2015 Lexus RC 350 Configurator Now on USA Website

For those US readers interested in purchasing an RC, the Lexus USA website has been updated with an online configurator to help you build the exact car you want. As detailed earlier, pricing for the rear-drive RC 350 will start at $42,790, with the all-wheel-drive RC 350 beginning at $45,025. Build your Lexus RC 350 …
Kevin · November 17th, 2014

New Lexus RC F SPORT Commercial from USA

Lexus USA has released their first commercial for the RC 350: There’s also this behind-the-scenes look at how the commercial was created, and that includes real fireworks: (The RC commercial was directed by music video director Sophie Muller and features music by British electronic act UNKLE.)
Kevin · November 5th, 2014

Lexus October 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 23,355 total sales for October 2014, a 2.8% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,158 842 37.5 14,743 12,282 20.0 HS 0 2 ‐100.0 0 5 ‐100.0 IS 3,771 3,570 5.6 40,809 25,630 …
Kevin · November 3rd, 2014

Lexus Dominates Consumer Reports Reliability Rankings

Lexus has finished first overall in the annual Consumer Reports Reliability rankings, with nearly every model leading in its respective category. The IS 350 took top spot in Luxury Compact Cars, and the CT 200h & ES 300h finished first and second in Hybrid/Electric Cars. The LS 460, ES 350, and GS 350 were first, …
Kevin · October 28th, 2014

Notes from the 2014 Lexus USA National Dealer Meeting

The Toyota Driver’s Seat blog has posted a recap of the recent Lexus USA National Dealer Meeting, which took place in Los Angeles and celebrated the brand’s 25th anniversary:   There were enticing previews of commercials for the RC and NX, coming to Lexus showrooms within the next two months. There was Akio Toyoda inspiring …
Kevin · October 27th, 2014

2015 Lexus LS 460 Information

The USA edition of the Lexus LS 460 will have minor changes for the 2015 model year. The biggest update to the flagship sedan is the new navigation system with predictive traffic information, ETA calculation and low-fuel coordination with available fuel stations. Navigation also includes the subscription-free Lexus Enform App Suite and features bird’s eye …
Kevin · October 20th, 2014

Lexus USA Releases NX 200t & NX 300h Pricing

USA pricing for the Lexus NX was announced today, with the NX 200t starting at $35,405 and the NX 300h at $40,645. Front-wheel drive is standard on both models, and adding all-wheel drive will add $1,400 to the price of the NX 200t and $1,590 to the NX 300h. Standard features include power seats, a …
Kevin · October 16th, 2014

Lexus ES 350 Production in Kentucky to Start by Late 2015

The Lexus manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Kentucky is getting ready for the production of the ES 350, with much of the construction required for the new 307,310 square-foot facility either completed or in progress. Equipment at the existing plant will also be improved to facilitate production, and staff is also undergoing extensive training for assembly …
test · October 9th, 2014

Three Lexus Models Top List of Worry-Free Vehicles

The Cars.com website has released a list of the top 15 worry-free vehicles to own, and Lexus models make up the top three places: the Lexus RX 450h was first place, followed by the ES 350 & Lexus RX 350. The LS 460 was also included at #13, meaning that Lexus models accounted for almost …
Kevin · October 8th, 2014

2015 Lexus GS 450h F SPORT Package Now Available in USA

The 2015 Lexus GS has been added to the Lexus USA website, and includes the full details on the new-to-USA GS 450h F SPORT package. The new hybrid F SPORT package includes 19-inch staggered-width alloy wheels, larger front brakes with hi-friction pads, and an F SPORT tuned version of the standard Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) with …
Kevin · October 8th, 2014

Lexus September 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 21,852 total sales for September 2014, a 7.3% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,078 798 29.5 13,585 11,440 18.8 HS 0 0 N/A 0 5 -100.0 IS 3,611 3,201 8.1 37,038 22,060 …
Kevin · October 1st, 2014

New Lexus IS F SPORT Commercial: Appearances

In the spirit of the F SPORT commercial released a couple months back, there’s a racy new Lexus IS commercial from the USA: (I liked it — the “it’s not what it looks like” bit is an old cliché, sure, but it works.)
Kevin · September 17th, 2014

Lexus USA Releases RC 350 & RC 350 F SPORT Pricing & Package Information

When the Lexus RC arrives in USA dealerships this fall, the RC 350 RWD will start at $43,715 USD and the RC 350 AWD will start at $45,950 USD. Key standard features will include NuLuxe interior, 10-way power driver (8-way passenger) front seats, a 10-speaker 256 watt sound system, 7-inch VGA center screen, and 18-inch …
Kevin · September 7th, 2014

