2000 Lexus LS Reviews

Toyota has announced the voluntary recall of 1.7m vehicles worldwide, including some of its luxury Lexus models, over a fuel leak.  This brings to approximately 12m the total number of recalls since 2009 when acceleration problems were blamed for fatal crashes overseas.The latest recall affects only 4844 Australian owners of Lexus IS250 vehicles built between August 2007 and February 2009.  Australian Toyota/Lexus spokesperson Laura Hill said there have been no reports of accidents or injuries here or overseas due to the fuel leak.She said only one of the 117 worldwide reports of owners smelling leaking petrol was in Australia.  Lexus will notify owners by mail to make an appointment with their dealer for the free repair."It takes between two and three hours," Hill said.  "It's a small repair; tightening the fuel pressure sensor to the fuel delivery pipe, or replacing a gasket if there is a leak."Vehicles affected overseas are powered by an Avensis engine which is not included in Toyota or Lexus vehicles available in Australia, she said.

The hybrid fight comes as Lexus uses the high-profile event to introduce its compact CT200h to local buyers, as well as the drivers who will compete in the 2011 celebrity challenge.Hybrids have run in Formula One, as well as major sports car races and some touring car events, but only in contests open to normal petrol-powered cars.No-one in a CT200h will be going for all-out efficiency at Albert Park, or running the car on pure battery power, but Lexus believes the AGP is an ideal way to change the green focus away from the efficiency of the Prius to the potential driving enjoyment of the CT."We want to show that hybrids can be sporty and they can be fun. This is a world first," says Lexus executive, Peter Evans. "We also think this is the single biggest bang-for-your-buck opportunity to launch a new car in Australia. It's an amazing platform with 4.6 million people at the peak television viewing and 310,000 spectators over four days."Evans avoids discussing the potential on-track carnage with the cars but promises a field with far more genuine celebrities than recent AGP celebrity contests."Our target is to try and get a new group. Not so much new faces, but different faces. So not someone like Guy Leech," he says."We want high-profile people. We're targeting a 50:50 mix of male and female and we're going for people who match the intended buyer profile, so younger and almost half will be women. Most will be under 40. We're still working to finalise the list and we'll announce that in Melbourne next week. We don't want a repeat of 2008 when the motocross racer Robbie Madison cleared out and won by half a lap."The celebrity race commitment will gobble the early supply of CT200h cars, although they will head to dealerships afterwards for promotional work and likely sale.Evans also promises a record number of chances for non-celebrity drivers to take part in the race."There will be 30 cars, 27 on track and three reserves. They will be made up of 24 cars representing our dealer sites, plus three competition cars. There will be a consumer competition, a dealer competition and a buyer's competition. If you sign a contract to buy a CT200H then you go into a draw to win a drive. There will also be two winners in the race, an outright and an index-of-efficiency prize."The celebrity race program will be run by retired Australian rally champions Neal Bates and Coral Taylor, who drove for Lexus in Targa Tasmania with an IS200. They will be responsible for everything from car preparation at Bates' race base in Canberra to the training and licensing of the celebrity drivers, although Lexus technicians will also be involved in maintenance of the cars during the AGP meeting.

Kermit the Frog said it's not easy being green, but it can be with certain brands. While parent company Toyota flogs its hybrids as eco-friendly machines, luxury arm Lexus takes a different tack - responsible performance. The recently-updated Lexus GS has had some interior tweaks and the GS 450h follows the program of giving the hybrid models an extra brushstroke or two from the styling department.The 450h has exterior differentiation - a unique front grille design, "hybrid blue" rear lamps and 18in wheels - to distinguish it as "the high performance flagship of the GS range," according to Lexus.VALUEThe GS range has been upgraded in the iotainment department, with new satnav software. The $126,714 GS 450h wasn't lacking in the audio department and retains the 14-speaker Mark Levinson 5.1 surround sound system to shake the mirrors, now with USB and audio jack plug connections. There is the delete option sunroof which would give a little more headroom but most below the old six foot mark won’t be bothered by the headroom intrusion.TECHNOLOGYThe hybrid GS is packed with technology - the 650-volt hybrid system uses a nickel metal hydride battery to store power generated by the 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine. There’s also energy generated