China Gets Lexus LF-A Pricing & Release Information

It’s been less than two weeks since the LS 600hL was released in China, and now the latest news is that the LF-A is next in line: “We are planning to import the latest Lexus models to the Chinese market at the earliest time possible,” said Zeng Lintang, vice president of Toyota Motor (China) Investment …

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Kevin · August 30th, 2007

Official Specifications for the Lexus GS 460

Lexus has issued a press release with the specs for the new GS 460, and there’s some serious disappointment ahead if you were hoping for similar numbers to the LS 460. The GS 460 will be getting the LS 460’s 1UR-FSE V8 engine, but detuned from 380hp to 342hp, and if you can believe it, …

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Kevin · August 29th, 2007

Lexus GS-F News!

Fantastic news has emerged regarding the existence of a Lexus GS-F: According to Motortrend, the GS-F will be receiving the LF-A’s V10 engine, meaning 500-plus horsepower, making it a worthy entry into the super sedan class. The next-gen GS, scheduled for a 2011 release, is being designed to allow for the V10 engine, which could …

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Kevin · August 29th, 2007

2008 GX 470 Now on Lexus USA Website

The 2008 Lexus GX 470 has been added to the Lexus USA website, and as expected, the changes are minimal and completely cosmetic. What has changed? New dark metallic finish on the front grille Chrome roof rack side rails Liquid graphite on the standard 17-inch alloy wheels Clear rear combination lamp turn signal lens cover …

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Kevin · August 28th, 2007

Tony Soprano & The Lexus LS 400

It’s always a blast seeing your favorite cars featured in TV and movies, and what what an appearance the Lexus LS 400 made in the first episode of the Sopranos (Warning: Contains coarse language and violence, viewer discretion advised): I don’t even like my girlfriend driving my car, and she’s not in the habit of …

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Kevin · August 28th, 2007

Lexus IS 250 Commercial: The Valet

There’s something about the sound in this Lexus IS 250 commercial that really commanded my attention, the overprocessed blues music, the paddleshift click, the breathlessness, it all comes together so well: I wonder why the IS 250 and IS 350 have separate commercials, wouldn’t it make more sense to market them as a single model?
Kevin · August 27th, 2007

The Lexus IS-F 1/4 Mile Dyno Run

For the Taste of Lexus Evening Edition in Arcadia this past weekend, the IS-F was available for the public to test-drive — only catch was, it was on a dynamometer: The exhaust note is smooth and powerful, and the shifting is practically seamless. No dyno results were shown, but one Club Lexus tester felt there …

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Kevin · August 27th, 2007

The Lexus Body Kit Series: SC 430

The next part of my Lexus Body Kit Series is up, this time for the SC 430. For a car closing in on seven years of production, and a purported sports coupe at that, there’s surprisingly few body kits to choose from, and the kits that are available are low in options, with most consisting …

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Kevin · August 24th, 2007

Wald International Releases Lexus IS 250/350/220d Body Kit

Wald International has just released their IS 250/350/220d body kit, and it’s a marked improvement over the photoshop mockups: The sports fender ducts are still in development, and will hopefully stay that way. As it stands, the kit consists of a front spoiler, side step, a rear skirt and a trunk lid spoiler. The front …

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Kevin · August 23rd, 2007

Lexus Working on GS Facelift?

A taped-up GS was recently seen in Europe, sporting a revised front bumper, which could indicate that there’s a refresh in the pipeline. The changes are admittedly subtle, and focus around the bottom grille, which has been reduced in size and given some extra height. The openings around the grille have been deepened as well. …

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Kevin · August 23rd, 2007

Taste of Lexus Evening Event in Los Angeles

The traveling Taste of Lexus event, where you can test drive all the current Lexus models, is having a special “Evening Edition” in Los Angeles this Saturday, August 25. This special edition is for driving enthusiasts, as all test drives will take place on a short performance track, which is normally reserved strictly for the …

