John Roca, the chief executive of Lexus Australia, just can't seem to help himself when it comes to leaking new product announcements. In an interview with The Australian, Roca dropped information about a number of new vehicles in the Lexus pipeline:

• Lexus will be expanding the F lineup to include the GS-F, which was rumored last year, and quite possibly a LS-F, both of which could be powered by a V10.
• There's definitely plans to produce a new entry-level Lexus, positioned under the IS, which would compete with the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3.
• The dedicated hybrid, expected to be announced at next year's Detroit Auto Show, would be separate from the new entry-level car, though that makes very little sense to me.
• The IS coupe/convertible is being tested in Australia right now, and is expected to be released late next year.
• The LF-A, seemingly stuck in concept form, will definitely see production, though it might not happen until 2011. Roca mentions that it may only be available in a left-hand drive configuration.
• Lastly, the next generation RX will be released next year, and will remain a 5-seater. (This mirrors the comments of a poster on my site, who also says there's a 7-seater on the horizon, most likely the JX we heard about last year.)

For a short interview, this is a lot of verified rumors. It's unclear exactly how the new entry-level model is going to play out, and whether this Lexus "Prius" will be separate or the very same thing.

I'll admit that the possibility of a LS-F has me intrigued, but it's safe to say it's at least 2-3 years away.

Save for the short appearance by Charles Hubbard of Lexus College, this Bumper2Bumper TV video profile of the Lexus LX 570 doesn't really have much to it, except for one thing -- it shows that this vehicle looks absolutely spectacular in movement (around 45 seconds in, to be precise):

I think my devotion to the LX 470 made me lukewarm to the LX 570, but between this little glimpse and the videos released by Lexus, I'm definitely starting to come around.

The Auto Network has served up another Lexus presentation, this time a full blown dissertation about the IS-F. This presentation, along with the previously noted LX 570 breakdown, took place in Point Clear, Alabama, and provided the automotive press with an opportunity to learn about the vehicles to an extraordinary level of detail.

The first IS-F video is an introduction, most notable due to its alternative viewpoint as to where the "F" designation started (the other version states the "F" comes from the Fuji Speedway) and its assertion that the IS-F shifts faster than a Ferrari F430:

The second part, presented by Charles Hubbard of Lexus College, is easily the most detailed technical breakdown of the IS-F that I've seen or read:

Part three talks up the IS-F's marketing plans, including targeting buyers of the Evo and WRX:

Lastly is a Q & A with the presenters:

This presentation, along with the LX 570's, contain invaluable information, and I'm happy to have had a chance to watch them.

(Thanks Jarrett!)

There's a bit of a sarcastic bent to AutoWeek's preview of the 2008 Lexus LX 570, but it still manages to fill in some blanks, including the differences between the LX 570 and the Toyota Land Cruiser:

Hey, wait a second, you say, is this just a Land Cruiser with a Lexus badge on it, the way the first ES was way too much of a Camry? Oh, ye of little faith and long memory. No, it's not. Look at the spec sheet. It has more acronyms than a quartermaster's RFP--at least 13 standard features not found on the Land Cruiser.

"I'm amazed at the technology in this vehicle," said Lexus chief Mark Templin. Hey, he works there, and he's amazed!

Some are unquestionable assets, such as the VVT-i that controls the dual overhead cams, the acoustic control induction system (ACIS) that tunes the intake runners, the new transmission-fluid temperature control that warms or cools the fluid depending on conditions and active front headrests that reduce neck injuries. Luxury technology abounds, too, including a "sub-cool accelerator system" to get cold air flowing more quickly in the four-zone climate-control system and second-row seat heaters.

As I said, a touch too sarcastic, but this is a vehicle that elicits a wide range of reactions. All in all, the preview is positive, going as far as to say this is the vehicle you want to have should civilization ever collapse. Now that's some heavy praise!

As the Lexus LX 570 gets closer and closer to the dealerships, the test drives are starting to come in. First one to the press is Motor Trend, and it's heavy in praise:

This largest Lexus has no more business vamoosing through chicanes than it does scaling 45-degree slopes, fording two-foot-deep streams, or straddling nine-inch-tall rocks, and yet it's capable of doing all the above.

In fact, it seems to have been optimized for such bushwacking, with innovations like Crawl Control (think three-speed downhill-assist that also works uphill), Active Height Control (which can tip-toe three inches above or kneel camel-like 2.4 inches below normal ride height. "What percentage of your buyers go off-road?" a colleague asks. "Um, I don't think we have numbers on that," the presenter dodges.

Cute answer by the Lexus representative.

I'm not sure why the article's writer is so surprised at the offroading capability, this certainly isn't the first LX suitable for the trails. Still, I suppose it would be hard to equate the luxury inside with its performance on the outside.

Autospies has a preview of the color combinations available for 2008 Lexus LX 570, including what may be the strangest hue to ever cover a Lexus:

It resembles the Aquamarine Pearl color available for the ES 350, which is probably where it should have stayed. Not very flattering, to say the least.

Be sure to check out Autospies for more photos, there's a bunch to go through.