by reversing its continuously-variable transmission to become a generator and employing brake energy recovery systems to further charge the battery. Lexus says the system teams up to provide 254kW of power (a definitive torque figure is a little harder to quantify) but the company claims V8-like outputs without the thirst.For example, despite being 200kg heavier than the $10,000 more expensive GS 460 (which has similar levels of performance) but uses an extra 3.1l/100km to achieve the same ends. The active cruise control system isn’t new and neither is the fact that Lexus still can’t get it to hold a set speed downhill without another car in front – the system is child’s play in a Beemer and a Merc but Lexus doesn’t seem interested in getting it right.DESIGNThe GS model doesn't push the boundaries for car design, although Lexus likes to invoke a European feel by calling its design language ``L finesse'' - the front view is better than the rump, with the rakish bonnet and lights forming a not unattractive snout, but the rear - perhaps due to the abbreviated bootlid and bulgy rear quarter panels - is not the prettiest of the prestige market segment.The cabin has undergone only minor changes, leaving the functional and user-friendly touchscreen and centrestack intact - unfortunately the 1980s clock and outside temperature display remains as well.SAFETYThe safety features for the updated 2010 GS range now includes the new Advanced Pre-Collision Safety System which uses the active cruise control's radar system to monitor the road; the system prepares the vehicle's safety systems for an imminent collision and will now also apply the vehicles brakes if the driver fails to act.There's the now-obligatory traction and stability control and the airbag list is extensive - driver and front passenger front, side and knee airbags, rear seat side and full length side curtain airbags.DRIVINGEerie quiet is a hallmark of Lexus and the GS hybrid does nothing to change that perception, as only the tyre noise is obvious - due to the lack of any other rumbling. Starting often has no noise associated with it, unless the petrol engine is required for air conditioning or other energy sapping systems, but creeping around a carpark on battery-only easily demonstrates how pedestrians can be blissfully ignorant of your presence. It will also cruise at metropolitan speeds on battery alone and that goes a long way toward the 10.1 figure we returned.Mundane commuting duties are what these hybrid systems are best at and it shows – heading out into the country hills drive doesn’t provide the stop-start driving that regularly allows for charging and minimal petrol engine use. That said, slipping the transmission into sport mode does generate some energy downhill on throttle over-run, but it’s soon used on the uphill runs.Putting aside the green aspects, the drivetrain itself provides a remarkable experience – a full-throttle departure is rapid, linear ... and did I mention rapid? The instant torque of the electric motor and the CVT’s seamless application of the outputs offers an extraordinary take-off. The adjustable suspension leans towards a firmer ride, even in the normal mode, but it’s not uncomfortable for its occupants, who will need to all need to be of average height to allow decent legroom for all.Flick the suspension button into Sport mode and things tighten up noticeably, allowing the GS to be aimed into corners with a reasonable degree of confidence. It sits flat enough and – despite low rolling resistance tyres – does a good job, although steering feedback is absent, which puts it out of contention for the prestige sports sedan who puts a chassis ahead of outright grunt, or green credentials. Even on eco-friendly front there are latest-generation turbodiesel with particle filters and other emissions control systems that might not be as quiet but will give good fuel economy as well as grunt.VERDICTTechno-philes and greenie-execs will like the trickery under the bonnet and it’s value for money when weighed up against it’s siblings as well as the largely-German opposition, but the design is lacking in flair and the cabin space lets it down.LEXUS GS450h Price: from $126,714Engine: 3.5-litre DOHC 24-valve direct-injection V6 & a battery-driven electric motorTransmission: CVT, rear-wheel drivePower: petrol - 218kW; electric - 147kW; combined total 254kWTorque: petrol - 368Nm; electric - 275NmPerformance: 0-100km/h 5.9 secondsTop speed: 250km/h (governed)Fuel consumption: 7.9 litres/100km, on test 10.1, tank 65 litresEmissions: 186g/kmSuspension (front): independent, double wishbones, coil springs, gas dampers with variable damper control, anti-roll barSuspension (rear): independent multi-link, coil springs, gas dampers with variable damper control, mounted anti-roll barBrakes: four-wheel ventilated discs, with anti-lock and stability control systemsDimensions: length 4850mm, width 1820mm, height 1430mmWheelbase: 2850mm, track fr/rr 1540/1545mmCargo volume: 320 litresWeight: 1930kgWheels: 18in alloys.