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Kevin · August 22nd, 2007

Lexus Russia’s GS 450h Interactive Experience

Brandstudio, a Russian design firm, has been creating some wonderful websites for Lexus Russia, where each model has a separate Internet presence. Their latest work, for the GS 450h, is a incredibly interactive experience, though slightly confusing if you lack understanding of the Russian language. Still, with the extensive use of video, and a very …

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Kevin · August 22nd, 2007

Lexus’ Future is Upscale Only

Automotive News has revealed a number of significant facts about the future of Lexus, and it’s strictly upscale — with no plans to release a sub-$30,000 vehicle, Lexus will not be attempting to match their German competitors car-for-car, instead focusing their current lineup and all new vehicles at high-end segments. Broken down, what does it …

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Kevin · August 21st, 2007

The Lexus Virtual Tennis Open

Lexus will be sponsoring a “Virtual Tennis Open” to go with its sponsorship of the real-life U.S. Tennis Open taking place next month in New York City. The three-day virtual tournament will use the Nintendo Wii as the gaming platform, and will take place on a scaled down tennis court, pictured below: The winner of …

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Kevin · August 21st, 2007

More Photos of the White Lexus IS-F

When the IS-F surfaced this weekend in multiple colors, I was quite surprised how different the car looked in shades other than blue. Even more than the red version, I loved the white, which seemed to diffuse some of the louder design characteristics, particularly the side vents. Sadly, there were only a few images to …

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Kevin · August 21st, 2007

A Deeper Look at Ms. Meyer’s Departure as Lexus’ VP of Marketing

Last week, when it was announced that Deborah Wahl Meyer was leaving her post as Lexus’s VP of Marketing to join Chrysler, I held off on reporting it here until I better understood its significance. Lucky for me, Advertising Age filled in the blanks, with in-depth analysis of Ms. Meyer’s job change: Ms. Meyer has …

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Kevin · August 20th, 2007

Some Quality Time with the New LX 570

Agent 001 of Autospies was busy this weekend, first discovering the the new GS 450h Bridgehampton Concept, then spending a few minutes with the Lexus LX 570: I’m reserving my judgment of the LX 570 exterior until I see it up close and personal, which looks to me to be rather “bubbly”, particularly around the …

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Kevin · August 20th, 2007

Lexus GS 450h Bridgehampton Concept

Lexus debuted a special edition this weekend at The Quail Event: The GS 450h Bridgehampton Concept: From the display plaque: In the late 1950’s, and through the “glory” days of the ‘60s, affluenty sports car racers descended on a unique racing circuit near Sag Harbor on Long Island to test their mettle and their machines. …

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Kevin · August 19th, 2007

Lexus IS-F @ SoCal Taste of Lexus Event

The new Lexus IS-F was in Southern California this week, flown in from Japan for the Orange County Taste of Lexus event, where some members of Club Lexus were lucky enough to get some in-car time with chauffeured laps around the famous Laguna Seca racetrack. Here’s a great video look at the time on the …

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Kevin · August 19th, 2007

TPP Improvements

With the rather exciting interest my Lexus Body Kit Series has been generating, this site has started to grow in traffic significantly, and now seems like the perfect time to start rolling out some planned site improvements. If my estimations are correct, there are over twenty-five changes and features in the pipeline, which I will …

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Kevin · August 18th, 2007

The Lexus Body Kit Series: IS 250/350/220d

For the fourth part of my Lexus Body Kit Series, I bring you the IS 250/350/220d. I was surprised to find that the IS 250/350/220d had less body kits available than the third-gen GS, as I was expecting far, far more. Thinking on it, I figure it must have something to do with the great …

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Kevin · August 17th, 2007

Lexus SC 430 Commercial with Andy Roddick for the U.S. Open

This SC 430 commercial featuring Andy Roddick and Christopher Fairbanks defies the usual Lexus formula of heightened drama and takes an altogether different route: This went completely over my head, with such a strange combination of elements. A famous tennis player, a comedian, a tree frog story and a sixties era green-screen, how could these …

