Lexus Meet in Toronto Tomorrow

Just a quick note: I’ll be attending the local Lexus meet at the Lexus of Richmond Hill dealership in Toronto tomorrow.
Kevin · April 14th, 2012

Driving the 2012 Lexus CT 200h

Last week, I picked up a 2012 Matador Red Mica Lexus CT 200h from Lexus Canada for a road test, and so far, I’ve been really enjoying my time behind the wheel.
Kevin · April 14th, 2012

Live Coverage from the New York Auto Show

For the next two days, the New York International Auto Show opens its doors to the media, and I'm here at the Javits Center to bring you live Lexus coverage from the show floor.
Kevin · April 4th, 2012

The Desert Challenge: My Weekend with Joe Bacal & His LX Racer Part 2

For a weekend in January, I became an official member of Joe Bacal’s JTGrey racing team, who are entering the 2012 SCORE off-road season with a brand new LX 570 race truck. The following is the second part of a three part series detailing my experience.
Kevin · February 25th, 2012

Photo Gallery: Lexus LF-LC on Display

It's been two weeks since the Lexus LF-LC was officially revealed at the Detroit auto show, so I've been looking forward to going back through my photos -- here's my final gallery of the coupe concept.
Kevin · January 22nd, 2012

Race Weekend with Joe Bacal and his Lexus LX 570

This weekend in Laughlin, Nevada, Joe Bacal and his JT Grey Lexus LX 570 kicked off the 2012 SCORE Championship season with a pair of podium finishes, and in an incredible turn of events, I was invited to be part of the team as a co-driver.
Kevin · January 16th, 2012

Lexus Live from the Detroit Auto Show

The North American International Auto Show starts today in Detroit, and I'm in attendance at the show to bring you live coverage throughout the day, including photos of the new LF-LC concept and the fresh new 2013 Lexus LX 570.
Kevin · January 9th, 2012

Happy New Year!

2012 is going to be a big year, both for Lexus and this website — not only is there nine new or updated models to look forward to, but as Lexus Enthusiast enters its fifth year of publication, there’s also going to be some big new site developments to watch out for.
Kevin · December 31st, 2011

Lexus Magazine Article: 2011 Year in Review

For my latest Lexus Magazine article, I picked my five most important Lexus news stories of 2011, with a bonus mention of the Lexus concept set to debut in Detroit.
Kevin · December 29th, 2011

Happy Holidays!

As we gear up for the festive season, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all of my readers a safe and happy holidays!
Kevin · December 23rd, 2011

2013 Lexus GS 350 Quick Drive

After some issues with my photos, I’m ready to get back into my review of the 2013 Lexus GS with some quick impressions on the GS 350.
Kevin · December 7th, 2011

2013 Lexus GS Review Part Three: Investigating the Interior

So far, my review of the 2013 Lexus GS has covered the mechanical improvements and examined the new exterior styling, so today, let’s look at largest leap forward compared to the previous model — the interior.
Kevin · November 30th, 2011

2013 Lexus GS Review Part One: Tackling the Technical

In a presentation I attened just prior to getting behind the wheel of the new Lexus GS, Chief Engineer Yoshihiko Kanamori, outlined the four key objectives for the car's development team.
Kevin · November 25th, 2011

2013 Lexus GS First Drive Reviews

Over the past three weeks, Lexus has been bringing in automotive journalists from all over the world to the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California, for the global press launch of the all-new fourth-generation GS.
Kevin · November 23rd, 2011

2012 Lexus CT 200h F-Sport in Nebula Gray Pearl

When I spotted a 2012 Lexus CT 200h F-Sport during the Pebble Beach Concours a couple weeks back, it was notable for two reasons — not only was it my first look at the F-Sport option package, it was also showing off the new Nebula Gray Pearl exterior paint.
Kevin · August 29th, 2011

2013 Lexus GS 350 Wheel Options

Also part of the 2013 Lexus GS display in Pebble Beach were examples of the available wheel options for the new model
Kevin · August 23rd, 2011

2013 Lexus GS 350 Interior Color Options

Earlier today, I shared the exterior colors of the 2013 Lexus GS, and now here’s the interior options, starting with the four leather hues.
Kevin · August 23rd, 2011

2013 Lexus GS Official Debut Tomorrow!

With less than 24 hours before the much-anticipated reveal of the 2013 Lexus GS in Pebble Beach at Parc du Concours, I wanted to give everyone a breakdown of your options for following the action online.
Kevin · August 18th, 2011

