Lexus LF Reviews

New Lexus coupes set to arrive later this year or early 2015.

Top design awards showcase new Lexus SUV due in October.

It's time to say goodbye. We returned the hybrid Lexus ES300h this week after 12 weeks and 2300km behind the wheel. The ES is a large sedan with a small thirst that has many endearing qualities, not the least of which is its lean burn philosophy.The prestige, the size and comfort, all that rear legroom – to be sure. It's a very easy car to live with, easy to get in and out of, with plenty of room inside for mature adults and a super quiet interior that is conducive to conversation between thefront and back.It's a long way back too with more than a metre of rear legroom. With tri-zone air rear seat passengers get to set their own temperature. An electrically operated rear sunshade is standard on all grades, while Sports Luxury models receive manual rear door sunshades.The foot area is illuminated by LEDs while Sports Luxury models receive heated outboard rear seats, which can be controlled via the rear armrest panel. The rear armrest also includes a storage area and two cup-holders on both Luxury and Sports Luxury grades. And then there's the excellent fuel economy.Big has its downside sometimes, because the ES can be hard to park and even more difficult to navigate tight car parks. Active cruise control which automatically maintains a set distance from the car in front can be a pain in the proverbial because even at its minimum setting the gap invites other drivers to cut in.The satnav system is large and easy to read but offers some odd choices of route at times and is not the latest Lexus system, as offered in the CT and IS ranges. That means no school zone or speed camera warnings, nor does it keep the driver informed of the current speed limit.Lexus ES is available as a V6 or Hybrid, in Luxury and Sports Luxury grades. Prices for the hybrid start from $63,000 up to $74,000 for the top of the line V6. Our test vehicle the Sports Luxury model carries a price tag of $72,000.Standard features include leather-accented interior, dual climate air, satellite navigation, reversing camera, parking sensors, blind spot monitor, sun roof, 10 airbags, eight-speaker audio, smart entry and start, digital radio, plus Lexus Remote Touch and Drive Mode Select.The hybrid powertrain combines a 2.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine with a 105kW electric motor. Combined output is 151kW with drive to the front wheels through a CVT style auto transmission.It can operate on electric power alone up to 45km/h. Fuel consumption is rated at just 5.5 litres/100km with standard unleaded. With a 65-litre tank that gives it a theoretical range of 1180km (our best was 6.3 litres/100km).It's yet to receive a rating here but with 10 airbags and a multitude of safety and driver assistance systems, there's little doubt it will receive five stars. Note the base model hybrid misses out on Active Cruise and the Pre-Collision Safety System that are bundled as a $3000 option pack.The hybrid may not be the fastest car around town, but it's no slouch either with plenty of kick off the line thanks to the electric motor. Lexus have tried to make the car more dynamic and they have succeeded to some extent, but there is still room for improvement. Dialling in sport mode helps things along.You really can have your cake and eat it too. The ES300h offers the size and prestige of a large luxury car but with the fuel economy and price tag of something a hell of a lot cheaper.Taxi drivers are starting to "get" the hybrid Camry and we predict it will not be too long before the hire car guys turn their attention to the ES.

What constitutes a luxury car? In days gone by it was lashings of leather and wood grain trim. The new Lexus CT200h has neither, at least in entry grade “Luxury” form