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Kevin · August 16th, 2007

Classic 1992 Lexus LS Commercial: Money in the Bank

As an LS 400 owner, I always get a kick out of seeing the old commercials pop up on Youtube: It’s interesting that Lexus has maintained a very distinctive look to their advertising over the years. Save for the grainy VHS look and the car featured, this commercial could easily appear on TV today. Now …

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Kevin · August 15th, 2007

Federal Government Continues Lexus ES 350 Investigation

The U.S. federal government is continuing its investigation into the Lexus ES 350, which has been linked to 40 separate complaints of unintended acceleration, causing eight crashes and twelve injuries. What’s the cause? All-weather floor mats: Toyota Motor Corp. told NHTSA [National Highway Traffic Safety Association] it sent a mailing to ES 350 owners in …

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Kevin · August 15th, 2007

Insider Reveals 2009 Lexus RX Details (Including the RX-F?!)

James Fabin, Senior Product Manager for MyRide.com, has dropped some major news regarding the 2009 RX on his blog. Here’s the specifics: The 2009 RX will be offered in two versions, a five-passenger model similar to the current model, and a new seven-passenger long wheelbase model. A six-speed transmission will be standard. The RX 350’s …

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Kevin · August 14th, 2007

Lexus Tops American Customer Satisfaction Survey

Lexus has rated first with U.S. car buyers in the University of Michigan’s annual American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), scoring 87 out of a possible 100 points. Rounding out the top five were BMW, Buick, Mercury and Cadillac, all with a score of 86. The telephone survey, which asks car buyers to rate their satisfaction …

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Kevin · August 14th, 2007

The Lexus Police Force

Being in Canada, where the police drive Chevy Impalas and Dodge Chargers, I can’t imagine being pulled over by a GS 450h, it just doesn’t compute. But that’s not the case in Britain, where Lexus has been steadily making inroads into the Police Fleet market, and will be attending its sixth consecutive National Police Fleet …

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Kevin · August 14th, 2007

The Lexus Body Kit Series: GS 300/350/430/450h

I’ve just posted the third part of my Lexus Body Kit Series, the GS 300/350/430/450h. With eighteen different body kits, it was the largest collection so far. Most are in the VIP style, evidenced by the tilted rear wheels. The additional styling brought by the kits change the GS appearance significantly, and bring a much …

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Kevin · August 13th, 2007

Lexus Model Timeline

By setting out to post my Lexus Body Kit Series in reverse chronology, it was necessary for me to put together a timeline to keep track of the when & whats. After compiling the list (with ample help from Wikipedia), it made for an interesting document, so I decided to add it to the site. …

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Kevin · August 13th, 2007

Are We Looking at the New Lexus JX?

Edmund’s Straightline Blog has some interesting analysis of the recent 2009 RX spy shots, suggesting that it’s not a RX at all, but an all-new model, the Lexus JX: What’s a JX 460? It’s yet another luxury sport ute, but unlike the softly sprung RX, the JX will be a performance-oriented crossover along the lines …

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Kevin · August 10th, 2007

More Information on the 2009 Lexus RX

Today is full of next-gen RX news, this time from Auto Express. There’s the rather swell artist rendering (shown above), along with some speculation on the spy shots released last week: At first glance, it looks like any other RX, but close inspection reveals that the rear lights no longer sit flush with the bodywork. …

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Kevin · August 8th, 2007

2009 Lexus RX in the Wild

The redesigned Lexus RX, scheduled for release in 2009, has been caught on camera for the first time, but not without a healthy amount of camouflage cladding that’s very successful at keeping most of the particulars a secret. There are a few details that can be discerned, the most obvious being the significant drop in …