Lexus Magazine Column: Undercover GS

The next generation Lexus GS is almost here, and to mark the occasion, I've put together a brief timeline of all the car's public appearances (accidental or otherwise) for the latest edition of my monthly *Lexus Magazine* column.
Kevin · August 13th, 2011

2013 Lexus GS Pebble Beach Party Invites

The Pebble Beach reveal of the 2013 Lexus GS 350 is just two weeks away now, and as I prepare to make the trip to California for the unveiling, Lexus has also extended me an opportunity to invite five readers (plus up to three friends) to the debut.
Kevin · August 4th, 2011

Lexus: The Relentless Pursuit

Seven years after its original hardcover release, a revised edition of Chester Dawson's book Lexus: The Relentless Pursuit has been released as a paperback, and I have the distinct pleasure of being featured as one of the back cover quotes.
Kevin · July 17th, 2011

Driving the 2011 Lexus IS 350 AWD

Last week, I picked up a 2011 Lexus IS 350 AWD from Lexus Canada HQ for a road test, and so far, I've found it a very easy car to drive fast. I don't know if it's the AWD system or the memory of the LFA driving school, but there's some serious confidence happening in this car.
Kevin · June 17th, 2011

Lexus LF-Gh Desktop Wallpaper: Set to Attack

Out of the few hundred photos I took of the Lexus LF-Gh last week, this photo closeup of the grille & headlight was one of my favorites — so I made it into a desktop to share: Select Resolution: 1920×1080 | 1680×1050 | 1440×900 | 1280×1024 | 1280×800 | 1024×768 Pretty mean looking — it …

Read more…

Kevin · April 24th, 2011

NY Auto Show: Lexus LF-Gh Concept Photo Gallery

With so many Lexus LF-Gh photos already floating around, I thought it might be a good idea to focus on the smaller details of the latest Lexus concept, especially when they’re so visually interesting: The side profile was my favorite angle — by increasing rear headroom & available trunkspace, Lexus has moved to give the …

Read more…

Kevin · April 22nd, 2011

Lexus LF-Gh Official Reveal Video

While we may have seen photos of the Lexus LF-Gh last week, the concept car was officially revealed tonight at a gallery in New York City — here’s a video of the event along with reaction from some leading design minds: I was lucky enough to attend the reveal, and there’s no question that the …

Read more…

Kevin · April 19th, 2011

Lexus LFA Driver Development Program Video

Have to admit, it feels a little surreal linking to this Lexus-produced video of me attending the LFA Driver Development program — feels like I’ve broken the fourth wall: What a day this was — the first comment on the Youtube video page pretty much sums up how I feel. Have to thank everyone that …

Read more…

Kevin · April 14th, 2011

Lexus LFA Desktop Wallpaper: After the Rain

Now that my Lexus LFA article has been published at Lexus Magazine, I can share some of the photos I took in handy desktop wallpaper format. I’m going to post up one a day this week, starting with this moody shot: Select Resolution: 1920×1080 | 1680×1050 | 1440×900 | 1280×1024 | 1280×800 | 1024×768 The …

Read more…

Kevin · April 11th, 2011

Photos from Lexus LFA Driver Development Program

While the full story on my experience at the Lexus LFA Driver Development program is still a couple weeks away, Lexus Magazine has published some of my photos from the event — here’s a sample: It didn’t take long for me to start missing the LFA — I can definitely say with some certainty that …

Read more…

Kevin · March 22nd, 2011

Lexus LFA Driver Development Program Tomorrow

After weeks of anticipation, five hours in a plane, and two hours in a manual transmission IS 250, I arrived in Sonoma, California for the Lexus LFA Driver Development Program, the full day training program at the Infineon Raceway meant to bring LFA owners a better understanding of their new purchase. While I’m here to …

Read more…

Kevin · March 14th, 2011

Lexus LFA at Infineon Raceway

The Lexus LFA Driver Development Program starts tomorrow at the Infineon Raceway, and to mark the occasion, let’s watch Scott Pruett Justin Bell tackle the course using an LFA equipped with a very impressive tracking system by Video VBOX: Having the full details on LFA’s speed & steering wheel position is going to come in …

Read more…

Kevin · March 8th, 2011

Interview with Troy Sumitomo from Five Axis

Lexus Magazine has published an interview I did with Five Axis president Troy Sumitomo about the Project CT, the Lexus show car that debuted at last week’s Chicago Auto Show — here’s a clip: KEVIN WATTS: I know that with the Project IS F, you were inspired by fighter jets—what did you use for inspiration …

Read more…

Kevin · February 18th, 2011

Driving the 2011 Lexus LS 600hL

This past weekend, I made the trip to Toronto and picked up a 2011 Lexus LS 600hL from Lexus Canada for a two week road test. The LSh has a Obsidian exterior & Parchment interior, and is fully loaded with every conceivable feature, right down to the massaging rear ottoman and a whole host of …

Read more…

Kevin · February 8th, 2011

Happy Holidays!