The beauty of this car is the big rear seat. There's oodles of room back there even for tall people with long legs. With more than a metre of rear legroom we even managed to accommodate the needs of a friend with an artificial leg. Rear seat occupants are cosseted with leather-accented seats, NanoeTM-enabled climate control for added comfort and electric rear sunshades as standard equipment.Lexus ES is available in two flavours as a V6 or Hybrid, in Luxury and Sports Luxury grades. Standard features include leather-accented interior, dual climate air, satellite navigation, reversing camera, parking sensors, blind spot monitor, sun roof, 10 airbags, eight-speaker audio, smart entry and start, digital radio, plus Lexus Remote Touch and Drive Mode Select.The Hybrid is $63,00. the V6 is $65,000, the Sports Luxury version of the hybrid $72,000 and the top of the line Sports Luxury V6 tips the scales at $74,000.The hybrid powertrain combines a 2.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine with a 105kW electric motor. The combined output is 151kW with drive to the front wheels, unlike most Lexus cars which are rear wheel drive.The hybrid employs a CVT style auto transmission and can sprint from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds. It can operate on electric power alone in reverse and at speeds up to 45km/h in a forward direction. Fuel consumption is rated at just 5.5 litres/100km with standard unleaded.The primary focus was on creating a spacious, comfortable and quiet sedan. But Lexus recognised the previous model was lacking in terms of dynamic ability and engineered a new platform that is more rigid, lighter, longer and lower than what had previously been planned. The overall result is a higher level of comfort and straight-line stability but also a more rewarding experience for the driver.It's designed to get five stars and scores highly in US tests but is yet to receive a rating here. But with 10 airbags and a multitude of safety and driver assistance systems, there's little doubt it will get the maximum five stars. We should point out however the base model hybrid misses out on Active Cruise and the Pre-Collision Safety System that are bundled as a $3000 option pack.Almost ran out of fuel the other day. Got to the servo only to find we'd misplaced our wallet. The low fuel warning light was already on but we had no option other than to return home and get it. Our little adventure had an upside however because we can report that driven normally the car is capable of achieving 850km from a single tank (at the end it was almost dead empty).The ES offers a smooth ride and extremely quiet interior, quiet enough to make conversation easy between front and rear passengers. And while it’s a large interior in which to set the climate, tri-zone airconditioning allows front left, front right and rear seat cabin temperatures to be controlled independently.

Lexus has confirmed the engine lineup for Australian versions of its new NX SUV, which made its public debut at the Beijing motor show this week.Arriving locally in the fourth quarter of this year, the RAV4-based luxury SUV will arrive first in 2.5-litre petrol hybrid NX 300h guise, with an NX 200t version equipped with the brand’s new direct-injected 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine set to follow in early 2015.The naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol option destined for some overseas markets will not be available in local NX models.The NX 300h’s drivetrain is closely related to that found in the existing Lexus 300h models, and puts out a combined output of 145kW. However, the NX 200t is set to be the performer of the duo, with 175kW/350Nm, and max torque on tap from 1650-4000rpm.Lexus is yet to specify local consumption figures for either drivetrain, but the NX 200t will be helped by the brand’s first non-hybrid stop-start system.Both front and all-wheel drive will be available with either engine, with the hybrid sending power to the rear wheels via a unique E-Four drive system.The NX is the Japanese luxury brand’s first mid-size SUV, and will compete with the likes of the Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Range Rover Evoque and BMW X1."NX arrives at a time when Lexus is on the ascendancy - growth driven by an expanding product range and strong hybrid sales," Lexus Australia Chief Executive Sean Hanley says.At 4630mm, the NX is 60mm longer than its RAV4 basis, but is 70mm lower at 1645mm. Overall width is the same at 1845mm along with a 2660mm wheelbase.Adaptive dampers will be available, along with all-speed adaptive cruise control, Lexus’ first panoramic view monitor, and a host of driver alert functions.Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed, and it remains unclear which engine will form the range-topper. Hybrid variants command a premium in most current Lexus model lines, but the ES uses the hybrid ES300h as its price leader for its two-tier range.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

