Lexus LF Reviews

The upper-luxury car market is in a state of serious decline in many countries at the moment, with sales in Australia for example down by more than half in recent times. People either can’t afford cars, or don’t want to be seen in ostentatious vehicles, or, and this is the most likely among many of the very rich, are going for highly equipped SUVs. Lexus has been the leading Japanese upper-luxury car market worldwide for more years than its competitors care to remember. When the first Lexus, the LS Line, was introduced in 1990 it was greeted with considerable scepticism by many pundits. These people have since been proven wrong. Extreme quietness and smoothness were combined with a level of build quality that was close to perfection right from the start made many consider the Lexus LS400, as it was then, as an option instead of one of the big two German marques. Now in a move that’s surprised many, Lexus has given the LS Line a major working over in the styling stakes, giving it a shape that’s anything but ordinary. The new Lexus LS’s big ‘spindle-grille’ front is complemented by flowing lines that could almost be Italian in the flair of their flare. Upper-luxury cars tend to be on the conservative side, with the Audi, BMW and Mercedes offerings being much more conventional in their bodies. Only time will tell if the Lexus planners have got it right...Due to the need to keep the cost of the redevelopment of the latest Lexus LS Line under control during the harsh years of the GFC this is not an all-new model.  Rather it carries much of the existing ‘skeleton‘ but with significant changes in shape and mechanically. The doors and the roof panels have been carried over but everything has been reshaped. The floorpan has been strengthened and has had some aerodynamic aids added to further reduce noise levels and at the same time make it a little slicker through the air to minimise fuel consumption and emissions. Inside there have been major revisions to the seats and dash area, with the very large central screen being borrowed from the all-new Lexus GS we reported on recently. This unit holds a lot of information but does so in a way that minimise distraction to the driver. Technology upgrades are a feature of this Lexus. The very sophisticated air conditioning system has numerous sensors that monitor interior temperature in several locations, even including the seats, as well as readings of humidity. In the topline models there’s even checking of the strength of infrared rays coming through the glass. Equally fascinating is the fact that the clock. It is designed to look like a traditional old-style unit, but is actually a high-tech electronic machine that keeps an eye on its poison on the planet using GPS satellites. Meaning it can update itself as it moves from one time zone to another. This smart clock is just thing for the time-confused folks living in Coolangatta / Tweed Heads who can lose or pick up an hour just by driving across an intersection when daylight saving is force in NSW! Major primary safety features are driver fatigue and inattention warnings and automatic collision avoidance, or crash severity mitigation if avoidance becomes impossible. Lexus tells us suspension changes are aimed at giving the new Lexus LS a sportier feel without taking anything from the comfort and quietness that have been a hallmark of the model since the beginning. Though we have undertaken major technical presentations and looked over and under the new LS in detail, we are yet to drive it. So we can’t comment on the change in suspension philosophy. Stay tuned. The Lexus V8 engines are modified versions of the existing units and produce slightly more power while having lower petrol consumption and emitting less CO2. The automatic transmission is the same eight-speed unit that has been used in the superseded models. The exception is the hybrid version which uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT). To let it mimic a conventional auto the CVT has eight pre-set ratios that can be chosen by a driver who feels the computer has the car in the wrong ratios. As before, a petrol-electric LS variant is offered, but this time around it will be sold as standard with the short wheelbase, not the longer one seen previously. This has led to a price reduction of around $30,000. Similarly, Lexus found that most previous owners of the standard LS didn’t want the extended wheelbase, so that latter model is now sold only on special order. Lexus Australia tells us that around 90 per cent of LS buyers have bought themselves another LS when the time came to move up from their old car. The strikingly different shape of this new car may challenge that history - it will be interesting to witness what happens over the next year or so. Our feeling is that today’s older buyers are more amenable to change than those of previous generations – but, as we said previously, only time will tell. The new Lexus LS Line range is: LS 460 F Sport: $189,900 (automatic) LS 460 Sports Luxury: $192,400 (automatic) LS 600h Sport: $217,900 (automatic) LS 600hL: POA  

