Rumormill (Yet Again): Lexus GS-F is coming

This certainly isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumblings about Lexus working on a performance version of itsGS sedan. The crew at Road & Track reports that the upcoming GS-F will serve as the range-topping trim in the GS model range, set apart from its siblings with not only a more aggressive appearance, but a serious increase in power, to boot.

Sources within Toyota have told the buff book that the GS-F will be powered by a 5.0-liter V8, just like the smaller IS-F, but that output will be increased to 465 horsepower for the larger sedan. The other key ingredient to making the GS-F a serious performer is a substantial reduction in weight. Through the use of aluminum and carbon fiber components, Toyota aims to have the GS-F weigh in at about 3,700 pounds, meaning it should be capable of ripping off 4.5-second 0-60 times.

Toyota is positioning the GS-F to compete with the likes of the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, with prices to start somewhere around the $90,000 to $100,000 range. No official timeframe has been given on when we’ll actually see the GS-F, but R&T states that it could show up as early as 2012, after therefreshed GS range debuts.

Lexus expects to sell 1,000 CTs a month despite HS flop

Lexus is pinning rather high the expectations on its new CT 200h, billed as “The Dark Side of Green.” According to Brian Bolain, the automaker’s national advertising and marketing manager, Lexus expects to sell about 1,000 CTs here in the U.S. each month. We wish them the best of luck, but have some serious reservations.

Consider that the combined sales of the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30 (which represent the vehicles most likely to be cross-shopped with the CT) tally up about 1,500 sales per month, according toWard’s Automotive. For what it’s worth, the 1 Series, which is the only non-dedicated hatchback and easily the sportiest of the bunch, makes up the vast majority of the segment’s sales.

As you’re surely aware, the CT 200h is indeed a dedicated hatchback and it offers up a comparatively paltry 98 horsepower from its Prius-derived Atkinson-cycle 1.8-liter four-cylinder, aided by another 36 ponies from its two electric motors and 28 NiMH batteries. As we said in our First Drive of the CT, that power level, particularly when coupled to a continuously variable automatic transmission, doesn’t exactly incite driving excitement.

Lexus bombards SEMA with six custom hybrids, one giant wing

Lexus is descending on Las Vegas with a host of custom-built show cars just for SEMA. A total of six models will be on hand for the aftermarket shindig, including an F Sport version of the all-new CT200h. The hybrid rolls on 18×8-inch wheels and sports a high-performance big-brake kit straight from the company’s go-fast catalog.

But the CT200h isn’t the only hybrid Lexus will be bringing to the party. In fact, all of the customized rides that the company plans to display rock a battery pack and an electric motor. VIP Auto Salon worked up anHS250h with custom wheel, exhaust and interior work as well as a trick LS600h L, and 0-60 Magazine spun a few wrenches on a GS450h. That particular sedan rocks one of the wildest carbon-fiber body kits we’ve ever laid eyes on, as you can see above.

Meanwhile, Lexus set Fox Marketing loose on another LS600h L, resulting in a slightly more subdued vehicle with custom paint and a unique bumper. Finally, Paul Tolson of EST will be bringing along an RX450h with a full wide-body treatment. Hit the jump for the full press release and check out all the vehicles in high-res glory below.

Lexus CT 200h F Sport unveiled in Sydney

Lexus is serious about pitching the CT 200h as a sportier alternative to most hybrids. Thing is, like the Honda CR-Z, the CT doesn’t really live up to that hype. That won’t stop Lexus from beefing things up a bit, though. To that end, it has unveiled an F Sport package for the hybrid hatch.

Unveiled at Sydney’s Australian International Motor Show, the CT 200h F Sport gets a revised body kit, up-sized alloys, tinted glass, specific dashboard and door panel trim, a thicker steering wheel, and new pedals.

Lexus says it has re-tuned the suspension as well, and an optional Flame Blue color joins the catalog. Unfortunately, we think it makes the CT look more budget than premium. You can read all the details in the press release after the jump.

First Drive: 2011 Lexus CT 200h

“Stealing” seems a touch harsh, so let’s go with “uninformed borrowing” instead. After all, Lexus didhand me the keys to a U.S.-spec CT 200h hybrid, along with a vetted and approved route book through Northern France, but I had different plans. I was on a mini-mission.

You see, the wife doesn’t ask much when I travel abroad. A phone call or two a day, keep hydrated and avoid the brothels. A simple list. But when she caught wind I’d be in France for the Paris Motor Show, she requested one thing: macarons. Specifically, the meringue confections from Paris’ world-famous Ladurée.

