2000 Lexus LS Reviews

If you like your gadgets, you're going to love the new baby Lexus. As well as a hybrid powertain, comprising petrol and electric motors, the CT200 has a dazzling array of lights and plenty of buttons to push.We especially like the way the color of the back lighting changes when you switch from economy to performance settings, with a dial that morphs from an Eco meter into a conventional tachometer.  How cool's that?The CT represents a bold attempt to spice up the some might say boring Prius concept on which it is based (there's a Prius under there), with more of everything including power, a brash exterior.Not surprisingly, it's targeted at younger buyers. The car comes in four grades and a total of 80 combinations of colours and trim, including 10 exterior colours with either fabric or genuine leather seat facings. Ours is the F Sport with sports suspension and a body kit, finished in eye-catching blue with smoke-coloured alloys.It certainly attracts plenty of questions. All four grades are powered by a 100kW hybrid powerplant, combined with a continuously variable style auto and the aforementioned drive mode select, with EV, ECO, NORMAL and SPORT modes.All four also have eight airbags and a full active safety package. With fuel economy officiallty rated at 4.1, we have been consistently getting 5.9 litres/100km over the past few weeks.Advanced features include proactive seat heaters, intelligent climate control, LED lighting, smart audio systems and bio-sourced materials. CT's front-seat heaters have been designed to operate in concert with the air-conditioning system, reducing the workload of the air-conditioning heater to aid fuel economy.And then there's the sound system.LED headlamps, combined with the 89 LED bulbs throughout the interior, significantly reduce power consumption and engine loadings. And then there's the computer/sound system - we could devote an entire editon to this one feature.The system won the Technical Innovation Award from Popular Mechanics. It is used to remotely control navigation, audio and telephone via a computer-like mouse controller.It features a digital amplifier and 10 speakers with diaphragms made a charcoal and bamboo fibre compound to make the speaker diaphragms strong and light. Let's just say there's no shortage of things to play with.

The start comes with the unveiling of the Toyota 86 sports car at the Tokyo Motor Show and company chief Akio Toyoda says the world's young people are his target. "Cars have an emotional present that inspires drivers to enjoy their freedom," Toyoda says. "Today it is said that young people have little interest in cars as there are much more interesting things and, as an automobile maker, I find this quite frustrating." Toyota makes its big numbers and big profits with the blandoid Corolla and Camry but Toyoda, a part-time racer who now heads his family's company, is shifting the emphasis. He also wants to bury the safety and reliability controversies in the USA which are likely - together with the impact of the Japanese natural disasters in March - likely to cost Toyota its place at the top of the world sales charts. Toyoda is the driving force behind the Toyota 86 and also talks enthusiastically about the driver-focussed Lexus GS displayed at the Tokyo show. His enthusiasm is still to have a major effect at Toyota, which launches an all-new Camry in Australia next week, but he talks big and there are big signs at the show shouting "Reborn" and "Fun to drive, again". "I believe that if it is not fun it is not a car. Personally, I love the smell of gasoline and the sound of an engine, so I hope this type of vehicle never disappears," Toyoda says. "I hope that motor vehicles will continue to provide dreams and inspiration to people for all eras." Toyoda says the future of cars is still not certain and Toyota is exploring all areas, from efficient petrol cars to hybrids and pure electric vehicles. "I do not believe that the debate concerning future motor vehicles will be a choice between electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid vehicles. What is necessary is the decision by consumers, but it is unlikely that there will be one choice. I believe that various types of vehicles will be used for different applications through maximising the advantages of their individual strengths."

