VIDEO: Lexus LF-A
Look at the Lexus LF-A in the ADAC Rundstrecken Trophy Endurance, held on a 15.1-mile course that combines the Nordschliefe with the adjoining grand prix circuit. The LF-A placed 77th overall after completing 23 laps during the four-hour race, with its fastest lap coming in at 9:06.
The race-prepared Lexus LF-A–first spotted during manufacturer testing at the ‘Ring on April 17th–made its official competition debut on Saturday in the ADAC Rundstrecken Trophy Endurance series in Germany. The race was run on a combination of the Nurburgring Nordschleife, along with a sprint portion of the famous Grand Prix circuit, with each lap covering 15.18 miles (24.433 km). Saturday’s race was one of seven four-hour races this year, with a six-hour race and a 24-hour race rounding out the series. In its inaugural four-hour race, the LFA covered 23 laps, grabbing 77th place and a fastest lap of 9:06. While that lap may sound slow compared to the Nissan GT-R’s best ‘Ring time of 7:29, one must take into account the longer laps with the addition of the Grand Prix sprint, and fighting race traffic (which consisted of several racing classes similar to an ALMS series). The LF-A drove in group SP8. The drivers that piloted the LF-A are listed as Nakaya, Akihiko, llda, Akira, Kinoshita, and Takauki.
Lexus IS 250 SR
Lexus has introduced a sportier version of its Lexus IS 250 sedan. The IS 250 SR does not feature any performance enhancements as it is equipped with the standard 204Hp 2.5-liter V6 engine. Instead, it relies on a series of extras to stand out from the entry-level IS 250 upon it is based.
Key features include a full body kit with deep skirts to the front, rear and sides of the car, a rear spoiler and 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels. Owners who want to make a sportier statement can order the optional five-spoke 18-inch Tsuki rims. Inside the only additions to the IS 250 SR concern the aluminum scuff plates and pedals along with the standard heated front seats.
Lexus offers buyers the choice of three exterior colours – Velvet Black and Cadoxton Slate and Argento Ice metallic finishes. All are matched to Worcester Black interior fabric trim.
Lexus LF-A spied
You already saw spy shots of Lexus LF-A. Today you can see the Lexus LF-A supercar undergoing final testing before making its public debut later this month at the German Nurburgring 24 hour endurance race.
The range-topping Lexus is running in virtually undisguised form beneath its matte black paintwork. At the front are distinctive swept back headlamps, together with vents cut into the bonnet to aid cooling of the front-mounted motor.
Rough wire mesh covers the rear-mounted radiators, while small round lenses are used in place of the larger production lamp units. Modifications for racing include the large rear spoiler, aerodynamic tweaks to the front bumper and an interior kitted out with a roll cage.
This means that under the bonnet is a V10 engine that should produce around 500bhp. Performance will be scorching, with a top speed well in excess of 200mph.
Lexus bosses are remaining tight-lipped about the launch date of the LF-A. However, if the car runs well at the German endurance race on 24/25 May, then expect to see showroom ready examples in early 2009.
The upcoming 2-door Lexus IS gets a name
For most people in the U.S., the primary significance of 15 April 2008 was Tax Day, that dreaded deadline by which you must file (and, in some cases, pay) your personal Federal Income Tax. On that date, however, Lexus did something equally significant: they filed applications with both the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Canadian Trade-Marks Office for IS250C, IS300C and IS350C trademarks.
The specific filings are:
United States:
IS250C: Application No. 77448695
IS300C: Application No. 77448728
IS350C: Application No. 77448711
Canada:
IS250C: Application No. 1391370
IS300C: Application No. 1391371
IS350C: Application No. 1391376
This bit of news is significant on a number of levels. For one thing, it kills speculation that Lexus would consider the upcoming 2-door variant of the Lexus IS a separate model line with its own IC prefix, as some past rumo(u)rs had suggested. More importantly, the filing of an IS300C trademark increases the likelihood that Lexus has answered our prayers and decided to build a 3GR-FSE-powered 2nd-generation IS300 for North America to plug the huge 102-hp and 92 lb/ft of torque gap between the IS250 and IS350.