...but this time it needed to be anaesthetised.At a glance it looks like Lexus has simply grafted the new HSV-like grille onto the LS limousine’s nose. But the company says there are more than 3000 changes and 13 Lexus firsts – only the doors, roof and glass are carried over from before.It’s also loaded with technology – including seats that will heat and cool faster than before, an air-conditioning system that moisturises your skin and hair, and a tiny camera that checks if you’re too drowsy to drive. The big changes were brought about to try to arrest the sharp decline in sales of super luxury sedans.In the past six years, sales of limousines priced in excess of $100,000 have dropped sharply – by 33 per cent – in a market that’s grown by 10 per cent in that time. This year alone the cars classed as the top end of town have dropped a further 27 per cent as buyers embrace luxury SUVs.Lexus is lucky, however. It says 90 per cent of its LS buyers come back to buy another Lexus. And the Japanese maker is hoping it’s this one. The new LS goes on sale from February with sharper pricing across the range and a new sports model. The V8 and V8 hybrid power outputs are unchanged from before, although they are slightly more fuel-efficient.The price-tag is still eye-watering at $189,900 – a $1000 snip less than the old model. But the new LS is significantly cheaper than the V8-powered German competition, which starts at $238,000 for an Audi A8, $281,000 for a BMW 7 Series and $296,500 for a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. But the Germans have diesel models under $200,000, whereas Lexus offers a V8 hybrid, which also happens to be all-wheel-drive. And costs $217,900. “The luxury car market has become more competitive and diverse,” says Lexus Australia chief executive Tony Cramb.“In 2006 passenger cars account for 71 per cent of the of the total luxury market, today that has fallen to 64 per cent . Cramb said the Global Financial Crisis also killed much of the long-wheelbase sedan business, with most buyers preferring standard limousines. “As a result of these sales trends, the large luxury car scene in Australia can now be characterised as predominantly a driver market rather than a driven market. “In other words, Australian buyers now prefer to drive themselves rather than be chauffeured.”TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHTSThe clock automatically changes daylight saving time – and new time zones as you cross borders thanks to GPS co-ordinates. The timber steering wheel goes through 67 processes and takes 38 days to make. The seat warmers have more power (up from 100w to 200w of power) so they heat up in half the time.The perforated seats have larger holes which provide 42 per cent better airflow for faster cooling. Each front seat has 16-way electronic adjustment. The air-conditioning system uses nanoe technology, said to have a moisturising effect on skin and hair.The new LS has a built-in fatigue management system. A tiny camera on the steering column has facial and eyelid recognition. It focuses on the driver’s face and checks for drowsiness and attentiveness. Lexus claims the new LS is the quietest car in the world. The alloy wheels even have a hollow section behind the outer rim to save weight and reduce noise.The 12.3-inch-wide screen in the dash is the equal-biggest in the automotive world. The first was the Lexus GS mid-size sedan. Lexus claims the new LS has the smallest LED fog lamps in the automotive world (Poly Ellipsoid System, or PES). The indicators can be programmed to flash 3, 5,7, 9, or 11 times at half a movement of the stalk.Lexus LS460Price: From $189,900Engine: 4.6-litre V8Power: 285kW and 493Nm0 to 100km/h: 5.9 secondsThirst: 10.7L/100kmLexus LS600hPrice: From $217,900Engine: 5.0-litre V8 and hybrid electric motorPower: 327kW and 520Nm0 to 100: 5.7 secondsThirst: 8.6L/100km 

