New Lexus Halo Car to Replace the LFA?

A recent report from Hans Greimel of the Automotive News explores the future plans of Lexus — let’s start with the possibility of a new Lexus halo car.
Kevin · January 2nd, 2013

Lexus Focusing on Two-Coupe Strategy?

Colum Wood from Autoguide recently talked to Lexus USA national marketing manager Brian Bolain about the brand’s future plans for the LF-CC & LF-LC concepts.
Kevin · November 14th, 2012

A Closer Look at the Lexus LF-LC Blue Concept

When Lexus introduced the LF-LC Blue last week at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, it wasn’t just the colors that were changed from the original concept.
Kevin · October 23rd, 2012

Lexus CT to Get New Engine Option?

Also mentioned in last week’s news.com.au interview with the president of Lexus International, Kiyotaka Ise, was the possibility of a CT with a gas-only engine option.
Kevin · October 9th, 2012

No Lexus Coupe Until 2014?

A production coupe based on the Lexus LF-CC is still one to two years away, according to a news.com.au interview with the president of Lexus International, Kiyotaka Ise.
Kevin · October 4th, 2012

Is Lexus Planning a CT Spin-off?

Back in June, WardsAuto interviewed Lexus general manager Mark Templin about the CT 200h, and found out some interesting details.
Kevin · August 29th, 2012

Production Lexus LF-LC Planned?

Automotive News is reporting that a production model based on the Lexus LF-LC concept is currently on track for development.
Kevin · July 16th, 2012

Second Lexus GS Hybrid to Use V6 Engine?

Following up on news that the recently announced second Lexus GS hybrid will use a V6 engine, Just-Auto has a revealing interview with Lexus GS chief engineer Yoshihiko Kanamori.
Kevin · June 19th, 2012

Next Generation Lexus GX to Become Crossover CUV?

Lexus is considering moving the next-generation GX to unibody car platform and away from its truck body-on-frame underpinnings, Lexus general manager Mark Templin told Wards Auto.
Kevin · May 29th, 2012

Will there be a Lexus GS F?

Autocar is reporting that a high-performance Lexus GS F is still very much a possibility.
Kevin · March 26th, 2012

Lexus GS 300h Trademark Registered in Australia

Lexus has registered *GS 300h* as an Australian trademark, which may indicate that a second hybrid option for the fourth-generation sports sedan may be offered in the future.
Kevin · March 19th, 2012

More Lexus RX F Sport Rumors

Backing up previous rumors out of Australia & Japan, Taiwanese website Autonet is reporting that Lexus plans to release a RX F Sport package this year.
Kevin · February 7th, 2012

Next-Generation Lexus IS Rumors

Taiwanese website Autonet is speculating that the next-generation Lexus IS will debut at the Los Angeles auto show this year, ahead of a mid-2013 release.
Kevin · January 24th, 2012

Busy Year Ahead for Lexus in 2012

A recent Automotive News interview with Lexus USA General Manager Mark Templin has outlined part of the Lexus product pipeline for the next two years.
Kevin · December 15th, 2011

Lexus Planning Four-Cylinder GS Hybrid?

Lexus GS deputy chief engineer Koji Sato recently spoke with Auto Express, and shared some welcome information that a “small hybrid” engine for the GS is in the works.
Kevin · November 20th, 2011

New Lexus GS Coupe Rumors

According to AutoGuide, Lexus is planning to replace the dearly departed SC 430 with a new GS coupe.
Kevin · November 14th, 2011

Lexus GS-F Engine Rumors

The Lexus GS-F rumors are back out in full force, and judging from the conflicting reports from Inside Line & Motor Trend, it’s less a question of if Lexus will be making it, but rather what will be powering the high-performance sedan.
Kevin · September 6th, 2011

Lexus LS & RX Next in Line for F-Sport Model?

Motoring.com.au recently discussed the future of F-Sport with Lexus Australia’s corporate manager Peter Evans, and came away with an idea of which models will be next to receive the performance treatment.
Kevin · August 25th, 2011

Rumor: Lexus Working on LFA II

According to Japanese magazine Best Car (by way of leblogauto), Lexus is now working on a new LFA special edition meant to be even more performance-oriented than the Nürburgring Edition package.
Kevin · June 1st, 2011

Lexus GS-F in 2012?

Motor Trend is reporting that a Lexus GS-F version of the next-generation GS will be introduced some time in 2012, and will be using 5.0L V8 engine currently found in the IS-F.
Kevin · May 12th, 2011

Lexus Future Plans to Include CT 300h & Smaller SUV?