Lexus USA Releases RC F Pricing & Package Information

The Lexus RC F will start at $63,225 USD when it arrives in USA dealerships this fall. Key standard features will include Black NuLuxe interior, 10-way power driver (8-way passenger) front seats, a 10-speaker 256 watt sound system, 7-inch VGA center screen, and 19-inch split 5-spoke forged alloy wheels. From there, a $4,400 Premium Package …
Kevin · September 5th, 2014

Lexus August 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 32,809 total sales for August 2014, a 14.2% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 2,191 1,784 27.4 12,507 10,642 18.1 HS 0 0 N/A 0 5 ‐100.0 IS 5,312 4,432 24.3 33,427 18,859 …
Kevin · September 3rd, 2014

2015 Lexus GS to be Available in Atomic Silver

After debuting with the third-generation Lexus IS , the Atomic Silver exterior color will be coming to the 2015 GS. So far, Japan & the USA have confirmed the color’s availability, and I imagine other markets will follow suit. [Source: Lexus Global Newsroom]
Kevin · August 25th, 2014

Lexus IS C Convertible Returns for 2015 Model Year

While the Lexus IS F has just ended its production run, the IS C will live to see another year — Lexus will continue to build the six-year-old convertible despite being based on the previous generation IS sedan. (This decision can be easily explained — while the RC F will succeed the IS F in …
Kevin · August 6th, 2014

Video: Guided Tour of the Lexus NX

For anyone looking at purchasing a Lexus NX in the USA, this two-part video with Ming-Jou Chen of Lexus College is an excellent overview of the new crossover: (The new door handle is a real improvement over the current design — very stylish and functional. Look forward to seeing it on other models.)
Kevin · August 5th, 2014

Lexus July 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 27,333 total sales for July 2014, a 14.1% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,979 1,306 45.7 10,316 8,858 16.5 HS 0 2 ‐100.0 0 5 ‐100.0 IS 4,542 3,641 19.9 28,115 14,427 …
Kevin · August 1st, 2014

Lexus GS 450h F SPORT Coming to America

Starting with the 2015 model year, Lexus USA will begin offering the GS 450h with the F SPORT package. Lexus USA has traditionally stayed away from offering the F SPORT package on hybrid models, with the hybrid-only CT 200h being the one exception. Hybrid F SPORT models have been available in other parts of the …
Kevin · July 30th, 2014

Lexus June 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 23,518 total sales for June 2014, a 19.3% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,521 1,513 8.9 8,337 7,552 11.1 HS 0 1 ‐100.0 0 3 ‐100.0 IS 3,932 1,919 122.0 23,573 10,786 …
Kevin · July 1st, 2014

2015 Lexus IS 250 & IS 350 Information

The US-spec 2015 Lexus IS has been announced, and there’s been some minor updates to the second-year sedan: LED fog lamps Siri Eyes Free technology from Apple; compatible with iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 models AWD models gets heated steering wheel Heated/ventilated front seats added to F SPORT Revised interior trim, including piano black on …
Kevin · June 30th, 2014

Lexus ES Wins Segment in 2014 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study

The Lexus ES was named the top Compact Premium Car in this year’s J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. The LS was the second place Large Premium Car, and the GS tied for third in the Midsize Premium Car category. The study, which looks at problems experienced in the first 90 days of vehicle ownership, was …
Kevin · June 18th, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus RC F SPORT in Red

A red Lexus RC 350 F SPORT has been spotted in California — here are photos from the Endles Automotive Instagram feed: This new color is called Infrared, and it uses a special painting technique: For the red exterior, the factory starts with a base coat of silver and then applies a clear coat. Then, …
Kevin · June 10th, 2014

Lexus USA Launches New Website Design

This weekend, Lexus USA launched a fully redesigned website that reflects the brand’s new design direction — here’s an example vehicle page: The new site is modern, responsive to all screen sizes, and very easy to understand — excellent work by the development team, be sure to check it out. Visit the new Lexus USA …
Kevin · June 9th, 2014

Lexus USA Gaining on Mercedes & BMW in 2014 Sales Volume

Lexus sales in the USA are heating up — the brand outsold Mercedes in March & May, putting them only 12,000 sales behind market leader BMW. BMW currently leads with 127,181 sales in 2014, Mercedes is close behind with 125,118 sales, and Lexus is third with 115,171 sales — there may not be enough time …
Kevin · June 9th, 2014

Lexus May 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 26,921 total sales for May 2014, a 16.6% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,762 1,623 4.5 6,816 6,039 12.0 IS 4,403 1,897 123.5 19,641 8,867 119.8 ES 6,523 5,890 6.6 27,662 27,813 …
Kevin · June 3rd, 2014

Photo Gallery: Lexus RC F SPORT in Atomic Silver

A Lexus RC F SPORT in Atomic Silver is in Colorado this week as part of a Lexus dealership meeting — Lexus of Lehigh Valley shared the photo above on their Facebook page, and here’s a full gallery from Lexus of Austin: The RC F SPORT exterior design hits all the right notes for me …
Kevin · June 2nd, 2014

Lexus GS F Prototype Spotted in Arizona?