Lexus lodged the Australian trademark application for the RC350 name this week, hinting that we're going to see a new model here in the near future. And that could be the coupe version of the IS expected to be built around the LF-CC concept revealed at Paris motor show.While Carsguide predicted a lot of the concept’s design will be toned down for production, Lexus said at the time that the styling of the rear-wheel drive LF-CC heralds the look of future compact exec models.That means Toyota's luxury platoon is readying for a new attack on the ground held by the mid-sized German prestige nameplates, and an IS coupe would be a well-loaded weapon for the fray.Lexus Australia sells the IS as a four-door sedan and two-door convertible, with prices from $55,800 and $94,300 respectively -- and with the V8-powered IS-F at $126,300.It's likely we'll see the same lineup on the next IS, but there is still plenty of room for a coupe to join the party.The LF-CC carried a hybrid powertrain, but given the Lexus naming conventions, the RC350 is likely to be powered by a 3.5-litre V6 as are the other '350' models in the Lexus stable.

It's hard to see what's happening under the camouflage, but Lexus is aiming for Audi-style quality and BMW-style driving dynamics with a car that's definitely going to be much more adventurous in design. 

The nameplates applied for are NX 200t and NX 300h. Following Lexus traditions, the X designates an SUV, the 200t suggests a turbo engine – most likely the new 2.0-litre -- and the 300h would be a hyb

Supercars stretch alluringly alongside family sedans. Auto exotica co-exist with humble hatchbacks. A good motor show is like that. Having been privy to every exhibit on view at the Australian International Motor Show, Carsguide was struck afresh that AIMS serves two purposes. The first is to provide car porn, to enable you to stare wantonly without risking arrest or society's censure. The second reason -- and this, ultimately, is why car makers gather their wares in vast pavilions - is to show you the cars you're going to buy. Given this glaring polarity, there's no single list -- definitive, subjective or otherwise -- of the “best in show”. There must be two lists. This year's AIMS marks the world debut of a unique, purpose-built and probably priceless German supercar and a little French five-door that's one of the best things you can get under $20,000. Batman's very own Lamborghini V12 is just across the room from Ford's 1.0-litre mini-SUV. The world debut of a Lexus sports coupe is separated by one stand from a returning name in affordable fun, the Pulsar SSS. Take it all in. If you can't be there to see it in person, see our iPad app. If you are at Darling Harbour in Sydney over the next week, family in tow, Carsguide asks only that you remember the cars are not creches. Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster  Price: $600,000 (est) Engine: 6.2-litre V8, 420kW/650Nm Thirst: 13.3L/100km Ably supported by two other special-edition AMGs, this topless, lustrous two-seater was created especially for AIMS. As with the Jaffa C63 and SLS Coupe of 2010, it comes with unique paint itself worth $20,000. See it while you can. 'see more Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster images and video' Lexus LF-FC II  Price: concept Engine: petrol-electric hybrid Thirst: N/A A mid-size coupe that retains even half the styling cues of this best-in-show contender is what's needed to shed Lexus's worthy but unexciting image. The Lexus Future-Luxury Coupe II packs a hybrid drivetrain, good for more than 370kW combined that is put to the ground via all four wheels. 'see more Lexus LF-FC II images and video' Lamborghini Aventador   Price: $754,000 Engine: 6.5-litre V12, 515kW/690Nm Thirst: 17.2L/100km This very bull-mobile appeared as Bruce Wayne's daily driver in that ultimate comic character realisation, 'The Dark Knight Rises', fitting in seamlessly with the usual array of stylised fantasy devices. It's in an all-star cast with two special Gallardos - a 550-2 Tricolore and a 570-4 Spyder Performante. 'see more Lamborghini Aventador images and video' Jaguar F-Type  Price: $250,000 (est) Engine: includes supercharged V6 Thirst: N/A Nostalgia isn't what it used to be, a lesson brought home by Ian Callum's roadster. Sure, it's a spiritual descendant of the endlessly feted E-Type but, as the alphabetical designation conveys, it's moved on in the manner of all recent Jaguars. The F-Type reminds us that Indian ownership is the best thing ever to happen to this quintessentially British brand. 'see more Jaguar F-Type images and video' Range Rover Vogue   Price: about $200,000 Engine: 4.4-litre V8 turbo diesel Thirst: 8.7L/100km From Paris in autumn to Sydney in spring, the new Rangie makes its first appearance outside Europe. A stride forward in most respects but the newcomer's most significant advance could be in what it lacks over the previous model - some 400kg. The leaner, meaner but greener turbo diesel V8 is the variant on show, complete with power tailgate and sunroof. 'see more Range Rover Vogue images and video'  