You wouldn't think Lexus was into its fourth generation of the GS model, mostly because it's been the sleeper in the local line-up. Those days could be over with the arrival soon of a bolder new model developed in the US but benchmarked against medium large European prestige sports sedans.Design cues from the new GS including its "spindle" grille will flow through to other models in the Lexus range as they are updated or replaced. It's a new "design language" for the premium Japanese brand.VALUELexus offers GS350 petrol V6 and GS450 Hybrid each available with the F-Sport package that includes four wheel steering among a raft of enhancements. Prices are tipped to start at $79,990 for the GS350 rising to the early $100K mark for the 450h with F-Sport.TECHNOLOGYDrive Mode Select is a control system with four modes Eco, Normal, Sport and Sport+ selectable by dial on the centre console. Eco prioritises fuel efficiency while Sport+ optimises performance of both chassis and power train. Four wheel steering is active via an actuator on the rear axle that moves the rear wheels by two degrees of steering to enhance cornering, drive feel and stability. The new 3.5-litre direct injection engine features Atkinson cycle technology that delays combustion for better fuel economy on the GS450h. The new six-speed automatic on 350 offers paddle shift and throttle blip on down change in manual mode. Hybrid's battery pack now vertically stacked to provide more boot space.DYNAMICSThe new, rigid platform offers solid base for all chassis functions steering, brakes, suspension ride and handling and even noise and vibration suppression. The power steering is electric, the brakes have electronic control and wheel sizes are 18-19-inch. The sporty GS350 with F-Sport package is unequivocal leader in the ride and handling department offering drive feel on par or better than anything from Europe. The four wheel steering system transform the car's feel into a sharp handling sports sedan.SAFETYGS is designed to meet five star safety standards with a pre-collision system, 10 air bags, stability control, anti whiplash head restraints, increased use of high strength steel in the body/chassis and driver alert monitor among a suite of primary and secondary safety features.TECHNOLOGYBoth models use a 3.5-litre direct injection petrol V6 with Atkinson cycle on the hybrid. The petrol 350 is good for 233kW/378Nm while the 450h is good for 252kW and an estimated 400Nm combined from the petrol and electric engines.The hybrid runs a nickel-metal hybrid battery pack mounted behind the rear seats. Transmissions are a six speed auto on the petrol and a six speed CVT on the hybrid which is capable of an incredible 6.2-litres/100km. The petrol does 9.7.LUXURYAs expected, the GS is well endowed in the luxury department with a feature rich interior and soft leather upholstery in a wide colour range. Buyers can also chose from a range of fascia materials. And there's an optional 850 watt Mark Levinson audio system though the one fitted standard is excellent. The car gets Bluetooth phone and audio, ample rear seat legroom, smart key button start, multi wheel controls and numerous electric adjustments to the driving position and steering wheel. The F-Sport package brings bigger wheels, different bumpers and grille, rear boot spoiler as well as the four wheel steering and other performance and handling enhancements.DRIVINGWe must admit that this is the most performance oriented hybrid we've ever driven it really honks if you chose to drive it hard. But the 350 with F-Sport package is the one we prefer because it fulfils the role of sports sedan extremely well offering strong engine performance, rapid acceleration and excellent handling (particularly steering) in a good size package.The brakes are strong and you can wick the GS350 right up and revel in its sporty prowess. Rear wheel drive is a big plus because of the drive feel. An engine sound generator under the bonnet enhances the whole driving experience (not on the hybrid).VERDICTGets a big tick from us, certainly a move in the right direction on a whole lot of fronts particularly styling and performance.NEED TO KNOWA GS250 is under consideration.Slightly bigger than outgoing model.Has a skin rehydration system built into the aircon.Chassis laser welded.Low aerodynamic drag at 0.26Cd.

