Lexus February 2011 Sales Report

USA Lexus reported total sales of 13,814 units, which essentially matches sales from last February — here are the model-by-model stats: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2011 2010 % CHG* 2011 2010 % CHG* ES 2,598 2,349 10.6 4,813 5,272 -8.7 HS 183 712 -74.3 469 1,959 -76.1 LS 706 799 -11.6 1,440 1,891 -23.8 …

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Kevin · March 1st, 2011

Lexus CT 200h Commercials

Let’s start Lexus CT 200h launch week with brand new commercials from Lexus USA: There’s still one commercial to be released, but these commercials are a great start — really looking forward to seeing how the CT 200h does in the USA. Update: These videos have been taken down temporarily by Lexus. Update 2: The …

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Kevin · February 28th, 2011

Lexus LS 430 Commercial: Role Reversal

Watching that Lexus LS 430 promotional video today brought to mind this pretty funny commercial: Nothing beats doing donuts on a golf course in an LS 430 and then leaving it to your chauffeur to clean up the mess.
Kevin · February 28th, 2011

Lexus IS 350C F-Sport Special Edition

Lexus USA has announced that a special edition IS 350C F Sport will be arriving in dealerships this month. Limited to just 175 units, this F-Sport equipped convertible will be available in either Obsidian or Starfire Pearl, and includes these modifications above and beyond the usual IS-C: 19-inch forged alloy wheels with dark graphite finish …

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Kevin · February 21st, 2011

#017 Pearl Blue Lexus LFA Arrives in USA

The Pearl Blue #017 Lexus LFA has arrived in the USA, and The Octane Report was there to film its unloading: Really impressed with the interior color scheme for the most part, though I’m not quite sure about the blue leather seats: I wonder which State this LFA is destined for? [Source: The Octane Report] …

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Kevin · February 17th, 2011

Paris Hilton Receives Lexus LFA for 30th Birthday

The Daily Mail is reporting that Paris Hilton has been given a yellow Lexus LFA by boyfriend Cy Waits for her 30th birthday: Can’t say I’m totally surprised, this rumor has been floating around for quite some time — though it was expected that Paris would have Passionate Pink as her exterior color. This may …

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Kevin · February 16th, 2011

Lexus LFA Driver Development Program

Lexus announced today that it will be offering a full-day Lexus LFA driver development program at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, from March 8 to 15. This unique opportunity is for current LFA owners, potential LFA owners or any sports car enthusiast that wants a full day of high-performance driving behind the wheel of the …

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Kevin · February 11th, 2011

Flickr Find: Yellow Lexus LFA Glowing Bright

David Nickerson II at Nue Vue Photography has taken some absolutely breathtaking photographs of the yellow Lexus LFA prototype — here’s a sampling from his Flickr stream: Beautifully done — be sure to check out Dave’s entire LFA photoset and the rest of his photos over at Flickr.
Kevin · February 4th, 2011

Lexus & Five Axis Team Up for Project CT Show Car

Just in time for the Chicago Auto Show, Lexus has once again teamed up with Five Axis to produce a concept car — this time based on the CT 200h. Here’s a teaser sketch released today (which I’ve made to fit wallpaper size): Select Resolution: 1920×1080 | 1680×1050 | 1440×900 | 1280×1024 | 1280×800 | …

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Kevin · February 1st, 2011

Lexus January 2011 Sales Report

USA Lexus USA has reported their January 2011 sales — here they are, broken down by model: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2010 2009 % CHG* 2010 2009 % CHG* ES 2,215 2,923 -24.2 2,215 2,923 -24.2 HS 286 1,247 -77.1 286 1,247 -77.1 LS 734 1,092 -32.8 734 1,092 -32.8 SC 7 24 -70.8 …

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Kevin · February 1st, 2011

Lexus LFAs Arriving at USA Dealerships

After seeing the first batch of production Lexus LFAs arriving in California a couple weeks back, it was only a matter of time until they started arriving at their new owner’s local dealership — here’s a video of the #006 LFA being unloaded at Eskridge Lexus in Oklahoma City: Also seen on Youtube is the …

