Lexus
Lexus teases the CT 200h, world debut in Geneva
Remember the gold-coloured Lexus LF-Ch concept that was showed six months ago? Well now Lexus is ready with a production version which will be presented at the Geneva Motor Show. Called the CT 200h, it will become the first full hybrid vehicle in the premium compact segment, according to Lexus that is.
The CT 200h is equipped with the second-generation Lexus Hybrid Drive technology. That should be a system that includes a 1.8 liter petrol engine and an electric motor. Total output should be figured at 134hp. Above is a teaser image of the new vehicle released by the company. The hybrid will be showcased along with the Lexus LFA supercar.
Lexus plays down rumors of GS getting LFA’s V10 powerplant
The automotive press have been talking about Lexus dumping in the monstrous V10 engine found in the LFA super car into a high performance variant of the Lexus GS mid-sized sedan which is expected to be called the GS F. In response to the rumors, Lexus Europe release the following on its Twitter profile: “Many rumours flying on Lexus GS F V10. Not going to comment on those. Only that LFA V10 is bespoke to LFA.”
Many are talking about Lexus prepping an M5 fighter with its next GS model and the V10 that is good for 553hp at 8,700 revs and 480Nm of torque at 6,800 revs looks the part for the job, but it seems that the pairing of the GS and the LFA’s V10 will remain just as a rumor. At the same time, the company did not brush off talks concerning the introduction of a GS F in the first place.
Land Cruiser-based 2010 Lexus GX460 to debut in China
Lexus will introduce the 2010 GX460 at the upcoming Auto Guangzhou 2009 motor event that will take place between November 23rd and 30th in China. The GX will be a smaller SUV than the recent Toyota Land Cruiser that was revealed about two months ago in Frankfurt. The Lexus variant should be treated to the same design as the Land Cruiser, but with some minor changes here and there. As the GX460 designation suggests, it will be powered by a 4.6 liter V8 that can output 310hp. This engine is also offered with the 2010 Tundra pickup. Pictured above is the 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser.
552 HP Lexus LFA supercar unveiled: Only 500 units planned
Lexus has officially unveiled the LFA super car that will make its public debut at the Tokyo Motor Show this week. The LFA has its rear wheels driven by a mid-front mounted 1LR-GSE 4.8 liter DOHC V10 that produces 552 HP at 8,700 revs and 480Nm of pulling power that is achieved at 6,800 revs and 90% of it is available from 3,700 revs. The engine that features Dual VVT-i technology, equal length exhaust manifolds and high-volume, a total of 40 valves, 12-hole fuel injectors and a 12:1 compression ratio is paired with a rear-mounted 6-speed Automated Sequential Gearbox that is operated by steering-mounted paddle shifters.
The LFA also has four driving modes including Auto, Sport, Normal and Wet. 0 – 100 km/h takes only 3.7 seconds and top speed is rated at 325 km/h. The Japanese supercar which has a limited slip differential features a track-tuned suspension made up by a bespoke front wishbone and rear multilink design configuration that is mostly made of aluminium alloy.
It also has aluminium monotube dampers that were also featured in the LFA race car that took part in the Nurburgring 24-hour event. The rack and pinion setup in the LFA features an Electric Power Steering System. Braking wise, it has 390 mm and 306 mm discs for the front and rear. All discs feature a carbon ceramic construction. The front discs feature 6-piston aluminium calipers while the rear features 4 pistons.
The LFA weighs 1,480kg and sits on the ground with 20-inch aluminium BBS wheels fitted with 265/35ZR20 tires for the front and 305/20ZR20 tires for the rear supplied by Bridgestone. The Lexus made vehicle also features a carbon fiber rear diffuser, a flat underbody as well as an active rear wing. Inside the LFA is treated to seats that are finished in fine leather and Alcantara, trim details in brushed metal while the floor-hinged brake and throttle pedals are made of forged aluminium. There is also a hooded instrument panel that combines an LCD display panel with a colour Thin Film Transistor (TFT).
Only 500 examples will be made and each will set you back by about £336,000. The supercar will be hand-assembled at the Motomachi factory in Toyota City while each V10 powerplant will be assembled by one engineer. Look for more images after the jump. There is also a promo video of LFA. Read the rest of this entry.
Carscoop catches the 2010 Lexus LF-A supercar
The guys at Carscoop have managed to snap spy shots of the upcoming supercar by Lexus, with minimum camouflage. From the looks of it, the production version of the LF-A supercar looks very similar to the concept version. The LF-A is expected to be motivated by a front-mid-mounted 5.0 liter V10 that should output slightly more than 500HP and should be paired with an automated manual transmission, with steering-mounted paddle shifters. Production is expected to be limited to 500 units, with 120 units to be specified for the Japan domestic market, with each to cost about 30 million yen or 222,000 Euros. The 2010 Lexus LF-A supercar is expected to make its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, starting next month, on October 23rd. To view more images, please click here.
