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Lexus to recall Variable Gear Ratio Steering equipped LS

May 20, 2010 at 10:56 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Lexus


Toyota Motor Corporation is preparing a recall of Lexus LS models equipped with Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS). The number of cars involved is still being finalised but initial figures show approximately 11,500 affected vehicles globally.

VGRS is a feature that enables easier handling during low speed driving and better stability at high speeds by changing the gear ratio. The LS’ problem occurs at low speed when manoeuvring the steering wheel to full lock position. If the driver then returns the steering wheel very fast, this could lead to a steering wheel off-centre condition even though the driving wheels would be straight.

This phenomenon will be resolved automatically in a few seconds and the driver may notice this correction as the steering wheel moves slowly by itself to the centre position when driving straight during the correction operation. The driver remains in control of the vehicle as the steering wheel self corrects itself.

This matter has been under investigation by TMC since March this year after have received approximately 10 complaints in Japan. No accidents have been reported relating to this issue and no other Lexus vehicles are affected.

A quick check at Lexus Malaysia’s website show that both LS models sold here – the LS 460L and LS 460 Sport – come with VGRS. The company should be already in touch with customers of the big limo. We’ll post updates, if any.

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VIDEO: Lexus CT 200h “Dark Ride” viral ad campaign

May 19, 2010 at 6:05 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Lexus, Videos

Lexus is pulling out all the stops to promote its new hybrid hatchback – the CT 200h. Making the car look like a star is vital in creating appeal, and with the Dark Ride viral ad campaign, Lexus follows the footsteps of Audi and famously BMW with its “The Hire” series of short films featuring celebs like Madonna and Clive Owen. No human stars for Lexus though; the car is the only star.

“With ‘Dark Ride’ we are creating a unique virtual test drive opportunity so consumers can experience this hybrid, that is like no other, months before it is available at dealerships in early 2011. In it, consumers play a co-starring role as the fun-to-drive Lexus CT 200h is put through its paces. By guiding the driver and the CT through a series of adventures, customers will be exposed to ‘The Darker Side of Green,’ which is completely different than the way hybrids are usually portrayed,” explains Lexus marketing VP Dave Nordstrom.

Based on the LF-Ch concept, the much toned down CT 200h is a Golf sized five-door hatch powered by a 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol engine with an electric motor.

Click here for more info and images.

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Lexus’ latest hybrid concept is a bicycle!

April 28, 2010 at 4:53 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Lexus

Carbon fibre construction, eight-speed transmission and hybrid power presented in L-finesse design. Sounds like the latest F model from Lexus but the above description is actually for the company’s Lexus Hybrid Bicycle. It was unveiled at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, but I do not remember seeing it there – must be that limelight grabbing LFA’s fault!

Lexus, which is the premium segment’s hybrid champion, has applied the same thinking, fundamental engineering and design values of the brand here, but on two wheels rather than four. The Hybrid Bicycle adopts similar principles as its car siblings, with the pedal power of the rider boosted by assistance to the front wheel from a 240W electric motor, via a 25.9V lithium-ion battery. Like the cars, there’s a choice of Eco or Power modes plus brake energy regeneration!

Power goes two all wheels via an electric eight-speed Shimano internal gear system, the same number of ratios as the Lexus LS 600h at the other end of the hybrid range. This bike’s light too, being crafted from carbon fibre.

Lexus is the title sponsor of the Great British Bike Ride, a four-day charity fun ride that will see hundreds of cyclists following a course from Land’s End to the home of English rugby at Twickenham, and has brought one of only two Lexus Hybrid Bicycles in existence to the UK for show. No plans for production, though. More pics after the jump.
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Lexus IS 250C previewed up close and personal

April 14, 2010 at 6:23 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Lexus, Local News


The convertible version of the Lexus IS glided into our market quietly last month; only a press release alerted us of Lexus Malaysia’s latest addition. There won’t be test drive units available for the media (so we’re told), so Lexus Malaysia organised a media preview session where we got to feel and touch, but not drive the IS 250C.

Priced at RM432,000 OTR without insurance, the IS 250C is the brand’s second drop top model after the SC 430 (Toyota Soarer) and competes with the likes of BMW’s 3-Series Convertible and the Audi A5 Cabrio.