Lexus Australia’s Chief Executive, Tony Cramb, has let loose with plenty of inside insight of what’s coming next for Lexus — starting with a possible CT engine variant: Lexus is already talking of a higher-performance version of its hybrid-only CT200h, which went on sale this week. Likely to be called the CT300h, the petrol-electric hatch …

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Kevin · April 29th, 2011

2013 Lexus LS Photochop by Mag-X

Using elements of our sneak peek at next-generation GS LF-Gh Concept, Japanese magazine Mag-X has put together this rendering of the 2013 Lexus LS (click for a larger image): Not much to look at for the most part, but this rendering does a good job at turning the LF-Gh’s massive pinched grille into something that …

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Kevin · April 11th, 2011

Next-Gen Lexus GS to Debut at New York Auto Show?

Autoblog is reporting that the next-generation Lexus GS will be coming to the New York Auto Show: Although it’s unclear whether the GS we’ll see in NYC is a concept or a production model, we do know that it will be underpinned by an all-new platform that will also be used on the next-generation IS, …

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Kevin · March 10th, 2011

2012 Lexus GS-F?

Road & Track sure are rumor-happy this week — first there was their report that the next-generation Lexus IS will be built in 2013 on a modified FT-86 platform, and now today they’re back with news of the 2012 GS-F: Our sources tell us that [the GS-F] will come with a 5.0-liter V-8 that will …

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Kevin · December 1st, 2010

2014 Lexus IS?

Road & Track is reporting that the next-generation Lexus IS will debut in 2013 as a 2014 model: The reason, according to our sources, is that work has started on a new 4-door sedan based on the FT-86 platform. …this car will be built atop a stretched version of the FT-86 chassis. Toyota boss Akio …

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Kevin · November 29th, 2010

Five New or Updated Lexus Hybrids by 2012?

Earlier this year, it was announced that Toyota would be releasing 6 new hybrids by 2012 (four from Toyota and two from Lexus), and now Automotive News is reporting that a total of 11 new or redesigned models will be available in that same timeframe, along with a new focus on turbochargers: Toyota Motor Corp. …

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Kevin · November 23rd, 2010

Lexus LC 600h to Replace SC?

According to Motor Trend, Lexus is planning to replace the dearly-departed SC 430 with a brand new coupe based on the next-generation LS. Called the LC 600h, this flagship coupe would be AWD and powered by an updated version of the same 5.0L V8 Lexus Hybrid Drive found in the current LS 600hL, and is …

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Kevin · October 11th, 2010

Lexus CT Body Styles & Engine Options

Autocar is reporting that the Lexus CT 200h will not offered in a coupe or estate/wagon version: The new hybrid, being shown as a production car for the first time, will not be sold in sufficient numbers to justify a coupé or estate version, according to Toyota Europe boss Didier Leroy. However, the article does …

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Kevin · October 6th, 2010

Lexus IS Coupe for 2012?

Speaking of the next-generation Lexus IS, Autoblog ran a rumor last week that suggests a IS coupe is in the works: …Lexus could finally add an IS coupe to its lineup. Lexus recognizes that it hasn’t had a credible player in that market for far too long, and with the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe around …

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Kevin · October 6th, 2010

Future Lexus Line-up?

Automotive News has taken a shot at predicting the next couple years of Lexus models, let’s summarize: GS: The next-generation GS will arrive in the spring of next year on a new shared platform and a longer wheelbase, while retaining the V6/V8/Hybrid powertrains. A GS-F has been prototype, but is not expected to make it …

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Kevin · September 27th, 2010

Two New Lexus Hybrids by 2012

There were two separate stories today regarding Lexus’ future hybrid plans that just so happen to tie together quite nicely. First off, the New York Times reports that Toyota will release 6 new hybrids by 2012: [Toyota] did not provide details about the coming hybrids, though it provided a chart indicating that four of the …

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Kevin · September 14th, 2010

Lexus LFA Plug-in Hybrid Mule Spotted in Death Valley

The strange looking Lexus LFA prototype that was spotted earlier this year has made another appearance, this time in California’s Death Valley for some hot weather testing: The velcro patches on both front fenders could mean that this vehicle is a plug-in hybrid, as this is usually the location of the battery charger plug. Naturally, …

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Kevin · September 9th, 2010

Next-Gen Lotus Esprit to use Lexus LFA Engine?

Edmunds’ Inside Line is reporting that the next generation Lotus Esprit may be powered by the same V10 engine used in the Lexus LFA: The next-generation Lotus Esprit supercar, details of which will be announced at the2010 Paris Auto Show next month, could be powered by the 552-horsepower Lexus LFA V10, says a source close …

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Kevin · August 30th, 2010

What’s Next for Lexus Design

There’s a big interview with Lexus’ head of global design, Simon Humphries, at Lexus Magazine that brings some major insight into the direction of the brand — I definitely recommend reading the full thing, but I want to focus on three quotes: LEXUS: First of all, now that we know that the 2011 IS will …

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Kevin · August 11th, 2010

Lexus LFA to Enter FIA GT1 Series?

