Lexus LF-LC concept

Lexus has confirmed that it’ll be unveiling the LF-LC 2+2 sport coupé at the North American International Auto Show, which takes place in Detroit in little over a week’s time.

A product of the firm’s California-based Calty design studio, the concept is meant to explore how future Lexus models could look. Although the start-point was supposedly a clean sheet of paper, there’s no doubt that the overall proportions (as well as some of the styling details) seem to have been heavily influenced by the existing LF-A.



And maybe that’s what the LF-LC concept is actually previewing: a smaller, more affordable LF-A which could be a spiritual successor to the long-defunct Toyota Supra?



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Lexus CT 200h F-Sport

Lexus has added an F-Sport variant to its CT 200h compact petrol / electric hybrid line-up. Based on the existing SE-L, the new arrival is intended to add a bit of visual interest and offer sharper dynamics.

2012 Lexus CT 200h F-Sport. Scroll down for more images.

External tweaks include 17” dark finish alloy wheels, a mesh front grille, a larger rear spoiler, side skirts and more aggressively styled bumpers.



On the inside, there’s black leather upholstery, heated front seats, electric height adjustment for the driver’s seat, an F-Sport flat-bottomed steering wheel, cruise control, aluminium pedals and scuff plates, electric folding door mirrors and a rear parking camera.



To improve the handling, the dampers have been upgraded to Kayaba items, and the Lexus lateral damping system also comes as standard. This is claimed to give greater ride comfort, as well as a more linear steering feel.



The powertrain is unchanged though, which means the CT 200h F-Sport doesn’t have the performance to match its looks. 0-62 mph (100 km/h) takes a fairly leisurely 10.3 seconds, while its top speed is 112 mph (180 km/h).



But the good news is that also means efficiency is unaffected. Combined cycle fuel consumption remains at an impressive 68.9 mpg (4.1 l/100km), while CO2 emissions are still just 94 g/km, which means zero road tax in the UK and a full discount off the London Congestion Charge.



Sales of the new Lexus CT 200h F-Sport are due to begin in January, and dealers are taking orders now. Its on the road price has been set at £27,850, which slots neatly between the £25,200 SE-L and the £30,635 SE-L Premier versions.

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2012 Lexus GS unveiled
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2012 Lexus GS unveiled

Lexus has revealed its new 2012 GS which, the company says, promises a better driving experience and a more spacious interior.



To help the handling, the tracks have been widened front and rear, and there’s an all-new multi-link rear suspension unit. The body is stiffer too, thanks to an increased number of spot welds, and much use has been made of aluminium for the chassis components to reduce unsprung weight.



It’s the interior that most potential buyers are going be interested in, though. The driver-focussed dashboard is reminiscent of the one in the BMW 5 Series, and it houses the controls for the novel S-Flow climate control system, which it’s claimed saves energy and directs the airflow to where occupants are actually sitting. An analogue clock incongruously takes centre stage amid all the technology.

On the outside, the car’s styling is neat and unobtrusive, but still rather anonymous. However, Lexus knows its market, and anything too radical would probably have just put off a lot of usual GS customers.



The most distinctive design feature is the pinched-in grille, which unfortunately at first glance looks like a truck has reversed into the GS. As a signature device it doesn’t work particularly well, but Lexus intends to use it on future models, too.



Just two versions - the GS 450h hybrid and GS 250 petrol - will be available in the UK when sales begin early next year. Critically for Europe, there’s no diesel variant on offer for now, and that will undoubtedly hamper sales.



Prices for the 2012 Lexus GS will be confirmed nearer to its launch date.



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Toyota is top car brand

2011 Fleet News Awards

Toyota is top car brand

Toyota has beaten BMW to become the number one car brand in the BrandZ™ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2011, as compiled by MillwardBrown.



That was achieved despite the extensive and high profile recalls for many of the company’s vehicles over the past year. However, the introduction of extended warranties, as well as independent experts finding that driver mistakes were responsible in the majority of incidents, clearly helped to minimise any damage. Toyota also topped the rankings for offering the best value, a measure of desirability versus price.

Toyota: Most valuable car brand 2011

Runner-up BMW was cited as being the most recommended automotive brand, while third-place Mercedes-Benz is the most trusted.