Continue reading the report after the jump.
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Lexus LF-A gets Nürburgring package – only 50 cars!

March 30, 2010 at 10:21 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Lexus

Not everyone will be able to call themselves lucky owners of the Lexus LF-A, and probably even fewer will equip their car with this new “Nürburgring” package, which Lexus says is aimed at hardcore track driving enthusiasts. There are only 50 of these packages available for upgrade from the existing run of only 500 LF-As.

The package includes new aerodynamics elements including a fixed rear wing for greater downforce. The 4.8 litre V10 gets a power boost to 562hp (just a 10hp upgrade) and the 6-speed transmission has been reprogrammed for faster shifts of just 0.15 seconds per shift. The 100km/h mark on the speedo is passed in just 3.7 seconds, which is the same as the ‘standard’ LF-A, and so is the top speed of which Lexus says is a plus point considering the extra wind drag added by the extra aerodynamics.

Other modifications include sports tuning of the suspension and mesh-type wheels shod with dedicated high-grip tyres. Customers will be able to take advantage of individual driving instruction on the Nordschleife circuit from the Nürburgring’s chief instructors. They will also receive a one-year driving pass to the track.
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Lexus IS F gets LSD for 2010, laps Fuji two seconds faster!

March 29, 2010 at 10:03 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Lexus


Lexus UK has unveiled the 2010 spec Lexus IS F, which is claimed to have sharper handling, new tech updates and an all-white interior.

As announced at last year’s Frankfurt motor show, Lexus’ M3 rival gets a new limited slip differential, improving traction and stability in high-speed cornering. The Torsen unit handles the 505 Nm delivered by the IS F’s 5.0-litre V8 engine, automatically directing drive torque to the rear wheel with the most grip. Out-and-out performance is unchanged, with the IS F capable of 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and a limited top speed of 270 km/h. However, the LSD improves the car’s lap time around the Fuji International Speedway by a full two seconds.


The super saloon also ships with a new satellite navigation system powered by a 40GB hard disk drive, with full-map coverage across Europe. 10GB of the HDD’s capacity is dedicated to a “sound library” function. The IS F’s 14-speaker Mark Levinson 5.1 surround sound system has also been upgraded to receive DAB digital broadcasts and a USB port has been added.

The IS F can be ordered with a new white leather interior in place of the standard black and mesh-design 19-inch alloy wheels instead of the standard 10-spoke design. Both are no-cost options for the £55,995 car. More images after the jump.
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Lexus IS 250C Convertible now in Malaysia!

March 24, 2010 at 5:53 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Lexus

Lexus Malaysia is now offering its first convertible car – the Lexus IS 250C. It’s priced at RM432,000 OTR without insurance. Scary prices considering in Japan the list price is 4,950,000 Yen to 5,350,000 Yen. Apart from the standard colours available for the IS range, there are three special additional colours offered for IS 250C – Blue Metallic, Silvery Blue Metallic and Cattleya Mica Metallic. The engine is the same Dual VVT-i D-4 direct injection 205 horsepower 252Nm unit (detuned from the Japanese spec 215 PS) in the IS 250, 0 to 100km/h takes 9 seconds compared to 8.4 seconds in the sedan, thanks to the heavier weight of the convertible body.

The 3-piece hard top takes 21 seconds to come down and is made of lightweight aluminium. The air conditioning system has also been tuned for convertible usage, featuring a special top down mode that adjusts cabin temperature in relation to exterior temperature and the amount of sunlight. Air volume is also adjusted according to vehicle speed. With the top up, you get 553L of boot space which is more than sufficient for 2 golf bags. With the design to fold the 3-piece retractable roof using the least amount of space, the IS-C boot is still able to accommodate a 9” golf bag with the top down.

Look after the jump for a full gallery and videos of the car.
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Lexus opens 3S facility in Penang, JB is next in line

March 19, 2010 at 12:02 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Lexus, Local News

Lexus Malaysia has opened a new 3S facility in Penang, the brand’s second outlet after Mutiara Damansara. The RM1.5 million facility is situated at Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Georgetown, and the showroom part occupies a total built-up area of 10,000 square feet, including a “luxury lounge” and a café. Another 15,000 square feet is allocated for a service centre and customer parking area, to open in June this year. It is operated by Telagamas Motors, which has 28 years of auto industry experience in the northern region.