According to Motor Trend, Lexus will be taking the LFA and the experience they gained at the Nürburgring into the FIA GT1 Championship: In a series that is widely considered to be the pinnacle of sports car racing, Toyota will come up against the likes of Aston Martin, Corvette, Ford, Lamborghini, Nissan and Maserati. LFA …

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Kevin · August 10th, 2010

Lexus RX 240? Lexus LS 450h?

The Bangkok Post has some engine variation rumors regarding the RX & LS: Later this year, Japan’s top nameplate is set to offer a third engine variant of its RX sport-utility vehicle in the guise of RX270 with 2WD. For the first time, the new entry-level RX would be getting a four-cylinder petrol engine currently …

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Kevin · July 26th, 2010

Lexus Electric Supercar?

According to Motor Trend, Toyota President Akio Toyoda has signed off on the development of a Lexus electric supercar: The car is expected to produce more than 500 horsepower and would sprint from 0 to 60 mph in around 4 seconds. The car is expected to produce more than 500 horsepower and would sprint from …

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Kevin · July 15th, 2010

Next-Gen Lexus IS to be offered as a Wagon?

Autocar is reporting that the next-generation Lexus IS will be offered as a wagon—and will be hybrid-only: …while the original model did offer an estate variant, called SportCross, the current car – introduced in 2005 – has never been available in a wagon. Lexus insiders now admit that this policy has hurt sales of the …

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Kevin · March 12th, 2010

More Lexus SC 600h Rumors

Included as part of Motor Trend‘s Lexus GS-F rumor coverage was this Holiday Auto Magazine rendering of a possible look for the next generation SC: This sketch manages borrows all the right elements from the existing lineup and puts together with some real potential, and the windshield-to-IS-F-air-vents is just brilliant, but I can’t imagine for …

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Kevin · March 5th, 2010

Lexus GS-F in 2013?

Autocar is reporting that the Lexus GS-F is on deck for 2013 and will be powered by the LFA’s V10: Lexus engineers are working on reducing the engine’s capacity by around 200cc to 4.6 litres and power to 450bhp. The idea is to improve low-range torque, although even with the reduced power output the GS-F …

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Kevin · February 24th, 2010

No Lexus CT 200h for USA?

Edmund’s Inside Line is reporting that the new Lexus CT 200h may not be coming to the USA: The curious got a first glance at the Lexus CT 200h on Friday via a teaser shot of the car’s cat’s-eye taillight, ahead of the full hybrid compact’s debut at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show in March. …

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Kevin · February 15th, 2010

Japanese Launch of Lexus CT 200h in May?

Japanese newspaper Chunichi Shimbun is reporting that the new Lexus CT200h will be on sale in Japan starting in May, adding credibility to rumors of a LF-Ch production model debuting at the Geneva Auto Show in March. The newspaper also claims the new hybrid hatchback will be powered by same hybrid engine as the third-gen …

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Kevin · January 22nd, 2010

More Lexus GS-F Rumors

Pistonheads has published some very interesting quotes from Lexus representatives at the Detroit Auto Show about possible applications of the LFA’s V10 engine: “It’s not a straightforward job, because although the V10 is very compact its dry sump design means you have to find space under the bonnet for the oil tank,” said one insider. …

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Kevin · January 21st, 2010

Rumor: Lexus GS F to have LFA V10 Engine

Japanese magazine Best Car is reporting that Lexus is working on a GS F that would pair the current sedan with the LFA’s 4.8L V10 engine. It seems unlikely to be true, especially the idea that Lexus would be working on a variant of the oldest sedan in the lineup, and is probably wishful thinking …

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Kevin · December 30th, 2009

2011 Lexus GS Rumors

Motor Trend has some new rumors on the next-generation Lexus GS expected to debut in 2011, including some questionable information on engine specifications that make me doubt their source: Gone is the current 4.6-liter V-8, replaced by a 2.5-liter V-6—most likely a version of the engine presently found in the IS. The present 3.5-liter V-6 …

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Kevin · December 10th, 2009

Lexus Considering Mini Competitor?

With the LF-Ch likely to be reach production as Lexus’ entry into the C-Premium market, Autocar decided to see where the brand stood on the B-Premium “Supermini” sector: “This segment will grow,” [A Lexus marketing specialist] said, “as more premium marques begin to build cars in this size. We already have the Mini and the …

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Kevin · September 14th, 2009