing about this …

Kevin · November 8th, 2007

Lexus LS 460 Commercial from The Middle East

While I’m certainly no expert about what it’s like to be wealthy in the Middle East, this Lexus commercial really captured my imagination — beautiful homes, giant yachts, private jets and LS 460s all round: As strange as it is to say, they picked a great actor for this ad, who carries it with his …

Kevin · November 8th, 2007

New Info on Lexus IS-F Quad Exhausts

The Lexus IS-F has taken a lot of flak from the automotive community regarding its looks, but when Edmunds revealed the stacked quad “resonators” weren’t connected to the exhaust system, it became a flashpoint for criticism. Well, turns out the quad exhausts are functional after all — Autospies had the pleasure of spending a few …

Kevin · November 7th, 2007

The Lexus IS-F Engine Uncovered

Perhaps the most amusing part of Jalopnik’s review of the IS-F, and something I forgot to mention in my post, was their removal of the engine cover, revealing this jumbled up pile: You can check out more photos of the engine innards at the Jalopnik site. *** Another thing I missed, or rather didn’t realize, …

Kevin · November 7th, 2007

Toyota on the Lexus F Model Design

Ward’s Auto had a chance to sit down with Toyota Design Chief Wahei Hirai to discuss the unfavorable reaction to the Lexus IS-F’s design: Critics say the derivative does not distinguish itself enough from the current IS, especially with the interior, and that its bulbous nose is downright ugly. Toyota Motor Corp. design chief Wahei …

Kevin · November 6th, 2007

Jalopnik Reviews the Lexus IS-F

Spanning two parts, the Jalopnik review of the Lexus IS-F is a real fun read, but the most interesting aspect is how contrary it is to other published reviews. First off, whereas every other review, bar none, praised the IS-F on the track, Jalopnik came away shaking their heads: If it sounds like I wasn’t …

Kevin · November 6th, 2007

New Lexus IS-F Photos

Lexus has issued a new batch of IS-F photos today, replete in every available color but Starfire Pearl. It’s really a shame that this car was featured in that awful blue for so long, all the other colors suit it much better. That black is just perfect.

Kevin · November 5th, 2007

Edmunds Sport Sedan Comparison Test

Edmunds has posted up a comparison test of 2007-2008 sports sedans, pitting the 2007 Lexus IS 350 and Infiniti G35 Sport against 2008 models of the Cadillac CTS, Mercedes C350 Sport and BMW 335i. How did Lexus fare? Fourth place: Not one editor who scored this test was able to find the kind of personal …

Kevin · November 5th, 2007

SEMA 2007: Lexus GS 430 by Blitz

The tuned Lexus GS 430 by Blitz, created for SEMA, is a real sleeper. Done up in a tasteful custom body kit, the real action is under the hood, where Blitz equipped the GS with a supercharger, boosting the V8 up 73hp to 363hp total. I’m really digging the embedded supercharger control in the console, …

Kevin · November 3rd, 2007

SEMA 2007: Lexus LS 460 by VIP Auto Salon

Here’s the Lexus LS 460 by VIP Auto Salon that’s now showing at SEMA 2007, which is basically an application of the Wald International kit, right down to the Portofino wheels. Additionally, the Dakota Digital Air Ride System was installed, allowing for direct manipulation of the car’s height, making it easy to VIP your wheels …

Kevin · November 2nd, 2007

SEMA 2007: The Lexus RX 400h by 714 Motorsports & MOMO

The 714 Motorsports/MOMO Lexus RX 400h has been revealed at SEMA, and as expected, it’s a full-on cosmetic overhaul. The RX has been dropped, kitted, and outfitted with an interior makeover. However, the mesh grille, roof rack, and slightly lowered stance make up a package that resembles an overgrown Pontiac Vibe. The wheels are fantastic …

Kevin · November 2nd, 2007

SEMA 2007: Project IS-F by Five Axis

You may recall the video build log of Five Axis making this heavily modified IS-F, but the videos hardly prepared us for the final product — this is one muscular looking car through and through, and perhaps best of all, it’s painted matte black! Fantastic. Removing the massive side air vents makes a big difference …

Kevin · November 1st, 2007

Flickr Find: Seeing Double

Flickr user Dougie Wands had to wait for the crowds to disperse around the Lexus LF-A at the Tokyo Frankfurt Motor Show before taking these photos, but the effect was well worth it: I can’t even imagine what the result might have been if the LF-A had been painted in high-gloss black!

Kevin · November 1st, 2007

Video from the Lexus LF-Xh Debut at the Tokyo Motor Show

Courtesy of my favorite Japanese Lexus blog, The Lexus Times, comes video from the Tokyo Motor Show debut of the LF-Xh: I think all that remains is to remove the wheels and set this thing up with some sort of anti-gravity propulsion.

