Happy Holidays from Lexus Enthusiast
Regular posting to resume January 2nd.
Kevin · December 24th, 2019
Latest News
Introducing the Next-Generation Lexus Enthusiast Website
Celebrating 12 years.
Kevin · June 9th, 2019
Happy Holidays from Lexus Enthusiast!
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday.
Kevin · December 22nd, 2017
Happy Holidays from Lexus Enthusiast!
See you in the new year!
Kevin · December 23rd, 2016
In Conversation with Lexus International’s Mark Templin: A Discussion on the LC 500 Coupe
At the Detroit Auto Show last week, I had a chance to sit down with Lexus International executive vice-president Mark Templin
Kevin · January 21st, 2016
The Lexus LC 500: First Impressions
No rumor could have prepared us for the reality of the Lexus LC 500.
Kevin · January 14th, 2016
Happy New Year from Lexus Enthusiast!
It's going to be an important year for Lexus enthusiasts, and it starts right away with a major new vehicle debut at the Detroit Auto Show later this month.
Kevin · January 1st, 2016
Happy Holidays from Lexus Enthusiast!
As we enter the festive season, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of my readers a safe and happy holidays!
Kevin · December 23rd, 2015
Driving the All-New 2016 Lexus RX
There's a real risk in messing with success, particularly when it comes Lexus and its RX crossover.
Kevin · September 17th, 2015
Now Open: The Lexus Enthusiast Community Forums
Welcome to the next chapter for Lexus Enthusiasts worldwide!
Kevin · February 18th, 2015
Lexus Enthusiast Forums Open Wednesday
After months of development and three weeks of beta testing, the Lexus Enthusiast community forums will launch this Wednesday.
Kevin · February 16th, 2015
Lexus CT Owner Blog: The iPhone Tech Upgrade
I have a new favorite accessory for my Lexus CT 200h, and I have to write about it despite sounding like a full-on infomercial.
Kevin · February 3rd, 2015
Welcome to the New Lexus Enthusiast
After years of planning and months of development, the new Lexus Enthusiast website is here. Here are the details on the new features and changes.
Kevin · January 28th, 2015
Happy New Year from Lexus Enthusiast!
A fresh new year is here, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank my readers for their support over the past twelve months. 2015 is going to be an exciting year — the redesigned Lexus Enthusiast website will be launching in January with member forums and all-new features, and that’s just the …
Kevin · January 1st, 2015
Happy Holidays from Lexus Enthusiast
As we enter the festive season, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of my readers a safe and happy holidays! Like every year, I’ll be taking some time off over the holidays. Regular posting will resume on January 5th — a little longer than usual, but for good reason. Along …
Kevin · December 24th, 2014
Lexus CT Owner Blog: The CT 200h F SPORT in Winter
Winter has arrived, and I’m getting my first exposure to driving the CT 200h in the snow & ice. The cold weather has given me real appreciation for the product planners at Lexus Canada, who have outfitted the CT F SPORT package with heated front seats and side mirrors. I’ve driven Lexus press cars in …
Kevin · December 8th, 2014
Lexus CT Owner Blog: The CT 200h vs. IS 250
Before purchasing the CT 200h, I went through the process of choosing between the hybrid hatchback and a base-model IS 250 sedan. Why these two models? Price was the controlling factor — I had a definite budget and the base-model IS 250 with all-wheel drive was at the very top end. Here are the key …
Kevin · November 2nd, 2014
The New Car: Reasons for Choosing the Lexus CT 200h F SPORT
For the latest post in my CT 200h owner’s blog, I’ve outlined the reasons for choosing the hybrid hatchback over the IS 250 AWD sedan. (The top reason shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.) Read about my CT 200h vs IS 250 Decision
Kevin · November 2nd, 2014
Lexus CT Owner Blog: The First Modification
After three months of ownership, I’ve made my first modification to the CT 200h: It might be a little difficult to see from this photo, let’s highlight the mod in red: That’s right, I made an adjustment to the cupholder, using a strip of foam to reduce the rattling of my water bottle. Living dangerously, …
Kevin · October 5th, 2014
Lexus CT Owner Blog: The Cross Country Trip
This summer, in partnership with OpenRoad Lexus in Richmond, BC, my wife Karissa and I drove across North America in our brand new Lexus CT 200h. The timing was interesting — we had originally planned to take a relaxing drive through Canada and the USA, but some unexpected events occurred and we need to be …
Kevin · September 2nd, 2014
Driving Across North America in the Lexus CT 200h F SPORT
This summer, in partnership with the OpenRoad Lexus dealership of Richmond, BC, my wife Karissa and I drove across North America in our brand new Lexus CT 200h. Here’s how it happened, by the numbers: 6 days, 4,736 kms (2,943 miles), an average speed of 90km/hr (56mph), and $270 in gas. Wait, what? $270 to …
Kevin · September 2nd, 2014
Lexus Enthusiast Membership Drive Now Complete!