Frankfurt 2009: Lexus facelifts the GS 450h
Apart from facelifting the LS 600h, Lexus has also slightly re-worked the GS 450h. The 2010 GS 450h now features a new grille, larger transparent outer lenses on the taillights and new 18-inch alloy wheels for the SE-L variant. The auto maker has also added three new colours including Vanilla Mist, Richmond Green and Atlantic Blue, increasing total colour options to 11.
Inside, the new 450h comes with a new hybrid-blue backlit stop/start button and the choice of a new Venaro Grey semi-aniline leather upholstery option, with contrasting black stitching and grey bird’s eye maple wood grain trim. Just like the LS 600h, the hybrid GS features a new hard disc drive (HDD) navigation system with a 40GB capacity.
Lexus has also upgraded the audio systems (the 10-speaker Lexus premium package and the 14-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound System), with a USB and an audio jack plug. The Pre-Crash Safety system in the GS 450h has been revised to support the pre-crash seatbelt and brake assist functions with pre-crash brake technology. Continue reading to view an image gallery. Read the rest of this entry.
Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Lexus LS 600h upgraded
Toyota-owned and Japanese-based auto maker Lexus has upgraded the hybrid version of the Lexus LS luxury sedan. The upgrades are evident on both the short and long wheel base versions of the LS 600h. Styling wise, it now has a new front grille (with four bars), a revised front bumper with new intakes and foglamps, LED turn signals as well as new daytime running lights. Body colour wise, Mesa Red, Vanilla Mist, Richmond Green and Atlantic Blue are newly available, together with the hybrid-exclusive Crystal Sapphire. The paint has a new Self-restoring Coat treatment that helps maintain a nice finish over the vehicle’s lifetime.
Inside, there is a new colour TFT LCD display integrated into the revised instrument panel, EMV multi-display touch screen with large switches and rearranged layout for the audio controls while the audio switch that is now made of aluminium. There is also a new light grey semi-aniline leather upholstery.
It also has a seating feature, that includes new, inflator operated active headrests, a new return/away function for the front seat and for the first time for a five-seat configuration, there is the Lexus Rear Seat Relaxation Pack (optional). It has a 40:20:40 design with an upper seatback reclining mechanism, fully retractable leg and footrest and lower back massage function, all operated using a remote controller. It also offers different levels of massage using an array of eight pneumatic chambers built into the seatback, and lumbar and shoulder areas. It also offers an extra 40mm in the forward sliding range of the front passenger seat.
There is also a new hard disc drive (HDD) navigation system with the 40GB capacity. Furthermore there is a new automatic high beam system. A camera sensor in the rear view mirror detects oncoming traffic, street lamps and vehicles travelling ahead and automatically switches the headlamp high beam on and off according to driving conditions.
The auto maker has also revised the Hybrid Drive System. It now has an ECO mode which modifies the throttle action and performance of the air conditioning system to support fuel-efficient driving. The battery pack is also re-positioned into two sections of six and 14 modules has been reduced its overall size and freed up more luggage space in the boot. The Lexus Hybrid Drive system has also been revised to meet Euro V exhaust emissions standards. The system is still made up by a 5.0 liter V8 and an electric motor. Overall, it can crank out 439HP and 520Nm of torque. Most importantly, it has a combined cycle fuel economy that remains at 30.4 miles to the gallon. Continue reading to view an image gallery. Read the rest of this entry.
Frankfurt 2009: Lexus LF-Ch Concept shines in Frankfurt
Lexus arrived in Frankfurt with the LF-Ch Concept that previews an upcoming premium-hatch by the Toyota-owned auto maker. The gold coloured concept features a hybrid drivetrain, that includes a 147HP 2.4 liter combustion engine and a 40HP electric motor. It also has an EV mode, meaning the concept would be able to run on pure electric mode. Outside, it is treated to, among others, Lexus’ L-finesse design philosophy, with a bolder Lexus grille design, full-width bumper and air dam up front, and rear doorhandles that are integrated in the C-pillar window trim. It measures 4,300 mm long, 1,790 mm wide, 1,400 mm high and has a wheelbase which is 2,600 mm long. It sits on 225/35 R20 tires.
The interior is mostly finished in semi-aniline leather, polished aluminium, wood and soft-touch materials. It has a wide-grip steering wheel with paddle shift controls and an instrument binnacle housing large twin dials embellished with a turbine motif.
To help keep the driver’s focus on the road ahead, distracting instrumentation and switchgear has been kept to a minimum by using Lexus Remote Touch controls, as first seen in the new RX 450h. Using a multi-information display on top of the dashboard, Remote Touch works like a computer mouse, letting the driver access control and customise a range of information, entertainment and vehicle set-up programmes. Continue reading to view an image gallery of the Lexus LF-Ch Concept. Read the rest of this entry.
