2000 Lexus LS Reviews

Lexus has rolled out a special Nurburgring-inspired version of the CT 200h hybrid for the Australian International Motor Show. But it will be gone in a couple of days. Inspired by the 2.4L hybrid CT that competed in the Nurburgring 24-Hour endurance race, the show car features polished quad exhausts, extra body kit in the form of front lip spoilers and rear air diffuser, 18-in alloy wheels, and rides on a modified suspension that slings it 20mm lower than the standard car. Lexus Australia chief executive Tony Cramb says the CT 200h Concept be a litmus test of public reaction. "The Australian International Motor Show gives us the perfect opportunity to engage with potential customers and assess their reaction," said Mr Cramb. "There are elements of the CT 200h Concept that are currently under evaluation by Lexus for introduction into the local market."

The luxury company’s LF-Gh hybrid concept is a mobile showcase of Lexus’s design direction and points to a sleek, low-impact look. The show concept minimizes the appearance of traditional external features such as side mirrors and door handles. The theory is this improves the sleekness of the car as well as boosting aerodynamic efficiciency. “LF-Gh captures the essence behind all future Lexus vehicle design – call it “L finesse” 2.0 if you like,” chief executive Tony Cramb said. “LF-Gh’s bold and aggressive design blurs the line between our growing hybrid and performance vehicle portfolios – offering the perfect blend of performance, fuel efficiency and looks.” Lexus said the LF-Gh was designed to be a high-performance concept capable transporting multiple occupants at higher speeds on long-distance drives.

And our preference for sporty models will see Lexus put its performance-oriented F Sport models. The F Sport vehicles represent almost half of IS350 sales and around a quarter of IS250s. “Lexus is committed to growing its performance portfolio – with two more F Sport models destined for launch next year,” chief executive Tony Cramb said. The growth in F Sport model sales is also reflected in Lexus Australia doubling its order of LFA vehicles from an initial allocation of five to 10 of the limited-build $700,000 supercars. The $700,000 LFA is made from carbon fibre and exotic alloys and is powered by a 4.8 litre V8 with 412kW and 480Nm. That power is fed through a six-speed automatic transmission and gives the lightweight car a 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds. “Australia is viewed as a yardstick for the rest of the world, and our increased allocation of LFAs demonstrates the strength of the brand locally and the importance we hold in the global Lexus market,” Lexus Australia chief executive Tony Cramb said.

 The latest Lexus concept, the LF-Gh, showcases a commitment to hybrid power, but more importantly unveils a spindle-shaped grille that will become a feature of all future Lexus designs.Lexus says it’s the next stage in Lexus’ finesse design philosophy that was first seen in 2001. The concept is the result of a "clean sheet of paper" design exercise and aims to blend style, performance, efficiency and environmental compatibility. Lexus Australia chief executive Tony Cramb says the LF-Gh reaffirms that hybrids can be sleek and stylish."The LF-Gh grille really is a powerful design element in its own right – it will become a signature Lexus design element," he says. "Our latest vehicle, the CT 200h, hinted at where we were taking our L finesse design philosophy, but LF-Gh leaves no questions about what is next for Lexus. "The grille is more than just a design element; it also plays a substantial role in airflow control and stability."Melbourne is only the second venue to host the LF-Gh after its launch in New York earlier this year.

…..they were once reserved for F1 cars, MotoGP bikes and aeroplanes.

