Lexus

The Lexus LFA supercar – the long awaited production version arrives

By Darren Quick

22:29 October 25, 2009 PDT

It’s been a long time coming. The Lexus LFA that first appeared as a concept car at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show is finally production ready. Lexus made the announcement at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show where a prototype of the production car was on display along with a full-scale see through model in the company's “art gallery” - and the stunning 202mph V10 supercar is indeed worthy of a place in an art gallery, although keen collectors will still have to endure a bit more of a wait since the car isn’t expected to reach garages until early 2011, with only 500 units being produced. Read More

Lexus HB Concept 2WD pedal-assist, carbon-fiber racing bike

By Gizmag Team

09:48 October 22, 2009 PDT

Designed totally inside Lexus by Lexus designers, this sleek electric pedal assist bicycle is among the many hidden gems to be unearthed at the 41st Tokyo motor show. Sporting carbon fiber everything – including the battery cover – the Lexus HB Concept has a 2WD system that uses a smaller electric motor on the front wheel and a larger pedal assist motor at the crank. Head on through to the video to learn more. Read More

Lexus LF-Ch full hybrid concept debuts at IAA Frankfurt

By Jeff Salton

00:45 September 16, 2009 PDT

Back in August we told you that Toyota would be releasing its Lexus hybrid concept car at IAA Frankfurt, and here it is – in the flesh. Our team of journalists on the ground captured these images of the LF-Ch (Compact hybrid) as soon as the wraps came off at its world debut. Set to rival the Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series, the vehicle is the first Lexus full hybrid in the European premium compact segment – one that’s sure to be bursting with quality competition. If you thought hybrids and luxury didn’t mix, think again. And if you thought Lexus was a brand just for the over-50s, look closer. Read More

Lexus Premium Compact Concept at Frankfurt

By Gizmag Team

18:16 August 19, 2009 PDT

Lexus, Toyota's premium auto brand, is to show a concept car at Frankfurt next month which will demonstrate “a mix of technical innovation and ground-breaking design that promises to raise the bar in the premium compact segment”. Given that's effectively what Toyota already did with the IQ - which is now in production - we're quite looking forward to seeing what the world's market leader delivers. Read More

Opulence meets economy: Lexus debuts its first fuel-sipping dedicated luxury hybrid

By Loz Blain

20:18 January 12, 2009 PST

January 13, 2009 In keeping with the strong theme of efficiency over gas-guzzling muscle at this year's Detroit NAIAS auto show, Lexus has introduced a new hybrid sedan to its lineup, slated to go on sale in Q3 2009. 30% more fuel-efficient than anything else in the Lexus range, the 187-horsepower, 4-cylinder HS 250h is an acknowledgement by the biggest-selling luxury car brand in the USA that even the cashed-up luxury market wants to control its use of fossil fuels. While the HS 250h is miserly on fuel (Lexus claim it will drink less per mile than the tiny Smart Fortwo) it's still a big spender on the interior, with some serious driver assist features, heads-up display, radar-governed cruise control, parking cameras and a voice-controlled nav/premium audio system. Read More

New RX 450h hybrid from Lexus

By Darren Quick

20:56 December 3, 2008 PST

Lexus debuted the replacement for both the current RX 400h hybrid and the RX 350 petrol engine models at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show. The new RX 450h will replace both models in the UK to produce an all-hybrid RX range, while in North America a non-hybrid RX 350 will also be offered. Both the RX 350 and RX 450h are propelled by a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder petrol engine which provides 205kW (275hp) with the 450h’s augmented by an electric motor to provide a combined output of 220kW (295hp). Read More

Lexus LS 460 goes All-Wheel Drive

By Mike Hanlon

18:58 August 20, 2008 PDT

August 21, 2008 The importance of the growing Russian luxury marketplace will be highlighted later this week when Lexus (AKA Toyota) will publicly debut its new LS 460 All-Wheel Drive at the Moscow International Motor Show. The all-wheel drive system is a three differential configuration featuring a highly compact TORSEN® Limited Slip Differential (LSD) – shared with the LS 600h - which distributes drive torque between the front and rear axles with a 40:60 rear axle bias in torque distribution. Read More

Lexus transforms LF-A concept into a roadster

By Noel McKeegan

23:46 January 14, 2008 PST

January 15, 2008 In more news from the 2008 NAIAS, Lexus has taken the wraps off a roadster-version of its LF-A sports car concept. The open-top supercar uses a "front-mid" configuration of the high-revving, 500 hp V10 engine from company's LF-A coupe, first unveiled in Detroit back in 2005, and the body is also based on the Coupe's carbon-fiber and aluminum structure with the addition of a speed adaptive rear wing. Read More

Hybrid-electric Lexus SUV concept shows off new styling direction

By Loz Blain

16:39 October 11, 2007 PDT

October 12, 2007 The Lexus LF-Xh hybrid concept will be unveiled at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. Featuring a high-output electric motor supplementing a V6 petrol engine, it also drops some hints about the company’s new styling direction. Read More

Lexus active driver safety system prevents accidents caused by innattention

By Loz Blain

19:59 September 5, 2007 PDT

September 6, 2007 With the aim of reducing the many road accidents caused by simple inattention, Lexus has introduced an active and intelligent new driver safety system using six cameras that monitor your face as you drive. If there’s an obstacle in your path and your head’s turned the wrong way, this clever car will hit the anchors for you. The system also incorporates active headrests designed to minimize injury in the event of a rear-end collision. Read More

Toyota/Lexus dominate U.K. J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Awards

