Lexus ES 350 Commercial: Goosebumps

The opening shot of this commercial is pure gold, though I have to admit a crash-test dummy getting goosebumps is a bit freaky: One of my favorite things about the new ES 350, which you can only catch of glimpse of in this commercial, is the optional Panorama Glass roof. It almost folds up like …

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Kevin · July 18th, 2007

Redneckin’ in a Lexus IS 350

I can’t conceive of a single reason why someone would take their brand new IS 350 into a field to do doughnuts, but it certainly isn’t the first time I’ve been left speechless by a Lexus owner.
Kevin · July 14th, 2007

Man Smashes Lexus With a Steel Pipe

If you’re adverse to automotive violence, best avert your eyes, as this guy has some serious pedestrian rage: As is the nature of this type of video, I’m left with more questions than answers: What was that all about? Where did he get the steel pipe? What is it with Russia and destroying Lexus’?
Kevin · July 13th, 2007

Additional Footage of the LF-A at Nürburgring

We’ve all seen the Edmunds video of the prototype LF-A tearing up Nürburgring, but this additional footage, posted by Viper Productions on Youtube, really shows off the confirmed V-10 engine: Seems much faster than in the Edmunds video, it’s practically a black roaring blur. Now, the only question is, when is this blasted car going …

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Kevin · July 11th, 2007

Lexus IS-F Prototype Filmed on the Streets of LA

You can forgive the shakiness of this cameraman, it’s not every day you see a IS-F prototype sitting at a stoplight: What stands out most for me are the wheels, they’re absolutely fantastic and easily my favourite design from Lexus yet. Still can’t say I’m feeling those massive side vents though. But the one thing …

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Kevin · July 11th, 2007

Fifth Gear: Melanie C & Her RX 400h

It’s fairly bereft of any substance, but Fifth Gear had a mini-interview with Melanie C (of Spice Girls fame) about her choice of vehicle: Seems like she couldn’t stop herself from plugging her album, though listening to her own albums to learn the lyrics is so appropriate it could almost be true.
Kevin · July 10th, 2007

Lexus Commercial: Which Golfer Will You Be?

It’s starting to feel like an everyday occurrence to find something linking Lexus with golf, and today’s no exception. As part of their U.S. Open sponsorship, three commercials were made, one of which I’ve already posted about, and here’s another: I’ll admit, at first this commercial confused me, as I searched for some connection between …

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Kevin · July 7th, 2007

Lexus LS 600hL on a Norwegian Test Track

Norwegian website Dinside Motor took an LS 600h L through its paces, hitting 160mph and showing off some major bodyroll: I like to see these kind of tests, it’s so much more interesting to see the handling instead of reading about it.
Kevin · July 5th, 2007

Classic Lexus SC 400 Commercial

Old Lexus commercials have been popping up on Youtube non-stop — First was the LS 400 double shot, and now we have the inaugural SC 400 ad: The snapshot camera effect has to be my favorite part, it just screams of the nineties.
Kevin · July 4th, 2007

Lexus ES 350 Commercial: Instinct

The most impressive aspect of this Lexus ES 350 commercial is how real the situation feels: The different perspectives of the same accident, the unavoidable crash, the skittering truck, the click-whirr of the advanced safety system, all make for a very immersive experience. Before impact, I actually recoiled in my chair.
Kevin · July 3rd, 2007

The Lexus LS 460 Riding on Sevas Forged Wheels

Here we have an LS 460 dropped low on a set of Sevas Forged Wheels: Not a very big fan of the multi-mini-spoke rim, and the sheer size of these wheels overpower the car, but they do have a certain charm. I especially like the look of these wheels in motion, they give off an …

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Kevin · July 3rd, 2007

Classic 1990 LS 400 Commercials

Someone must have been digging through their old VCR tapes, because here’s two VHS quality commercials from the LS 400’s inaugural advertising campaign: Funny story about the first commercial, taken from the book Lexus: The Relentless Pursuit: What the ad didn’t say — and what Team One [Lexus’ Advertising Agency] members didn’t know until later …

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Kevin · June 26th, 2007

Top Gear Comparison: Lexus SC 430 vs. Hyundai Tiburon

I can’t say that the SC 430 is my favorite car in Lexus’ lineup, but Top Gear took it one step further, declaring it “the worst car on sale today”. When comparing it to the Hyundai Tiburon, it was hardly even a contest: “Dreadful”. “Horrible”. “Charmless”. I’m honestly surprised the host didn’t drive the SC …