A near-death experience has finally breathed some heart and soul into the Lexus GS. The GS came very close to extermination after three unsuccessful attempts with cars that looked best at a retirement home, but now the mid-sized Lexus is genuinely worth considering against a BMW 5 Series or an E-Class Benz.It has a more macho look, a cabin that's not just a cushy lounge room, and the sort of driving enjoyment that's likely to make the F Sport models a real hit. Lexus still has to overcome buyer resistance when the new GS lands in Australia in April, but provided it can undercut the Germans on price - which means a basic bottom line just below $80,000, well under the $95,000 of the current car. The lineup is based on the GS350 with V6 engine that produces 28 per cent more power in a mid-sized five-passenger cabin, and the GS450h hybrid that also uses a 3.5-litre V6 but with a continuously-variable transmission and Prius-style powertrain.No-one at Lexus is talking about prices yet, partly because the car is still more than four months from Australian roads and partly because the company does not want to alert its German rivals to its plans. But it's fair to expect a pricing spread from just below $70,000 - for the GS250 that's still to be confirmed for Australia - with $79,990 for the cooking-model GS350 and something around $115,000 for the GS450h.The bottom line means good value, as a $80,000 sticker will really stick it to BMW and Benz, and there is a lot to like in a list of standard equipment that includes great leather and aircon, brilliant Mark Levinson sound, the usual alloys, and a giant colour display screen in the dash. It's just a pity that the need to please Americans with the world's biggest display has cost the rest of the world an eight-speed automatic gearbox...The price picture is still pretty muddled, as there is a lot of extra equipment on cars at the world press preview - including night vision, a drive-drowsiness alert, and the optional sports package with rear- wheel steering - but Lexus promises a big effort with the new GS. "We currently sell about seven GSs a month. We're aiming for 50," says Peter Evans, marketing boss at Lexus Australia. And there is room to move. "The two big guys do about 150 a month," Evans says reluctantly.Work on the GS has produced a long list of innovations, including what Lexus claims as four world firsts. They are a variable driving mode system, a 3.5-litre V6 engine that uses an Atkinson combustion cycle in the hybrid, a 'stacked' battery pack in the hybrid, and a dynamic rear steering on the hybrid.The air conditioning even uses 'nanoe' technology to clean, filter and add ions to the air. In Lexus style, the technology changes go on and on, covering everything from powertrain to safety and comfort. There is a lot to like, although it's not always easy to understand. DESIGN: All the noise about the GS is centred on the grille, which takes a new Lexus direction. It's a lot like Darth Vader's helmet and it gives the car a strong presence in traffic which is, sadly, not matched by a tail end that looks more like a Kia.The cabin, though, is great. The look is upmarket but still a bit youthful, it's good to see an old-school analogue clock in the dash - always a favourite with one-time Ford boss Jac Nasser - and the colour display works a treat. Lexus has also upgraded the materials in the car and that's lifted it away from the so-what look and feel of the previous GS models.The four-generation GS is certain to be a five-star ANCAP car and also has the usual suite of safety stuff you expect on an $80,000 car. There are no fewer than 10 airbags, including knee protection, as well as everything up to a blind-spot monitor, tyre pressure monitor, the drowsiness warning and pre-collision safety protection. It will be interesting to see how much of the safety stuff makes it too Australia, and how much is on the starter car, but the GS package includes a lot of Lexus firsts.So, it's Strike Two for the Lexus GS. The difference this time - and it's a big one - is that I can see the car. The first time I flew to the USA for some early kilometres in the new Lexus luxurymobile it was like driving with a blindfold. The car was real and almost totally complete, but wrapped in a giant leather sausage to hide it from the world.This time, I can see the bodywork and the clock in the centre of the dash is revealed. The clock looks pretty nice and the styling is pretty good, for a Lexus. The GS350 is a tidy drive that lifts the mid-sizer away from its tedious roots and up much closer to an E-Class Benz or a 5-Series from BMW. It's not as tasty as the Audi A6 I left behind in Australia, and it's not as tight as the Five, but it's pretty nice. Sliding across to the 450h, the car has plenty of punch and the right sort of green strengths for California. Sadly, although it goes like a V8 it sounds like a golf cart thanks to a CVT transmission that's tuned for efficiency and not much driving enjoyment.But there is real enjoyment in the F Sport cars, with active rear steering. Lexus has done extra tweaking since my first drive and the result is a car that is surprisingly swift, yet very fluid and easy to drive. The end result, including some drifting fun at a deserted airfield, is one of the most surprising drives of 2011.The new GS is way, way better than the previous models and a real tribute to the development team that broke it out of death row. It's one of the most impressive cars to wear a Lexus badge and is going to make BMW and Benz buyers think twice in 2012.Still a Lexus, but can be a surprisingly good drive and is loaded with goodies to make life enjoyable.