So with a willing driving partner and the sat-nav set to a location a few blocks from the Arc de Triomphe, we headed south to snag some pastries and give Lexus’ hybrid hatch a thorough testing in its natural (read: European) environment.

By the Numbers: Your statistical chance of dying in an unrepaired recalled Toyota

Toyota has recalled and fixed over five million cars. The entire Toyota and Lexus lineup will feature the company’s new Smart-Stop brake override system for the 2011 model year. Yet the automaker still faces criticism that it builds unsafe vehicles. Will driving an unfixed Toyota lead to your death? Not likely.

According to The Detroit News, a panel of experts was recently dispatched to study the causes of sudden acceleration. In its research, the panel found that the current risk of dying in a traffic accident is rated at 1.05 deaths for every 100 million miles traveled. If you drive a Toyota product, which has bit repaired been fixed as part of the recall, the rate rises modestly to 1.07 deaths. Statistically speaking, that’s one Toyota recall-related death for every five billion miles of driving. Toyota has fixed over 60 percent of the vehicles in the recall and they don’t appear to be slowing down.

We’ve heard many a borderline-hysterical comment from readers stating that they would rather walk than risk driving a vehicle made by Toyota. If you do that, statistics suggest you are 19 times more likely to die. Mile for mile, the risk of walking alongside the road is that much higher than driving on it. Just sayin’.

Lexus rumored to replace SC430 with 500-hp LC600h hybrid super-coupe

Hard as it may be to imagine from its rounded styling, the Lexus SC430 was once considered to be a halo vehicle. Well, maybe not quite, but its folded hardtop self was enough to bring at least a few customers into showrooms. Today, that job belongs to the LFA supercar, but in between the two models there’s a gulf wide enough to fill with a few hundred million gallons of crude oil. (What, too soon?) Now, we wouldn’t go so far as to call the current SC a disaster, but suffice it to say it could use a replacement. Badly.

According to a new story from Motor Trend, that replacement is on the way, and looks like it could be worth the wait. Dubbed LC600h, the new two-door is reportedly slated to borrow its underpinnings from the next-generation LS flagship sedan. A folding hardtop is still expected to be part of the mix (as it has been on every convertible Lexus ever made), but don’t go dismissing this as a lump of mush: According to MT, an updated version of the LS600h sedan’s 5.0-liter hybrid V8 packing as much as – wait for it – 500 horsepower is slated to replace the SC’s lackluster 288-horsepower 4.3-liter. What’s more, it’s expected to drive all four wheels. That’s nearly twice as much power as the model it’s slated to replace, and what we around here call “progress.”

Lexus Safety Experience: Enthusiast knowledge made common

You’re an auto enthusiast. You know what all the acronyms on the buttons around your dash stand for. You understand that braking power can beat engine power 99% of the time. That feeling you get from activating the anti-lock braking system? It’s not “scary” and you know you should keep your foot down. The problem is that the average driver or new-car shopper is not an enthusiast. Lexus knows this and it has created an event to help educate its salesmen around the country, who in turn can better explain the safety systems available on the cars in the showroom.

The Lexus Safety Experience is a half-day event that highlights the safety tech fitted to most Lexus vehicles (some 2010 models and all 2011s). In short, it decodes the aforementioned acronym alphabet soup and then demonstrates exactly what each one does. What does VSC stand for? What is TRAC and VDIM? Is EBD something I should get tested for?

Lexus CT 200h: Details on U.S. version arrive

You want proof of how important the 2011 Lexus CT 200 is to the company? Look no further than the eight press releases totaling 11,987 words that you’ll find after the jump. We received a brief ride-along in the hybrid hatch not long ago in Europe, before they’d even take the tape off the logos, and found it full of promise. Lexus is determined to let you know it will keep that promise and pledges even more.

Total output has been pegged at 134 horsepower, with 98 hp coming from the 1.8-liter VVT-i four-cylinder gas engine and 80 hp provided by the electric motor. From a standstill, it will take 9.8 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour. Ease up on the gas a bit and the estimated EPA rating is 42 miles per gallon. A new suspension with aluminum gubbins and low-friction goodies designed specifically for this car features MacPherson struts up front with double wishbones in back, tuned for “spirited” handling. An aluminum hood and tailgate help lower the center of gravity and the curb weight.

