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First Drive: 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h
2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h
Few vehicles have done more to establish a genre and define a brand as much as the Lexus RX. Introduced over a decade ago to suburbanite real estate agents and their Napa-weekending friends, the original RX300 helped boost Lexus sales by 60% when it hit dealers in late 1998. Over the ensuing years, Lexus' posh people mover slowly evolved to include a hybrid drivetrain, a refreshed exterior and tasteful appointments that helped solidify its success. For 2010, the RX plays the same tune but adds a few more instruments, a new backbeat and reworked crescendo.Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Lexus RX350 and RS450h
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Hyundai Genesis pips Lexus ES350 for Consumer Reports' top-rated "upscale sedan"
2009 Hyundai Genesis sedan
Hyundai made it clear from the onset that the new Genesis sedan would upset the balance in the luxury world, particularly at the expense of Lexus. Consumer Reports' latest round of testing proves that Hyundai has succeeded in dethroning Toyota's luxury arm as the latest credible entry into the "Upscale Sedan" arena. Just as Lexus was once the upstart that ruffled feathers, it's Hyundai's turn, and they are making the most of the opportunity with a win against all comers from the likes of Acura, Lincoln, Saab and Lexus, which had previously held the top overall spot with its ES350 sedan.
Despite the Genesis' win in direct testing, Consumer Reports doesn't have enough data to rate the sedan as "Recommended." The same goes for the ES350, which means that the Acura TL is the only competitor in the segment that officially gets CR's nod. Regardless, consider the gauntlet officially thrown at the feet of the established Japanese players, and we look forward to Round Two when Hyundai sends a shot over the bow of the sportscar world with the Genesis Coupe.Gallery: 2009 Hyundai Genesis Sedan
[Source: Consumer Reports]
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ESpionage: minor tweaks for 2010 Lexus ES
For fifteen years, the Lexus ES has been the top-selling luxury sedan from the top-selling luxury marque in America. But after twenty years of sharing its underpinnings with the Toyota Camry, the Japanese auto giant has decided to let the two mainstay models go their separate ways. With the sportier IS sharing the duty of anchoring the lineup and a new hybrid model on its way, the ES might get scrapped altogether... but not before one last hurrah, previewed by the crude spy shot you see to the right. The 2010 Lexus ES350 will be a subtle update on the current fifth-generation model, in true Lexus style, with modest tweaks to the styling to keep it fresh for another few years. Nothing revolutionary, which means nothing to upset the model's conservative customer base, either. (That's what things like the IS-F are for.)
[Source: BurlappCars.com]
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Lexus hints at HS 250h dedicated hybrid for Detroit show
Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe informed us at least year's Detroit Auto Show that his company would be bringing two new hybrids to this year's show in D-town. The first is the much anticipated next-gen Prius and the second is the first dedicated hybrid model for Lexus. This week the Japanese luxury automaker made it official with a page on its consumer website heralding the debut of the Lexus HS 250h on January 11, smack dab in the middle of press days for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.
Not much else is known about the vehicle, other than that it will be available to buy in the Fall of 2009. We suspect the HS 250h will be a Lexus-badged version of the Prius in much the same way that the ES350 is a version of the Toyota Camry. Thus, the HS 250h will also use the same next-gen Hybrid Synergy drivetrain that will debut in the new Prius, both sporting nickel-metal hydride battery packs for the time being until development work on advanced lithium-ion packs is completed. Stay tuned for more info on these two hybrid models from Toyota and Lexus as the 2009 Detroit Auto Show draws ever closer. Thanks for the tip, DJ Pearce!
[Source: Lexus]
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Lexus LF-A makes surprise appearance at Fuji Speedway
Last time we heard of the Lexus LF-A it was understood that the supercar from the luxury Toyota brand had been delayed until early 2011. Well, Lexus still hasn't said when the LF-A will enter production but it is out, yet again, teasing the supercar to enthusiasts.
The Lexus LF-A made a surprise appearance at Toyota's Motorsport Festival at Fuji Speedway this past weekend with Toyota's vice president Akio Toyoda behind the wheel. The black LF-A test-mule was the same car that ran the Nurburgring 24-Hours this past summer. Toyoda completed two laps of the Fuji Speedway track in front of 30,000 fans.
Recent rumors suggest that Toyota is planning a limited-production run of 500 units for the 480-hp Lexus LF-A with an asking price that can range from anywhere from $261,000 to $313,00.
Source: InsideLine
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