Hello everyone, After just two weeks, the Lexus Enthusiast Membership Drive finished today. All founding memberships are now sold. With the first stage of massive project complete, I would like to give my deepest thanks to all founding members! Look for an email later tonight with some announcements, including a very special giveaway to celebrate …
Kevin · August 28th, 2014
Lexus Enthusiast Membership Drive Update: Funding Goal Reached
Hello everyone, Time for a big announcement — in just one week, the Lexus Enthusiast Membership Drive has reached 101% of its $10,000 funding goal! Thank you to all the founding members for showing their support, I’ve been humbled by this amazing response and the strong vote of confidence. This is only the beginning of …
Kevin · August 18th, 2014
Lexus Enthusiast Membership Drive Starts Today
Hello all, Since launching in 2007, the Lexus Enthusiast website has become the single best independent source for daily news and insider information on all things Lexus. This fall, the site will be going through a large scale redesign that will introduce important & frequently requested new features — it’s an ambitious goal with plenty …
Kevin · August 11th, 2014
Lexus Enthusiast: A New Chapter Begins on Monday
Hello everyone — my name is Kevin Watts, and I’m the founder and editor of the Lexus Enthusiast website. I’ve been writing Lexus Enthusiast since 2007, starting it as a hobby after buying my first car, a 1994 LS 400. Seven years later, and the site has been visited by millions of people and is …
Kevin · August 7th, 2014
My New Car: The 2014 Lexus CT 200h F SPORT
Time for a major announcement — after seven years of driving a 1994 Lexus LS 400, I took delivery of a 2014 CT 200h F SPORT last week at OpenRoad Lexus Richmond in British Columbia. While I have plenty of experience driving Lexus vehicles, this will be my first time being a new owner. The …
Kevin · July 17th, 2014
Lexus CT Owner Blog: The New Car
Time for a major announcement — after seven years of driving a 1994 Lexus LS 400, I took delivery of a 2014 CT 200h F SPORT last week at OpenRoad Lexus Richmond in British Columbia. While I have plenty of experience driving Lexus vehicles, this will be my first time being a new owner. The …
Kevin · July 14th, 2014
2015 Lexus NX & NX F SPORT Preview
Two weeks ago, Lexus invited me to Whistler, British Columbia, where I was able to test drive the all-new NX compact crossover in all its various forms. The following is a technical overview of the new model — my personal impressions will posted on Wednesday. As the vehicle that established the luxury crossover market, the …
Kevin · July 7th, 2014
Lexus Short Films 2014: The World Premiere in Tokyo
Last year, I attended the Lexus Short Films world premiere at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles. Produced by The Weinstein Company, it was a showcase of young and upcoming filmmakers asked to create a story around the theme “Life is Amazing”. Two of the five produced films were shown at the premiere, and while …
Kevin · June 6th, 2014
Review: The 2014 Lexus GX 460
The updated 2014 GX 460 has been out for a few months now, and Lexus has to be happy with the public response. A perennial slow-seller since the second generation debuted in 2010, this recent facelift has been a major success — in the last two months, sales have increased 125% in the USA and …
Kevin · March 13th, 2014
Lexus LFA Meet in New Orleans: One Owner’s Experience
Last year, Lexus invited LFA owners for a day at the New Orleans Motorsport Park — one of the LFAs participating is owned by Robert & Charity Lee, who are the subject of this new Lexus video feature: Robert is a good friend of mine, and has previously shared his experiences on Lexus Enthusiast — …
Kevin · March 6th, 2014
A Closer Look at the Lexus RC F
Lexus revealed the RC F coupe at the Detroit Auto Show last month. It’s the brand’s first high-performance production car since the release of the LFA supercar in 2010, and will play a leading role in the brand’s new “fun to drive” direction. While much of the RC F still remains a mystery, here are …
Kevin · February 26th, 2014
Happy New Year!