This includes between 20 and 30 used cars The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is responding to concerns expressed by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) that its members will be exposed to radiation. ARPANSA spokesman David Tredinnick said the agency will board the Trans Future 7 when it docks in Port Kembla to test for any radioactivity in a shipment of 800 cars from the port of Yokohama, Japan. "This inspection is being made to reassure stevedores after concerns from the MUA that as many as 30 of the cars are used vehicles they may possibly have originated from the tsunami and nuclear affected areas," he said. Mr Tredinnick said ARPANSA is undertaking monitoring of potentially contaminated cargo ships simply as a precaution. "These concerns have risen after the discovery of low levels of radioactivity in cars recently shipped from Yokohama," he said. MUA assistant national secretary Warren Smith said there needed to be a more rigorous testing regime put in place. "We've been lobbying for this and we think that not enough has been done, we're of the view that there needed to be a fairly stringent process for testing," he said. "All we want to know is that they are safe and there is appropriate documentation and proof is available," he said. "All we wanted was a commitment and guarantee that any form of cargo is safe, it's not an unreasonable question for people on the job," he said. Shipping company Toyofuji were contacted about the cargo of its Trans Future 7 ship but refused to comment. Toyota Australia has 645 new Toyota and 55 new Lexus vehicles on board the Trans Future 7 cargo ship. Toyota spokesperson Laura Hill said the company had been in contact with ARPANSA, which said it was not considered necessary to introduce radiation screening measures on cargo from Japan. "To provide the unions with peace of mind they have agreed to conduct some spot checks on the ship arriving in Port Kembla on June 23. They (ARPANSA) believe that there is low-level chance that it will be an issue, but they want to provide peace of mind for the dock workers," she said. Japanese brand importers said none of the vehicles brought into Australia had shown any radiation contamination, having been tested by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association prior to being loaded in Japan. Subaru national corporate affairs manager David Rowley said the company has been monitoring its vehicles imported from Japan, something the majority of new car importers have undertaken without incident. "Tests have continually been carried out prior to shipping and no radiation has been detected. The issue raised in the media is quite clearly around used cars. We do not import any used cars from Japan," he said. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association initiated its own procedures to test the radiation levels of vehicles produced in Japan in April.

….to the biggest appointment of his life this weekend. The right royal Lexus is a custom-made original built to head the wedding fleet for the ruler of the super-rich city-state, although guests will not be short-changed as they will be chauffeured in a fleet of 7 Series BMWs to the ceremony for Prince Albert and former Olympic swimmer Carlene Wittstock. The wedding car for the ceremony on Saturday began life as a regular Lexus LS600h in Japan before being shipped to a Belgian coachbuilding company for conversion into a landaulet with a transparent polycarbonate roof. The actual roof piece only weighs 26 kilograms but its installation required massive research by Lexus and painstaking craftsmanship. It took more than 2000 hours to complete the conversion, which includes a number of Kevlar and carbon fibre pieces to maintain the original structural integrity of the Lexus following the removal of its metal roof. Around 20,000 individual parts were stripped and then re-assembled during the work. The car was also re-painted in a special midnight blue. The petrol-electric hybrid drive system in the car was left intact and Lexus says the car will drive in fully electric mode for most of the planned drive through Monaco during the wedding celebrations.

 This competition closed at 11.59pm Wednesday July 13.The winners will be announced on Carsguide.com.au on Monday July 18. Stay tuned… SMS codes have been revealed! Check out our online gallery here.Vote now for your favourite Carsguide Car of the Show and you could win a Lexus CT 200h in Vermillion red with a leather enhancement pack. There is also a runner up prize of a $1,000 prepaid gift card to be won in each region.If you're at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne, note the codeword on the yellow sign next to your choice for Carsguide Car of the Show and sms it to 199 888 00.If you're not attending the show, check out the Carsguide Car of the Show gallery in your local Carsguide lift-out, in the following papers:The Daily Telegraph - Saturday 2 July, Friday 8 July & Saturday 9 July 2011Herald Sun - Friday 1 July, Saturday 2 July, Friday 8 July & Saturday 9 July 2011Courier Mail - Saturday 2 July & Saturday 9 July 2011The Advertiser - Saturday 2 July & Saturday 9 July 2011Northern Territory News - Saturday 2 July & Saturday 9 July 2011The Mercury - Saturday 2 July & Saturday 9 July 2011The Sunday Times - Sunday 3 July & Sunday 10 July 2011.Then SMS your name and the codeword for the car you want to vote for. SMS cost 55c per entry. The SMS numbers for each state are:NSW/ACT: 197 467 67VIC: 199 888 00TAS: 197 036 63QLD: 197 197 22WA: 199 882 00SA/NT: 199 199 03We will be showing the full gallery and code words on carsguide.com.au from Monday, July 11.However ALL voting will be by SMS. To make sure the choice of winner is entirely by a legal random selection, we cannot enable voting by email, letter or phone call.MAJOR PRIZELexus CT200h in Vermillion red with the Leather enhancement Pack including all drive away costs valued at $47,254.71.You could own one of the world's first luxury hybrid hatch! The CT 200h reinforces Lexus' commitment to innovation. Lexus Hybrid Drive delivers an unmatched balance between performance and environmental sensitivity for a driving experience that is pure enjoyment.Introducing the Lexus CT 200hFind a Lexus dealerRequest a brochureRequest a test drive Enhancement Pack 1 includes:Ivory Leather-accented trim.17-inch alloy wheels.Front-seat heaters.Reversing Camera & self-dimming mirror with the reversing camera image shown in the mirrorStandard specifications:100kW hybrid powerplant.Electronically-controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT).Drive Mode Select (EV, ECO, NORMAL and SPORT).Eight SRS airbags.6 speaker audio.Full active safety package of ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control.Emergency flashing brake lights.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).Mood lighting around the Drive Mode Select dial and overhead illumination.Dual-zone climate control air conditioning.Hill-start Assist Control (HAC).Smart Start.Multi-Information Display (MID).Alloy wheels with Yokohama 'dB decibel E70' tyres.60/40-split fold rear seat with flat floor.Genuine leather steering wheel.Hydrophilic and heated exterior mirrors.Cruise control.Rear spoilerEngine immobiliser.RUNNER UP PRIZESSix lucky runner up winners will each receive a prepaid gift card to the value of $1,000 (one winner per the following regions will be drawn: NSW/ ACT, VIC, TAS, QLD, WA and SA/NT).Competition closes 23:59 (AEST) 13/07/2011. Competition is drawn at 14:00 (AEST) 14/07/2011 at Salmat Interactive, 100 Arthur Street,North Sydney, NSW 2060. Prize includes Lexus Hybrid CT200h Prestige in Vermillion Red with the Leather Enhancement Pack. For full terms and conditions click here. Authorised under NSW: LTPS/11/05505; ACT: TP 11/02335; VIC 11/1181; SA: T11/1180 *Call cost 55c (inc GST) per entry.

