2000 Lexus LS Reviews

Bearing the new sinister Lexus stylying, the Lexus LF-Gh concept will be a highlight of the Lexus stand at the show, only the second appearance for the car after its star turn at New York Auto Show last month. The brand says the main feature of the new mean face - the spindle-shaped grille - will become part of the signature for all cars from Toyota's luxury arm - while other aspects of the design might 'father' a future grand touring sedan. But the grille is not just for decoration, Lexus Australia chief executive Tony Cramb says. "It also plays a substantial role in airflow control and stability," he says. "Much like in the case of the Lexus LFA supercar, the designers and engineers for the LF-Gh concept have used function to inspire and mould the design."

TO have a chance of working, the Lexus CT200h has to be the most convincing hybrid yet, and in many ways it is.Although it relies on Prius technology, it distances itself by being, in every other respect, a mainstream pitch at the small luxury buyer.Unlike the Prius, it's attractive inside and out. The exterior design doesn't shout "alternative'' and the inside doesn't feel as if it's made from recycled plastic bottles. There's a freshly styled dash and, overall, it mimics the cockpit feel of the IS junior executive, which is a plus.Against its rivals, the super frugal A3 1.9 TDIe or BMW 118d, it's slightly heavier but a little less thirsty.If it were more expensive, as hybrids have been in the past, then it would attract only buyers committed to the technology because it would take forever to recoup the difference at the pump. By taking the premium out of the price, Lexus has levelled the playing field.It also has sharpened the driving experience itself, with pleasing steering and likable dynamic qualities.The downside is a firm ride that may not offer enough bump absorption for grumpy commuters and, on some roads, quite a lot of tyre noise.Otherwise, the interior is fairly refined and comfortable. Roominess and cargo space are unlikely to rule it out, and there's an equipment level befitting this type of car with some technology -- such as a pre-collision safety system - new to the segment.However, Lexus hasn't been completely successful in writing the driveline out of the equation. Out of sport mode, it lacks responsiveness and no one would accuse this car (or its diesel rivals) of being quick.It's too much to expect an appealing engine sound at this level, but there is something especially unpleasant about the noise of four-cylinders under load driving through a continuously variable transmission.Of course, CVTs are not unique to Lexus and its diesel rivals are hardly music to the ear.So in one crucial respect this car is exactly like the Audis and BMWs about this price: in each case the driveline, frugality apart, is the weakest link.LEXUS CT200H Price: Below $50,000Engine: 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol and electric motorPower: 100kW at 5200revsTorque: 142Nm at 4000revsTransmission: Continuously variable automatic, front-wheel driveFuel economy: 3.8L/100kmEmissions: 87g/km

The app lets players challenge each other slot-car style, on virtual circuits, and switch between Sport and Eco driving modes to log the best lap times while bringing in a good fuel figure.The two players who finish with top scores overall on all the app’s tracks will get to face-off in person at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne on Sunday, June 19. The final winner will take the grand prize: a Lexus CT 200h.The two finalists will receive return flights to Melbourne from their nearest capital city and accommodation in the luxurious Crown Metropol.Lexus spokesman Peter Evans says the mobile app is “the perfect launch platform” for the all-new CT 200h. "The CT 200h is a completely new proposition for Lexus and brings with it a new, younger audience,” Evans says.“The addition of mobile applications to our marketing activity makes perfect sense.”The Lexus CT City Challenge app is available now at the following link: Lexus CT 200h on iTunes

A Vader helmet seems to being exploding through the nose of the LF-Gh concept car that appears at the New York auto show and also previews a new design direction for the Japanese luxury brand.Lexus cars have always been plain and simple, but now the company says  it's time to get aggressive as it shifts into the next step of its plan to challenge Benz and BMW ."The front face is a big leap for us in terms of expression and  boldness," the global design boss for Lexus, Simon Humphries, tells  Carsguide in New York. He says the official name of the grille shape is bi-conic, but it's also known as the spindle and the hourglass. "We call it a spindle. Although it's proper name is b-conic," he says.Regardless of its name, and Darth car also works for Carsguide, the nose is just part of a push that will quickly transform the LF-Gh from a motor show tease into the next mid-sized Lexus GS. Lexus has deliberately shielded any technical detail on the concept  car, short of basic dimensions that place it closely alongside the current GS. There is nothing concrete on its powerplant or drive system, not even the size of any petrol engine in the nose. The mechanical detail is expected later in the year, leaving the Big Apple appearance to focus on the body design. Even the car's cabin,  which is claimed to put a much stronger focus on the driver, is deliberately shielded with super-dark tinting on the windows.Humphries says the LF-Gh is a turning point for Lexus as it looks for  a new direction. "America is a big thing for Lexus. From a design perspective, we're reaching a tipping point in design," he says. "This car, for us, is a significant shift. It's back to a more  fundamental simplicity. It's very pure." He points to everything from the smooth sides of the body to the clean-and-simple sweep over the boot at the back end, the steeply-raked   windscreen and even the 20-inch alloy wheels.But Humphries always comes back to the nose, and the new Lexus 'face'. Just like Audi and Mercedes-Benz and so many others, his brand is finding its new look and the concept style will be quickly moved into  the rest of the showroom."What we're going to do is start implementing this as soon as possible. You will see it within a year or so," Humphries says. "You can already see it in the CT200. The outline is already there." He will not be drawn on lines between the concept car and the next GS,  but promises something much more aggressive today and into the future. "You're going to have to wait and see what happens with the production version (of the GS). We plan to take the grille throughout the lineup, in basically a similar form."