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Kevin · August 8th, 2007

Wild (but Formal) Japanese Commercial for the RX 300/Harrier

I’m unsure exactly how this commercial would have been pitched, “You see, there’s this lion-man, ok, and he rescues this damsel in distress, all while driving a Harrier! Wild but Formal!”: Seriously, a lion-man? (Thought it was very cool to see a body kit advert at the end of the commercial, though.)
Kevin · August 7th, 2007

Car Magazine Takes a First Look at the Lexus LS 600hL

Car Magazine has posted up their initial impressions of the LS 600hL, and while they were impressed by the car overall, their verdict was hardly glowing: The LS could quite possibly convert gas-guzzlers to battery power, so impressive and addictive is the power pack’s extra boost. On paper the performance and economy stats aren’t too …

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Kevin · August 7th, 2007

The Lexus Body Kit Series: LS 460/460L/600hL

The first vehicle to be featured in my new Body Kit series is the Lexus LS 460/460L/600hL. If anything can be said about the majority of the available body kits for Lexus’ latest flagship model, it would be that they exhibit a very strong subtlety. None of the kits change the vehicle’s look substantially, and …

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Kevin · August 6th, 2007

The Lexus Body Kit Series

With the site now more than two months old, I believe it’s time to introduce my first large-scale project: to document each and every body kit available to Lexus owners. My intention is work my way back in reverse chronology, beginning with the LS 460/460L/600hL and ending with Lexus’ first release, the LS 400. The …

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Kevin · August 6th, 2007

Lexus IS-F: 415hp = Disappointment?

While attending the Orange County Taste of Lexus, a travelling showcase of Lexus autos, an Autospies member questioned a Lexus representative on the IS-F, who revealed the super-IS will be packing 415hp, a single horse more than the BMW M3. It’s quite possible that the representative was incorrect, though the number does fall inline with …

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Kevin · August 6th, 2007

A Rendition of the Possible IS Coupe & Convertible

Since the comments made by John Roca, the Lexus Australia District Manager, that there’s a possible IS Coupe in the pipeline, there’s been a resurgence in interest in the idea, along with a potential convertible version. In light of that,  egmcartech.com has dug up some renderings of the cars, created by Christian Shulte Design. In …

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Kevin · August 4th, 2007

Site of the Week: Car Walls

To a compulsive computer wallpaper changer, finding the right desktop image is paramount, and for a fan of Lexus, no site has a greater collection than Car Walls. The collection of Lexus wallpapers here is strictly high quality, sourced from the official Lexus sites. As new models replace old, the desktop images would disappear from …

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Kevin · August 4th, 2007

A Video Introduction to the Upcoming Lexus LX 570

The Lexus LX 570 is still about six months away from release, but it’s close enough to get revisit its new features over the outgoing LX 470. Luckily, Edmunds has published a video that does just that: This new edition of the LX has been redesigned from the ground up, and includes a host of …

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Kevin · August 3rd, 2007

Mitsuoka Orochi, The Japanese Mutant Supercar

At first glace, the Mitsuoka Orochi may seem like the Japanese answer to Ferrari, but there’s an unflattering surprise under the hood, the car is powered by a Lexus 3.3-litre V6 engine. With only 231bhp and 327Nm of torque, it’s a powerplant that has no business being in a car with such wild style. This …

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Kevin · August 3rd, 2007

The High Cost of Low Impact Collisions

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released a report today to bring attention to the rather high cost of low-impact collisions in luxury automobiles. To illustrate their point, each of the test cars were subjected to four low-impact impacts: full front and rear collision, and front and rear side collisions. The damage was then …

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Kevin · August 2nd, 2007

The LS 460 Symphony Orchestra Takes the Stage

Twelve LS 460’s will be filling in for a symphony orchestra this August for two very special performances in Britain: The twelve vehicles will be arranged onstage to emulate a typical orchestral layout of individual instruments, with strings, brass, woodwind, basses and percussion being performed by each section. In essence each LS 460 will be …

