Including three spy-photos of a practically-production version, Car Magazine has hit with some Lexus LF-A news:

As the engine rules in F1 have changed, so has the powerplant under development for the LF-A. It now has a V10 petrol engine of just under 5.0 litres capacity, said to develop a muscly 500bhp for 200mph performance. And a hybrid petrol-electric version is also in the pipeline, using a similar V8 hybrid system as in the LS600h.

This scoop photo proves that Lexus is paying a lot of attention to the aero package, and it’s working on a pop-up spoiler to keep the LF-A stable at all speeds, as well as a huge diffuser clearly visible at the rear.

When will we see the LF-A in showrooms? The latest news is that it’s still a couple of years away from reality …

Learning that LF-A won’t be coming out next year is a touch disappointing. Considering how many times this concept has done the Auto Show circuit, you have to wonder what problems the development team has run into. The exterior certainly looks finalized, and the engine didn’t seem to have any trouble with Nürburgring, so why the hold-up?

Leftlane News has posted spy shots of either the 2009 Toyota 4Runner or the 2010 Lexus GX, you can take your guess picking which.

In all honesty, with those extended tail lights, it looks more like a transformer in mid-change — a very effective camouflage job, indeed. The rear looks widened, and even a bit longer, but it could just be a result of the tarp.

This spy video montage, which shows a collection of upcoming cars taking their turn at Nürburgring, has an interesting segment featuring the Lexus IS-F and the LF-A taking a lap together (skip to 3:09 in the video for the action):

The LF-A sounds like a monster compared to the IS-F, and I’m sure the additional two cylinders and 50+ extra horsepower has something to do with it. There’s a quick cut at 3:26 where you know the LF-A just went and passed its slower sibling.

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Bonus: Here’s another video of the LF-A burning its way around the ‘Ring, courtesy of Car Magazine:

[Via: Club Lexus]

A taped-up GS was recently seen in Europe, sporting a revised front bumper, which could indicate that there’s a refresh in the pipeline.

The changes are admittedly subtle, and focus around the bottom grille, which has been reduced in size and given some extra height. The openings around the grille have been deepened as well.

Here’s the current model, for comparison’s sake:

It’s unlikely that only the front-end of the GS will be revised, most likely this is just the beginning of the style update, which hopefully includes a slimming down of the GS’s rear.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Edmund’s Straightline Blog has some interesting analysis of the recent 2009 RX spy shots, suggesting that it’s not a RX at all, but an all-new model, the Lexus JX:

What’s a JX 460? It’s yet another luxury sport ute, but unlike the softly sprung RX, the JX will be a performance-oriented crossover along the lines of Infiniti’s FX line. It was previewed as the HPX concept seen above, and judging by the profile of this prototype, the production JX won’t change much from the concept. It will ride on the same platform as the next GS sedan, so it will most likely offer both rear- and all-wheel drive and either a 3.5-liter V6 or 4.6-liter V8.

This would be nothing but idle speculation without proof, but Straightline makes a convincing argument in two ways. First, as mentioned, the JX will be based on the HPX concept, and when you view the concept next to the spy shot, there’s definitely some similarity:

Secondly, which could be the clincher, is yet another spy shot, taken by a Straightline editor just this morning, of a camo-clad RX:

There’s no arguing that this is a RX, though by the looks of it, there’s little difference to the current version. However, this would almost make more sense, as the RX is so successful there’s no real reason for Lexus to mess with it too much.

There’s a serious height drop with those first spy shots, which would suggest a more performance-oriented model, and with planned third row seating for the RX, there doesn’t seem to be enough room in the rear.

Whether true or not, it’s definitely an interesting idea, and one I hope is true. The JX will be a great fit in the Lexus lineup, and the sooner the better.

The redesigned Lexus RX, scheduled for release in 2009, has been caught on camera for the first time, but not without a healthy amount of camouflage cladding that’s very successful at keeping most of the particulars a secret.

There are a few details that can be discerned, the most obvious being the significant drop in height, giving it a more car-like appearance. It looks like the bubbly rear has been sharpened as well, though I think it’s more a result of the camouflage.

Leftlane News has a few more photos for you to pick over, let me know if you spot any other changes.