A fresh new year is here, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank my readers for all their support in 2013. 2014 is going to be a year of big changes — there’s plans already in place to bring a new level of community to Lexus enthusiasts worldwide, and I can’t wait …
Kevin · January 1st, 2014
Happy Holidays!
As we enter the festive season, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of my readers a safe and happy holidays! It’s been an extremely busy year, and I’m looking forward to spending this week with family and friends — look for normal posting to resume December 30th. Until then, all …
Kevin · December 24th, 2013
2013 Tokyo Motor Show Trip: A Visit to Japan
The Lexus RC will debut at the Tokyo Motor Show this week, and I’m here in Japan to bring you live coverage of the new coupe’s reveal. Along with the Motor Show, the week in Japan will be full of activities — among the highlights is to the Fuji Speedway to drive some unusual F …
Kevin · November 17th, 2013
Interview with Lexus LF-NX Project Manager Takeshi Tanabe
Lexus LF-NX project manager, Takeshi Tanabe, was in Frankfurt to attend the worldwide debut of his new concept.
Kevin · September 13th, 2013
In Conversation with Lexus International’s Mark Templin: A Discussion on INTERSECT, Design, & the New Lexus Personality
During my visit to Japan, I had a chance to sit down with Lexus International Executive Vice President Mark Templin for a wide-ranging interview.
Kevin · September 9th, 2013
INTERSECT BY LEXUS in Tokyo: A Personal Tour
A week ago, I attended the opening of INTERSECT BY LEXUS in the Aoyama district of Tokyo, Japan.
Kevin · September 3rd, 2013
A Visit to the INTERSECT BY LEXUS Gallery in Tokyo
This afternoon, I’m in the Aoyama district of Tokyo for a tour of the new INTERSECT BY LEXUS gallery
Kevin · August 23rd, 2013
Lexus Enthusiast Goes to Japan
In just a few hours, I’ll be boarding a flight to Japan for a week — the primary reason for my visit is the new INTERSECT BY LEXUS gallery in Tokyo’s Aoyama district, but I have a full schedule of Lexus activities planned.
Kevin · August 21st, 2013
Lexus Enthusiast Reader Survey Results
Lexus Enthusiast completed its very first reader survey last week, and I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone that participated.
Kevin · July 29th, 2013
Lexus Enthusiast Reader Survey to Close Tomorrow
A quick reminder — the first-ever Lexus Enthusiast Reader Survey will close tomorrow at 9pm ET.
Kevin · July 24th, 2013
Lexus LFA, Downtown LA: A Photo Gallery
During my time in Los Angles earlier this year, I managed to arrange a very special test drive — 24 hours with Lexus LFA #32.
Kevin · July 23rd, 2013
Lexus Enthusiast Now on Instagram
While on the topic of Instagram, Lexus Enthusiast has recently started posting on the photo-sharing site with the username LexusNews.
Kevin · July 22nd, 2013
2014 Lexus IS East Coast Road Rally
Road trip announcement — this week, I’ll be joining a convoy of 2014 Lexus IS models as they make their way along the East Coast visiting U.S. Lexus dealerships.
Kevin · May 12th, 2013
Website Update & Assorted Announcements
Lexus Enthusiast gets a website refresh.
Kevin · March 12th, 2013
Top Ten Lexus Stories of 2012
It’s arrived a couple days later than expected, but my Top Ten Lexus stories of 2012 has just published by Lexus Magazine.
Kevin · January 6th, 2013
Happy New Year From Lexus Enthusiast
As 2012 draws to a close and I recover from a nasty bout with the flu, I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year.
Kevin · December 31st, 2012
Lexus Enthusiast Holiday Giveaway Winners
Announcing the Lexus carbon fiber keychain winners.