A world-first Lexus is fighting for best-in show status at the Sydney show. But, even more than that, the LF-FC II is also fighting for approval and a production future as a new mid-sized Lexus super-coupe.   A hybrid LF-LC coupe was first shown in Detroit at the start of the year, but now the idea has been tweaked for a world first unveiling at the start of AIMS. The LCII is going big in blue for Sydney, after a racy red run in Motown, and the coupe emerges as the best looking Lexus since the LF-A supercar. It also has the performance credentials to take over from the LF-A, which was developed at a time when Toyota was heavily committed to Formula 1 racing. So the LF-A got a high-revving V10 engine while the LF-FC could become a green supercar to go head-to-head with upcoming hybrid models from Porsche and Ferrari. In Australia, the LC is a high priority for Lexus as the company builds its lineup. And a new compact is coming in 2013. “We’ve pulled out all stops this year to secure a world first. The Lexus concept is an absolutely stunning vehicle and is set to be one of the drawcards of the show,” says Tony Cramb, chief executive of Lexus in Australia. He says the car – officially the Lexus Future – Luxury Coupe II has been through some fundamental changes since Detroit, although it still has a hybrid drivetrain with more than 370 kW of combined petrol-electric power, and an all-wheel- drive chassis package. “What it shows is the future Lexus design direction, the future application of Lexus Hybrid Drive, future interior design concepts, application of advanced interior technologies and Lexus interpretation for a supercar of the future,” he says. The LCII comes hard up against the preview of another Lexus concept, the LF-CC, at the Paris show last month. That one is likely to morph into an open-topped version of the upcoming replacement for the IS. For Sydney, the LCII promises another development of the latest Lexus design direction– including the “spindle grille” nose already starring on the front of the latest GS sedan range. The concept is driven by design, right down to tail lamps inspired by a jet afterburner and a cabin with two giant LCD screens ready to tap the upcoming connected- car technology from Lexus. There are also lightweight, race-inspired seats positioned ahead of a dashboard with multi-level meters that combine analogue and LCD readouts to cover everything from the aircon through to the speedometer and tachometer.  

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?What is it?This is the all singing, all dancing new generation medium large Lexus sedan that ushers in a raft of new technology as well as the new Lexus family look. We drove the GS350 F-Sport - about three from the top but unequivocally the best in the range.How much?Pricey at $99,400 but better value than before when comparing standard equipment levels and everything else.What are competitors?Numerous; BMW 5-Series, E-Class Benz, Audi A6, Jag XF, Infiniti M, HSV, FPV.What's under the bonnet?This one gets a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre petrol V6 with variable valve timing good for 233kW/378Nm output. It drives the rear wheels through a six-speed sports automatic transmission.How does it go?Really well, performance is not an issue at all because there's heaps of kick across a wide operating range. Puts away a 0-100kmh sprint in 6.0 flat. Excellent paddle shift, flat torque curve gives instant response.Is it economical?Not really at 9.7-litres/100km - premium preferred.Is it green?OK on the carbon dioxide, clever air-conditioning system. Should crack around three green stars.Is it safe?Full five star car with 10 air bags, dynamic safety systems and even driver assessment systems to make sure you are on the job and not goofing off.Is it comfortable?Super comfy even with the sporty flavour and adaptive suspension. Full array of goodies inside like premium audio, heated and cooled seats, premium satnav. But not as quiet and smooth as we can remember earlier mid-size Lexus models.What's it like to drive?Really liked driving this car for a whole range of reasons, not the least being the rear wheel steering system that transforms it into a super responsive sports sedan with possibly the smallest turning circle in the class.F-Sport not only brings the look, it also brings the feel which is filtered through to the driver through the steering, (bigger) brakes, ride quality, transmission function.Is it value for money?One hundred grand - ouch. Good if it's a company car or in a "package"...as they all are.Would we buy one?See above. It is different, handsome, well equipped, crammed with goodies and technology, wonderful interior, super big touch/info screen. Sumptuous interior. Hmmmmm.Lexus GS350 F-SportPrice: from $99,400Warranty: 4 years roadside assist, 100,00kmWeight: 1740kgEngine: 3.5-litre 6-cyl, 233kW/378NmTransmission: 6-speed sports auto, RWDThirst: 9.7L/100Km, CO2 225g/km