A possible Lexus GS F prototype has been spotted in Arizona by Club Lexus member I8ABMR: It may look like a roughed-up GS F SPORT, but there are a couple key details that suggest otherwise — the Michigan manufacturer plates and the proximity to the Toyota Arizona proving grounds are the first clues, but the …
Kevin · May 15th, 2014

Lexus & BMW Lead in Luxury Auto Purchase Consideration

According to a study by marketing firm YouGov BrandIndex, Lexus & BMW are the top two purchase considerations among potential luxury car buyers in the USA: For Lexus, this has been a huge bounce back from a first quarter slide that briefly took them down below brands like Infiniti, Audi and Mercedes Benz. They have …
Kevin · May 8th, 2014

Lexus NX: Turbo vs. Hybrid Sales

In a recent Automotive News interview, Lexus International vice president Mark Templin discussed NX sales projections and the expected take-rate between the turbo & hybrid powertrains: Although Lexus gave no official fuel economy estimates for the hybrid, a source said it should get in the 34-36 mpg range in combined city and highway driving. The …
Kevin · May 5th, 2014

Lexus April 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 23,165 total sales for April 2014, a 23.1% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,054 1,171 -13.5 5,054 4,416 14.4 HS 0 1 ‐100.0 0 1 ‐100.0 IS 3,780 1,797 102.3 15,238 6,970 …
Kevin · May 1st, 2014

What Should Lexus Name the RC F’s Orange Exterior Color?

Lexus USA has put out a call for help in naming the new orange exterior color that will debut on the RC F coupe. Have a good idea? You can submit it on the Lexus USA Facebook page. (There’s some good submissions already — I like Fireburst & Supernova.) Submit your orange color name on …
Kevin · April 30th, 2014

Lexus USA Headquarters Moving to Texas

The Lexus USA national headquarters will be moving from Torrance, California to Plano, Texas, as part of a greater relocation by Toyota Motor Sales — from the press release: The establishment of a new headquarters builds upon previous efforts by Toyota to enhance regional autonomy, self-reliance and responsibility.  While the sales and marketing, manufacturing and …
Kevin · April 28th, 2014

Lexus USA Shares NX Sales Projections

Mark Rechtin of the Automotive News recently spoke with Lexus USA general manager Jeff Bracken about NX sales projections: …he expects Lexus to sell about 2,200 NX units a month in the United States. He added, however, that Lexus’ U.S. dealer council has informed him that such an estimate is too conservative. “From a sizing …
Kevin · April 21st, 2014

2014 Lexus GS 350 Wins Edmunds Top Rated Award

The 2014 Lexus GS 350 has been named to the Edmunds Top Rated Vehicles of 2014 list. The list is determined by the Edmunds vehicle testing team — each vehicle is driven on a standardized road-test loop and visits a test track for additional instrument testing in controlled conditions.  The findings are used to rate …
Kevin · April 16th, 2014

Lexus Finishes Third in 2014 J.D. Power Customer Service Index Study

After five years at the top, Lexus fell to third place in J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study. Cadillac & Audi finished ahead of Lexus. The study, which examines owner satisfaction when visiting a dealership service department for maintenance or repair work, uses five measures in its scoring: service quality, service initiation, …
Kevin · April 10th, 2014

New Lexus GS Commercial Takes a Swing at its Competitors

Lexus USA also released a new GS commercial that takes its competitors to task — the video starts with a behind-the-scenes look at how the commercial was filmed: Great to see the GS getting this type of marketing exposure two years after its initial release — considering the sedan’s recent sales success, it’s well deserved. …
Kevin · April 8th, 2014

Lexus March 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 28,593 total sales for March 2014, a 28.0% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,480 1,062 44.7 4,000 3,245 24.9 HS 0 1 ‐100.0 0 2 ‐100.0 IS 4,893 2,255 125.3 11,458 5,173 …
Kevin · April 1st, 2014