THE Audi A3 small car -- which owes much of its DNA to the Volkswagen Golf -- has won the 2014 World Car of the Year, as voted by 69 jurors from 22 countries. The luxury hatch toppled the widely-tipped favourite, the Mazda3 from Japan, in the awards announced at the New York motor show today.The Audi A3 was among five German cars that took out a cleansweep of the 2014 World Car of the Year categories, and it was Audi’s second win in 10 years, having won the inaugural award. Indeed, German cars have won seven of the past 10 World Car of the Year awards, Japanese brands have won the remaining three.Accepting the award on behalf of the company, Audi's North America president Scott Keogh said: “The Audi A3 has only been on sale three weeks and already it’s off to a flying start.”Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi, said: “This major award win is an achievement that the whole company can celebrate.”The Audi A3 was among 24 finalists that included the BMW i3 electric car, which won the Green Car of the Year and the Car Design of the Year. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class was the Luxury Car of the Year while the Porsche 911 GT3 was awarded top performance car honours.But the Mazda3 had emerged as an early favourite for the outright World Car of the Year award following rave reviews globally since it went on sale late last year. The previous generation Mazda3 has been Australia’s top selling car for two of the past three years, and was the vehicle that ended the Holden Commodore’s record 15-years as the market leader, in 2011.The Mazda3 is returned to the top of the sales charts so far this year -- after being overtaken by the Toyota Corolla in 2013 -- and is likely to take out top-seller status this year buoyed by the new model which went on sale in January.World car of the year winners2014 – Audi A32013 -- Volkswagen Golf Mk72012 -- Volkswagen Up2011 -- Nissan Leaf2010 -- Volkswagen Polo2009 -- Volkswagen Golf Mk62008 -- Mazda22007 -- Lexus LS4602006 -- BMW 3 Series2005 -- Audi A62014 World Car of The Year category winnersGreen car of the Year -- BMW i3 electric carCar Design of the Year -- BMW i3 electric carPerformance Car of the Year -- Porsche 911 GT3Luxury Car of the Year – Mercedes-Benz S-ClassThis reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

Lexus has given its CT200h hybrid a major facelift, tightened up the body to improve noise and vibration suppression, but, surprisingly, hasn't changed the drivetrain components.

The Japanese prestige brand has previously shied away from turbo engines, instead persisting with hybrid setups to deliver the same sort of power and efficiency as its all-turbo competition.The new 2.0-litre turbo engine is a first for Lexus and will power the NX200t initially, before being applied to the IS sedan and RC Coupe. While the four-pot’s power output is being kept quiet for now, around 200kW is expected in its highest state of tune.Set to be unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show later this month, the new NX will join the quickly growing luxury crossover SUV segment, competing with the Range Rover Evoque and Audi Q3. The NX has a muscular profile with Lexus’ now familiar spindle grille dominating the car’s design. Piercing LED headlights flank that enormous gob and detached hook-shaped daytime running lights sit below. Physically the NX isn’t a big car (it’s based on the Toyota Rav 4), but wide wheel arches and heavily sculptured door panels add visual weight and chunkiness to the design.At the rear the NX incorporates a pair of taillights which are similar in design to the pointy units found on the RC Coupe. Two wheel options are available, 17-inches on the standard car and 18-inches on F-Sport models. Overall the exterior design is sporting but perhaps a little fussy and over styled in places.The NX SUV’s interior design is far less dramatic than its exterior with a slim vertical central stack housing all of the buttons. A screen controlled through Lexus’ touch pad sits atop the dash displaying navigation, phone and media information. The screen can also show a boost meter or G-sensor read out – precisely the things you need in a small family SUV. The new model also comes equipped with more useful technologies like a head-up display, blind spot monitoring system and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The Japanese prestige brand is also debuting a clever wireless charging tray for portable devices in the NX.Initially the NX will be available with three different engines in the NX200, NX200t and NX300h. The 200 is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder, while the 200t uses the same motor but with a turbocharger. Power figures are being kept quiet until the model’s Beijing debut, however the 300h is expected to use the same hybrid system as the IS300h sedan which musters 133kW and 221Nm of torque. The NX will be offered in front or all-wheel drive form. The new Lexus luxury SUV will be unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show on April 20. 

Some hybrids are better than others, while some focus on performance and others fuel economy if only they were all as good as the ES300h.