The face-off is looking like a foregone conclusion now the all-new GS is on the road. The new range starts with the six-cylinder GS350 and hybrid GS450h, but future expansion is expected to include a V8-powered GS-F and most likely a 250 starter car. Lexus is careful to avoid any confirmations, but the GS250 is already a runner - and headed for a range of countries that need to combat diesel-powered rivals - and the GS-F is a consistent topic for discussions. "I am strictly prohibited to talk about GS-F or any V8 project," the deputy chief engineer on the GS project, Koji Sato, says. But he admits a V8 engine will fit under the bonnet of the new car, and that there is extra capacity in the car's chassis and suspension. "We cannot comment on future models, but the platform of the GS has high capability for new engines and other body styles," he says. "The rear suspension structure is totally different and it has a higher potential in terms of dynamic capabilities." The all-new GS is the result of a total re-think on a car that has, until now, badly missed customer targets and fallen well short of its German rivals. Lexus even considered killing the car at one point. The marketing chief at Lexus Australia, Peter Evans, gives some details on the GS rollout including consideration of the 250. But he totally discounts any chance of a diesel, even though BMW and Benz both use diesels as their starter cars in the E-Class and 5-Series and sell more than half their mid-sized models with a four-cylinder engine. "There is no diesel. There is no diesel in the program," says Evans. "There is a smaller-engined variant. It is the GS250 and targeted at eastern Europe and China. Clearly it's the star for the Chinese market. It's under active consideration for Australia but isn't confirmed yet. Up to 140km/h it's about as fast as the GS350 and it has very good fuel consumption numbers."

The new luxury Lexus GS comes with a six-speed automatic - and set of six 'steps' in the constantly-variable transmission used in the GS hybrid - even though its luxury rivals have mostly moved to seven and eight-speed automatics. Lexus actually led the eight-speed shift with its flagship, the LS600h, and has since been joined by both Mercedes-Benz and BMW. But the new GS has missed out because of customer needs in the USA. The company's product planning team gave higher priority to a giant new colour display in the dashboard, over-ruling the six-speed in a head-to-head assessment of the cost benefit in the new model. "They decided buyers would be more interested in the dashboard display than the gearbox. So keen drivers have been left out," an industry source tells Carsguide. Yet Lexus says keen drivers are the primary focus for the new GS, which is a much sharper tool than the previous model. A preview drive earlier this year, which will soon be backed by a Carsguide drive in the showroom model coming to Australia in March, shows that the Japanese luxury brand is committed to a new approach. Even so, six speeds is less than the car deserves - and needs - and there are questions about the performance of the hybrid car in a class where it runs up against V8-powered rivals topped by the hero BMW M5 and Benz's E63 AMG.