The festive season has arrived, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a safe and happy holidays! As can be imagined, things will be quiet over the next few days, but regular posting will resume December 29th with the history of Lexus die-cast models, followed by a look back …

Read more…

Kevin · December 24th, 2010

TLE Christmas Day 5

It’s Christmas Eve, and time to give away the final gift of the week — the winner of the Lexus LFA t-shirt is…Izzy from the UK! In the end, over 500 people signed up for the TLE Christmas contest — thank you to everyone that entered, and congratulations to all the winners!
Kevin · December 24th, 2010

TLE Christmas Day 4

Today’s winner of the TLE T-Shirt giveaway is Richard Estrella of USA, who will be receiving the last silkscreened Lexus CT 200h t-shirt as a Christmas present this year. As promised, the Christmas Eve t-shirt is something special, and I’m almost reluctant to part with it: This t-shirt was from my LFA experience down in …

Read more…

Kevin · December 23rd, 2010

TLE Christmas Day 3

We’re halfway though the week, and today’s winner of the TLE T-Shirt giveaway is Ednut Meezak of USA, who will be receiving a custom silkscreened Lexus CT 200h t-shirt as a Christmas present this year. Tomorrow, the last CT 200h t-shirt will be given away, and then Friday it’s time to pick a winner for …

Read more…

Kevin · December 22nd, 2010

TLE Christmas Day 2

Today’s winner of the TLE T-Shirt giveaway is Monique Knowles of USA, who will be receiving a custom silkscreened Lexus CT 200h t-shirt as a Christmas present this year. Tomorrow, another t-shirt will be given away, and I’m also going to post a little teaser of Friday’s special edition t-shirt. It’s still not too late …

Read more…

Kevin · December 21st, 2010

TLE Christmas Party

Christmas is fast approaching, and to celebrate the upcoming holiday season, I’ll be giving away a Lexus t-shirt every day next week, from Monday to Christmas Eve! Winners will be randomly selected — there are four custom CT 200h t-shirts that I picked up at the NYC event in September, and then on Christmas Eve …

Read more…

Kevin · December 18th, 2010

A Visit to Lexus of Henderson

During last month’s visit to Las Vegas, I took the opportunity to get a good look at the newly opened Lexus of Henderson. The dealership is a massive facility and the largest one I’ve ever been to, but it’s not just the size that’s impressive, the design is pure classic — check out the showroom:
Kevin · December 5th, 2010

TLE Site Update

In order to keep things current and make room for some planned improvements, I’ve updated the website design — no major changes, and probably best compared to the 2011 Lexus IS refresh: all the same elements, just a little bit sharper. If things are looking a little weird for you, I suggest clicking your browser …

Read more…

Kevin · December 1st, 2010

Lexus CT 200h in Black

While on the topic of the Lexus CT 200h, here are a few photos of the black CT 200h taken at the September press launch in France (click for a larger version): The best part about the last picture is that the brick wall is actually the bottom of a castle.
Kevin · November 19th, 2010

2010 Lexus GS 450h Photos: Electricity

The first set of photos from my time with the 2010 Lexus GS 450h are all about the electricity (click on any image for a larger version): Taking photos with an electrical backdrop was my #1 goal with the GSh, and luckily I had been saving a hydro station for such an occasion. Electro-shock!
Kevin · October 29th, 2010

2010 Lexus GS 450h Review

A few weeks back, I had the chance to spend some time with a 2010 Lexus GS 450h, which stands as one of my favorite models in the lineup. Now, having reviewed the 2009 model last year, my main focus this time around was trying out some new photography techniques, but I did want to …

Read more…

Kevin · October 27th, 2010

Lexus CT 200h in Daybreak Yellow

Of all the Lexus CT 200h exterior color options, Daybreak Yellow was the last color I expected to like, but seeing it in person changed my mind, at least to a degree — depending on the sun or shade, it could shift from gold to garish in the blink of an eye, and it was …

Read more…

Kevin · October 19th, 2010

2011 Lexus CT 200h: First Drive

Over the past month, I’ve had two occasions to drive the Lexus CT 200h — first time up was at the NYC stop of the CT 200h World Tour, where I found the CT 200h to be a perfect fit on the busy New York streets, easily absorbing the rough edges of city driving without …