Lexus USA Dealerships Score High in Customer Service Survey

Lexus, Toyota & Buick have the best dealership customer service experience in the USA, according to the 2014 Temkin Experience Ratings, an annual ranking of companies based on a study of 10,000 consumers. The three brands all earned a 74% rating, tying for 59th place overall out of 268 companies across 19 industries. Read more …
Kevin · March 28th, 2014

Lexus USA Dealerships to Get Modern Makeover

Lexus dealerships in the USA will be undergoing a makeover, beginning with a signage color switch from the old gold to a more modern platinum — Edmunds has more: The appearance change calls on dealers to renovate their dealerships in order to create what Lexus spokeswoman Allison Takahashi called “a new progressive luxury exterior design.” …
Kevin · March 26th, 2014

Toyota Reaches $1.2 Billion Settlement in U.S. Investigation

Toyota will pay $1.2 billion to settle a U.S Justice Department criminal investigation into the carmaker’s handling of recalls linked with unintended acceleration nearly five years ago — from GoAuto: As a part of the deal – involving the largest criminal penalty paid by a car-maker in US history – Toyota will acknowledge wrongdoing, while …
Kevin · March 24th, 2014

2015 Lexus RC 350 & RC 350 F SPORT Pre-Order Brochure Released

Lexus dealerships in the USA have received the first edition of the RC & RC F pre-order guide, and there’s plenty of new information included in the four-page brochure. There’s no pricing information released, but here’s all the information regarding the RC 350, including the tentative packages available for TX, OK, LA, AR, MS, TN, …
Kevin · March 18th, 2014

Lexus LX Offroad Racing Program Cancelled

After five seasons, the Lexus LX offroad racing program has been discontinued — driver Joe Bacal posted the following message on his Facebook page: We were informed yesterday by Lexus USA that they will not be continuing the off-road racing program. It has been an awesome 5 years with much success including 3 Baja 1000 …
Kevin · March 11th, 2014

Lexus USA & St. Baldrick’s Foundation Partner for Head Shaving Contest

Would you shave your head for a chance to win $2,500? Lexus USA has partnered with the childhood cancer research charity St. Baldrick’s Foundation to create the Lexus Bold IS contest anyone brave enough to participate — here’s a video with the full details: The deadline to submit a video is March 18, 2014, with …
Kevin · March 10th, 2014

Lexus February 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 18,855 total sales for February 2014, a 8.7% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,230 1,182 4.1 2,520 2,183 15.4 HS 0 1 ‐100.0 0 1 ‐100.0 IS 3,517 1,532 129.6 6,565 2,918 …
Kevin · March 3rd, 2014

2015 Lexus RX 350 & RX 450h Information

Lexus USA has announced the 2015 Lexus RX 350 & RX 450h, and the new model year brings some new standard equipment and changes to the option packages: All RX models will now come standard with a seven-inch display screen and backup camera The Remote Touch infotainment controller has been revised for improved ease of …
Kevin · February 27th, 2014

Lexus Named Top Brand in Consumer Reports Car Brands Report Card

For the second year in a row, Lexus has been named the top brand in the Consumer Reports Car Brands Report Card. Using road-test scores and scores for predicted reliability, Consumer Reports graded every mainstream auto manufacturer — Lexus finished with 79 points, ahead of second place Acura (75 points) & third place Audi (74 …
Kevin · February 25th, 2014

INTERSECT BY LEXUS New York to Open in 2015

The Villager reports that the New York INTERSECT BY LEXUS gallery space will be located at 411 W. 14th St. in the Meatpacking district. Like the first INTERSECT in Tokyo, the space will be designed by Masamichi Katayama and his company Wonderwall, and is expected to share much of the same look & feel. INTERSECT …
Kevin · February 13th, 2014

2012-2013 Lexus RX 350 Recalled for Potential Braking Software Issue

Lexus USA has issued a voluntary safety recall for certain 2012-2013 RX 350 models due to a potential issue with its braking software. Lexus will update the skid control ECU software in order to address an electronic circuit condition that can cause the Vehicle Stability Control, Anti-lock Brake, and Traction Control functions to intermittently turn …
Kevin · February 13th, 2014

Lexus Named Top Brand in 2014 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study

For the third year in a row, Lexus has been named the top brand in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study. Lexus absolutely dominated the study, which examines problems experienced during the past year by owners of 2011 model-year vehicles. Each brand’s overall dependability is determined by the number of problems experienced per …
Kevin · February 12th, 2014