Lexus has let loose some of America's top custom car specialists to modify its hybrid models for the Las Vegas SEMA auto trade show this week.  The result is very un-Lexus - giant rims, flared wheelarches, dazzling paintwork and outrageous body kits, plus high-performance suspension and brakes. The gambling capital of the world brings out the daring in some manufacturers who wouldn't risk showing such outrageous modifications at conventional car shows.  Even the staid Swedish manufacturer, Volvo, has used SEMA to show the street cred of its marque with pimped-up versions of its C30 in recent years. A highlight of the unorthodox Lexus display is a mod version of the word's first compact luxury hybrid car. The flash little CT 200h F Sport debuted last month in Sydney at the Australian International Motor Show. It's already a sporty model with its sports wheels, body performance damper and two-mode dynamics function.  The first luxury car to make a top-three ranking on the Australian Government's Green Guide will go into production in December and arrive here early next year. But it won't quite look like the SEMA display model with 18 x 8-inch alloys with Pirelli PZero Nero 225/40R/18 tyres, adjustable suspension and shocks and a high-performance Big Brake Kit, with mighty 12.9 x 11-inch cross-drilled front discs. The other Lexus hybrid models to get extreme makeovers included the GS 450h with a huge rear wing, RX450h and the greenest and meanest luxury saloon, the LS 600h in "Glacier Green" and riding on 20-inch wheels. Other car manufacturers with vehicles on display include Chevrolet, Toyota, Kia and Hyundai.  SEMA is billed as the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world and is not open to the general public. Each year it attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries displaying automotive parts, tools and components.  One Australian company displaying products at the show is Maxtrax, invented by Brisbane 4WD expert Brad McCarthy. Maxtrax is a tough piece of orange plastic about the size of a bodyboard which is placed under the wheels of a bogged 4WD for recovery without the use of a snatch strap.  The product has been used by Dakar competitors including Australia's Bruce Garland.

Well, it's about time. Five years since the launch of the second generation Lexus IS, it finally gets the engine it needed, and the local Lexus lads wanted, all along.For all its visual appeal, rear-wheel-drive dynamics and having a 2.5 litre V6 for German four-cylinder money, the lardy IS250 is hard put to trouble the Merc, Audi and - the one Lexus most wants touch up - BMW.Now Lexus has the IS350, the variant with a litre greater capacity than its underdone sibling, massively superior output and the capacity to reach 100km/h from standing more than three seconds quicker.Moreover, they've bought it in at a price which has not only embarrassed pundits such as yours truly, whose prediction was out by a good $25K, it's been placed so sharply as to amount to a declaration of hostilities.If ever you've felt that the 3 Series, C-Class and A4 were obscenely over-priced (and let's face it, they are) here's the proof.VALUEFairly staggering, actually. All models lines are packed with standard kit that's optional in its rivals almost to the extent of costing five figures if all boxes were ticked. For $64,800, the Prestige packs sat-nav, heated seats, reversing camera, HID lamps with daytime running lights, 17-inch alloys and metallic paint.At $71,300, the "F Sport" kicks off this new badge - an obvious riposte to M Sport and Audi's S model. It has dedicated suspension, lower profile tyres, great front seats and go fast bits.The more supple Sports Luxury is  $81,300 and gets - well, everything - 18-inch alloys, active cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry and start, 14-speaker Mark Levinson audio, ventilated/heated seats, moonroof and self-dimming and heated side mirrors.TECHNOLOGYThe dual VVTi 3.5-litre engine, familiar from other Lexus lines, uses direct and port injection driven via a six-speed sequential auto that has a gratifying degree of manual override via shifting paddlers with the self-shifting smoothness of a torque converter - as opposed to a dual clutch. Hardly innovative of itself, but a quick, seamless model marriage with this engine.DESIGNFor all the embellishments, revised interior, value added bling and swaggeringly aggressive pricing, this is still where the whole IS package falls down. It's just a bit cramped in there, especially in back, where it's no more a true five seater than it is a people mover.Up front is more cockpit than cabin and I for one would happily pay extra not to have the headroom-eating sunroof. Haven't done the old golf bag test on the boot, but it's a minor cavity at best. And there's no avoiding the fact that this first generation "L Finesse" shape is showing its age.SAFETYAll the active and passive acronyms you've heard of, plus some you likely haven't.The Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Package houses stability and traction controls and hill start assist. Brakes are formidable, 334X30mm front discs, four channel ABS with brakeforce distribution and brake assist. The top variant gets active cruise control and a pre-collision safety system that automatically tightens the seatbelts under heavy braking. We can tell you this works.The spare's a space saver, but at least it has a spare.DRIVINGFinally imbued with the ticker it's required, the IS is now more than a slightly left field alternative to the obvious choices. I'm trying, but failing, to think of circumstances in which your 3 Series - disregarding the third world country's GDP price difference between them - seriously outplays the IS350 in remotely legal circumstances.You would have to say that the Lexus is a little too polite for gratification. Even in the sports variant, the engine is refined to an eerie extent - unless the throttle is mashed or the shifter forced back into an unfeasibly low gear (it'll refuse only redline exceeding requests), a modicum of wind and tyre noise are the only aural inputs. And while there's not an abundance of torque down low - the engine does its best work from 4000rpm on up, firing up a lightshow around the speedo - acceleration is fairly linear.So too is the electric rack and pinion steering - a little numb around the centre, plentifully informative and progressive when called upon. It is, especially in the sport version, a confidence enhancing balance ride/handling compromise, which is not unsettled even by significant bumps in the road's surface.While the Sport Luxury (we'll get into the Prestige in coming weeks) leans even further to the traditional Lexus verities of composure and refinement - to say nothing of loads of standard fruit - it's in no danger of being left behind.  It's a question of degrees of difference.It helps that no variants have grown significantly in weight over the 250 - 1580-1645kg. All - it's claimed - get to 100km/h from standing in 5.6 seconds.VERDICTHow do you say "Show us where the money is, Fritz" in German?"LEXUS IS350Price: from $64,800-$81,300Engine: 3.5L V6 petrol; 233kW;378NmTransmission: 6-speed automatic; RWDThirst: 9.4L/100km