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Kevin · January 31st, 2011

1992 Lexus LS 400 Commercial: Steel Plate Drum

Let’s switch gears from all-LFA-all-the-time and take a look at this Lexus LS 400 commercial from 1992: I had never seen this commercial before — and it’s a perfect illustration of how The Hard Way is something Lexus has always subscribed to.
Kevin · January 27th, 2011

More North American Lexus LFAs

Last week, we had a look at the first three Lexus LFAs to arrive in North America, and now we can see the rest of the first shipment delivered to California — six LFAs in all — courtesy of Club Lexus editor flipside909. The remaining LFAs are all in colors we’ve seen before: #004 Whitest …

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Kevin · January 26th, 2011

Lexus Recalls 06-07 GS 350 & 06-09 IS 250/350 Over Fuel Pressure Sensor

Lexus has announced a voluntary safety recall on the select 2006-2007 GS 300/350, 2006-2009 IS 250, & 2006-2008 IS 350 models due to the possibility of a loose fuel pressure sensor — from the Lexus USA press release: Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced that it will conduct a voluntary Safety Recall involving …

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Kevin · January 26th, 2011

Pure Lexus LFA Sound

Here’s something to get your week started off on the right foot — the LFA launch video with a V10-only soundtrack: Hard to believe my excitement now that the LFAs are being delivered to their new owners — can’t wait for all the LFA spottings around the world as the supercar hits the public roads.
Kevin · January 24th, 2011

First Production Lexus LFAs Arrive in North America

The first production Lexus LFAs have arrived in North America, and Club Lexus editor Flipside909 was there to see them “unboxed” from their cargo containers — tuns out it’s quite the production: Each LFA ships in its own clean container with a pink painted metal pallet designed specifically to secure the car during transport. Each …

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Kevin · January 21st, 2011

Lexus LS 460 Commercial: Chain “The Hard Way”

As part of their The Hard Way marketing campaign, Lexus has released a commercial that reinforces the strength of the LS 460 chassis: Keep in mind, this actually happened — here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the commercial’s creation: I can’t believe Scott Pruett parks a LFA underneath five cars suspended by a crane. Crazy. Update: …

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Kevin · January 14th, 2011

Lexus CT Dark Ride Wins FWA People’s Choice Award

After a month-long voting process, the CT 200h Dark Ride interactive movie has won the FWA’s coveted 2010 People’s Choice Award — a huge accomplishment considering the competition. Congratulations to Lexus and the media companies involved in the project, who I’m sure are very thankful to everyone that took the time to vote! [Source: FWA]
Kevin · January 14th, 2011

Lexus LFA Donuts with Scott Pruett

Here’s a quirky Lexus LFA feature from Autoweek Magazine, featuring Scott Pruett really hooning it up behind the wheel: Amazing to think of all the miles Scott has put on these LFA prototypes — after all that tough work, it’s good to see him having a little fun on the job. (Thanks RollaXRS!)
Kevin · January 11th, 2011

Lexus @ 2011 Detroit Auto Show

The press days at the Detroit Auto Show are in full swing, and Lexus has gone all out with their exhibit, which includes a massive 5,000-ft LED display — here’s the Fox Marketing LS 600hL illuminated by the light: Of course, the centerpiece of the Lexus display is the orange LFA, and Auto Evolution has …

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Kevin · January 10th, 2011

More Orange Lexus LFA Photos

Here we have some more photos of the orange Lexus LFA first seen earlier this week: From the looks of things, the LFA is being loaded for its trip to the Detroit Auto Show next week, where it’s scheduled to be the centerpiece of the Lexus display — meaning we can expect plenty more photos …

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Kevin · January 5th, 2011

Lexus December 2010 Sales Report (Plus Year-End Totals)

USA December 2010 is in the books, meaning it’s time for both the month-end and year-end sales totals for Lexus: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2010 2009 % CHG* 2010 2009 % CHG* ES 5,469 6,531 -13.2 48,652 48,485 1.0 HS 1,121 1,980 -41.3 10,663 6,699 60.2 LS 1,516 2,085 -24.6 12,275 11,334 9.0 SC …

