Lexus

All posts in “Lexus”

Lexus LC 500 Flare Yellow Edition

This is the 2019 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Edition, in a bizarrely alluring Flare Yellow paint job. It’s one of the most notable sights at the Chicago Auto Show.

First seen as a concept at the Monterey Car Week, the coupe goes for sale in April for $106,210. Folks in the United States should act fast, though. Lexus is only bringing 100 of these bad boys stateside.

Apart from its striking color, the LC 500 Inspiration Edition is flecked with exposed carbon fiber elements. You’ll find those on roof and the lower grille insert. You’re also looking at a set of 21-inch wheels with an array of Y-shaped spokes. Needless to say the black wheels offer a sharp contrast to the car’s overall coat. It almost look like a sleeker version of Bumblebee.

The yellow bleeds inside. You’ll find yellow Alcantara door panel inserts that complement the exterior. The seats feature white semi-aniline leather upholstery with yellow stitching accents, no less.

Nothing special on the powertrain department, just the same as a regular LC 500. The 5-liter V8 engine tops up to 471 horsepower and routes to the rear wheels through a 10-speed automatic. The coupe hits zero to 60 in just 4.4 seconds.

In addition to the car, buyers get a garment bag with Flare Yellow lining and matching stitching.

It’s not clear if Lexus is planning to put this LC 500 variant into mass production. It’s seriously hinting about it, though. We’re totally here for it.

CHECK IT OUT

Photos courtesy of Lexus

January 31, 2019 / Comments Off

519

Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series Appears in Chicago

The Third Lexus Inspiration Series Model

Lexus has a new Inspiration Series car in the LC 500. The vehicle appeared at the Chicago Auto show and showcases the limited-edition version of the car. The vehicle is a beautiful example of the car with Flare Yellow paint and a $106,210 price tag excluding destination.

Lexus will build only 100 examples of the LC 500 Inspiration Series. Those lucky buyers will have a truly unique version of the car. The yellow paint is new for the model and special 21-inch wheels help accentuate the car’s curves and creases in ways no other LC 500 variant has done before.

Inside, Lexus placed special yellow door inserts made of Alcantara, semi-aniline leather seating with yellow stitching, and yellow stitching around the center console and glove box. Additional touches include carbon fiber door sills with a special inscription for the model and a Lexus garment bag that folds into a travel bag that matches the car’s aesthetic.

The vehicle is powered by the same 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 that makes 471 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. It can move the rather heavy car from a standstill to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds.

The performance isn’t at all different than the regular Lexus LC 500 coupe. However, the unique touches to the car for the Inspiration Series make it a car worth noting. We doubt Lexus will have much of an issue selling the 100 versions of the car. Its uniqueness should help it be a boon to collectors and those who were already considering an LC500 but wanted something a little special.

January 30, 2019 / Comments Off

420

Lexus LC Convertible Concept Revealed

A recent trip to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show reminded us just how good the Lexus LC sounds. Just in time for the release of the Lexus LC Convertible Concept this week at the Detroit Motor Show 2019!

Before you get too excited, for now, this is just a Concept. Lexus are testing the market, working out whether there is a profit to be made from chopping the top from its understated LC sports car. The result is jaw dropping.

Lexus LC Convertible

The LC Convertible Concept has been released with very little fanfare. Lexus’ press release was remarkably short for good reason. The shape of this thing does all of the talking!

Long, low and lean, the LC Convertible concept retains the proportions of the LC coupe. Tailored seats and a superb Japanese, minimalist interior only add to the desire with crisp white leather trim and yellow accent stitching.

The combination of short overhangs, 22-inch wheels and a wide stance hint at the powertrain that hides underneath. The 5.0 litre V8 which powers the LC Coupe to the tune of 471 hp is the only real option for such a convertible. The 3.5 litre hybrid engine does not belong in this package!

With low demand for the Lexus LC in Europe, and moderate demand in the US. It seems as though the US market will be where the Lexus LC Convertible concept gets the biggest reception. Hopefully they decide to take the plunge. It looks stunning!

January 14, 2019 / Comments Off

383

Lexus Unveils the 2020 RC F With Track Edition Leading the Way

Now A Serious Contender

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Lexus unveiled the 2020 RC F lineup. At the top of the RC F line is the Track Edition Lexus has already teased.