The staggering number is a reflection of the rebounding climate in the Australian automotive industry, and the commitment that manufacturers are making to the new one-show-per-year format. “We have more new models and concepts coming than any show I can recall in recent times,” said Australian International Motor Show event director, Russ Tyrie. “A number of our exhibitors are displaying four or five new models and concepts, which is a tremendous coup for the motor show. “It promises to be an exciting event with visitors being able to see such a large number of vehicles that they have never seen before.” While concept cars will undoubtedly steal the show, there will be a number of very important new models being unveiled that are likely to get the attention of the new car buyer. At the top of the list are the upcoming supercars and high-end luxury cars, such as the outrageous V12 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, the production version of the aurally intimidating Lexus LFA, the exclusive Audi R8 GT – one of only 333 in the world, Maserati’s fastest road car – the MC Stradale and the Bentley Continental GT. In addition to the R8 GT, Audi will also present the new technologically-advanced A6 luxury sedan for the first time in Australia. Hyundai will be one of the standouts at the Melbourne event, with the new Veloster three-door sports car, the curvaceous new Elantra and the Accent small car all taking their bows. Toyota has announced that it will debut its all-new Yaris city car, while a new Hilux will also be on show at the stand of Australia’s highest-selling car company. Jaguar will present its upgraded XF sedan, while stablemate Land Rover will reveal the highly-anticipated Range Rover Evoque five-door for the first time on Australian soil. Peugeot will launch the brand new, elegantly-designed, all-diesel 508 sedan and wagon, while the company’s most popular model in this market, the 308 receives a facelift for the 2012 model year. Skoda’s presence in the Australian market is rapidly growing, and the company will double its model range in coming months with the Fabia and the Yeti crossover adding to the Octavia and Superb ranges – all of which will be on show in Melbourne. A car that has been the subject of much lobbying for an Australian launch (by the media and public alike) has been the Volkswagen Scirocco R. The German car company has now given the sleek coupe the go-ahead, and it will make its first local appearance at the motor show. Subaru’s stand will be the venue for a world premiere, with the right-hand drive version of its important new Impreza sedan making its very first appearance at the Australian International Motor Show. In addition, Holden, Kia and Mercedes-Benz have promised glimpses of at least nine future and upcoming models between them. “It all adds up to an action-packed show – and a huge amount of choice for anyone looking for a new car!” said Mr Tyrie. The Australian International Motor Show is on at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre and opens at 6pm on Friday 1 July and runs until Sunday 10 July.

It's the first full electric car to get the maximum safety score, although a range of petrol-electric hybrids, including the Toyota Camry, which has just moved up in local testing, have managed a five