The Passionate Pursuit - Lexus News & Information

Lexus Tops in Customer Loyalty

krew — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:37:14 -0500

J.D. Power's has released a first quarter report on Customer Loyalty, a study that determines what percentage of car buyers stick with the same manufacturer when purchasing a new vehicle. In the study, Lexus lead the way at 48%, four points higher than BMW and nearly four points over Mercedes.

I find this to be a very impressive stat, honestly, and believe it speaks volumes on the pleasure of owning a Lexus. (Granted, the German manufacturers are right close to the same rate of return, but that doesn't make it any less of a feat.)

[Source: Next Autos]

2009 Lexus IS Information & Photos

krew — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:43:30 -0500

Official 2009 Lexus IS photos have surfaced today, along with a promise that the mid-cycle facelift will debut at the Paris Auto Show. Before getting to the photos, though, let's do a full breakdown of the various nips & tucks:

Exterior

Revised front bumper with reworked lower air intake and fog lights
Expanded front grille
Integrated turn signals in the side mirrors
Revised taillight design with L-shaped reverse lights
New 17" & 18" wheel designs
New colors: Amber Pearl & Truffle Mica

Interior

New instrument panel center cluster design
Illuminated temperature gauge & side mirror controls
New color and wood trim combos: Ecru (with golden brown trim) & Light Grey (with Dark Grey bird's eye maple)
Contrasting stitching on the door panels, console lid & seats
Carpets & Seat backs set to match color of upper instrument panel
DC outlet and AUX input positions switched (!!!)

Mechanical

Paddle Shifting function in D mode
New VDIM cutoff switch for the IS 250
Optional 18" wheels on RWD models
Revised suspension tuning and steering

Here's the first batch of photos, I'll be adding more as time goes on:

Lexus USA August 2008 Sales Report

krew — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:46:59 -0500

Lexus' August sales numbers are in, and it's not that bad, considering the year so far:

	2008	2007	% Change
IS250/350/F	6,318	5,381	17.4
ES350	7,881	8,646	-8.8
GS350/460/450h	1,686	2,300	-26.7
SC430	187	298	-37.2
LS460/600h L	1,772	3,164	-44.0
Total Cars	17,844	19,789	-9.8
RX350/400h	8,969	10,032	-10.6
GX470	1,720	2,157	-20.3
LX570	748	221	238.5
Total Trucks	11,437	12,410	-7.8
Total Sales	29,281	32,199	-9.1

After that 24.6% drop in July, any decrease that doesn't hit double digits has to be viewed as a good thing. The 17.4% jump in IS sales is surprising, and would be immediately attributed to the US dealership Summer Sales Event, except the same sale happened last year. Must just be a hot month for the sporty sedan.

The LX 570 continues to be a mind-boggling success -- I would have never expected so many to be sold. I suppose it's just proof that there's an exception to every rule.

[Source: Lexus]

Lexus ES 350 Commercial: Perspective

krew — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:36:21 -0500

This latest Lexus commercial for the ES is a riff on the automobile-as-art-piece, displaying a blown up cross section in what looks like an art gallery:

I loved this commercial tagline the first time around, and hearing it the second time makes me wonder why it isn't played up in more commercials. Works really well.

Lightweight Lexus IS-F Planned

krew — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:52:41 -0500

Although it seems like a rehash of known information, ~~German~~ Dutch magazine Autotelegraaph reports that Lexus will not only release a coupe/convertible version of the IS in 2009, but that work continues on a lightweight IS-F. Motor Trend summarizes:

Autotelegraaph reports that Lexus has been channeling Lotus and already has a lightened test model running that applies a variety of techniques to bring down the weight and thereby bring up the performance. Unfortunately, Lexus also confirmed that there will be no GS-F or IS F convertible. The IS 350 C will be getting a hard top convertible, and Lexus hasn't ruled out the possibility of a diesel powered IS.

Not that I don't applaud the continued efforts into performance-oriented vehicles, but when you take into account the supressed sales in the US, I would think the focus would be on higher-volume models. Still, this could very well be a continuation of the IS-F's grassroot beginnings, and there's no real harm in boosting the performance profile of the company, that's for sure.