Read more…

Kevin · October 12th, 2010

Paris Photos: Lexus CT 200h in Smoky Granite Mica

The lights surrounding the Smoky Granite Mica Lexus CT 200h on display at the Paris Motor Show made for some strong contrast: I also ventured out onto the rotating platform for some pics of the interior, which just so happened to be a wild red & black fabric almost impossible to photograph: Much to my …

Read more…

Kevin · October 4th, 2010

Lexus CT 200h Event in Toronto This Weekend

Just a reminder that the black & red Lexus CT 200h’s will be debuting tonight in Toronto as part of a Lexus-sponsored concert weekend — here’s the flyer: The fun starts at 7pm, and I’ll be there early to take some CT photos — can’t wait to see it in Matador Red Mica. Photos to …

Read more…

Kevin · August 27th, 2010

TLE Featured in Lexus Magazine

Here’s something different — Lexus Magazine has published a feature on this very website: [The Lexus Enthusiast]’s key service is to continually aggregate the sea of information out there about Lexus models—your model, or the model you’d like to make your own. By his own admission, site editor Kevin R.E. Watts sifts through a thousand …

Read more…

Kevin · July 23rd, 2010

Keeping Perspective on Lexus Recall

Bloomberg is reporting that Lexus has been aware of the engine problems behind the recent recall since 2007: The carmaker received the first customer complaints in March 2007 in Japan regarding defective valve springs that may cause engines to stall, Toyota spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi said by phone today from Tokyo. The problem occurs when foreign …

Read more…

Kevin · July 7th, 2010

In Memory of Hiromu Naruse

Today, the automotive world lost an icon — Toyota’s Chief Test Driver Hiromu Naruse was killed in an accident outside of the Nürburgring racetrack while driving a Lexus LFA Nürburgring prototype. Naruse-sama was influential in the development of every production sports car produced by Toyota, from the 2000GT to the MR-S, and was so widely …

Read more…

Kevin · June 23rd, 2010

World’s Smallest Lexus Enthusiast

Just a personal note to explain the radio silence of the last couple days: Much to the excitement of my wife Karissa & I, our daughter, Pepper Gwendolyn Watts, was born yesterday — making her the world’s smallest (and youngest!) Lexus enthusiast. As you can imagine, life gets turned upside down with a new baby, …

Read more…

Kevin · June 18th, 2010

Lexus Performance Registry Now on Lexus USA Website

After our week and a half preview here at The Lexus Enthusiast, Lexus has launched the Performance Registry on their website as part of a larger Inside F performance section. Inside F, as you would imagine, is dedicated to the Lexus’ growing performance lineup, with information on the LFA, IS F, LS Sport, and all …

Read more…

Kevin · June 4th, 2010

Lexus LFA Desktop Wallpapers

During my trip to the Lexus F-Sport event in New Jersey, I took over 600 photos — including 350 of the LFA alone — so I thought I would share my favorite three images as desktop wallpapers: Select Resolution: 1680×1050 | 1440×900 | 1280×1024 | 1280×800 | 1024×768 Select Resolution: 1680×1050 | 1440×900 | 1280×1024 …

Read more…

Kevin · May 20th, 2010

Driving the Lexus LFA

Picture the most intense, heart-pounding roller-coaster ride of your life, only instead of rails and a cart, you’re strapped into a prototype supercar driven by a race car driver. That was the scene two weeks ago at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, where I found myself in the passenger seat of Lexus USA’s (formerly matte …

Read more…

Kevin · May 17th, 2010

TLE Issues Resolved

Regular readers may have noticed some general weirdness with TLE since its move to WordPress a couple days ago — unfortunately, with a site move of this size, there were a number of unforeseen issues, including some problems with viewing articles and leaving comments. I’m happy to say that the most of these problems have …

Read more…

Kevin · May 6th, 2010

The Lexus Enthusiast 6.0

Welcome to The Lexus Enthusiast 6.0! Now running on the WordPress platform, this new edition of TLE was made necessary due to reasons too numerous and technical to mention, but rest assured, the switchover will be well worth it. The most obvious change is the content slider at the top of the homepage, which should …

Read more…

Kevin · May 5th, 2010

Lexus New Jersey F-Sport Event Next Week

A couple weeks back, Lexus USA announced an April 29th F-Sport event at the New Jersey Motor Park, and today, I’m happy to say I will be attending. I didn’t want to miss my chance at a hot-lap in the LFA with Scott Pruett, so I’ll be making the eight-hour drive down to New Jersey …

Read more…

Kevin · April 21st, 2010