China is clearly on top of the car world in 2011.

THIS is a review of a luxury ambulance ... or maybe it should be titled how I went from rider number 7 to patient number 6040789 to 1831km in an RX450h.It's a long story, but the summary is this: I crashed on a bike launch in Victoria, ended up in a Melbourne hospital and couldn't fly home because of a lung puncture. So my wife flew down to drive me 1831km home to Brisbane.My boss offered me a Lexus RX450h which was ending its time at Carsguide on a long-term test. Lexus kindly obliged to the extra kilometres.Unless it had air suspension, it couldn't be a better "ambulance" for the long haul.So now there is one more use for this Toorak Tractor other than conveying the cherished ones to private school, rugby practice or ballet lessons.VALUEValue? Invaluable to me with painful chest and back injuries! The hybrid Lexus comes in three models, Prestige ($89,788), Sports ($96,787) and Sports Luxury ($108,900) which we drove.The top model comes with everything so the only option is 19-inch tyres. That's still about $10,000 more than the petrol model, but it has the best car audio system you can get - Mark Levinson audio system valued at $3000.There is only one other hybrid luxury SUV to compare it with and that's the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid S at $160,800. However, most buyers would also consider diesels such as the Audi Q7 ($88,614- $254,814), BMW X5 ($92,100-$113,300) and Mercedes-Benz ML ($85,780-$92,425).TECHNOLOGYIt's a hybrid, so it's powered by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with an electric motor and a host of environmental and fuel-saving technologies.That alone is plenty of technology, but it also features adaptive cruise control, head-up display, satellite navigation, dusk sensing xenon headlamps with cornering function, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, six-CD/DVD tuner, Bluetooth, self-folding electric wing mirrors with puddle lamps, power windows, electrically adjustable seats and steering column with three memory settings, heated and ventilated front leather seats and a mouse-style controller for the infotainment system.Our test model was more than a year old so it didn't have the USB connectivity it now comes with.SAFETYPart of the technology overload are the safety systems that put my injured frame at ease. It comes with several safety systems to prevent a crash and minimize damage and injuries in a crash: pre-collision system, vehicle dynamic integrated management, and intelligent adaptive front lighting system. There are also 10 airbags, a reversing camera and a host of electronic aids with acronyms such as ABS, EBA, EBD and ESC that keep it on track.DESIGNI've always liked the slightly curvy, feminine lines of the RX, Q7 and Cayenne. To me they are a refreshing change from the chunky, macho X5 and ML. The RX450h has styling features to differentiate it from the RX350 petrol models including a turbofan-style grille, blue-trimmed Lexus hybrid logos, blue tinted tail lamps and AFS LED headlamps.Step inside and you can't help notice the illuminated blue "Lexus" on the doorstep. The rest of the cabin is similar except for the added features. Everything is practical, tasteful and comfortable.DRIVINGTo me the most important features were the comfortable and quiet cabin, and the long-travel suspension with double wishbone rear for a nice, plush ride. And on the Hume Highway's concrete joins, the bumpy roads north of Albury and Newcastle, and the road works between Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay, it was a blessing. However, to most buyers the most important thing is the fuel economy from the hybrid powerplant.Hybrids are really most frugal when they are in city stop-start traffic where the petrol engine is used minimally. On the highway, the electric motor is hardly ever deployed. Lexus quotes highway fuel consumption figures of 6.1 litres per 100km. With very little city or suburban driving, we used a total of 148.3 litres which is an average of 8.1L/100km.It's difficult to write a road test of a car I hardly drove, but my wife's comments are pertinent.She said it drives "like a car". She also liked the head-up display which shows speed and satnav directions on the windscreen in front of the driver, but she said her Polaroid sunglasses negated the images. She liked the adaptive cruise control, but in heavy rain they stopped and the screen said "cruise control not available". She didn't like the wood and leather steering wheel. She said the wood became hot and sticky in the sun and slippery when cold. She also found the rain-sensitive windscreen wipers unpredictable.I like the convenience of the 12V power outlet, the easy-to-use mouse-style controller for the infotainment system and the neat storage under the centre console. When I finally got to drive the Lexus for short distances under doctor's orders, I found the driving position easily adjusted to suit. I also like the way the seat and steering wheels move away when you want to get out of the car. With its hip-high seats, it is also easy to get in and out without having to squat or pull yourself up - great in my condition.LEXUS RX450hPrice: $108,900Warranty: 4 years/100,000kmResale: 90%Servicing interval: 15,000kmEconomy: 6.4 l/100km; 150g/km CO2Safety equipment: 10 airbags, ABS, EBD, stability controlCrash rating: 5 starsEngine: 220kW/317Nm 3.5-litre V6 petrol and electric motorTransmission: Continuously variableBody: 5-door, 5 seats Dimensions: 4770mm (L); 1885mm (W); 1720mm (H); 2740mm (WB)Weight: 2205kgTyres: 235/55 R19Spare: Full-size spare an option