All versions of the RC F for 2020 feature less weight, stiffer suspension, revised styling, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires designed specifically for the car, and better aerodynamics. The new car gets more power, too. It has the same 5.0-liter V8 but the power is now 472 horsepower and 396 lb-ft of torque. Also, due to stiffer engine mounts more of that power makes its way to the wheels.

The standard RC F can make a 0-60 mph sprint in just 4.2 seconds. The RC F Track Edition can do it in a quicker 4 seconds. Both the regular RC F and the Track Edition get electronic Launch Control as standard equipment.

The RC F Track Edition doesn’t get more horsepower or torque, but it does get larger 19-inch BBS alloy wheels, a lot more carbon fiber throughout the car, carbon ceramic brakes, titanium muffler, new front splitter, and large fixed rear wing. Inside, the Track Edition gets red leather, Alcantara, and carbon fiber to sportily spruce up the cabin.

Lexus managed to remove 176 pounds from the Track Edition version of the car over the previous version of the vehicle. That’s a ton of weight. It should be evident in the turns as well as in straight line performance.

Lexus will start production of the new RC F models in 2019. Pricing for the cars has not yet been announced.

January 14, 2019 / Comments Off

511

Lexus RC F Track Edition Teased

Something Very Fast This Way Comes

On January 14, Lexus will showcase the new RC F Track Edition at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Today, the company teased an image of the car and a short video on its YouTube channel. It’s going to be a real killer.

The car should compete better with the BMW M4, Audi RS5, and Mercedes-AMG C63. While all the good specs and information will be held until the official debut, you can get a glimpse of the car and hear its raucous V8 roaring in the video.

The image teased gives you no real info. It’s just of the rear wing affixed to the trunk lid. It’s a carbon fiber unit with the Lexus F logo on the end. The wing looks great and should give the rear-driven car a bit more downforce when it’s rocketing around a racetrack.

Little is known about the Lexus RC F Track Edition. It will likely be full of carbon fiber bits. The big V8 may have a tune of some kind, making even more horsepower than the regular RC F. The engine sure sounds good in the video. If Lexus engineers had their way with the V8 it should make more than the 467 hp the current model makes.

I’d expect Lexus also did some fussing with the cooling system, maybe the air intake system, and definitely the exhaust system. You can expect the RC F to be lightweight and wicked fast.

[embedded content]

January 9, 2019 / Comments Off

470

You Can Still Buy a Brand New Lexus LFA

Who Knew Lexus Would Have Trouble Selling These

Many regard the Lexus LFA as one of the best supercars ever made. Lexus only made 500 units, and I assumed those 500 sold out quickly. I was wrong. Despite the fact that Lexus hasn’t made the LFA since 2012, there are still seven brand new LFA supercars for sale in the U.S., according to Carscoops.

Lexus mentioned months ago that it still had 12 LFAs in stock. Since that time, five of the cars sold. That leaves seven still sitting on dealer lots across the country.

The LFA was a revelation when it came out in 2011. People had to wait a long, long time for it to come but once it did, it wowed many in the automotive press and consumers.

With that said, it had a price tag of $400,000. Perhaps that was too much for potential buyers. Today the car can be found for around $350,000 and some exceptional models are reportedly priced at $500,000.

With all that said, the LFA came with one of the best V8s ever produced by a Japanese automaker. The 4.8-liter V8 made 552 hp and 352 lb-ft of torque. It was a free-revving engine with an exhaust note that could give you chills.

I would imagine someday these cars will be worth a lot more than their original price tag. They’ll be a collectors car I would imagine. At the moment, though, it seems there are few willing to fork over the money for the car. If you’re one of the willing few, you have seven cars to choose from.

January 8, 2019 / Comments Off

541

Lexus LY 650 Luxury Yacht

Lexus has finally unveiled its first official yacht, the Lexus LY 650. It’s a 65-foot ship that wonderfully shows off the Japanese car company’s recently revisited “L-finesse” design theme, which debuted with the sport yacht concept that was detailed last year.