“Having completed the ‘Brand Awareness Phase’ over the past three years, we are now moving to expand the network presence. With expansion plans in place, we aim to grow our market share. The opening of Lexus Penang marks the start of extending our reach to be even closer to our customers,” said Kuah Kock Heng, President of Lexus Malaysia.

Last year, Lexus Malaysia put more than 300 new Lexus vehicles on the road, and the RX350 SUV was its biggest seller by some margin. With this new Penang outlet, the UMW Toyota division is targetting 400 vehicles in 2010. Next up for the brand is an outlet in Johor Bahru by the end of the year and possibly a presence in the East Coast and East Malaysia in 2011.

Images of the newly opened centre is after the jump.
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Lexus LFA to compete in Nürburgring 24 Hours

March 16, 2010 at 5:20 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Lexus, Motorsports

The Lexus LFA is heading back to Nürburgring this May, the place where it clocked plenty of testing miles in pre-production form. This time, the mission is to challenge for glory in the famed 24 hours endurance race.

It will be the first time the production LFA enters a competition. However, the car isn’t a stranger to the Nürburgring 24 Hours as development versions of Lexus’ supercar were entered in two previous occasions to help hone performance and handling. Toyota president Akio Toyoda took his turn behind the wheel in those outings.

Gazoo Racing will prepare two LFAs for the race. Led by top Toyota test driver Hiromu Naruse, the team will include four Japanese and three German drivers who between them have outstanding GT and endurance racing experience.

Takayuki Kinoshita is a six-time winner of the Super Taikyu Endurance Series and is the most experienced Japanese driver in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Akira Ida was overall winner of the Tokachi 24 Hours in 1995 and 2007, and both Juichi Wakisaka and Kazuya Oshima race in Super GT.

The Germans are Armin Hahne, winner of the Spa 24 Hours in 1982 and 1983; Jochen Krumbach, who finished second overall in the 2008 Nürburgring 24 Hours; and Andre Lotterer, reigning Super GT 500 champion. Sepang Super GT regulars will recognise Lotterer as the man who drives for championship winning Team Petronas Tom’s.

The Lexus LFA is powered by a 552 bhp mid-mounted V10 engine, and is capable of 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and a top speed beyond 320 km/h. More images after the jump.
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Lexus reveals CT 200h hatchback ahead of Geneva

February 27, 2010 at 11:27 am By Danny Tan Filed Under 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Cars, International News, Lexus

This is the new CT 200h, Lexus’ first hatchback which also is “the first full hybrid vehicle to be launched in the premium compact segment”. Based on the LF-Ch concept, this car is meant to lower the entry point of Lexus ownership and attract younger customers to the brand. Production will start late this year.

Designed and developed with Europe in mind, this production-ready Geneva showstar sports much toned down styling from the gold coloured concept that was unveiled in Frankfurt last year. The CT 200h should be about the size of a Golf; its 2600 mm wheelbase is 20 mm longer than the VW’s. The marque’s L-finesse design philosophy and the need for maximum aerodynamic efficiency and minimum wind noise determined the final shape. There’s some interesting detailing going on, but as a whole it looks dull to these eyes; what do you think?

If the exterior design didn’t stick true to the concept, the cabin is downright disappointing after what was promised. It looks high quality, but what happened to the bit about attracting younger customers? Anyway, the driving position is set low, with a highly supportive driver’s seat, says its maker, while in Sport mode, the hybrid indicator in the binnacle functions as a tachometer and the ambient lighting turns from blue to red. Lexus’ mouse-like Remote Touch controller makes an appearance.

The hybrid system in the CT 200h combines a 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol engine with an electric motor. This Lexus is capable of running in fully electric, zero emissions EV mode for up to 2 km (only?) at speeds up to 45 km/h. Lexus says that the CT sits on a new platform with a dedicated double wishbone and trailing arm rear suspension system setup, which combines the ride comfort expected of a Lexus with superior driving involvement and handling agility.

To see what this car might have been, click here to see the LF-Ch. More pics of the CT 200h after the jump.
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