Kevin · October 31st, 2007

A Summary of the New Lexus F-Sport Performance Accessory Line

As expected, Lexus debuted their new F-Sport Performance Accessory Line at SEMA, and there’s no shortage of products to choose from, that is, if you have an IS 250/350. Here’s a summary of the offerings: * The most significant upgrades are for the suspension and handling, including a lowering spring set, a sway bar set …

Kevin · October 31st, 2007

Car Magazine Spies the Lexus LF-A

Including three spy-photos of a practically-production version, Car Magazine has hit with some Lexus LF-A news: As the engine rules in F1 have changed, so has the powerplant under development for the LF-A. It now has a V10 petrol engine of just under 5.0 litres capacity, said to develop a muscly 500bhp for 200mph performance. …

Kevin · October 30th, 2007

Flickr Find: The Extraterrestrial Lexus LF-Xh

Doesn’t this photo from the Lexus LF-Xh debut in Tokyo, taken by Flickr user elmar.carabanes, make the concept look like a UFO? I’m really struck by how futuristic the frontend is, imagining it on a production model boggles my mind. I could almost picture it on a spaceship.

Kevin · October 30th, 2007

Details on the Upcoming Lexus Accessory Line

While the official announcement won’t take place until tomorrow at SEMA, my.IS has some details on the upcoming performance accessory line for the Lexus IS. Available options include: 19″ Forged Alloy Wheel/Tire Package Performance Brake Upgrade – Front & Rear Carbon Fiber Engine Cover Performance Intake Lowering Spring Set Peformance Shock Absorber Set Performance Exhaust …

Kevin · October 29th, 2007

Autoweek Reviews the 2008 Lexus IS-F

The Lexus IS-F reviews keep on coming, this time from the folks over at Autoweek. As with most of the reviews so far, there was considerable praise for both the transmission and the on-track performance, but deviated from the consensus in regards to the ride quality: Coming over the terrifying crest under the bridge at …

Kevin · October 29th, 2007

Edmunds Comparison: Lexus IS-F vs. Audi RS4

Edmunds has pitted the Lexus IS-F against the Audi RS4, and in what might be the first published IS-F comparison test. The results, unfortunately, were not pretty, as this is a fairly one-sided affair, with the RS4 pulling far ahead of the IS-F in every category. Their conclusion really says it all: The 2009 Lexus …

Kevin · October 28th, 2007

Winding Road Reviews the 2008 Lexus IS-F

The thing that stands out most about Winding Road’s review of the 2008 Lexus IS-F is its attention to detail, seemingly every faucet of the IS-F is extensively covered, and is accompanied by some of the best photos I’ve seen yet. While most reviews so far have been positive, Winding Road is exuberant with its …

Kevin · October 26th, 2007

Automobile Magazine Reviews the 2008 Lexus IS-F

The Lexus IS-F reviews keep coming in, this time from Automobile Magazine. This review is similar in a lot of ways to Edmunds’, in that they loved the on-track performance but were disappointed with its ride harshness off it: The IS-F rides on nineteen-inch BBS wheels that are forged rather than cast, saving somewhere around …

Kevin · October 25th, 2007

Car Magazine, The Lexus LF-Xh, and Some Photoshop Fun

Car Magazine has put in their two cents regarding the design of the Lexus LF-Xh concept, and they like what they see: The concept’s exterior dimensions are similar to the RX400h’s, but crucially massaged in all the right ways to alleviate the current model’s slightly ungainly ‘body-disconnected-from-its wheels’ stance. The LF-Xh is longer and wider …

Kevin · October 25th, 2007

Motor Trend Reviews the 2008 Lexus IS-F

I saved the Motor Trend IS-F review for last — not only is it the most positive, it’s written by Arthur St. Antoine, who’s become one of the automotive writers I always pay attention to. If you were thinking about purchasing an IS-F, and maybe the other reviews have you feeling a little unsure, this …

Kevin · October 24th, 2007

Auto Express Drives the Lexus IS-F Around Fuji Speedway

Auto Express’ first drive of the IS-F is different than the other reviews today, in that they travelled to Japan to try the IS-F out on the Fuji Speedway, the track that inspired the F-Performance name. However, the end result was very similar to the Edmunds review, with a key difference — Auto Express was …

Kevin · October 24th, 2007

Car & Driver Reviews the 2008 Lexus IS-F

Next up in our day of Lexus IS-F reviews is Car & Driver, who don’t really say much, yet provide some contrasting opinions when compared to the Edmunds review. For instance, where Edmunds was altogether blown away by the Sport Direct Shift transmission, C&D had some criticisms: Polished paddles put your fingers in charge when …

Kevin · October 24th, 2007

Edmunds Road Tests the 2008 Lexus IS-F

The first automotive press test drives of the Lexus IS-F were published today, so let’s go through them one at a time. First up is Edmunds, which seesawed between being impressed by the IS-F’s on-track performance and unimpressed by its on-road experience: While the kind of on-track schooling the IS-F has received is generally a …

Kevin · October 24th, 2007

Tokyo Motor Show: Lexus LF-Xh Concept Debuts

The Lexus LF-Xh concept made its Tokyo Motor Show debut today, and while no additional information was released, both Autoblog and The Winding Road have posted up galleries from the unveiling. Also of interest is this video from Japanese car site Carview, which shows the extent of Toyota’s offerings, including an all-too-short clip of the …