Kevin · December 28th, 2012
Happy Holidays!
As we enter the festive season, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of my readers a safe and happy holidays!
Kevin · December 24th, 2012
Lexus Enthusiast Holiday Giveaway!
Please follow this link for your chance to win a Lexus carbon fiber keychain.
Kevin · December 21st, 2012
Interview with Project Lexus LS Designer Troy Sumitomo
While at SEMA last week, I had a chance to interview Five Axis chief Troy Sumitomo to discuss his Project LS show car on display in the Lexus tent.
Kevin · November 4th, 2012
Lexus LF-CC Concept Coming to SEMA
The Lexus LF-CC concept will be making its North American debut at SEMA next week, joining the jet-racing Lexus LFA Nürburgring & IS F CCS-R race car at the Lexus booth.
Kevin · October 23rd, 2012
Photo Gallery: Lexus GS Interior at Night
As my time with the 2013 Lexus GS 350 AWD comes to an end, I was finally able to accurately photograph the interior at night in my latest gallery.
Kevin · October 22nd, 2012
Driving the 2013 Lexus LS
Did Lexus take it far enough with the 2013 LS? I drove five different variants to find the answer to that question.
Kevin · September 16th, 2012
Desktop Wallpaper: 2013 Lexus LS F SPORT in Ultra White
After attending the 2013 Lexus LS launch event in San Francisco way back at the end of July, I headed back to the hotel where I was staying, only to find the Ultra White LS 460 F SPORT parked out front, perfectly positioned for a late-night photo shoot.
Kevin · September 12th, 2012
Driving the 2013 Lexus GS 350
Even though I’ve been driving the GS since the beginning of the summer, in some ways the character of a car can only be discovered with an extended journey.
Kevin · September 9th, 2012
Lexus GS Summer Road Trip
It’s the last weekend of summer, and Lexus Magazine has published the story of my GS 350 road trip from Ottawa to Montreal.
Kevin · September 2nd, 2012
2013 Lexus LS Preview
Earlier this week, I was invited to Palo Alto, California to drive the 2013 Lexus LS, and in the first part of my review, let's get into a technical overview.
Kevin · August 11th, 2012
Lexus Summer Trip: GS Desktop Wallpapers
Last month, I went on an extended Canadian road trip with the 2013 Lexus GS, traveling through Eastern Ontario and Quebec for a Lexus Magazine photo assignment.
Kevin · August 5th, 2012
2013 Lexus LS First Impressions
The 2013 Lexus LS debuted earlier this week in San Francisco, and while I did post live updates from the event, I also want to share some photos and early impressions of the new Lexus flagship sedan.
Kevin · August 3rd, 2012
Live Coverage: 2013 Lexus LS Debut
I'm in San Francisco tonight for the debut of the 2013 Lexus LS, and will be posting live coverage throughout the event.
Kevin · July 30th, 2012
Lexus GS 350 Summer Road Test Update: Six Weeks
I'm now six weeks into my summer-long road test of the 2013 Lexus GS 350, and with this increased familiarity, I've put together a list of ten things that have stood out so far.
Kevin · June 15th, 2012
2013 Lexus ES Preview
Earlier this month, I was invited to Newberg, Oregon, to try out the all-new sixth generation Lexus ES.
Kevin · May 31st, 2012
Photo Gallery: 2013 Lexus GS 350 Visits a Derelict Gas Station
For my first photo gallery with the GS 350, I scoured the city of St.Catharines for a derelict building -- eventually, I lucked out and found this abandoned gas station.
Kevin · May 16th, 2012
Spending the Summer with the 2013 Lexus GS 350
Last weekend, I made the trip to Lexus Canada and picked up a 2013 GS 350 AWD for a long-term summer road test.
Kevin · May 9th, 2012
Photos: Lexus GS F Sport in Orange County
Lexus Magazine has just published some photos I took last year during the Lexus GS press event in Orange County, California.
Kevin · April 27th, 2012
In Conversation with Lexus General Manager Mark Templin: My NY Auto Show Interview
Earlier this month at the New York Auto Show, I had an opportunity to sit down with Mark Templin, Group vice-president & general manager of Lexus USA.
Kevin · April 26th, 2012