2012 Lexus IS Reviews

Australia’s authority on vehicle safety, ANCAP, has awarded the A-Class hatch flying colours for its safety performance, while commending the Lexus ES for its impressive active safety features.

Lexus Australia will add a new range-topping variant to its LX luxury upper-large SUV line-up this month, with the LX570 S to check in at $168,098 plus on-road costs. That translates to a $25,300 premium over the fully optioned LX570 upon which it is based. The extra money gets buyers a newly designed front grille, more aggressive front and rear bumpers,  unique 21-inch alloy wheels, and side-mirror-mounted puddle lamps. To improve dynamics, the S brings front performance dampers that are said to improve body rigidity and steering stability. New features are also found inside, including alloy pedals, Shimamoku Grey ornamentation and rich-burgundy semi-aniline leather trim. Carry-over features include a reversing camera, 10 airbags, four-zone climate control, surround-view monitor and a 12.3-inch high-definition infotainment system. The S gains no changes to the LX570's engine, with it also powered by a 270kW/530Nm 5.7-litre petrol V8. That's matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission, helping it achieve a braked towing capacity of 3500kg. Safety-wise, the S carries over Lexus' Safety System Plus which includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, adaptive high-beam headlights, head-up display, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring. Lexus' local arm is confident that the new flagship will help bring in new customers, according to chief executive Scott Thompson. "The striking features of the new LX 570 S, from its unique exterior styling to the dynamic upgrades, symbolise the evolution of the LX model and will further expand its popularity among customers," he said.  Check out all 2018 Lexus LX570 price and spec info here.

There's no timeline or official announcement, but outlets are now reporting that Toyota may have overcome security concerns with Google's phone connectivity technology.

Lexus Australia will release its new ES300h mid-size sedan this month, available exclusively with hybrid powertrains and offered in just two grades, Luxury and Sports Luxury.

Lexus is claiming a production-car world first with the imminent introduction of rear-view cameras in place of conventional wing mirrors on its new ES large sedan that will go on sale in Japan next month. The cameras on door-mounted arms – in a similar fashion to regular mirrors – transmit images to two 5.0-inch screens inside the cabin at the bottom of each A-pillar. Audi has also signaled its intention to introduce the digital mirror system on its Audi e-tron SUV, but Lexus will beat the German company to the punch by putting it into production first. Lexus has no plans to introduce the re-imagined mirror set-up outside Japan, but the move might put pressure on road safety legislators to change rules that deem this technology unroadworthy. In Australia, the regulations would have to change before mirrors of this kind are to become commonly available, with Australian Design Rules (ADR) requiring mirrors with specific design parameters. In theory, Lexus could apply for an exemption to the rule, although the Japanese carmaker has given no indication it will try. Audi also might have to revert to conventional mirrors for e-tron when it arrives in Australia in the second half of next year.  Alternative mirrors have been a common feature on concept cars in the past decade, but road safety administrators have deemed latency issues and low-light performance make them less effective than regular wing mirrors. Lexus says its camera shape resists raindrops and snow, giving a clearer rear view while also reducing wind noise and providing a less obstructed view through the side windows. "The system automatically enhances the corresponding area – left, right or behind – when the turn signals are activated, or when the transmission is put into reverse," it says. "The view of areas around the car can be manually enhanced by the driver to obtain complete peripheral awareness of the area around the vehicle."

If there was ever a snapshot highlighting the challenges of our brave new driving world, surely this is it. Apple’s autonomous car program has suffered its first bruise – and in a stunning irony, it involves the world’s most commercially successful electric car. Reports from Santa Clara, California have revealed that a 2015 Lexus LX450h – owned by Apple and equipped with a battery of autonomous sensors – was involved in a rear-end collision with a Nissan Leaf late last week. The crash was minor, with the Leaf rear-ending the almost-stopped Apple rig at about 24km/h. No injuries were noted. It’s the first reported incident involving Apple’s autonomous car program, which looks a lot different now than it did in 2014, when the computer company announced it would build its own autonomous car by 2017. However, the program was wound back in 2016, with up to 1000 people cut from the project, while Apple focused its attentions on developing autonomous software. The software, known internally as Apple Automated System, has been rolled out across a fleet of some 45 RX SUVs that are actively testing across the state of California, which has granted the Cupertino company licences to run on public roads. Just six Apple employees are reportedly approved to 'drive' the cars, and all hold senior positions within the company. California’s regulations around autonomous vehicles are very strict, requiring licence holders to submit documents like an annual disengagement report, which show just how many times an autonomous vehicle’s driver has had to take control of the car over the testing period. Even the incident report submitted after the crash was on an autonomous vehicle-specific form. A crash between an autonomous vehicle and an EV serves to illustrate the technology barriers that will need to be overcome if self-driving cars are to become part of the modern motoring mix. The majority of crashes in the United States involving autonomous vehicles have been similar in nature, with a piloted car colliding with a slow-moving or stationary autonomous car. There have been tragic exceptions, with a self-driving Volvo XC90 belonging to ride share company Uber striking and killing a pedestrian in Arizona earlier this year, after it failed to detect her crossing a road late at night. The Uber’s minder wasn’t paying attention to the road. It’s also worth noting that the Leaf was recorded as a 2016 model, which wasn’t equipped with AEB as standard; driver safety aids like AEB and lane departure warning are also vital parts of the new technology mix.

Hybrid powertrains will form the cornerstone of Lexus' performance-flavoured future, with the Japanese premium brand rebranding its eco-friendly image for something more sporty and fun.

The long wait for Apple CarPlay for Lexus owners is almost over, with the Japanese luxury brand at last introducing true smartphone integration in 2019.

Lexus has revealed its facelifted RC sportscar ahead of its public debut at the Paris motor show in October.

Lexus Australia is set to release limited-edition versions of its RC F coupe and GS F sedan next month, marking the 10th anniversary of the Japanese brand's F Line moniker.