[Source: Motor Trend]

2009 Lexus IS Photos

krew — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:11:39 -0500

No question now, this is the upcoming 2009 Lexus IS facelift:

These photos, posted on the same site that leaked the 2009 IS brochure, reveal the new IS in some sort of ~~Japanese~~ Korean Lexus showroom, presumably where unreleased models are displayed for anyone to see.

Enough talk, here's the full gallery:

[Source: Dajapa Via: My.IS]

Autoblog: LF-A Will Never See Production

krew — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:58:02 -0500

Autoblog trolled the Nürburgring and dug up some murky information on the Lexus LF-A:

...members of the testing and development crew who have been putting the car though its paces in Germany, as well as test drivers from rival Honda and Nissan crews, have told Autoblog that the LF-A is not destined for the showroom, and will remain only a development platform.

No reasons were given, but we can think of a couple. How many people are willing to part with nigh on a quarter of a million bucks for a Toyota/Lexus?

Actually, one 'Ring test driver didn't mind going on the record with his opinion. Former Nissan racer, NSX development driver and Nurburgring legend Motoharu "Gan-san" Kurosawa reckons, "Toyota are good at making money, but they're no good at making sports cars."

True or not, this doesn't really push me in either direction. I'm not really swayed by anonymous sources that could just be talking out their necks. Still, with the massive upheaval of the US auto industry, there has to be some trepidation in any new car release, especially something so extravagant as the LF-A. In the three years since it was first introduced, a lot has changed, and I'm sure there's a number of initiatives being reevaluated.

But really, "How many people are willing to part with nigh on a quarter of a million bucks for a Toyota/Lexus?" How tired is that? There may be some issues, but I doubt sales are one of them.

Policeman Talks about the Oakland Lexus SC Style

krew — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:46:59 -0500

This is hilarious. You may remember me posting up photos of some first generation Lexus SCs done up in grand style, like the one above. Well, it seems like they've also been noticed by local police, including Officer "Smith", who blogs the following:

The latest fad to strike the Bay Area is the uncontrollable urge to purchase a Lexus SC300.

Used of course. Preferably pre-1999 vintage. Aged well.

But to simply purchase one is not enough. Next, you must paint the car in some candy color that simply does not belong on a car. We'll say candy grape purple. Then, you have to choose a contrasting color, say bright piss yellow perhaps, in which to paint a large Lexus "L" symbol on both doors because, of course, the rest of us are far too stupid to know the car is a Lexus. To further assist us idiots, please remember to paint a smaller "L" on the rear fenders as an added reminder.

Maybe you could even get personalized plates to the effect of LXS DUBZ, or some such nonsense.

I had myself in stitches by the time I was done reading his post. Best of all, he used the images from this site. Such a small world.

[Source: Officer "Smith"]

700hp Lexus IS Engine Explosion

krew — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:29:54 -0500

Not every day you get to see a souped 700hp Lexus IS engine blow up (make sure to turn the sound down, loud rap music ahead):

Not sure on the full story, but I can't help but think whoever made this video of must have wanted to rub it in -- either that or it was the owner.

(I wonder if it was this IS?)

Lexus LS 460 AWD Introduced at Moscow Auto Show

krew — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:46:09 -0500

When it comes to the release of the Lexus LS 460 AWD version, this picture says it all:

As expected, the LS 460 AWD was introduced at the Moscow International Auto Show today, and the folks at Autoblog have a full photo gallery of the model. The only thing? That AWD badge in the photo above is the only discernible difference from regular version.

That said, here are the more technical particulars:

The LS 460’s outstanding performance, sure-footed dynamic abilities and advanced active safety systems have been further strengthened by the addition of permanent all-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive system is a three differential configuration featuring a highly compact TORSEN® Limited Slip Differential (LSD) – shared with the LS 600h - which distributes drive torque between the front and rear axles with a 40:60 rear axle bias in torque distribution.

The LS 460 AWD will be on sale as from November.

Lexus Salesman Blocked from Competing in Mercedes Golf Tournament

krew — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:26:06 -0500

A funny story from Singapore has surfaced on Club Lexus -- Lionel Lim won the opportunity to compete for the Mercedes Benz golf trophy only to be disqualified because he was a Lexus salesman:

He works for Lexus, but this golfer won the Singapore Country Final of the Mercedes trophy. This has led to a court case as well as an awkward situation. The golfer is suing the Mercedes-Benz distributor - his firm’s rival - for refusing to send him to represent Singapore at its Asian Final to be held in Australia next week.