IT'S all very well coining your own equivalent to the fabled M and AMG performance badges of the German marques. Laudable even. And it's more than possible that the Lexus "F" line will come to be written in the same sentence as these.Certainly it's deserved. Still, that'll be then and this is now, and I can't help wondering whether the consonant "Q" isn't more apt - as in that old buffer's term for performance cars whose blazing light is hidden beneath a mild exterior.Visually it's almost as innocuous as your common or garden IS250. Indeed, to a very certain point, the revised and upgraded IS-F drives in the excessively polite manner of Toyota's luxury marque. And then ...VALUEIn this context - as a rival to BMW's M3 and Merc's C63 - we can begin to talk of a bargain.As is the case with even the humblest $56K IS, the F is priced considerably to the south of the nearest equivalent German and stuffed with standard spec, not least of which is a reverberating Mark Levinson stereo and a brilliantly intuitive touchscreen through which to operate all systems from satnav to aircon.TECHNOLOGYThis is a one-vehicle expo of drivetrain tech, sophisticated but sans the needless complications of the M3's myriad drive modes. You won't soon tire of the thrumming 5.0-litre V8. Fettled with dual VVT-i, dual injection (port and direct) and a dual-intake air system, it achieves 311kW at 6600rpm and 505Nm at 5200rpm, dispatching the 0-100km/h dash in 4.8 seconds.If ever you've wondered at the point of certain DSG-style transmissions, to say nothing of their (dys)function, the Lexus's eight-speeder clinches it in favour of the torque converter. Barely perceptible changes in Drive are sharpened when sport mode is activated.A meaningful manual mode - as in one that holds gear selections on redline - is accessed by flipping the gearstick sideways and going to it with the shapely paddle shifters, which also provide temporary manual overide in Drive.Let's hear it for the mechanical Torsen limited-slip differential that last year replaced the electronic device. This one actively redistributes torque instead of stifling power.Previously the IS-F's ride has been a boon to the dental and osteopathic professions. The suspension's been revised in a manner that acknowledges real-world conditions, and makes for a ride that's much more than tolerable even on Australia's third-world roads. Oh, it's still as firm as it must be but it's forgiving with it.DESIGNWe take a back seat to but a few when it comes to praise of the IS series, which is wise in the F model, because there's but two pews back there. No loss this -- the centre position is token. But for that, and what a colleague calls the "Ginza boy" carbon-fibre accents, this could be a much lesser IS with optional bling.Bespoke bits run to unsubtle quad exhausts and lovely smoky 19-inch alloys. The seven-year-old design means there's not a lot of room, forward or aft. The bloody sun roof leaves next to no space between a tall driver's skull and the ceiling. And why is there a driver's grab handle if not to bruise the right side of his fine, shiny cranium?SAFETYConsider the safety acronyms, active and passive, present and correct and the five-star crash safety rating a given. More pertinently, given there's 1700kg of 270km/h-capable sports sedan to stop, are massive Brembo brakes, six-piston calipers up front acting on 360mm x 30mm ventilated discs, and twin-piston calipers aft doing their thing on 345mm x 28mm ventilated discs.DRIVINGAnd, as we were saying, then ... But before just that, this year's IS-F is as amiable a commuting companion as could be wished for in a performance car. The pleasantly persistent engine growl is most unLexus-like and most welcome.You can live with it every day without arousing the inner beast. Indeed, the first time you introduce the throttle to the floor, there's a throat clearing pause, and then the fluorescent blue needle reaches 4000rpm, the engine roars, your passenger shouts "s---!", and you're leaning on the brakes at the end of the road  where you spend the next 10 minutes digging an iPhone out from under the seat whence its flown.With Sport engaged and the open road before you, this exercise is a bit more linear. Gears are held longer, the exhaust report is crisper and throttle response is livelier. The Lexus engages our favourite hillclimb of 15-25km/h indicated corners as though developed specifically for this stretch, sitting flat and true. The stability control cuts in deftly and aptly at such extremes as your humble servant is prepared to chart on public roads.VERDICTIt's quiet and capable then roaringly rapid, like a respectable salaryman given to 'roid rages. It's hard to find logical reasons not to want this Lexus.LEXUS IS-FPrice: $126,800Warranty: 4 years/100,000kmResale: 56 per centService interval: 12 months/15,000kmSafety: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, BA, TC. Crash rating 5 starsEngine: 5.0-litre V8; 300kW/505NmBody: 4-seat sedanDimensions: 4580mm(L), 1800mm(W); 1425mm(H)Weight: 1700kgTransmission: 8-speed auto, rear-wheel driveEconomy: 11.4L/100kmAlso considerAUDI S5Price: $138,900Engine: 4.2-litre V8; 260kW/44NmTrans: 6-speed auto: AWDBody: Two door coupeThirst: 10.8L/100km"Looks good, feels good, but limited. A German muscle car"BMW M3Price: $149,000Engine: 4.0-litre V8; 309kW/400NmTrans: 7-speed automated manual: RWDBody: sedanThirst: 11.9L/100km"The most capable here but about to look old hat"MERCEDES-BENZ C63 AMGPrice: $150,980Engine: 6.2-litre V8; 336kW/600NmTrans: 7-spped auto: RWDBody: sedanThirst: 13.5L/100km"Wagnerian noise. Pass anything except a petrol station"