Kevin · October 24th, 2007

Autoweek: Lexus LS 460L Long-Term Test Update

Autoweek has had the Lexus LS 460L in their long-term fleet for nine months now, and while they continue to be impressed by the car’s luxury, they have picked up on some niggling issues: Here in the third quarter, however, we’ve noticed the car showing its age, just a bit. “After getting out of a …

Kevin · October 23rd, 2007

Car & Driver Previews the 2008 Lexus LX 570

Car & Driver has posted up their preview of the upcoming Lexus LX 570, which will include a feature I don’t recall reading about: The permanent four-wheel drive incorporates an electronically locking center differential and brake-based limited-slip traction assist. Toyota has developed “crawl control,” a low-speed, off-road cruise control. Up to 10 mph, the desired …

Kevin · October 23rd, 2007

The Statistics behind Lexus’ Pursuit of Perfection

It’s an oft-stated fact that the detail that Lexus puts into the manufacturing of their cars is almost ridiculous, but there are a number of statistics from a recently published Just Auto article that bear repeating: Of the 19 hours it takes to build a Lexus, 11 of them are spent in the paint shop. …

Kevin · October 22nd, 2007

Lexus IS-F in New PS3 Gran Turismo 5 Demo

A downloadable demo of Gran Turismo 5 was made available to Playstation 3 owners this weekend, and more to the point, the Lexus IS-F is one of the seven playable cars! The realism is nothing short of astounding, it even shows through in this filmed TV video clip:

Kevin · October 22nd, 2007

Two Crazy Spanish Lexus IS Commercials

I tried to total up number of insane moments in these two Spanish Lexus IS commercials, but lost count at the Lexus surfboard: I’m seriously having a hard time writing this through the tears of laughter. Surely, we’re looking at the first time the Lexus V6 engine has been compared to a pregnant woman’s belly. …

Kevin · October 20th, 2007

New Wald Lexus IS Body Kit Photos

Wald International has updated its website with Lexus IS Body Kit photos, and they’re surely a sight for sore eyes. When it debuted in August, the only official photos featured the car wet, of all things, and were certainly not up to their usual quality. As well, they hightlighted a number of unflattering characteristics, particularly …

Kevin · October 19th, 2007

2008 GS 460 Added to Lexus USA’s Website

In sync with the new Lexus GS commercial, the 2008 GS lineup has been added to the Lexus USA website, including the GS 460. I’m not sure if the introduction of the refreshed top-end GS could be any more low-key, though that might just be the enthusiast talking. The updated GS page has a slew …

Kevin · October 18th, 2007

More on the New Lexus RX Pop-Up Book Commercial

Creativity Online has posted up an interview with the art director and copywriter of the Lexus RX Pop-Up Book commercial that I featured yesterday, which explains exactly how the advert was made: What was the ratio of real footage versus VFX [Video Effects]? DH [Dave Horton, Copywriter]: It was really important to keep everything looking …

Kevin · October 18th, 2007

Lexus GS Commercial: Etiquette

It would be easy to write off the new Lexus GS commercial as a late reply to Audi’s Parking Assist mockvertisement, but in truth, it’s a much bigger statement than that: What a great distillation of Lexus — it may be a lot flashier than the ES 350 commercial I featured on the weekend, but …

Kevin · October 17th, 2007

Lexus RX Commercial: Pop-Up Book

I’ve been waiting to see this RX commercial ever since I was sent some behind-the-scenes photos of the filming, and the final cut doesn’t disappoint: It’s hard to imagine the amount of planning necessary to pull off something like this, which doesn’t seem to use any digital effects at all. I’m surprised by the factory …

Kevin · October 17th, 2007

Spy Shots: 2010 Lexus GX 470/4Runner?

Leftlane News has posted spy shots of either the 2009 Toyota 4Runner or the 2010 Lexus GX, you can take your guess picking which. In all honesty, with those extended tail lights, it looks more like a transformer in mid-change — a very effective camouflage job, indeed. The rear looks widened, and even a bit …

Kevin · October 16th, 2007

Consumer Reports: The Lexus GS AWD = Below Average

The news today is that the AWD versions of the Lexus GS, along with two Toyotas, have been dropped from Consumer Reports’ 2007 Recommended list. The net result, Toyota as a whole (including Lexus and Scion) has dropped from first overall to third, behind Honda and Subaru. What were the problems with the AWD GS, …

Kevin · October 16th, 2007

Debunking the Lexus Age Myth

Not that I don’t trust the words of an outgoing executive, but Jim Farley’s comments last week in Automotive News seem to take a rather dark spin on Lexus’ future: The news comes from former Lexus General Manager Jim Farley, who spoke with Automotive News prior to leaving his job last week to head to …

Kevin · October 15th, 2007

Video: Lexus LS 460 on Fire

Now this is something you don’t see every day: Don’t know exactly what would cause a car to catch fire like this, but I’m sure it’s a special sort of circumstance, especially with no other cars involved. I can’t believe people are driving right up near it, that’s just crazy.

Kevin · October 14th, 2007

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