Inside, the cockpit has been built around the driver, and the eco-goodness goes beyond the Lexus Hybrid Drive: the audio system is energy efficient and boasts bamboo charcoal speakers. The pilot can choose his particular driving mood, Dynamic or Relaxing, and one of four driving modes: EV, ECO, Normal or Sport.

2011 Lexus IS lives out Keith Moon fantasies

For 2011, the Lexus IS sport sedan is getting a mild exterior styling update. Up front, the grille and bumper are all new, while a new taillamp cover and tailpipe design update the posterior. Not one to be left out of a trend, the Lexus IS is also adding HID headlamps paired with LED daytime running lights.

The upgraded lights are standard on the 2011 IS350 and are an option on the IS250. New color choices and wheel styles round out the exterior changes, but the most interesting update happens under the skin with the availability of all-wheel drive on the IS350. Thirty percent of customers opt for the all-wheel drive IS250, but now they can get the added traction along with an extra 102 horsepower.

Enthused about the updates, Lexus created a video of the IS sport sedan performing… a drum solo? In an apparent bid to highlight the precision handling of their IS sedan, fitted with F-sport parts, they pulled together a team which includes composers, a mathematician and a stunt driver. Music and driving go hand in hand and the beat this Ultrasonic Blue Lexus IS lays down is surprisingly good. See (and hear) for yourself after the jump.

BREAKING: Lexus recalls HS250h over risk of excessive fuel leakage

Back in the 1970s, the Ford Pinto was the focus of many headlines due to a fuel tank issue which caused excessive amounts of gasoline to leak during a rear-end collision. Now, three decades later, Lexus is having a similar problem with its HS250h hybrid, and has filed a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a voluntary recall of these vehicles. Up to 17,000 of the luxury hybrids are affected.

In the case of the HS, excessive fuel leakage occurred during rear-end collisions at speeds of 50 miles per hour. We don’t need to remind you about the dangers of excessive fuel spillage, but let’s just say that the end result can be very, very bad.

As of this writing, Lexus has not advised NHTSA about what steps will be taken to fix the defective HS models. Make the jump for the full details.

BREAKING: Lexus recalls HS250h over risk of excessive fuel leakage

Back in the 1970s, the Ford Pinto was the focus of many headlines due to a fuel tank issue which caused excessive amounts of gasoline to leak during a rear-end collision. Now, three decades later, Lexus is having a similar problem with its HS250h hybrid, and has filed a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a voluntary recall of these vehicles. Up to 17,000 of the luxury hybrids are affected.

In the case of the HS, excessive fuel leakage occurred during rear-end collisions at speeds of 50 miles per hour. We don’t need to remind you about the dangers of excessive fuel spillage, but let’s just say that the end result can be very, very bad.

As of this writing, Lexus has not advised NHTSA about what steps will be taken to fix the defective HS models. Make the jump for the full details.

Adios! Lexus SC430 to be euthanized in July

It was rumored in January and now it’s been confirmed by Automobile Magazine: Lexus will kill its slow-selling SC430 this July and it will reportedly return in 2014 packing a hybrid electric drivetrain and a new V8.

Aside from a handful of special edition models, the SC430 has soldiered on largely unchanged for the better part of a decade, and with less the 1,000 SCs sold last year and a final run of around 300 slated to be built in 2010, its demise will likely go unnoticed save a few octogenarians that pick up a new Pebble Beach Edition each summer.

According to Automobile, the next generation SC is slated to arrive sometime in 2014, packing a 5.0-liter V8 and a hybrid drivetrain that should be good for 400-500 horsepower. The Lexus SC600h – as it’s tentatively dubbed – would be a fitting replacement to the SuperGT racer that’s been running in the Japanese touring car series for the last several years – unless Lexus decides the LFA is a more worthy combatant.

Don’t fret: Lexus LFA not sold out, more allocated to U.S.

The recent rash of reports about the Lexus LFA being sold out appears to have been a bit premature.

Production of the LFA begins this December and Toyota intends to produce a total of 500 units which will be sold through an unorthodox leasing procedure. The process involves putting money down, signing a non-transferable lease for 24 months and then having the option to purchase the 552-horsepower supercoupe once the two-year term comes to a close. As reported previously, the leasing system is an attempt to thwart speculators who would undoubtedly purchase an LFA and then flip it for a profit on the exotic market.

As for selling out, Lexus officials have said that the number of interested parties has exceeded the total 500-unit run, but as always, interest is different than intent, and a few more slots for U.S. buyers still remain. Additionally, the original cap of 150 LFA’s slated for Stateside consumption has increased by 21 units for a total of 171, although it’s unclear where those additional LFAs are coming from.