The Lexus LY 650 comes with three staterooms, three toilets, and six sleeping rooms. The design smudges the line between elegance and sleekness. That sentiment shows through the yacht‘s pronounced bow, deck accents, and accentuated aft hips. Lexus executive VP Shigeki Tomoyama said he wants to “present a dream-like vision of the luxury lifestyle; one where the Lexus Yacht expands the potential of Lexus mobility to the ocean.”

Thankfully, the LY 650 isn’t just about the looks. The ship comes with an IPS 1200 marine engine from Volvo, but you can opt for an additional Volvo IPS 1350 motor if need be. The IPS 2000 boasts a 12.8-litre, inline 6-cylinder turbo and supercharged engine that makes 789 bhp. On the other hand, the IPS 1350 pushes it further to 986 bhp. The ship has a fuel capacity of 3,785 liters, a water capacity of 852 liters, and a holding tank capacity of 643 liters.

Wisconsin-based Marquis-Larson Boat Group is poised to construct, sell, and service the vessel when it goes into production next year. The first completed Lexus LY 650 is expected to come in the second half of 2019. A global debut is scheduled shortly thereafter. Finer details like pricing and other specifications will be announced at a later date, so make sure to check back with Men’s Gear as we learn more.

LEARN MORE HERE

Photos courtesy of Lexus

November 11, 2018 / Comments Off

669

2019 Lexus RC

Lexus has taken the wraps off its fifth RC coupe model, featuring some styling changes, a retuned suspension, and several interior revamps.

Such minuscule updates likely won’t make for a radicalized RC model this year. However, they may help the better compete with rivals like the Audi A5, BMW 4 Series, and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

First things first: Lexus wants you to stop thinking that it makes boring cars. This 2019 Lexus RC coupe, with its reshaped headlights and blade-like daytime running lights, is proof of that. The brand isn’t going to become an aesthete overnight, but props for trying. Some design choices remain suspect, however. Among them is the somewhat polarizing spindle grille that Lexus has retained. Overall, though, this car looks far more cohesive than the models before it, and it should undoubtedly kickstart Lexus’ branching away from its “boring” image.

There are only a few changes to the interior of the 2019 Lexus RC, like the dashboard’s Dark Gray Streamline trim piece and the repositioned knee pads. The Remote Touch Interface is still there, love it or hate it.

Most notable, as mentioned, is the retuned suspension. The carmaker’s engineers stiffened up suspension bushings, added new shock absorbers, and made some additional adjustments based on real-world tests, according to Lexus, and if you want better grip, Lexus will offer a 19-inch wheel-and-tire variant. The carmaker didn’t forget about aerodynamics, so a new fin now sits on the side window molding, and there’s also a reshaped duct in the rear bumper for improved airflow — both these changes bring stability up a notch, Lexus says.

Lexus is expected to reveal more details at the Paris Motor Show, happening from Oct 4 to 14.

LEARN MORE HERE

Photos courtesy of Lexus

November 9, 2018 / Comments Off

677

Lexus Builds Its Last LFA

December 18, 2012 / Comments Off

1103

GALLERY: 2012 Pebble Beach Concept Car Lawn Recap

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance showcases an introduction to some of the years best revealed production and concept cars.

If concepts and exotics are your thing, like they are ours, the Concept Car Lawn is the place to be and see the latest concepts.

Check out the gallery of this years Concept Car Lawn below.

August 20, 2012 / Comments Off

1933

Will Lexus Build The LF-LC Concept Car?

During this year’s Detroit Auto Show, Lexus unveiled its LF-LC concept car. It specs were vague, after all the car was only a concept, stating only that its Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive would deliver “a rewarding driving experience that is also kinder to the environment.”

Then everything changed. After plenty of overwhelmingly positive feedback, the LF-LC won the people’s choice “best in show” award and were suddenly on dealers radar.

After much hounding and positive response from dealers and media, the LF-LC concept is getting some much needed thought from management.

The concept car hasn’t been given the green light just yet but, as Karl Schlicht, Lexus’ European head of product planning, explains, “A decision has not been taken, but we’re now up to a 50-percent chance (of the car being built) from a zero-percent one. Every top Toyota Motor Company manager is aware of the great reception it has received…”

That being said, Lexus now has the challenge of delivering a car that is “green-but-entertaining” at a price that’s everyday accessible, unlike its LFA supercar. Assuming it gets the green light, that is.

March 27, 2012 / Comments Off

909