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Kevin · June 23rd, 2007

Spy Video of the Prototype Lexus LF-A

Edmunds has managed to scare up a video of the Lexus LF-A prototype during last week’s run around Nürburgring: Seeing the supercar in motion is much more impressive than the spy photos, the speed is positively overpowering. In their analysis of the footage, Edmunds makes some rather astute observations: Judging from the roar, the LF-A …

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Kevin · June 20th, 2007

Diana Krall & Oscar Peterson Star in Lexus Mark Levinson Commercial

The last of Lexus’ ads to feature musicians grooving to their favorite tunes has Diana Krall contemplating Oscar Peterson‘s Night Train: Something about this ad rubs me the wrong way, it has a more contrived feel than the others. I think it’s that tiny laugh at the end… The others, in case you missed them, …

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Kevin · June 16th, 2007

John Legend & Nina Simone Star in Lexus Mark Levinson Commercial

Enough people have been searching the site for this ad that I consider it my duty to post it up — Lexus has three commercials currently in rotation with musicians speaking on their favorite songs, this one features John Legend jazzing out to Nina Simone: Apparently, this Nina Simone song has led to some very …

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Kevin · June 15th, 2007

How to Restore a First Generation Lexus LS 400

Wheeler Dealers was a british TV show with a very simple premise: buy a beat-up classic, restore it, and sell it off for a profit. In one episode, they tackle a first generation LS 400 (judging by the rims, a 91-92 model), purchased from some poor sod for £1300. Here’s the first part to whet …

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Kevin · June 14th, 2007

The Lexus LS 600h Commercial: Fast Reimagined

The LS 600h commercial Fast Reimagined has been posted to Youtube, and it’s classic Lexus imagery: For a little background information, I found an interview with the digital effects team at Dexigner: For this spot’s end-footage of the car, Balden explained that the Lexus was shot with a Canon digital SLR on the end of …

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Kevin · June 13th, 2007

Lexus LS 460 Hold Button Demonstation

Youtube user h4×0r0x was nice enough to post a demonstration of rather unique LS series feature found on the steering wheel, namely the Hold button: As you can see, this button allows you to hold your brakes, meaning that you can rest your feet while at a stoplight. In essence, we’re looking at the anti-cruise …

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Kevin · June 12th, 2007

Do Not Try This

Warning: This is not for the faint of heart. In a bid for first place in the “Stupidest thing you can do with a Lexus” contest, an absolutely insane Saudi Arabian teenager decided to drive 150/mph in an LS 430 LX 470 at night…all while sitting in the backseat. Don’t believe me? Turn down your …

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Kevin · June 8th, 2007

Hyundai’s Azera vs. LS 460 Commercial

After the results of the Total Quality Index survey, I decided to do a little Hyundai Youtube surfing and found a recent Azera ad comparing it to the LS 460: My personal disdain of Kelsey Grammer notwithstanding, and the fact that there are far more differences than similarities between the Azera and the LS 460, …

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Kevin · June 7th, 2007

Unaired ES350 Commercial Discovered on Youtube

I stumbled upon this never used Lexus ad for the ES350: How totally bizarre. As for background info, it was created by Walter Robot, an animation studio in Orange County, California, and was to be a series of commercials featuring the full Lexus lineup. The idea, according to Christopher Louie, one of the principals, “was …

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Kevin · May 31st, 2007

Elvis Costello & Beethoven Star in Lexus Commercial

There’s always backlash when a musician sells his music to be featured in a commercial, but is that really necessary with Elvis Costello’s Lexus ad?: It’s a rather innocuous celebrity endorsement, but that doesn’t stop some people from taking offense. A fantastic concept, famous musicians talking up their favourite music — that it’s an commercial …

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Kevin · May 30th, 2007

Fifth Gear Review of the IS220d

Another week, another Fifth Gear  Lexus review posted on YouTube. This time up, it’s the Lexus IS220d, from an episode aired in 2005: There’s a few things that stand out in this review, when Tom Ford compares it to the BMW 320d: “Do you want to be able to say, ‘My car’s faster than your …

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Kevin · May 30th, 2007

Fifth Gear Review of the LS460

Tom Ford of Fifth Gear, the British car show, takes a ride in the new LS460 and really talks up the technology (most of which is not available on North American models): the advanced obstacle detection system, the car’s ability to stay in lane with no user input, driver monitoring and one of the smoothest …

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Kevin · May 29th, 2007

Audi Attack

Audi has gone catty and released a commercial that claws at the Lexus LS460’s ability to park itself: Not content to be oh-so-subtle with the dig, the car even slides between a LS460 and an IS350. (Is this about the LS460 winning World Car of the Year over the Audi TT?)
Kevin · May 29th, 2007