The first four-cylinder model from Lexus piggy-backs the Toyota Prius to drive silently into new territory.  The hybrid CT200h - not only the first with four cylinders from the Toyota premium division but its first hatchback and first to slide in under $40,000 - is termed a "gateway'' model and is believed to win big sales for Lexus. Already its first shipment is sold out, even before the car this week arrives in showrooms.Chief executive for Lexus Australia, Tony Cramb, says the CT200h "challenges the established market norms" by delivering eco-friendly technology wrapped in a luxury package.The entry level's price of the four-model range starts at $39,990 which is staring at eye-level with the $39,900 Toyota Prius. No surprises then that they share more than just parents.VALUEAt $39,990 it's not exactly cheap but neither are its primarily European competitors. The trick is that the starter model is modestly equipped. You have to throw another $9000 at it to get what the luxury market expects - sat-nav, leather, heated seats, 10-speaker sound and a reverse camera - in the Luxury edition.The sports-oriented F-Sport model gets blackened alloys, body kit, sports suspension (no, no and no) and sports seats for $49,990.  Ring your banker and get $55,990 for the Sports Luxury which has additional safety like Lexus' new pre-collision system and active cruise control.TECHNOLOGYSame as Prius. The 1.8-litre engine is mated to an electric motor that also acts as a generator and starter motor.  The gearbox is a continuously-variable unit operated by a slick electronic, Playstation-style lever. An electric motor helps reduce steering effort and another electric motor runs the water pump.The battery at the back is nickel-metal hydride as Lexus says lithium-ion "wasn't available because of demand''. Rubbish - we've got Ni-MH because it's cheaper than Li-ion even though the latter is decades ahead in performance and lightness.But while this is all Prius gear, there are some interesting new bits.  Lexus has fitted four adjustable driving modes - EV (electric-only drive), Eco (petrol and electric but reduced power and airconditioning), Normal (petrol and electric but designed for smooth driving) and Sport (more responsive steering, more volts for the motor, less intrusive stability control and higher engine revs).Other handywork includes plant-derived material for the luggage floor, speaker diaphrams made from a bamboo-charcoal resin, and suspension strut bars that not only improve body rigidity but have an inbuilt absorber to reduce vibrations.DESIGNThe CT200h is the same size as the 1999-launched Lexus IS200 but is lighter, has a much bigger cabin and is one second quicker to 100km/h.  It doesn't break any new styling grounds but follows the conservative tastes of Lexus/Toyota and, therefore, its buyers.But it works well, with seating for four adults, a split-fold rear seat to boost the already accommodating boot space and reasonable visibility.  The cabin is better, with a dashboard that is both elegant and functional and - more importantly - more modern and youthful than Audi and BMW.The electronics and the displays are excellent - though you'll need the Luxury model to get the sat-nav on the big 200mm screen - but the foot-operated park brake is a jarring reminder of an archaic era.SAFETYThere's a five-star crash rating, eight airbags (the extra two are the knee airbags for the driver and front passenger) plus stability control, ABS brakes with EBD and brake assist, a hill holder - uphill or downhill - and traction control.  The seats are also designed to make the body squat while the active head restraints move forward, reducing the impact from rear-enders.DRIVINGMy head is saying Prius and it's not getting excited, but my heart's feeling that there's a lot of urge coming on from up front.  The weeny drive program included some city driving where the first hint of change was the firm-ish ride over Melbourne's battered city roads.  But the ride noise from the suspension was virtually inaudible, as was the engine given it was mostly turned off and it could travel for up to 2km on the battery.Pick a tight, winding road and the CT200h - with the Power mode engaged - is an absolute surprise. Stuff the economy, this thing will run hard through the corners and draw the huge near-zero rev torque of the motor to complement the engine to deliver instant power out of the corners.The handling is excellent, even though the electric steering can sometimes feel vague and the CVT sounds like it's spinning irrelevantly.It's also comfortable (though some may think the ride's a bit firm for oldies) and really feels taut, confident and fun to drive. Definitely not words you'd use to describe Prius.LEXUS CT200h PRICE: from $39,990WARRANTY: 4-years/unlimited kmRESALE: n/aSERVICE INTERVAL: 15,000km/12 monthsSAFETY: 5-star Euro NCAPENGINE: 1.8-litre, 4-cyl petrol engine, 73kW/142Nm; electric motor, 60kW/207NmBODY: 5-door hatchWEIGHT: from 1370kgTRANSMISSION: CVT, front driveTHIRST: 4.1L/100km, 91 RON, CO2 95g/km"Affordable luxury with a green tint''