Lexus LF-A spied
The spy shooters from KGP have caught a new version of the Lexus LF-A near the famed Nurburgring in Germany. The most tell-tale sign that this is likely not a road-going version of the car is its giant, fixed rear wing in place of the retractable one seen on prior prototypes. It also has what appears to be carbon fiber canards on the outer edges of the front clip, which, last time we checked, aren’t often found on road-legal automobiles. The Lexus might be aiming for success in motorsports with the upcoming LF-A, especially after seeing the fine performance of Nissan’s new GT-R in competitive racing.
Lexus LS named Chauffeur CotY
Already a favourite among CEOs in the city, the top of the range Lexus LS 600h L has been awarded chauffeur car of the year, by The Chauffeur magazine in the highly competitive £50,000 to £100,000 category.
Judged closely against the German flagship saloons from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, Lexus won the top spot in the toughest category for the most popular vehicles chosen by the chauffeuring industry. Key factors behind the judges’ decision included the Lexus hybrid system which allowed for lower emission and competitive fuel economy, build quality, and the reclining and massaging rear seats which can adapt for shiatsu back and shoulder massages with varying intensity.
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2011 LEXUS LF-A
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$230 Million for Australian Lexus Dealer Network
Australian Lexus has announced plans to grow its Australian dealer network by more than 50 per cent by 2012. To do so, the luxury carmaker’s Australian dealers will commit $230 million AUD towards new and existing dealer facilities and sites over the next four years.
“Lexus locally is in growth mode,” said Lexus Australia chief executive John Roca. “Demand for our vehicles regularly outstrips supply and our dealerships in their current format are reaching their capacity limits. Lexus’ success comes from satisfied customers. Over the next four years, Lexus dealer facilities will be given a new face – one that welcomes customers even more and makes them feel as though they are guests in our home”. The first of these so called, new-look sites, Lexus of Perth, opened in March and it showcases the new retail face for Lexus dealerships.
Lexus exec details future model’s line
Lexus is planning a host of new models to help keep the momentum going. First up is the replacement for the RX crossover, but after this comes a host of new ‘F’ performance models including a production version of the LF-A supercar concept as well as a new entry-level model.
Lexus will expand its F range to include a performance version of the GS sedan and possibly the full-size LS limo.
In addition to the performance range, Lexus will add a model below the IS to rival the BMW 1-series and Audi A3 models but stated that it was still a few years away. In the meantime, Roca explained that Lexus will concentrate on its hybrid technology and is planning to add a hybrid option on every model as well as debut a new dedicated hybrid concept at next year’s Detroit Auto Show.
Next year will see the launch of the next-generation RX crossover, based on the LF-Xh concept, as well as a new coupe-cabrio version of the IS complete with a folding metal hardtop.
The LF-A supercar is destined for production and hinted at a 2011 launch date.
Lexus brand isn’t flying in Toyota’s home market
In trying to establish a Japanese-market foothold for Lexus, Toyota has seemingly fallen prey to the same tactic that made the Cadillac Cimmaron such a maroon. When trying to launch a brand, especially an upscale brand, it’s not advisable to rebadge existing models and crank up the price. It doesn’t seem to matter how good the car is, or how swanky the new $10-million-a-pop showroom is, once an Altezza, always an Altezza, and paying 20 percent more for the same car with a different logo is rightfully galling.
Still, few are giving up on Lexus in Japan. After all, Toyota has 45% of the car market there, it has built 160 plush Lexus dealerships at an estimated cost of $10 million each, and it has booked tons of prime-time TV ad slots. Most important, Lexus added the latest version of its flagship, the $77,000-plus LS sedan, to its lineup in September, 2006. Last year it accounted for more than half of Lexus sales in Japan.
Toyota says Lexus’ fortunes are improving. In the segments where Lexus competes, the company claims it outsells German rivals. Mercedes’ numbers, Toyota notes, include its A-class small car, and BMW sales figures count two SUVs. Lexus doesn’t sell an SUV in Japan, though the mid-size RX is due in 2009. And Lexus last year topped buyer surveys by researcher J.D. Power & Associates (MHP). “It’s going to take Lexus three to five years to create a brand image to rival Audi, BMW, or Mercedes,” says Hiroaki Kihara, editor of magazine Autocar Japan. “But they took many years to establish their brands in Japan, too.”