More than 24,000 cars sold in Australia are potentially at risk of a power steering failure, with two cases already reported. Cars covered by the recall, all built in 2004 and 2005, will have the crankshaft pulley on the front of their engine replaced. "The Avalon and Camry V6 were built at our Altona factory but it is  not a manufacturing fault," Toyota spokeswoman Laura Hill said."The crankshaft pulley was supplied by a Japanese component provider and we  will be replacing that part on the affected cars. It takes about 90 minutes for the service staff to complete the job."She said Toyota has identified the problem as insufficient glue being applied to the outer ring of the crankshaft pulley, which could allow movement that would dislodge the drive belt for the power steering.The fault can cause noises from the engine bay and the charging system warning light to illuminate and, in the worst-case scenario, the driver would need much more force than normal to turn the steering. Hill said there have been no reports of steering failure in Australia."We've had one case of a Kluger owner noticing the charge light came on and a Lexus owner has reported the same issue," she said. Toyota Australia said the safety recall was a preventative action and customers can continue to drive their vehicles.The announcement continues a horror year for the world's biggest carmaker, which will lose its place at the top of the global sales charts to Volkswagen and could even slip to third behind General Motors. It has also recently withdrawn its earning forecast.Toyota's production was savaged by the March earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan and that was compounded by recent floods in Thailand that are still affecting vehicle production.Toyota's renowned reputation for reliability has been hammered in the past two years by a succession of recalls related to "unintended   acceleration". More than three million vehicles were returned to Toyota dealerships in the US to fix accelerator pedals that stuck or could potentially be caught in floor mats.In Australia, more than 4800 Lexus IS250s were recalled in February to remedy a potential fuel leak due to a fuel pressure sensor that could work loose and there was an earlier recall for computer tweaks to overcome a braking problem in the Prius hybrid.Recall vehicle numbers: 24,222Toyota Camry V6: 11,235Toyota Avalon: 3591Toyota Kluger: 6966Lexus ES300: 365Lexus RX330: 2065

The Australian appearance of the new mid-size luxury sedan flagship is the latest in a series of global events and unveilings of what Toyota Motor Corporation  president and CEO Akio Toyoda has described as “The first car of the new generation Lexus.” The GS first appeared in concept form at the New York motor show in April, followed by the production car’s unveiling at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August, and the unveiling of the hybrid version at the Frankfurt motor show in September. Lexus Australia chief executive Tony Cramb describes the all-new GS as “an absolute game changer” and conceded that until now the brand has lacked a serious rival in the category he declared the “core of any prestige brand”. It’s a category dominated here by the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which to the end of September had sold 1042 and 1122 cars respectively, versus just 69 sales of the current Lexus GS. Describing the category as “the core of any prestige brand”, Cramb made it clear that Lexus was banking on not just the GS F Sport but the entire GS range to reenergise the brand bother here and abroad. “This car is bigger than this car. It signals the regeneration of Lexus as a brand.  It’s the bold new face of Lexus and our rebirth as a franchise,” says Cramb. Referring to the benchmarking Lexus has done against its German prestige rivals, Cramb says the car’s performance and dynamics had been influenced by the LF-A supercar. Describing the GS as “easily the best car in the segment to drive”, he adds, “it’s a serious improvement. Much better than the outgoing car.” The GS F Sport, like the broader GS range is powered by either a 233kW 3.5-litre V6, or a hybridised version of the same engine dubbed that makes an impressive 252kW.   The hybrid version is being positioned by Lexus as a rival to both the economical diesel engines offered by the Germans, and a performance rival to their V8 offerings. The hybrid V6 is mated to a CVT transmission while the conventional V6 mates to a six-speed auto. With the car’s launch not expected until the end of the first or beginning of the second quarter next year, Lexus refused to discuss pricing or exact launch timing, but did concede that there would be a delay of up to two months between the launch of the petrol models and that of the hybrid versions. “Given our recent history you can assume we’re not going to be uncompetitive,” Cramb says.  Safety and technology features abound in the base car but the GS F Sport adds to this with features such as sports tuned suspension, all-wheel drive, larger front brakes, 19-inch alloy wheels, specific tuning for the transmissions and a raft of high-tech electronic handling aids.