By Mike Hanlon

May 10, 2007 The Toyota Prius has earned many plaudits worldwide since its launch in 2004 but it’s unlikely to ever have a better 24 hours than those that have just passed. Yesterday, the hybrid family car won its fourth consecutive International Engine of the Year Award for the engine with the best fuel economy, and today it finished equal top of the 2007 J.D. Power and Associates customer satisfaction study. The independent study of thousands of UK motorists driving vehicles registered between September 2005 and August 2006 saw the Prius place equal first, alongside the Lexus IS, another Toyota group model. Given that the award is open to cars of any price, the latest accolade demonstrates the high esteem in which it is held by the most demanding of judges – owners. It was a good day for Toyota in general, as the company’s premium Lexus brand took out its seventh consecutive Gold Award for customer satisfaction, ranking top in three of the four key measures – vehicle quality/reliability, service satisfaction and vehicle appeal. Lexus has now claimed the coveted Gold Award every year since it became eligible for consideration. Read More

Lexus to release V8 hybrid limousine

By Mike Hanlon

April 13, 2006 Lexus unveiled the 2008 LS 600h L hybrid luxury sedan today at the 2006 New York International Automobile Show. Scheduled to arrive in Spring 2007, the all-wheel-drive LS 600h L is the first vehicle to feature a full hybrid V8 powertrain. The hybrid-drive system combines a new 5.0 litre V8 engine with large, high-output electric motors and a large-capacity battery pack. This combination will provide the LS 600h L with an unmatched balance of environmental efficiency and performance, furnishing the hybrid with a peak combined output rating of more than 430 horsepower. To distribute this immense power, a new full-time all-wheel-drive system is utilized for superior handling control. The LS 600h L also employs a newly developed dual-stage electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission. This combination results in impressive power and seamless acceleration. Read More

Lexus LS 460 Flagship: ultra luxury and an eight speed auto transmission

By Mike Hanlon

January 8, 2006 Statistics suggest that this year will see Toyota become the world’s top selling automobile manufacturer, so the launch of the flagship LS 460 model of the company’s ultra luxury Lexus brand took on more significance than in any of the LS’s previous 17 years. The most significant technological achievement with the new LS460 is the use of the World's first eight-speed automatic transmission and for the first time we will also see a long wheelbase variant. Read More

Lexus readies LF-A supercar for sale

By Mike Hanlon

October 29, 2005 It was only a matter of time before Toyota (aka Lexus) stepped into supercar territory, and the betting is that the Lexus LF-A will be the manufacturer’s first entry into the rarified 200+ mph marketplace. First shown earlier this year, the car was again on display in Tokyo last week where it was confirmed that the car will be powered by no less an engine than a V10, and follows on from Honda’s announcement that it will be powering its NSX replacement with a V10 too. Read More

Lexus Hybrid Luxury Sports Sedan announced

By Mike Hanlon

March 24, 2005 Lexus has unveiled another luxury hybrid vehicle. The 2007 Lexus GS 450h is the world's first hybrid luxury sedan and the first full hybrid vehicle with a front engine and rear wheel drive. With the world's first gas/electric hybrid-powered luxury SUV, the RX 400h, going on-sale next month, the announcment of the GS 450h indicates an acceleration of Toyota's hybrid program, with availability slated for just over 12 months from now - the second quarter of 2006. A completely new Lexus Hybrid powertrain was created to power the new 450h. The system combines a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a high-output, permanent magnet electric motor—all driving the rear wheels. Combined power output will be well in excess of 300 horsepower, with zero-to-60 acceleration in less than six seconds. Read More

Lexus Introduces RX 400h, the World's First Luxury Hybrid SUV

By Mike Hanlon

February 1, 2005 Lexus today announced the launch of the all-new 2006 RX 400h, the world's first gas/electric hybrid-powered luxury vehicle, which will go on sale in April 2005. Based on the best-selling RX 330, the RX 400h delivers greater performance, improved fuel efficiency and significantly reduced emissions while sacrificing … nothing. Read More

Lexus Unveils 500-Plus Horsepower, 200 MPH Sports Car Concept

By Mike Hanlon

Detroit January 10, 2005 Lexus unveiled the LF-A sports car concept at the 2005 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) today. The two-seat concept blends the performance of an exotic sports car with the luxury refinements of a Lexus. Designed to express a bold new direction in styling for the Lexus brand, the LF-A concept is a vision closely aligned with the company's Formula One commitment to achieving superiority among its rivals in speed, quickness, agility and reliability. Read More

Lexus HPX Concept Car combines sportscar and utility

By Mike Hanlon

Lexus' latest concept vehicle is making an appearance at the North American International Auto Show. Known as the HPX, or High Performance Crossover, the vehicle combines the versatility of a luxury utility vehicle and the performance of a sports sedan in a sleek and stylish package. Read More

Lexus introduces Bluetooth technology

By Mike Hanlon

Sunday October 26, 2003: Luxury car-maker Lexus has introduced Bluetooth technology on the latest Lexus LS430 flagship sedan and the marque's luxury four wheel drive LX470. The system shown at the 2003 Sydney Motor Show enables drivers to make and receive calls via a button on the steering wheel or through the dashboard-mounted satellite navigation screen... Read More

Tom Cruise's Toyata Lexus concept car from Minority Report

By Mike Hanlon

In the recent Tom Cruise film Minority Report, Tom drove a 2054-model Toyota Lexus. In creating the film, Stephen Spielberg, a Lexus driver himself, approached the company to provide him with its concept of what a car might look like in fifty years time... Read More