Archive for Lexus

Click to view larger image of Lexus GS-F

The first in the new Lexus F brand was the Lexus IS-F that many expected to be a competitor to the BMW M3, but the end results was quite different. Even though blessed with hardcore, perhaps even borderlining on ricey looks, what the car was made of was suited more to a fast luxury cruiser instead of a track monster.

The next car in the Lexus F line-up will be the Lexus GS-F (artist’s impression above by Theophilus Chin), supposed to be aimed square at the BMW M5. The GS-F will most likely be powered by the V10 that’s supposed to be slotted into the Lexus LF-H supercar, making over 500 horsepower.

Since Lexus also seems to love one-upping it’s competitors on numbers, perhaps a tweaked up and modernized version of the 1GZ-FE (1GZ-DE?) will be offered. The 1GZ-FE was a 5.0 liter V12 offered in Toyota luxury cars like the Toyota Century.

While power figures on paper might defeat the M5, but that’s not all it takes to win the hearts of enthusiasts.

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Lexus is rumoured to be developing a more track-oriented lightweight version of the Lexus IS-F, which is seen by some to be too tame to be a competitor to the Audi RS4 and the BMW M3. Obviously inspired by lightweight editions of it’s competitors like the M3 CSL, the new lightweight version is to be called the Lexus IS-F Evo, will use carbon fibre bodywork and have it’s interior stripped out. 0-100km/h acceleration times are expected to be under 5 seconds.

In Malaysia, Lexus is a really exclusive thing. Test drives of the press fleet are limited to an exclusive list, and for the media on that list, test drives are limited to taking the car for a spin around the headquarters - none of the usual three day test drive stuff. Shannon Teoh of NST Life & Times, one of the lucky local journalists who managed to get a feel of the Lexus LS460L shares with us his experience driving the flagship Lexus.

Click here to read the rest of Lexus LS460L Short Test Drive Report

After being teased with a photo of a weird exhaust pipe configuration, the Lexus IS-F was finally unveiled early this month at the NAIAS 2007. To be frank, I don’t fancy it’s looks at all. In an attempt to make the IS look intimidating, the end result is a kit that is too aftermarket for my tastes, plus there is no manual option, and Lexus seems to have skimped on the photography for these press photos, one of the photos is really out of focus. The car was stationary, how does one mess up the focus on a stationary object?

Anyway, on to the car. It’s powered by a new 5.0 liter direct-injected normally aspirated V8 engine, which is estimated to produce over 400hp and have twisting action power of more than 475Nm. These figures are estimated because the Lexus IS-F is a future vehicle and specs have not been finalized yet. The engine will be mated Lexus’ 8-speed automatic transmission which will offer manual shifting via paddle shifters, but no pure no-nonsense manual transmission. However, the auto has been tuned for a sporty experience, with throttle blips on downshifts. Being rear wheel drive gives it some saving grace. Wheels are 19″ BBS wheels with 225/40R19 (19×8) tyres at the front, and 255/35R19 (19×9) size for the rear.

Taking into account torque, horsepower and vehicle weight, Lexus estimates the Lexus IS-F at under 4.9 seconds for the 0-100km/h acceleration run. For reeling all 400 horses in, Lexus specced the car with large diameter cross-drilled discs - 14.2 inches at the front and 13.6 inches at the rear, with six piston calipers for the front and twin piston for the rear. Suspension is of a double wishbone design at the front, with multi-link at the rear. Other nifty specs include engine-oil and transmission-fluid coolers, as well as a cylinder head-scavenging oil pump for high G-force driving.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2007 Lexus IS-F: Performance Lexus Sedan

Following the government’s reduction of excise duties for cars above 3,000cc, car manufacturers have begun revising their prices for big displacement cars in order to offer more competitive prices. Lexus has revised the price of it’s flagship car, the Lexus LS460L to RM777,448 for private registration, a drop of RM64,985 from the previous price of RM842,433. For company registration, the new price is RM796,000, a drop of RM65,000 from RM861,000 previously. These prices are OTR without insurance.

No changes for the lovely Lexus GS300 though, as it’s 3.0 liter engine’s displacement is 2,994cc, just slightly lower than the 3,000cc displacement which enjoyed a reduced rate. However, this also means it already has lower taxes anyway, being in a lower tax band to begin with.

Read my previous post on the two Lexus cars being initially offered here.