A Lexus that is even more efficient than a Toyota Prius sounds hard to believe, but it's true. The new CT200h hybrid has just been certified with an emission output of just 87g/km, which is 2g/km less than Toyota's famous eco-warrior. Not bad for a prestige model.The CT200h is the first Lexus hatch and will lob into Australia early next year with a starting price below $50,000 on a mission to not only dramatically boost Lexus sales, but also lure younger buyers to the brand. It was developed solely as a hybrid and there will be no petrol-only version.The CT200h uses the same petrol-electric power pack and drivetrain as the Prius, which also means it is the first front-drive Lexus in Australia since the Camry-based ES 300 models were retired in 2005. It has the same wheelbase as a Toyota Corolla and Prius, but Lexus says the base is significantly different.The CT200h shares the MacPherson strut front suspension with those models, but has a sportier double wishbone rear suspension system. The new Lexus is a five-seat hatch with 375 litres of bootspace and has a space saver spare in some markets.Lexus is yet to confirm final pricing, but the sub-$50,000 indication shows it will slot into the line-up below the IS sedan. Determining value is hard because there are more enjoyable cars around for less money, but they aren't hybrids.It is the cheapest way to get into a Lexus without buying one second-hand. Technology The CT200h uses the proven technology of the Prius, with a bit of a techno tickle to upgrade the experience. That means it has a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine tuned for economy an electric motor and generator all linked up to nickel metal hydride battery.It can run entirely in electric mode at very low speeds and scavenges energy normally wasted under deceleration. A continuously variable automatic is a crucial part of the system, there is no manual option.The CT has been tuned with different modes, which change the engine characteristics and power steering assistance. Eco mode dulls the throttle input to help a jerky driver achieve better fuel economy, while the Sport mode sharpens the throttle response and makes the steering feel heavier. The instrument cluster glows blue in most modes, but switches to red in Sport mode.The CT200h has an official average fuel economy figure of just 3.8 litres per 100km. While most of the emphasis has been placed on economy, Lexus also went out of its way to optimise the handling.The new model has front and rear suspension strut braces, developed by Yamaha, which feature a centre damper to reduce vibrations without losing rigidity. Lexus has also used aluminum for the bonnet and boot hatch in a bid to keep the weight pegged to 1370kg. Despite these measures, the CT200h is unlikely to win any drag races with a pedestrian 0-100k m/h time of 10.3 seconds.As you would expect from a Lexus, the CT200h is loaded with safety gear including eight airbags, electronic stability control, brake assist and seats designed to reduce whiplash.It will also be available with an option Pre Collision system which uses radar to predict collisions with vehicles in front and prime the brakes and tighten seatbelts and can even slow the vehicle automatically.This is a controversial one. The first Lexus hatch was always going to cop some flak, but the CT200h polarizes opinions. For me it is not an attractive car. It looks good from some angles, but ugly from others.It certainly isn't an integrated design with a mixture of straight lines and curves that jars. Lexus Australia was ready for criticism of the design at our preview, pro-actively pointing out that an Australian marketing group thought it was the best looking car in its class although they were looking at pictures and not the car in the metal.A test drive of a pre-production car near Paris revealed Lexus must do some last minute work to lift the standard of the CT200h before it arrives in Australia.The tyre and road noise on coarse chip surfaces, similar to Australian country roads, was loud for a small car and simply unacceptable for a prestige model. There were also far too many vibrations coming into the cabin. Lexus has promised to work on this.There are other issues that could affect the popularity of the car in Australia, but let's cover some positives. This is a practical eco car. There is quite a reasonable amount of bootspace and a good amount of legroom and headroom for two rear passengers.Forget the fifth seat, it is tiny. It handles quite well. We're not talking BMW driving pleasure, but the CT200h is a lot more fun than the Prius and you can tell chief engineer Osamu Sadakata, who races a Mazda MX-5, enjoys corners.The performance is acceptable for an eco hatch, but nothing to get excited about. You will be able to keep up with traffic though. The very nature of a step-less CVT transmission means it is also less involving. Customers are more likely to get excited about the fuel economy and we recorded a figure of just over 6 litres per 100km driving the car hard. Unfortunately the suspension and most likely the damping is not quite right. It picks up the tiniest of niggles and sends them through to the cabin. It depends on the surfaces, but can be overwhelmingly fidgety on some surfaces. The interior styling is passable, but the crisp and futuristic instrument cluster is spoiled by an old-school liquid crystal display in the corner and the centre screen that looks ancient compared to the latest versions in other cars and smart phone displays.If Lexus can dramatically reduce the road noise and vibrations and fix the suspension the CT200h could still be a good premium eco car that attracts new customers to Lexus. It's a different concept, trading performance for economy, but there's no reason it can't succeed if executed correctly.