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Kevin · January 4th, 2011

Orange Lexus LFA for Detroit Auto Show

By way of the Lexus Magazine Twitter account, here’s a sneak peek at an orange Lexus LFA making its way to the Detroit Auto Show next week: No further details just yet, but what a wild color — just perfect for the middle of winter in Detroit. [Source: Twitpic]
Kevin · January 4th, 2011

North America’s First Lexus LS 600hL on eBay

A piece of hybrid history has shown up on eBay — the first Lexus LS 600hL sold in North America has been put up for auction on eBay. As #1 of the 100 individually-numbered Launch Edition packages offered to Neiman Marcus InCircle members in 2007, this LS 600hL comes with an exclusive Truffle Mica exterior …

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Kevin · December 20th, 2010

Lexus ES 300h Hybrid Trademark Registered

Once again, the North American Trademark offices have given us a glimpse into the future, as both Lexus USA & Lexus Canada have filed for the ES 300h trademark (Canadian Trade-Mark 1507011 & U.S. Trademark No. 85193249, both registered on December 8, 2010.) Although it’s hardly a full confirmation, this certainly points to a hybrid …

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Kevin · December 17th, 2010

Lexus Dark Ride Up for Web Award

Good news for Lexus today — the Lexus CT 200h Dark Ride interactive film has been nominated as a finalist for the 2010 FWA People’s Choice Award. Earlier this year, the choose-your-own-adventure-style video was one of our first glimpses at the CT, you can try it out for yourself over at the Dark Side of …

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Kevin · December 16th, 2010

Lexus CT 200h Configurator (Plus Full Accessory List)

Lexus has launched an online CT 200h configurator, making it possible to start putting together your ideal package for the upcoming hybrid hatchback, which is scheduled to be released March 1st, 2011. As mentioned yesterday, the CT 200h starts at $29,120 ($29,995 with delivery charges), but through adding options like the $3,545 Navigation/Premium Audio package …

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Kevin · December 15th, 2010

Lexus USA CT 200h Pricing!

The U.S. pricing for the Lexus CT 200h has been announced by way of Nevada’s Lexus of Reno dealership, who have posted the full details to their blog one day before the official announcement. To start with, the MSRP of the Entry-Level CT will be $29,120 USD ($29,995 after delivery charges), and includes standard equipment …

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Kevin · December 14th, 2010

Calty Designers Talk about Lexus LF-Ch

Hard to believe I never featured this before, but here’s an fascinating six-minute presentation by two people responsible for designing the Lexus LF-Ch concept: Tom Matsumoto, the design team leader, and Edward Lee, the creative designer: This presentation took place during a Pecha Kucha Night, a unique one-evening conference that only allows presenters 20 slides …

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Kevin · December 13th, 2010

Lexus LS 460 x Job Design Body Kit x VIP Modular Wheels

Stance Nation has posted photos of a super-fresh Lexus LS 460 decked out in a Job Design body kit and some 22″ VIP Modular wheels (click for larger images): The photos were taken by Jerry Troung from The Perfect Exposure blog, who did an excellent job — absolutely wild. [Source: Stance Nation]
Kevin · December 9th, 2010

Lexus Dealership Tips

Lexus Magazine has some tips on getting the most out of your local dealership — here’s just a couple of the suggestions: Tip 3: Many dealers make sales calls. Here’s a surprise. The previous tip about not having to come into the dealership also applies to sales. When looking for your next Lexus, you can …

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Kevin · December 8th, 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

Lexus November 2010 Sales Report

USA November has flown by, here are the model-by-model sales numbers for Lexus USA: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2010 2009 % CHG* 2010 2009 % CHG* ES 4,070 4,110 -5.1 43,183 41,954 3.3 HS 788 1,407 -46.3 9,542 4,719 102.9 LS 1,270 1,057 15.1 10,759 9,249 16.7 SC 17 34 -52.1 315 670 -52.8 …