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Lexus Malaysia: Lexus LS460L and Lexus GS300

Details on Lexus Malaysia’s operation plans was revealed to the public on the 13th of December 2006. The Lexus brand is a young one, only 17 years old and despite being a division of Toyota, Lexus only made it’s appearance in Japan last year. Majority of sales remain in North America where it is the top selling luxury marque, and it has also expanded to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and now Asia - Singapore got an official Lexus presence last year.

Now it is our turn - Lexus Malaysia will operate from a sales, service and spare part 3S outlet in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya. Lexus plans to sell 150 units in 2007, about 12 units a month of the Lexus LS460L long wheel base and the smaller but sportier Lexus GS300 sedan. The RX SUV (Harrier) and another model is expected to come in soon next year, but for the moment it is a two model line-up.

More details on the two Lexus cars after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Lexus Malaysia: Lexus LS460L and Lexus GS300

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd’s plans for the Lexus marque this year - two models, one of which will be the flagship Lexus LS. Lexus has never really been in Malaysia officially with proper support, previously you could only purchase Lexus cars through grey importers. UMW Toyota will focus on establishing the Lexus brand in the local luxury segment, and not just to be viewed as more upmarket Toyotas.

It’s perfect really - despite only being a 17 year old brand, Lexus is the top luxury segment seller in the US, and is immediately associated with the luxury car image. Not only that, it has also benefitted from Toyota’s reputation for good build and reliability.

The Lexus LS is a massive full-sized luxury sedan, powered by powerful V8 engines. I wonder what’s the other model to be brought in, it should be either the IS or the ever so popular RX. My bet is on the latter. Rear shot of the Lexus LS after the jump, you’ll find that it looks very similar to a model in Toyota’s existing line-up.

Source

Click here to read the rest of Two Lexus models for Malaysia in 2007

Lexus released this teaser image of their upcoming BMW M3 competitor, the Lexus IS-F, which will be the first model in it’s new F range of performance tuned vehicles. The Lexus IS-F is expected to have either a 4.6 liter V8 or a new 5.0 liter V8 making close to 400 horsepower.

I like the color that they used for the teaser images, it’s a very nice hue of blue like the ones we get as an option on the Toyota Avanza locally, but the vertically stacked exhaust pipes are just too weird for my tastes. Though only one side of the rear is shown, it’s probably going to be quad exhaust pipes, with a similiar design mirrored on the other side. How strange for conservative Toyota/Lexus to pull off design stunts of this sort.

You can also see how they are positioning the new F logo of their performance division, placed next to the IS logo on the rear boot, styled in a nice chrome. More updates as Lexus releases more information on the new Lexus IS-F. Word is that there will be a real life show of the car at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show.

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Lexus M3 competitor to be called Lexus IS-F
Lexus IS500 Preview

In order to compete with Mercedes’ AMG and BMW’s M divisions, Lexus has decided to develop a performance branding badge for it’s top of the line sports-oriented cars, and it’s decided to tag them with an “F” badge. Trademarks have been filed for the model name IS-F, as well as the F logo shown above.

Looks like some kind of shoe manufacturer logo to me, but anyway, while previously it was rumoured that the BMW M3-competitor Lexus IS-F (IS500) would be powered by a new 2UR-FSE 5.0 liter V8 based on the 1UR-FSE, it is also possible that there will be no new engine and the 4.6 liter V8 1UR-FSE would be used instead. The 1UR-FSE, a 4.6 liter DOHC V8 with Dual VVT-i and direct injection with a high 11.8:1 compression ratio makes 380hp at 6,400rpm and 498Nm of torque at 4,100rpm. The 1UR-FSE also comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission, that’s right - EIGHT ratios!

While Lexus is keeping mum on the issue for the moment, the new F-line of cars is expected to be announced at the Detroit Motor Show 2007. I can just see the advertisement taglines now - “You’ve been F-ed!”

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Lexus IS500 Preview

Apparently there will be a variant of the Lexus LF-A sold under the Toyota brand under the venerable Supra badge, but instead of using the LF-A’s 500hp V10, it will use a tuned up version of the Lexus GS450h’s 339hp 3.5 liter V6 hybrid engine paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission.

The hybrid powertrain, called the 2GR-FSE, is said to produce power equivalent to a 4.5 liter V8, hence the GS450h moniker. The S in the engine code represents the inclusion of Toyota’s D4-S twin injection system, which combines direct injection with traditional port injection. At low revs, the engine uses a combination of both direct injection and port injection, while at high load conditions only direct injection is used. This supposedly allows for better fuel efficiency.

The new Toyota Supra hybrid sportscar is expected to be unveiled end of 2007.

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2008 Lexus LF-A at Nurburgring
Lexus LF-H Spyshots
Lexus LF-A