In a way it really had to be or the high fliers who buy these cars would not have given it a second glance. It had to be something very special and special it is indeed as we discovered this week behind the wheel at Victoria's Sandown race track.Sure it goes hard and stops just as quickly, with an exhilirating exhaust note that sounds like an F1 car — but there's so much more to this car. Ten years in the making, the LFA symbolises everything that Lexus says it strives to be — innovative, passionate and inspirational.TECHNOLOGYThe heart of the matter is a carbon fibre shell fitted with a light weight all-aluminium 4.8-litre V10 that pumps out 412kW of power and 480Nm of torque, combined with a sequential single clutch robotised manual transmission and oil cooler.The LFA has a top speed of 325km/h and accelerates to 100km/h in 3.7 seconds. A special Nurburgring edition boosts power to 420kW. Yamaha gave the guys some help with the engine design and as a result it revs all the way to 9000rpm.DESIGNSixty-five per cent of LFA's body structure is carbon fibre, while the remaining 35 per cent is aluminium. The original analogue dials were replaced with a digital instrumentation because the analogue tachometer couldn't keep up.The LFA is an infinitely better looking thing than Nissan's GT-R and faster around Germany's famous Nurburgring too, where it held the production car record until recently. Among others the LFA boasts the world's first seatbelt airbag to reduce chest and neck bruising.LIMITED EDITIONOnly 500 of the cars will be built, of which 170 have already found homes in the United States, another 150 have gone to Japan itself and a mere handful are headed our way — 10 to be exact (maybe a couple more if Lexus can swing it).In the States, one couple bought the car simply because it was the most expensive Lexus available and they had always owned the top model. But the buyers are not the usual suspects, revealed Lexus Australia corporate manager Peter Evans.For the most part they're successful, self-made men, 35-45 years of age whose faces you are unlikely to see in the newspapers. One owns a Bugatti Veyron and the others own or have owned other performance cars. One man is even thinking of buying a second Nurburg edition to keep and drive in the United States.As a group, Evans said they are remarkably unpretentious.Lexus took three buyers to the Nurburgring where until a few weeks ago the LFA held the lap record for a production car. What they share is an overwhelming enthusiasm for the car."They're a fascinationg group of individuals," he said.So what do you get for your $700,000 apart from the car? For one thing you get private tuition from racing driver Alan Jones who is the Lexus LFA ambassador. It doesn't get better than that.LEXUS LFAPrice: $750,000Economy: 16.7 l/100km; 387g/km CO2Safety equipment: 5 airbags, ABS, EBD, stability control.Engine: 412kW/480Nm 4.8-litre 40-valve DOHC V10Transmission: rear-mounted six-speed automated sequential gearboxBody: 2-door, 2 seatsDimensions: 4505mm (L); 1895mm (W); 1220mm (H); 2605mm (WB)Weight: 1540kgTyre size: 20in (fr 265/35, rr 305/30), no sparePerformance: 0-100 km/h 3.7 seconds, top speed 325km/h.