While Lexus may need a huge advertising campaign to bring awareness to their hybrid model range in the US, it couldn’t be any different in Europe, where hybrids are accounting for a major percentage of vehicles sold.

In 2007, 38% of all Lexus sales in Eastern Europe were hybrids, up from 26% in 2006, and it’s even more impressive when broken down model by model. Hybrids made up 86% (!!) of the total RX sales and 55% of all GS sales. And even with its mid-year introduction, 56% of LS sales were for the LS 600h.

As a point of comparison, only 17% of RX sales and 10% of LS sales in the US were hybrids, though the LS is a special case, as the non-longwheelbase version of the LS 600h is available in Europe.

[Source: Autoblog Green]

Consumer Reports has released its top picks for 2008, and among the ten winners, the Lexus LS 460L was chosen as the #1 luxury sedan:

With a score of 99 out of 100 in CR’s road test, the LS 460L ($77,000) is CR’s highest-rated vehicle. It provides a no-compromise environment of comfort and roominess, coupled with an isolating quietness. It also delivers quick acceleration and relatively good fuel economy. While it’s brimming with electronic amenities, its controls are easy to use.

A score of 99/100 is, quite frankly, extraordinary, and I doubt a reputable publication like Consumer Reports handed it out lightly. Yet, it’s a little surprising that any car could hit such a high number, CR is essentially calling the LS 460L perfect.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Lexus UK has debuted an upgraded backseat entertainment package for the RX called ICE, which is short for In-Car Entertainment. It consists of two eight-inch LCD screens with an integrated DVD player, USB and SD card readers, plus more:

Two pairs of infrared headphones are provided, which are about 20 per cent smaller than before, making them easier for children to use. They are now foldable for easy storage. Reception has been sharpened and there is an auto power-off function. Each tablet has a manual control panel, or a remote control unit can be used, redesigned for a superior tactile quality and ease of use.

The tablets have RCA inputs for connecting compatible games consoles and a stereo 23.5mm jack point. The screens can be operated together or independently, should passengers choose to enjoy the same playback or their own choice of video, music or gaming.

This package comes standard on the the UK RX SE-L editions, but costs £2,200 on any other version. This translates into close to $4,400 USD, making it a very expensive setup, especially when similar, less stylized options exist for less than $1,000.

Still, it’s hard to deny their attractiveness, and they would certainly be a welcome addition were you purchasing a RX SE-L anyway.

[Source: UCar Magazine]

In order to stay on top of demand in Russia, China, and other emerging markets, Lexus will be ramping up their production capacity by a staggering 35%, from 600,000 to 850,000.

The Nikkei Business Daily reports:

Toyota now makes Lexuses at its Tahara plant, in Aichi Prefecture, and at Toyota Motor Kyushu Inc.’s Miyata facility, in Fukuoka Prefecture, for a combined output capacity of more than 600,000 units a year.

At the Tahara plant, Toyota will enable lines churning out Toyota brand sport utility vehicles and other offerings to also make Lexuses. Spending a few billion yen, the automaker will overhaul its painting line as well as install measuring equipment and other infrastructure to ensure high-quality production.

Meanwhile, at the Miyata plant — which produces such Lexuses as the RX — infrastructure will be added to the line that makes both the luxury cars and other Toyota vehicles. This year, Toyota aims to ramp up that line’s output capacity from 200,000 units to 230,000. In addition to a Lexus-only assembly line, production capacity at that facility will be lifted to a maximum of 460,000 units a year.

This is a colossal jump, although this is strictly related to output capacity and not to actual production numbers. While the two Lexus plants in Japan have the ability to build 600,000 vehicles currently, only (!!) 414,400 were produced last year.

Really, this is just future planning.

[Source: The Nikkei Business Daily (Subscription Required)]

(Thanks Davin!)

A new Lexus dealership has opened in Oman (the country just south of the United Arab Emirates), and it was quite an event, attended not only by Toyota executive vice-president Akio Toyoda but practically the entire Oman ruling class.