The latest generation of grand prix cars are petrol-electric hybrids that also use a range of high-tech systems and technologies, right down to long-life oils, that will eventually find their way into everyday road cars.An F1 hybrid is very different from a Toyota Prius, since braking energy is stored and released for a burst of speed and not for low-speed electric driving, but the work done on high-tech batteries and computer control systems is easily transferred to production line heroes.It's typical of grand prix technology transfer, which has been a reality in racing for decades. Still, it's ironic that some of the most advanced safety features in road cars - ABS brakes and ESP stability control - are banned from Formula One and there is no way yet to adapt airbags to the violent and unpredictable crashes in grand prix races.Tracing the F1 roots of today's road cars is relatively easy, starting with engine and gearbox technology from the 1990s. Honda developed and refined the V-Tech adjustable camshaft timing that combines power and economy in racing and Ferrari led the world into the era of robotised manu-matic gearboxes."V-Tech technology came directly from Formula One. At the time it was new to the Honda V10 engine used by McLaren, but now it's on every road going Honda car, right down to our economy cars and hybrids," says Mark Higgins of Honda Australia.Current F1 cars used gearboxes which have a 'seamless shift' system that's similar to the double-clutch gearboxes fitted to growing number of cars, including the Volkswagen Golf. Aerodynamics and high-tech materials are two other important areas.Carbon fibre is starting to find its way into top-end sports cars, including the Lexus LF-A supercar, after being adapted from aerospace to racing. McLaren was the first to do the job and now the ultra- strong composite is universally used in F1 and being adapted to lightweight city cars of the future.A range of other 'on the aero' front, this year's grand prix cars have a driver-adjustable rear wing - a long way ahead of the 1950s 'air brake' used by Mercedes-Benz at Le Mans - and that technology is coming fast for road cars.Ferrari has aerofoils in the nose of its latest 458 Italia that change shape at various speeds to assist cooling and downforce. In future, 'active' aero systems will blank the front ends of road cars at speeds to cut drag and improve fuel economy - then open again for cooling when the car is stopped in traffic. This sort of work is also made easier by the complex artificial wind tunnels contained in F1 computers - the programs are called Computational Fluid Dynamics - used to test and develop new body parts.Ford recently credited CFD work on the upcoming Ranger pickup and almost every major maker uses CFD for early design and development work. Even F1 fuels and oils are used for road car work, with Shell trumpeting the V-Power development it did with Ferrari before introducing its current flagship fuel. And it has used grand prix engines for decades to test the oils which now allow road cars to run for more than 10,000 kilometres between changes.

The paparazzi may have snapped Paris Hilton with her new LFA, but they've got nothing on the latest work from Lexus.Part of their campaign “The Hard Way”, Lexus have teamed up with Sports Illustrated for a very exotic photo shoot. Set in an aeroplane hanger, champion drifter Rhys Millen smokes the wheels of the 412kW LFA as Dutch supermodel Rianne Ten Haken watches on, right in the middle of it.“It moved so quickly” said Haken, “it was just like the energy around me totally changed.”

Lexus has announced a new partnership with the global superstar to launch its new full hybrid luxury hatchback into the heart of a new market sector. The new relationship will see Kylie – one of the world’s most iconic performers – supporting the introduction of the new Lexus CT 200h through the cross-media “Quiet Revolution” marketing campaign and publicity. In addition to appearing in the upcoming TV commercial and print advertisements, Kylie will take delivery of her own personally specified Lexus CT 200h. At the same time, Lexus will be the lead sponsor of Kylie’s Aphrodite - Les Folies 2011 UK tour – destined to be one of the most visually spectacular and technically complex shows ever staged in the UK. Kylie, who has enjoyed huge success as an actor, singer, dancer, model and designer, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be working with Lexus on the launch of their new full hybrid CT 200h. I’ve been lucky enough to have a preview of the car which is both stylish and elegant and will definitely create a Quiet Revolution”.