It's the fourth time this year that the country's top selling brand has been forced into a recall for a safety problem, this time involving the Toyota Kluger and a range of Lexus models.The recall was triggered by a problem in the braking system that can lead to a fluid leak.  A total of 77 cases have been reported by owners in Australia and 17,582 Klugers and another 8201 Lexus vehicles will be recalled in a global total of more than 1.5 million vehicles.Toyota spokesman, Mike Breen, says the company is already working to advise customers and get the vehicles repaired.  The problem can occur because the Toyota braking system on the vehicles involved needs brake fluid containing lubricating polymers. If different fluid is used, a rubber seal at the end of the brake master cylinder can be damaged and allow a fluid leak to develop.  "We're only talking about a trickle of fluid. But the brake warning light can come on," Breen says.The affected Klugers were built between May 2003 and November 2005, while the Lexus vehicles involved are the RX330 SUV built between February 2003 and October 2005, the GS300 built from January 2005 to November 2005, and the IS250 built from September 2005 to November 2005.Breen says Toyota moved quickly to identify the problem, using the new global recall system put in place after the disastrous worldwide recall of 8.5 million cars last year for a faulty accelerator pedal."I'd suggested we picked it up more quickly with the new system. We had to wait for Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan to identify the situation," he says.The latest recall follows one for a steering problem in the LandCruiser, another in September for a faulty tailshaft support in some HiLux models, and one in February for re-calibration of the braking system in the Prius hybrid.The solution for the latest recall is to replace the questionable part in the braking system, then flush the braking system and replace the fluid.

Touted as the worlds most efficient and powerful luxury hybrid SUV, the Lexus RX450h should be a major force in it’s niche market. We agree and -- save for a couple of minor issues -- give it a big fat tick.DrivetrainThe RX450h hybrid system drivetrain is a 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine that puts out 183kW at 6000rpm and 317Nm at 4800rpm, a generator, a 123kW electric drive front motor, reduction gears to the front axle and continuously variable transmission. The hybrid system output is 220kW.Power is directed to the front wheels via a mechanical path or an electric path or a mixture of both. Power output is in part redirected back to the electric drive motor and is used for engine acceleration. There is another 50kW magnetic motor that powers the rear wheels during take off and acceleration.Extra urban fuel economy comes in at 6.1l/100km and the SUV emits150g/km of CO2.ExteriorWith a wider stance and more sculptured rear, chunkier bumpers and flared wheel arches the RX450h is a real presence on the road.Featuring a number of new design touches, it receives a tight vertical multi-bar grill, 19 inch alloy wheels, blue accents on the headlight lenses and blue Hybrid badging.With superior aerodynamics in mind the 450h has been built to achieve class-leading drag figures and negligible wind and vibration noise.InteriorA mouse like controller on the centre console accesses up to 20 functions including satellite navigation, viewable on the large display on the dash.Enhanced climate control, a 12-speaker premium sound system, a handy head up display, a moon roof and in built blue-tooth are all standard. The cabin has door pockets, plenty of cupholders, console and seat back storage, and the rear seats are 40/20/40 split fold flat.Safety The comprehensive safety list for the Lexus RX450h includes a substantial airbag package, a rear view camera, vehicle dynamics integrated management, active cruise control, pre-collision safety system and optimised body strength.DrivingHaving tested a couple of lower and mid range SUVs lately it’s a welcome change to step into a high end unit. It’s not that the other cars are no good – quite the opposite – but its amazing how much better they can get.From the moment we snatched the keys and got to it in the car park we agreed that it oozed class. It just looked more substantial and had more of a presence than the bulk of cheaper cars. