2000 Lexus LS Reviews

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Lexus RC 350 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the Lexus RC 350 at its Australian launch.

All-new Lexus RC 350 coupe arrives in local showrooms, priced from $66,000.Three months after we first drove the RC 350 in the US, Lexus's new answer to the BMW's 4-series, the Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz C-class coupe has arrived in local showrooms.The entry-level RC 350 Luxury trim level is priced at $66,000, moving up to the F Sport at $74,000 with the top-spec Sports Luxury priced at $86,000.Effectively a coupe version of the IS sedan, the suspension is actually based around the larger GS. However, the RC 350's front spring rates have been stiffened and the rear suspension has been tweaked with the aim of reducing body roll while maintaining ride comfort.The RC 350 comes with the 233kW/378Nm 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine from the GS350, paired with an eight-speed sports automatic transmission with manual gear selection available via paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The combined fuel efficiency figure for this combination is 9.4L/100km.The engine and transmission can be set into three different drive modes - Eco, Normal and Sport. Eco optimises the engine, accelerator and air-conditioning with a focus on fuel efficiency, Sport delivers more dynamic and responsive performance from the engine and steering and Normal strikes a balance between the two.F Sport and Sports Luxury models come with adaptive dampers and an extra Sport S+ drive mode. Sport S+ drive mode tightens the dampers during heavy braking, acceleration or cornering.Standard Safety features across the RC 350 lineup include front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera and auto-dimming mirrors.The $66,000 entry-level Luxury model features 18-inch alloys and 7-inch multimedia display for the satnav, reversing camera and Bluetooth/USB compatible audio system. There is also leather interior accents, powered front seats with heating and ventilation, LED headlights as well as climate control. A moonroof can be optioned for $2,500.The RC 350 F Sport, priced at $74,000, gains a more aggressive body-styling package, 19-inch alloys, lane change assist, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, F Sport steering wheel and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.The F Sport can also be optioned with a moonroof as well as lane departure warning, collision warning, active cruise control and automatic high-beam for $7,300The $86,000 Sports Luxury model includes all of the above features and adds premium leather and timber veneer trim to the cabin.

Lexus hints at RC convertible with LF-C2 concept in LA.Lexus has unveiled the LF-C2 concept this week, with the roofless concept taking centre-stage on the Lexus stand at the Los Angeles motor show.The LF-C2 is a clear hint that an upcoming drop-top version of the RC coupe may be just around the corner.The styling of the front and back borrows heavily from the 2015 RC coupe, with some subtle tweaks.The trademark Lexus gaping-maw front grille has a new pattern to it, and the 20-inch alloys have a unqiue multi-spoke design.The LF-C2 concept's front LED running lights wrap around toward the wheel arches more than the RC, while the overall shape of the front bumper is also unique.The rear of the concept maintains the same overall styling as the RC coupe, although the rear bumper is also reshaped.Behind the rear passengers is a section of bodywork that would be perfect for hiding a roof in, however the roadster concept lacks one. That makes picking whether a future RC drop-top would have a hard or soft roof difficult.That said, the IS250C, which an RC coupe drop-top would replace, did come with a folding metal roof.Roof aside, there is room for two people in the back of the LF-C2 concept, however looking at the car from top-down suggests it would be ideal if the rear passengers were missing their legs.

Stuart Martin road tests and reviews Lexus NX300h with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2014 Lexus NX300h with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Stuart Martin road tests and reviews the Audi A8 4.2 TDI against the Lexus LS600h and Mercedes-Benz S 300 BlueTec Hybrid.