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Kevin · August 2nd, 2007

Analyzing the Chemical Properties of the Lexus RX 400h Advert

The new Lexus RX 400h print ad may be a good looker, but according to the Chemist’s Laboratory Notebook blog, it’s just a pretty picture: Whenever I see chemical information or structures in real world situations, it makes me excited that non-chemists are getting a little exposure to what I work with every day. Usually …

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Kevin · August 1st, 2007

Lexus USA July 2007 Sales Report

Toyota’s July sales may have dropped 3.5%, but Lexus managed to gain 4.9% in a month that was especially difficult for automakers. Here’s a by-model breakdown of the numbers: 2007 2006 % Change IS250/350 4,892 4,848 5.1 ES350 6,909 7,803 -7.8 GS350 1,798 1,776 5.5 GS430/450h 156 299 -45.7 LS460 2,696 971 189.2 Total Cars …

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Kevin · August 1st, 2007

Lexus Class Action Lawsuit over ES 350 Airbags

According to the BusinessWire, a civil action lawsuit has been filed against Lexus/Toyota, with the claim that the ES 350’s front passenger seat fails to register occupants, meaning that in the event of a crash, the front passenger airbag would not deploy: At issue is the ES350’s airbag system, and specifically the systems’ airbag occupant …

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Kevin · August 1st, 2007

The Driving Woman Reviews the 2008 RX 350

It’s no secret that Lexus’ RX SUV is a hit with women drivers, so the fact that The Driving Woman’s review of the 2008 RX 350 is so positive really doesn’t surprise me: The first time I drove a Lexus SUV, I was so excited that I decided to put on red lipstick at a …

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Kevin · July 31st, 2007

Spy Shots of the Next Gen RX

WorldCarFans has scored some spy shots of next generation Lexus RX SUV, which give some hints of what to expect in the vehicle’s future. Judging by the ill-fitting body panels and the extensive taping, the vehicle will be expanding in width and length. The cut bumpers and rear doors would indicate a shift in the …

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Kevin · July 31st, 2007

Lexus & The Best Global Brands Report

Interbrand annually publishes a non-industry specific report on the Best Global Brands, ranked by “brand valuation”. This year, Lexus rings in at 92, same as last year, and was 10th overall in car brands. Much ado was given to Hyundai’s ranking, placing at the 72 position, above Porsche and Lexus. It can hardly be considered …

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Kevin · July 30th, 2007

News on the Upcoming Lexus IS-F & GS 460

A user at Autospies has posted up some information on the new IS-F and GS, taken from the latest issue of Motor Trend: Lexus IS/IS-F:”…The first offering in the new Lexus F-series of ultra-perfomance cars, expect the IS-f to have 400-425-hp version of the 5.0L V-8 from the LS 600h, eight-speed paddle-shifted automatic, Brembo ABS …

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Kevin · July 30th, 2007

Lexus Wins Big in 2007 Motorist Choice Awards

The Motorist Choice Awards is an annual ranking of vehicles that deliver both the highest customer satisfication and lowest cost of ownership, held by Intellichoice and AutoPacific. For 2007, Lexus came first in a number of categories: Premium Luxury Car: Lexus LS Premium Sports Car: Lexus SC Aspirational Luxury Car: Lexus IS The LS 460 …

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Kevin · July 29th, 2007

An Argument for Painted Brake Calipers

Painted brake calipers are a nice enough touch, but they take on new significance when you see a photo like this: Taken from a feature on the G2 website, makers of caliper paint, this indigo ink Lexus IS 300 belongs to Brian Torak. The wheels are 18″ Katana ZR5’s, you can get a better look …

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Kevin · July 29th, 2007

Site of the Week: Autopia

If you’re anything of a car buff, and I’m going to assume you are, you’ve probably already come across this week’s site: Autopia. In a nutshell, it’s the place to go when you want to get your car in tip-top shape, inside and out. When I bought the Lexus last year, I spent days here, …