Four New Lexus CT 200h Commercials

With the release of the updated Lexus CT 200h, there are new commercials springing up around the world — let’s start with three from the USA: Here’s the CTh commercial for European markets, like the music in this one: (Any other regional Lexus CT commercials out there that I’ve missed? Leave a link in the …
Kevin · February 12th, 2014

Lexus Named Top Luxury Brand in KBB 2014 5-Year Cost to Own Awards

For the second year in a row, Lexus was named the top luxury brand in the Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own Awards. The awards are based on analysis of the 5-year ownership costs of 2014 model-year vehicles, and looks at the purchase price, financing costs, insurance costs and state fees along with the …
Kevin · February 5th, 2014

Lexus January 2014 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 17,637 total sales for January 2014, an 8.8% improvement over the start of last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2014 2013 % CHG* 2014 2013 % CHG* CT 1,290 1,001 28.9 1,290 1,001 28.9 HS 0 0 N/A 0 N/A IS 3,048 1,386 119.9 …
Kevin · February 3rd, 2014

Lexus USA Dealerships Excited about 2014

Automotive News recently spoke with John Iacono, owner of three Lexus dealerships in New York and chairman of the Lexus USA National Dealer Advisory Council — much of the interview is geared towards industry insiders, but there are some interesting moments: Mercedes and BMW are dropping below the $30,000 sticker price. Should Lexus follow? The …
Kevin · January 28th, 2014

Lexus Wins Three Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards

Owners of the Lexus RX, LS, & CT were recognized for customer loyalty at the annual Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards. The Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards measures loyalty as a household that owns a new vehicle choosing another new vehicle of the same model or make. This year’s awards are based on more than 7.4 million …
Kevin · January 22nd, 2014

2014 Lexus GX 460 in Short Supply at US Dealerships

The updated 2014 Lexus GX 460 has been a huge success, and dealerships are having a hard time keeping up with the demand — from Edmunds: Through the middle of this month, Lexus had only a nine-day supply of GX models in stock, up from four days at the end of December. Automakers and dealers …
Kevin · January 22nd, 2014

First Lexus Assembly Line in USA Now Under Construction

Let’s take a break from the RC F news for another important story — Lexus announced today that construction has started on the ES 350 assembly line in Georgetown, Kentucky. Announced in April of last year, the ES 350 will be the first Lexus to be produced in the USA. Production is set to begin …
Kevin · January 9th, 2014

Lexus December 2013 Sales Report (Including Year-End Sales Totals)

USA Lexus USA has reported 34,757 sales in December, a 18.1% improvement over last year and its best monthly sales total since December 2006– here’s the final model-by-model breakdown of 2013: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2013 2012 % CHG* 2013 2012 % CHG* CT 1,787 1,598 16.3 15,071 17,673 -14.7 HS 0 2 -100.0 …
Kevin · January 5th, 2014

Video: The 2014 Lexus CT 200h Inside & Out

Here’s Ming-Jou Chen from Lexus USA with an in-depth overview of the 2014 CT 200h refresh: This is the best look we’ve had of the updated CT 200h so far, with an excellent explanation of the changes and how the model has been improved. Very well done. (The front-end looks very complex, with lots of …
Kevin · January 2nd, 2014

Details on the Lexus RC’s New Red Exterior Paint

The Lexus RC 350 will make its North American debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January, and today Lexus released information on the new paint process used to create the coupe’s red exterior color: The luminous red paint is achieved through a meticulous paint process using four base coats of paint which are then …
Kevin · December 24th, 2013

Lexus: No Plans to Release Sub-$30k Models

Lexus will not be heading downmarket to compete with its German competitors, says Lexus USA general manager Jeff Bracken in an interview with Automotive News: “We will not head down below $30,000,” said Bracken in an interview here. “We have Toyota and Scion to handle that price level for us.” Bracken acknowledges the CLA and …
Kevin · December 10th, 2013

Lexus November 2013 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported 25,611 total sales for November 2013, a 8.4% improvement over last year — here’s the model-by-model breakdown: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2013 2012 % CHG* 2013 2012 % CHG* CT 1,002 1,264 -23.8 13,284 16,075 -17.7 HS 0 3 -100.0 5 647 -99.2 IS 3,973 1,988 92.2 29,603 25,211 …
Kevin · December 3rd, 2013

Lexus December to Remember 2013 Commercials

As we enter the holiday season, Lexus USA has launched their annual December to Remember Sales Event, along with the inevitable “Red Bow” commercials — here’s the full collection: All in all, it’s a fairly harmless round of commercials — the only thing I really noticed is how great the updated GX looks in white. …
Kevin · December 2nd, 2013