Eighth-place Ford was the only one of the ‘big three’ American manufacturers to make the top ten, which was due in part to it rejecting government bail-out money, unlike GM and Chrysler. Indeed, Ford made its highest profits for ten years, while launching attractive models that people actually want to buy and supporting them by innovative marketing approaches.



Heading the overall Top 100 listing was Apple, followed by Google and IBM.

BrandZ™ Top 10 Most Valuable Global Car Brands 2011
Ranking: Cars	Brand	Brand Value (US$ M)	Change	Ranking: Overall Top 100
1	Toyota	24,198	11%	27
2	BMW	22,425	3%	30
3	Mercedes-Benz	15,344	12%	50
4	Honda	14,182	-1%	56
5	Porsche	12,413	3%	66
6	Nissan	10,072	17%	88
7	Volkswagen	7,408	6%	N/A
8	Ford	7,394	5%	N/A
9	Audi	3,808	5%	N/A
10	Lexus	3,648	N/A	N/A

LFA Nürburgring Package

Don’t think that paying £343,000 for a Lexus LFA is enough? Then the Nürburgring Package, which makes its first public appearance at next month’s Geneva International Motor Show, will solve that particular problem.

Costing an astonishing £55,000, the Nürburgring Package has been developed to give the LFA a more track-orientated focus. A revised front splitter and rear spoiler add extra aerodynamic downforce, while tweaks to the suspension together with different wheels and tyres improve mechanical grip.



Oh, and the 4.8 litre V10 engine has received a barely perceptible increase from 552 bhp (412kW / 560PS) to 562 bhp (419 kW / 569 PS).



Out of the entire LFA production run of 500 cars, the Nürburgring Package will only be available on a maximum of fifty examples. Buyers can choose from black, white and orange paint colours or, if they have an extra £15,000 to get rid of, they might want to go for the matt black finish instead.



And that yet again highlights the trouble with the LFA. Yes, technically it is extremely advanced, but a price tag approaching £400,000 looks like a misprint when there are competitors such as the £171,468 Porsche 911 GT2 RS and the £305,626 Ferrari 599 GTO.

Lexus LFA Engine

The Lexus LFA is powered by a 72° 4.8-liter V10 engine equipped with dual VVT-i carrying the 1LR-GUE designation with a maximum output of 560 PS (412 kW) delivered at 8,700 rpm. Its maximum torque output of 354 lb·ft (480 N·m) arrives at 6,800 rpm, 90 percent of which is available from 3,700 rpm. The engine redlines at 9,000 rpm, but with a fuel cutoff set at 9,500 rpm

Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept

Lexus LF-A Concept Preview

2007 Lexus LF-A Sports Car

lexus-lf-a.jpg

Image Credits - Lexus / Toyota

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2005 Lexus LF-A

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Lexus IS C Variants

In 2009, Autocar reported that a hybrid version of the IS would be produced with the next generation lineup.


This development would be in line with Lexus' intentions to add hybrid powertrains across its lineup; the IS hybrid would likely share powertrain design with the rear-wheel drive Lexus GS 450h.



lexus lf-c concept

2010 Lexus IS-C

2010 Lexus IS C Convertible:

The publication also stated that the front-wheel drive Lexus HS would not be sold in Europe, given its size similarities with the upcoming IS hybrid.

Lexus IS C F-Sport – Lexus

The all new Lexus IS C has

2004 Lexus LF-C Concept

2010 Lexus IS C Preview

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2010 Lexus SC Race Cars

The new SC 430 based race cars were immediately competitive with former GT500 champion Juichi Wakisaka and no. 2 driver Andre Lotterer driving the Open Interface TOM's SC to victory at the opening round at Suzuka giving the SC 430 its first victory on its debut race.

2010 Lexus SC

2010 Lexus SC

2010 Lexus SC

2010 Lexus SC

2010 Lexus SC

2010 Lexus SC

2010 Lexus SC

2010 Lexus SC

Lexus GS Safety

The Lexus GS comes standard with dual front airbags, front driver and passenger knee airbags, front and rear row side curtain airbags, and front row side torso airbags standard while rear row side torso airbags are optional.





Lexus GS

Lexus GS

Lexus GS

Lexus GS


An Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) is standard on the V8 model while optional on the V6 model. The radar-based Pre-Collision System (PCS) with a Dynamic Radar Cruise Control system is optional. PCS can automatically apply up to 0.3g of deceleration if the driver does not react to imminent crash warnings.

Lexus GS

Lexus GS

Lexus GS