Mr Zo is interested in buying a used Lexus ISF, but because they are quite expensive he wants to be careful and know what he's getting into. He wants to know about common problems, servicing expenses, and the cost of parts etc. NEWThe F is to the IS what the M3 is to the BMW 3-Series. It's the seriously quick model that gives a tinge of credibility to the rest of the range.Since beginning with a single luxury model in the 1990s Lexus has grown into the fully-fledged prestige marque that holds its own with the acknowledged prestige brands from Europe.Like the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class the IS gives the masses the opportunity to participate in the dream, or at least aspire to be part of it.Much of the development of the IS was done on racetracks around the world. Indeed the F is said to stand for Fuji, the Japanese track where much of it was carried out. The result is a car with real sports credentials.One look at the compact sedan tells you it's conceived for speed, with a wide airdam, sweeping lines, and bulging wheel arches full of massive alloy wheels, low profile rubber and huge brakes.The sporting feel carries through to the stylish cabin with its real sports seats, carbon-fibre accents, leather trim and F badges.But it not only looks the part, it has the performance to back it up.Lift the bonnet and you discover the dual-injected double-overhead camshaft 5.0-litre V8 that delivers the punch. It's related to the V8 in the LS luxury saloon, but has been enlarged and enhanced with unique heads, conrods, pistons, intake and exhaust. With all that working in unison the result is 311kW at 6600 rpm and 505Nm at 5200 rpm.A new 8-speed auto transmission processes the engine's output and sends it back to the rear wheels. It features paddles on the steering wheel to change gears and boasts quick-fire shifting.In addition to the normal driving modes there's the F sports mode, which locks the torque convertor in second to eighth gears and changes the throttle characteristics, steering assistance and chassis settings.The IS F brought a new feeling of freedom to the otherwise staid Lexus brand, one with an impressive performance edge heralded by a throaty roar. NOWLexus has a well-earned reputation for the quality of its build, which is a great start to a long and reliable life of driving.There is the odd report of a problem with the IS F, but there are no serious problems we can report.If pressed some owners complain about the firm ride, but that comes with the territory, the F is a performance car and the suspension settings reflect that.For anyone contemplating buying one it's important that they carry out a test drive to thoroughly familiarise themselves with all aspects of the car and reassure themselves they can live with it.The one issue that does often crop is the life of the brakes. Again that is one of the things that can affect a performance car, and it seems that it does with the IS F. Most owners accept that it's a part of the ownership experience. When conducting a pre-purchase test-drive listen for squeaking rear brakes, it's a sign the brakes will soon need replacing.Like all cars servicing is crucial to maintaining reliability, and regular oil and filter changes are necessary to help keep the engine firing in fine fettle.Check the service book to make sure your potential purchase has been serviced as per the Lexus recommendation.There was a recall in October 2014 to rectify an issue with the gasket between the fuel pressure sensor and fuel delivery pipe that could result in a fuel leak with the possibility of a fire.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the 2014 Lexus CT200h Sports Luxury with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The Lexus GS300h has attracted a steady stream of happy passengers during its time in our hands. Provided those passengers aren't perched on the middle seat in the back, not a single person has had anything negative to say about the GS experience.From the driver's point of view, the GS is a quiet, easy car. Until recently, it had spent its time almost exclusively pounding the streets of Sydney. Now a family event called us north for a quick overnight trip and a chance to test the big hybrid on the open road.As part of the experiment, we filled the tank and set off north. As expected, Sydney's traffic was horrendous on Sunday morning as public transport and road authorities' continuing policy failures and bizarre maintenance decisions turn the roads into a series of funnels.Immediately the passengers began to review the car. The first consensus reached was how smooth the 300h is - with its electric motor moving us along with that distant whine, there's no shunting or gaps in the pick-up. It's no rocket, but adequate in the real-world rather than Rolls-Royce sense.Once we finally escaped the dreariness of a wet Sydney Sunday, we hit the Pacific Highway, set the cruise control and headed for Port Macquarie. Despite the lashing rain and the appalling road surface, the car was completely unruffled.Loaded with people and stuff, the Lexus shrugged off the first chunk of the journey to Newcastle - where grumbling passengers were forced out of the lap of luxury and to a cafe with decent coffee rather than the suggested fast-food option.The rear seat passengers remarked on the effortless comfort in the rear - the seats front and back are well-shaped and unashamedly biased towards comfort. The way they hold your body feels deliberate and meant for long trips. No aches, pains or groans, no matter how advanced the age of the occupant.The second leg proved equally easy. Keeping an eye on the fuel gauge, the almost two tonne luxury sedan was averaging just 5.1 litres per 100km out on the open road. What's more, our crawling around Newcastle had largely been in electric mode, meaning just a small increase as we negotiated the city's streets.We'd covered well over 900km and, crucially, hadn't been anywhere near a petrol station.The first of two of the car's few faults became obvious on the northbound leg. It's not a fault in the traditional sense, but the F Sports fat tyres found a surface on the Pacific that created a tremendously irritating din. While that's not wholly the car's fault - the road surface is largely to blame - the fact that the racket slipped through the NVH defences is telling.The second came to the fore when looking for the evening's lodgings. The passengers had organised their own and mine were in town. I punched in the address on the sat-nav and it took me somewhere completely wrong. Over the next twenty four hours the sat-nav twice misled us, leaving us no alternative but to rely on the none-too-brilliant Apple Maps for directions.In big cities the sat-nav is fine, but outside them, forget it. The input method is also mildly puzzling but newer Lexuses are fixing that and one expects the GS's will be next in line.Family event complete, we turned around and headed back south to Sydney. Pounding down the Pacific and straight into yet more torrential rain, the GS again proved itself to be the least fatiguing mode of transport imaginable.Apart from that same stretch of road, the noise dimmed by all that water, conversation was easy at the legal limit, from any seat in the house.By the time the journey was over, we'd covered well over 900km and, crucially, hadn't been anywhere near a petrol station. That's brilliant going for a big heavy car like this one, diesel or petrol.The combination of CVT and 2.5 litre petrol engine coupled with electric locomotion may not be the fastest package on the road - far from it - but it's an able cruiser with enough grunt to safely overtake without causing sweaty palms.