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Kevin · December 1st, 2010

Lexus December to Remember Commercials

It’s likely that US readers are more than a little familiar with the latest round of Lexus December to Remember commercials, but I’ve just seen them for the first time: The house in the last commercial is crazy, but not half as crazy as receiving a car for Christmas — no way I’d be able …

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Kevin · November 30th, 2010

More Details on Lexus Customer Dinner Parties

In order to gain insight into consumer perception of the brand, Lexus USA General Manager Mark Templin has been arranging dinner parties for both current and previous buyers in their own homes — Automotive News has the details: Lexus Division boss Mark Templin figures the best way to get up close and personal with his …

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Kevin · November 29th, 2010

Repainting the Lexus LFA

The Pearl Grey Lexus LFA revealed at SEMA earlier this month has led an eventful life — going from its Matte Black days at the 2009 LFA launch in Miami to its commercial appearance in Starfire Pearl — and now we can see just how the supercar transforms from shade to shade, courtesy of Lexus …

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Kevin · November 23rd, 2010

Joe Bacal’s Lexus LX 570 Tire Test

While on the topic of Joe Bacal’s Lexus LX 570, here’s a look at the super-modified SUV testing out a new set of tires: What a monster.
Kevin · November 22nd, 2010

Joe Bacal’s Lexus LX 570 Wins Baja 1000 Race

JTGrey Racing’s Lexus LX 570 has won the Stock Full class of SCORE Baja 1000 after a hard-fought race that saw plenty of adversity for Joe Bacal & his team: “I felt great and we were making excellent time until a wheel came loose around mile 180,” said Bacal. “The loose wheel caused some damage …

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Kevin · November 22nd, 2010

Lexus CT 200h Media Presentation

AutoNetwork has posted the full video of a recent Lexus presentation on the CT 200h, and it has plenty of information on how the new hybrid hatchback will be sold in the US. Be forewarned, this is the full hour long presentation, but Brian Bolain & Charles Hubbard keep it interesting: CT 200h Overview CT …

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Kevin · November 18th, 2010

Forza 3 Lexus LFA Giveaway

Not to be outdone by the recent Gran Turismo screenshots of the Lexus LFA, here are some exceptional “photos” from the Forza 3 version of the supercar from Flickr user WeezyMac: Pure fantastic, the realism is just unbelievable — be sure to check out the other screenshots in WeezyMac Flickrstream. *** Speaking of the Stig’s …

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Kevin · November 17th, 2010

Interview with Lexus IS Chief Engineer Junichi Furuyama

Lexus Magazine has an interview with IS Chief Engineer Junichi Furuyama and his thoughts on the new 2011 update– here are some select quotes: “There is more emphasis on the car’s individuality than before,” says Furuyama. “Take the headlights. The daytime running lights, where fitted, use L-shaped LEDs that are constantly illuminated when you’re driving …

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Kevin · November 16th, 2010

Lexus Project GS on Air Runners

The Lexus Project GS by 5Axis also made an appearance at SEMA earlier this month, and it was sporting a new Air Runner suspension — here it is in action: Seeing this car at the Air Runners booth was one of my highlights of Las Vegas — in fact, during my visit to Lexus of …

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Kevin · November 15th, 2010

Online Chat with Lexus USA’s Mark Templin (Live)

With the Facebook & Twitter online chat with Lexus USA General Manager Mark Templin scheduled to begin in just under a hour from now, I thought it would be a good idea to set up a place to follow along. I will be updating this post with direct quotes from the Q&A session, along with …

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Kevin · November 12th, 2010

Dinner with Lexus USA General Manager Mark Templin

Speaking of meals with Lexus General Manager Mark Templin, he recently made a visit to a customer’s home to discuss Lexus & its competitors, along with sharing a meal — here’s a short clip of the visit: Between this and tomorrow’s online chat, we’re certainly seeing an evolution in the conversation between Lexus & its …