Daimler’s defence is that the Mercedes Trophy is a marketing effort aimed at its high net worth customers and potential customers, and having a senior sales executive of its rival there will ’cause a great amount of awkwardness’.

"It is unfortunate that the defendant should introduce the concept of accusations of spying and awkwardness. All keen golfers participate because of the thrill of competition, not industrial espionage," he said.

Mr Lim also noted that notwithstanding his job, he is also a potential Mercedes-Benz customer. As for getting a first-hand insight into Daimler’s marketing style and management methods, Lexus has its own highly successful methods and does not need to imitate anybody else’s, he said. In addition, he has never been involved in marketing.

This was eventually resolved with some sort of compensation, but I still had to laugh at Mr. Lim's jab about Lexus not having to crib notes from Mercedes' sales events.

Italdesign Quaranta Hybrid Concept

krew — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:15:22 -0500

It may not be a Lexus supercar prototype, but the Italdesign Quaranta concept is powered by a Lexus engine, namely the....RX 400h?

Massage the right button, and the rear decklid opens to reveal a powertrain cribbed from what we know as the Lexus RX 400h. Italdesign and Toyota have an ongoing relationship; their first project, the Toyota Volta concept of 2004, laid the groundwork for this far more outrageous interpretation of the green exotic. Although the Toyota sport/utility provides its 3.3-liter DOHC V-6 engine, electric-motor assist hardware, continuously variable transmission, all-wheel-drive system, and a bucketload of electronics (including the IP-mounted display that shows when the power is flowing to and from the motors and battery pack), the rest of the Quaranta was designed, engineered, and built by hand from the ground up at Italdesign's Moncalieri, Italy, facilities.

That's a quote from a great Motor Trend article about driving this eco-supercar from Italdesign, which they debuted at this year's Geneva Auto Show. It's a great read, and strangely enough, it's the RXh engine that makes the difference. It usually isn't possible to drive a concept down public roads, nevermind taking it up to 200kph on a racetrack.

I particularly liked the solar panel hood and trunk pattern, and just take a look at this from a bird's eye view:

(Thanks Shukul!)

Custom Lexus IS-F by 0-60 Magazine Coming to SEMA 2008

krew — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:21:43 -0500

We've seen the finished version of the the Fox/Artisan Lexus IS-F that will be displayed at this year's SEMA, and now another has surfaced -- this time it's a work-in-progess by 0-60 Magazine:

So far, the plan looks to be replacing the hood, front fenders, side skirts and the trunk lid with carbon fiber versions, and some custom exhaust work from Greddy, but what I really want to do is highlight just how crazy the IS-F is without its engine cover:

No matter how many times I see the unmasked engine, it still manages to astonish me.

Flickr Find: Lexus IS Danger

krew — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:57:38 -0500

Bader Bouarki's photo of the Lexus IS is fantastic, and the description is even better:

I Told my friend to drive, i went to the second car and sit in the trunk, it was 120KM/H,
i added the cloud as a part of a beauty...

Sitting on the trunk of a car going 120kph (75mph) certainly puts a different spin on The Passionate Pursuit of Perfection.

Lexus Prius Sketch from Motor Trend

krew — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:21:51 -0500

There isn't much in the way of new information in Motor Trend's article about the upcoming Lexus hybrid, but it did include this beauty of a mockup sketch:

There were a few new points covered, though they seem entirely speculative:

The difference between the Lexus variant and the Prius itself -- as is generally the case for Lexus models with Toyota underpinnings -- is not expected to be much more than skin deep. The as-yet-unnamed Lexus will have its own body panels and may get a convertible variant, but both vehicles will be fitted with roof-mounted solar panels and nickel-metal hydride batteries upon launch.

I have to say, if the new Lexus hybrid looks anything like this sketch, it's going to be hugely successful. There's certainly a hint of Prius in the shape, but the more aggressive front-end and huge wheels remind me of the new VW Scirocco, only bigger and with two more doors. And that's no bad thing.