Report: Lexus LFA sold out

If you were wondering whether there was a market for a $375,000 Lexus, wonder no more. Automotive Newsreports that all 500 copies of the 552-horsepower LFA are officially sold out. Not a surprise if you ask us, considering the fact that there always seems to be a healthy market for ultra-rare exotics with a ridiculously low production quota. But the fact that the LFA is resonating with the European elite is a bit of a shock, as the report claims that one-third of pre-sold LFAs are heading straight for the land of Porsche, Mercedes-Benzand BMW. Lexus even brought eight of the German LFA owners to the 24 Hours of Nurburgring race for some wining and dining.

Lexus hasn’t announced how many LFAs would go to which regions of the globe, but an earlier Wall St. Journal report quoted Lexus as saying that Toyota’s luxury arm would hand-pick which perspective buyers would gain the right to own the LFA. Looks like we didn’t make the cut, not that we had the $375k to spend one anyway.

Lexus GX officially off Consumer Reports “Don’t Buy” lis

According to Consumer Reports, it’s officially safe to wade back into Lexus GX waters. The luxury SUV has been removed from the infamous “Do Not Buy” list after Toyota solved the handling issues that landed the high-riding people mover in time-out. The Japanese automaker has corrected a software issue that allowed the vehicle to lose control during emergency braking maneuvers. All new models will be sold with the fix, and current owners have been asked to bring in their vehicles so that the repair can be made free of charge.

About a month ago, Consumer Reports found that during testing, the stability control on the new GX failed to reign in wild slides, thereby creating a potential recipe for a roll-over. The magazine’s testing resulted in an internal investigation at Toyota that eventually produced the software fix. To date, no one has been injured due to the glitch.

While the Lexus GX is officially back in the game, it may take some time before buyers stop associating the truck with the Consumer Reports black list.

Toyota issues stop sale on 2010 GX 460

It seems Toyota’s learned a few things from its recent spate of recalls – react quickly, react decisively and repeatedly reassure customers that their safety is a top priority.

To that end, Toyota has issued a stop sale on the 2010 Lexus GX 460 after Consumer Reportsdeemed the SUV a safety risk earlier today and added the ‘ute to its “Do Not Buy” list.

According to Toyota, the automaker is investigating CR‘s claims and using the consumer pub’s testing methodology to determine how the SUV’s emergency handling can be improved. Furthermore, any 2010 GX 460 owner concerned about their vehicle’s safety will be provided a loaner vehicle from Lexus until the automaker can find a solution. Full details in the press release after the jump.

Lexus LFA Special Edition Officially Revealed – As if this NEEDED to Happen… [High-Res Photos]

Lexus feels the need to release a sub-model of its LFA. As if the car needs any more attention drummed up; enough people are drooling over this piece of engineering arrogance as it is.

Officially referenced as the SPECIAL EDITION (and not Nurburgring Edition) in the press release , it’ll be available in Black, Matte Black, “Whitest White”, or Orange.

The LFA SE will come with canards and a fixed wing in CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer); you know, to make it more unique than the other $375,000 Lexus down the street. Also, they’ll apparently help at the track aerodynamically.

Power is said to get a boost from 560 to 570 horsepower (ECU work, most likely), and the suspension is “high-power-only”, whatever that means. The Special Edition’s SWs (special wheels) will be shod in grippy rubber (Haiguripputaiya), which should help get the power to the ground through the re-calibrated transmission.

Whereas a regular LFA’s shift speed on a track day would be around 0.2 seconds, an SE owner’s rack day will get done just a hair quicker at 0.15 seconds.

There’s no word yet on pricing…this is the point where clever people would usually put “If you have to ask…”, but I’m not clever, I’m realistic. You just can’t afford it. That, or you don’t live in the right area with the right roads.

Lexus CT 200h

Good news for lexus fans: luxury automaker has announced that it will unveil the production version of the first full hybrid vehicle that bears the name CT 200h at the Geneva Auto Show in the beginning of March.

The five-door model is designed to go against the Audi A3 and the BMW 1-Series hatches with Lexus claiming that it will offer “new levels of refinement and attention to detail, without compromising style or driving pleasure”.

The Lexus CT 200h will equipped with second-generation Hybrid Drive technology and that it can be driven exclusively in all-electric mode.

Even though it is speculated that the CT 200h will use the same FWD hybrid powertrain as the Lexus HS 250h, this has not been officially confirmed.