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Kevin · November 11th, 2010

Virtual Lunch with Lexus USA General Manager Mark Templin

This Friday, Lexus USA Vice President and General Manager, Mark Templin, will be taking part in a special online chat on Facebook & Twitter, and will be available to answer any questions you may have about Lexus, past, present or future. Even better, Lexus has asked me to provide a question to start off the …

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Kevin · November 10th, 2010

Adam Carolla Drives the Lexus LFA

Radio personality & one-time Top Gear USA presenter Adam Carolla had a chance to talk with Lexus’ Paul Rohovsky about the LFA — here’s the full 20 minute video of their discussion: It’s during these types of walkarounds when you really get a feel for the level of detail and attention put into the LFA …

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Kevin · November 10th, 2010

Two Lexus Models in US Federal Fuel Economy Top Ten

Here’s something — The US Environmental Protection Agency has released its Top 10 Fuel Economy Leaders for 2011, and two Lexus models made the cut. The HS 250h placed fifth with a 35 mpg average, and the RX 450h FWD ranked ninth at 30 mpg, which is impressive given the SUV’s size and power. The …

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Kevin · November 10th, 2010

Lexus IS Precision Tour in New York

If you’re anywhere near Monticello Motor Club in New York, I have some excellent news — this Saturday, Lexus USA is kicking off the IS Precision Tour, which means track-time with both the 2011 IS 350 & IS F! There will be six two-hour sessions throughout the day, and one lucky participant from each group …

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Kevin · November 8th, 2010

Lexus CT 200h Darkcasting Episode 1

The first episode of the Lexus CT 200h Darkcasting talkshow hosted by Whitney Cummings is up, and it’s a tour around New York with DJ Harley Viera-Newton, author Baratunde Thurston, and chef Carlo Mirarchi: Besides repeated usage of the backup camera, the CT 200h plays a supporting role in the videos, and according to an …

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Kevin · November 8th, 2010

Lexus October 2010 Sales Report

USA A little late to the party, but here are the Lexus USA sales figures for October 2010: MONTH Year to Date (*DSR) 2010 2009 % CHG* 2010 2009 % CHG* ES 5,153 4,413 21.1 39,113 37,844 4.2 HS 792 1,527 -46.2 8,754 3,312 166.4 LS 1,202 804 55.0 9,489 8,192 16.7 SC 15 41 …

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Kevin · November 4th, 2010

More Lexus SEMA Photos

After two intense days at SEMA and a poorly thought-out red-eye flight, I’m now back at home safe & sound — there’s been plenty of Lexus news released over the last few days that I’ll be working through, but first I want to point you towards some photos I took at SEMA for Lexus Magazine …

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Kevin · November 4th, 2010

SEMA: Day 1 Photos

Perhaps I should have expected it, but SEMA has turned out to be a whirlwind of activity, with little time to do much but take photos and move along to the next exhibit. First off, the LFA was unveiled at the CEC booth yesterday with two different wheel styles: The passenger-side ten-spoke alloys were a …

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Kevin · November 3rd, 2010

Lexus SEMA Video Preview

SEMA starts in an hour, but before the doors open, here’s a great HD video preview of the Lexus SEMA cars: I’ll be at the show today with a plan to update throughout the day and take plenty of photos, so if you have any picture requests, please let me know!
Kevin · November 2nd, 2010

CEC Wheels Dresses Up the Lexus LFA for SEMA

In preparation for its feature spot at the CEC Wheels SEMA display, the Pearl Grey Lexus LFA will be getting some new shoes — here’s a sneak peek: Hard to judge without seeing the full vehicle, but right now, it’s tough to imagine any else but the original wheels on the LFA. (Thanks Allison!) Update: …

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Kevin · October 31st, 2010

Lexus SEMA 2010 Show Cars in Detail

Here’s a full breakdown of the models along with their descriptions, all courtesy of Lexus: CT200h F SPORT CONCEPT Description How do you take a fun to drive sporty five-door premium compact hybrid that has a combined EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 42 mpg to the next level? Build a CT200h F Sport Concept. Although …