The new concept coupe is clearly a pointer to next year's replacement for the compact IS four-door sedan but, even more, the pumped-up look and a high-performance hybrid power pack point to a bigger target.“This is the concept for the coupe that we want to launch as soon as possible in the near future. One or two years,” the president of Lexus International, Kiyotaka Ise, confirms to Carsguide at the Paris motor show.He laughs when the talk turns to a Lexus rival to the M3, but there is no denial. “Steadily I think the driving performance is going up. In terms of driving performance, people are looking for and wanting a more aggressive driving performance.”And what about the size and design future of the IS, as reflected in the LF-CC? “This is a similar size type to an IS,” Ise admits. “We're not really in a position to say anything, but we're not denying it. It's not an IS coupe but I think it will meet your expectation.”Earlier this year Carsguide was told of a plan for TMG, which produced Toyota's latest hybrid Le Man racer, to expand its German base into a facility to rival Mercedes AMG and BMW M. The announcement was made by the head of TMG, Yoshiaki Kinoshita. But Ise denies any plan and is defiant on Kinoshita's announcement.“I don't care what he says. We don't have any plans to have TMG be like AMG.” Even so, he says the technology in the Lexus V10-powered supercar, the LF-A, is tricking down through the range and the company is looking to boost its following with luxury buyers.“For our competitors, Mercedes-Beznz, BMW and Audi, driving performance is very important. We want to have an emotional driving connection,” he says. “I think when the car reaches a certain level, it's not whether you win or lose. It's the preference.“I think it's more a matter of taste for the driver. But I think we've reached the top.” In the case of the upcoming IS, the focus is switching to hybrid power. The LF-CC concept is fitted with a car that combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol with electric power, aiming for CO2 emissions of less than 100 grams/kilometre.But it's still a performance pack, and the engine combines an Atkinson combustion cycle with direct fuel injection. The concept is also rear-wheel drive. “I think it's actually an advantage for us,” says Ise, who also believes Toyota still leads on hybrids. “In technology, volume and quality we are superior.” 

The car giant says it will change production at plants in China and a Lexus factory in Japan. The move signals the possible onset of a more prolonged chill in economic relations between the world's second and third-largest economies.Chinese anger over Japan's decision earlier this month to purchase a set of disputed East China Sea islands it administers has spilled over into the economic realm, first in the form of sometimes violent protests targeting Japan's factories and showrooms in China and, more recently, through aversion to Japanese brands.Economists warned that the souring of trade ties could dim growth and threaten global supply chains. "There is a real risk this feud between China and Japan could push down exports, which would dim their (respective) economic outlooks,'' said Long Hanhua Wang, a Tokyo-based economist for RBS Securities Japan.Both governments have been careful not to invoke the spectre of economic sanctions, but Japanese companies have reported unusually strict inspections by Chinese Customs officials and delays in processing at some ports in China.The Japan External Trade Organisation has cited reports of problems with Customs affecting Japanese goods at Shanghai and Shenzhen. China-based operations of Japanese carmakers, many of which already faced slowing Chinese sales last month as tensions mounted, have been hit by much of the anger directed at Japan.Dealerships run by Toyota, Nissan and Honda suffered damage in several cities. As a result of that and a drop in orders, all three temporarily suspended operations last week before resuming output.