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Kevin · July 28th, 2007

The Times Reviews the Lexus LS 600hL

I’ll admit, it was somewhat disappointing that the Lexus LS 600hL review in The Times wasn’t written by Jeremy Clarkson, but Stuart Birch gives it his best shot, including some interesting stats on the customers Lexus plans to reel in, along with a rather interesting question: Lexus says that about 10 per cent of buyers …

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Kevin · July 27th, 2007

Lexus Releases 2008 Prices

Lexus has released the first part of their 2008 price list, with plenty of information to go with it. Let’s break it down by model, shall we? (All prices are in USD) 2008 RX 400h The base price of the RX 400h remains unchanged for both front-wheel-drive ($41,180)and all-wheel-drive ($42,580), and will be spruced up …

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Kevin · July 27th, 2007

Comparison: Lexus LS 460 vs. Volkswagen Phaeton

A member of German Car Zone was nice enough to translate an article from German car magazine Auto Motor Und Sport pitting the Volkswagen Phaeton against the Lexus LS 460. (The full text appears on Autospies, if you don’t feel like signing up for GCZ account.) Now, whether it’s a case of German bias or …

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Kevin · July 26th, 2007

Flickr Find: Rolling

I’ve featured a IS 350 photo from Flickr user J.Garrido before, but this image was simply too stunning to ignore: I’m a sucker for streaking blurs, night shots and glowing instrument panels, and this shot has to rank right up there with the best. Brilliant.
Kevin · July 26th, 2007

Super Street Magazine Reviews the Lexus LS 460

It’s far and few between to find an genuinely amusing car review, but Super Street Magazine manages just that with their review of the Lexus LS 460. Here’s a few of the more salient passages: Enter the LS 460. Right off the bat, this car is pimp. Scratch that, capital P-I-M-P. Plush roomy leather interior …

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Kevin · July 25th, 2007

Lexus U.S. Open Commercial: Road Trip

The final Lexus commercial from the US Open has just appeared on the Internet, courtesy of my favorite Youtuber, bbakshow: Surprising as it may be, people searching for this commercial have made up an significant percentage of my traffic since launch, and I’m very happy to have found it. Being my first time seeing it, …

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Kevin · July 25th, 2007

Andy Rooney Tracks Down His Old Lexus

When I started this site, never did I think I would see the day where I’d be writing about Andy Rooney, but the world’s a funny place, and I go where the Lexus news takes me. I’m sure that most people, after selling or trading in a car, have wondered where it ended up, who …

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Kevin · July 24th, 2007

Photo Tour of the New Lexus of Bellevue Dealership

The newly relocated Lexus of Bellevue is a sprawling, beautifully appointed 275,000-square-foot dealership that takes the concept of customer experience and hits it into the stratosphere. No kidding, here’s a list of some of the more over-the-top features: A set of artificial putting greens A deli (!!!) Gas station on site Standalone automated car wash …

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Kevin · July 24th, 2007

Lexus IS 250 Commercial: Ball Bearing Precision

The IS 250 may lack the IS 350’s power, but it definitely has a trump card if you need traction, namely All-Wheel Drive: The IS series is a confusing one, the IS 250 has the option of a manual transmission and AWD, while the IS 350 gets the bigger engine (with an extra 100hp) but …

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Kevin · July 23rd, 2007

Lexus to Release IS 250X in Australia

Having to make due without the IS 350, Australians will have now have another IS option, the IS 250X. Limited to a run of 260, the IS 250X boasts the following upgrades over a base IS 250: Sports Tuned Suspension 18″ Alloy Wheels Revised Front Spoiler Alloy Pedals X Badging Starting at $64,390 AUD with …

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Kevin · July 23rd, 2007

The GS 350 Exploding Donut

Two GS Donut videos in one day? Seriously? This second video continues on the grand tradition of Russian Lexus Destruction, only this time there’s blood and exploding rubber: For the life of me, I don’t understand why the cameraman inside the car didn’t pull back when he started seeing sparks. Crazy Russians!
Kevin · July 22nd, 2007