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Kevin · October 29th, 2010

2010 SEMA Lexus Show Car Lineup

Lexus have announced their SEMA show car lineup, and it’s a hybrid-exclusive affair — here’s what to expect next week: CT 200h F Sport Concept HS 250h by VIP Auto Salon GS 450h by 0-60 Magazine RX 450h by Paul Tolson of EST LS 600hL by Fox Marketing LS 600hL by VIP Auto Salon Joining …

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Kevin · October 29th, 2010

Lexus CT 200h Darkcasting Talk Show

The next chapter of the Lexus CT 200h’s marketing push is Darkcasting, a video talkshow that takes place inside the new hybrid hatchback — Lexus Magazine explains: Darkcasting, a new talk show that’s filmed, well, after the sun goes down, and that will soon run on the Lexus Darker Side of Green site. Lexus’ Darkcasting …

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Kevin · October 28th, 2010

Lexus LX 570 with 22″ F-Sport Wheels

Speaking of the Lexus LX 570, a photo on the Lexus USA website shows the SUV in optional 22″ F-Sport forged aluminum polished wheels: Here’s another look: I’m pretty impressed with the design and the size — hard as it is to believe, the standard 20″ wheels look small, and this extra two inches is …

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Kevin · October 26th, 2010

Lexus Performs Well in Consumer Reports 2010 Auto Survey

Consumer Reports has released the findings of its 2010 Annual Auto Survey, where Lexus performed very well in light of recent safety recalls. First off, the Lexus LX 570 was named the most reliable luxury SUV overall, and only the AWD GS & IS 250C scored below average. All other Lexus models were named average …

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Kevin · October 26th, 2010

Customized Lexus IS Billboards

The New York Times reports about a new IS billboard campaign from Lexus USA customized by highway: Toyota’s Lexus division recently mind-melded this contradiction in an outdoor advertising campaign that declares in supersize lettering that the 2011 Lexus IS is “overqualified for the B.Q.E.,” as the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is known locally. That was just in …

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Kevin · October 25th, 2010

Lexus LFA Footage from Forza Motorsports 3

Tomorrow, the Lexus LFA will be available in the Forza Motorsport 3 Ultimate Collection, and we’re now starting to see footage from the game, including this pretty flawless run around Circuit de la Sarthe: Check out the detail in these screenshots: Even the interior is fully detailed (minus the key): As mentioned earlier this month, …

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Kevin · October 25th, 2010

Car & Driver Video: Lexus LFA & Ferrari 599 HGTE

Car & Driver has posted a video featuring the Lexus LFA & a Ferrari 599 HGTE driving through Wales: The video’s all well and good, but what’s with this quote?: [The LFA] has got a fantastic chassis, great steering that’s Ferrari-like, chassis is really well balanced, tons of grip, tons of downforce, fantastic carbon-ceramic brakes, …

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Kevin · October 21st, 2010

SEMA Preview: Lexus LS 600hL by Fox Marketing

With just a couple weeks before SEMA, Fox Marketing has unveiled their modified LS 600hL that will be shown as part of the Lexus display: Like what was done to the front grille: Here’s probably the best look at the real color: I like the blacked/greened-out look well enough, especially in the way it tones …

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Kevin · October 18th, 2010

Lexus LFA vs. Audi R8 on Battle of the Supercars

Last night, the Lexus LFA faced off against the Audi R8 on SpeedTV’s Battle of the Supercars: With Paul Tracy driving the R8 and Tanner Foust with the LFA, the supercars are put through a series of four tests — our own 05RollaXRS watched the show live and reports the numbers here: Standing mile: LFA: …

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Kevin · October 15th, 2010

Automobile Magazine Reviews the Lexus CT 200h

Jason Cammisa’s write-up of the Lexus CT 200h for Automobile Magazine may be my favorite review of the car yet — reasoned and impartial, it also includes a great description of the driving experience: So, why would you ever choose the CT over a Prius? For every other reason, starting with the way it drives. …

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Kevin · October 14th, 2010