A set of mildly-camoflagued Lexus RX prototypes have been spotted at Nürburgring in Germany, and the design is looking to be a successful merger of the current model and the LF-Xh concept shown at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show.

The most obvious element taken from the LF-Xh is the smoother, more flowing shape, looking lower and longer than the current model, let’s et’s compare and contrast:

I find the streamlining to be very attractive, eliminating my biggest complaint about the current RX’s styling. I think the front-end needs some reworking though. While I’m relieved the Ford Edge style grille of the LF-Xh was dropped, the resulting nose is looking rather ordinary.

To see the full image set, check out Jalopnik’s gallery.

Details have been revealed today that the Lexus LF-A Racing Prototype was involved in some kind of crash during the qualifying session prior to the actual race. Autoblog has some more photos of the smash, but the damage seem to be around the driver-side front and rear bumper. Here’s what it looked like from the back:

I wonder is if this was partly responsible for extended pitstops that the LF-A had to take during the race?

(I really like the top night shot of the LF-A, it looks fantastic in matte black, and I would honestly like to see offered as a real color for the supercar.)

The Nürburgring 24hour race is happening this weekend, which the Lexus LF-A is pretend-competing in, using the race environment to see how the supercar holds up over an intensive run.

Well, as it turns out, it’s probably best Lexus didn’t throw its hat fully into the ring, because one hour after the race started, the LF-A pulled into the pits with a transmission problem. This was eventually resolved, and the racing prototype is back on the track, though it’s no longer truly in the race.

Most importantly, Automobile Magazine managed to snap a photo of the LF-A’s engine while it was in the pits (click the image for a larger version):

(More updates as they become available, and if you’d like to follow along, the race can be watched live right on the official site.)

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

The mystery Lexus IS making the rounds round Nürburgring last week turned out to be the most obvious: it was a race car, and it appeared in the ADAC Rundstrecken Trophy Endurance race in Germany this weekend:

The TME/Team Gazoo IS competed in the first of seven four-hour endurance races. One six-hour and a 24-hour race complete the nine-race series. The newly identified IS race car is registered as a Lexus IS 250 in group SP5. Group SP5 consists of cars between 2.0- and 2.5-liters, with a minimum weight of 2,270 pounds. The race-prepped IS logged a fastest lap of just under 10:58, and an overall finish of 95th place with 21 laps covered over the 4 hours.

The much-mentioned engine bulge was nothing but a camouflage trick, which admittedly worked very well. Too bad the subterfuge didn’t translate into a better finish.

[Source: Jalopnik] (Thanks Jarrett!)

The mysterious Lexus IS spotted yesterday has made a video appearance, albeit rather brief and shaky:

The engine note is hard to read, though I would say it’s a V6. The hood bulge would indicate there’s something unusual going on, but whether it’s a hybrid system or even a supercharger is anyone’s guess.

[Via: Jalopnik]

(Thanks Jarrett!)

Motor Authority’s at it again, this time spotting a camouflaged Lexus IS running the track at Nürburgring.

The excessive tape & tarp are definitely hiding something, especially in the hood, where there’s a extra-large engine bulge:

Judging by the awkward rear stance and the presence of a roll cage, I’m thinking this is a mule for testing a new engine. Funny thing is, the paint job reminds me of the GS 450h that raced the Newfoundland Targa Rally:

I wonder, could this be a test of the engine destined for the upcoming dedicated hybrid?

(Check out Motor Authority for more pics.)