Starting off with a performance by juggler Michael Moschen, the grand opening quickly escalated into a over-the-top spectacle:

Deeply absorbed in the performance, the guests were completely taken by surprise when a glowing heliosphere ethereally materialised, delicately floating towards the audience. Such was the effect of this performance that thunderous applause blanketed the entire seating area.

A Hollywood stunt artist made a dramatic entry from the roof-top and in tandem with the Taiko drummers and the heliosphere weaved magic on the spellbound audience. The act culminated in the much-awaited ribbon-cutting and official inauguration of the new showroom — drawing a spontaneous and sustained round of applause from the guests.

At that precise moment, the entire showroom lit up dramatically revealing the width and scale of its construction. A choreographed, spectacular pyrotechnics display followed, adding to the entertainment for the evening.

How’s that for grandiose?

[Source: Times of Oman via: Autospies]

A Lexus IS convertible coupe has been spotted out in the wild, and was photographed by an unnamed German magazine. Here’s a blown-up image, for a better look:

As for the accompanying text, there’s some horsepower number ranging from 177 to 423, which translates right across the entire IS lineup, from the 220d to the IS-F. There’s also mention of a 2009 release, and if that’s true, it means there’s plenty more information coming down the pipeline very shortly.

[Source: Club Lexus]

I’m having a devil of a time finding my digital camera cable to pull the photos off from my visit to the Toronto Auto Show, but I know for a fact that none of my photos are half as good as this one from Flickr user Rocky413:

All in all, I was very impressed by my first exposure to the IS-F, which looks much more streamlined and well-proportioned in person than it does in any photo.

More on the auto show once I rescue my photos…

Not to post it up only to shoot it down, but there’s a small blurb on Motor Trend today claiming that the dedicated hybrid Lexus plans to launch at next year’s Detroit Auto Show will be a rebadged Prius:

Toyota will present two dedicated hybrid models at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit; one a Toyota and the other a Lexus.

It’s no surprise the Toyota will be the Mark III Prius. It’s the Lexus that will be the shocker: a lifestyle wagonlike vehicle based on the Prius platform and drivetrain.

That’s the extent of their insight, no sources, no justification, just a plain statement. This isn’t to say it’s untrue, but I certainly wouldn’t put much stock in it, especially when Lexus UK Chief Steve Settle had this to say last year:

The car would be aimed at well-to-do individuals who are after a roomy sedan but not prepared to step up to a car the size of the GS. Mid-sized D-segment models are ideal for families and when combined with Lexus’ luxury and quality standards, could be a real winner for fans of hybrids and non-hybrids alike.

“We’ll add a specific hybrid model and leave the IS as a sports petrol and diesel. There will be more focus on interior space than on sports styling and it will have more boot space,” Settle revealed.

The D-segment is the European designation for the large family car, meaning something the size of an ES, which is much more in line with what I would expect from the dedicated hybrid. And really, it’s a little early to be making definitive statements.

(The image above is of the Toyota Prius, not a Lexus).

It’s a bit last minute, but I’ll be heading to the Canadian International Auto Show tomorrow in Toronto, where I’m finally going to get chance to see the Lexus IS-F (among other assorted vehicles).

It’s my first auto show in years, and I’m really looking forward to it. As expected, I’ll be taking a ton of photos of all things Lexus.

***

Just another note, the TPP redesign is coming along very well — in fact, it’s turning out better than expected. There’s been some delays, but I think it should be ready by late next week.

Another month, another porn star cease-and-desist notice sent out by Lexus. This time around, European model Lea Lexus was served papers (NSW link) to change her name, which she did almost immediately.

This is the third legal action sent to a porn star in less than a year. It started with Detroit-based Lexus Cash, then it was a Swiss gay porn actor who tried to justify his name by saying Lexus was the name of a Greek god. Both of these cases are still ongoing.

This is all well-and-good when it’s an assumed stage name, but what happens when all the Lexus babies grow up? According to Baby Names World, 5,671 girls were named Lexus in the USA since 1997, and the yearly rate has only been increasing. It still holds that Lexus is a Federal Trademark, but it seems like a bit of a grey area.

(Thanks to AlieN for both the news tip and the image used above!)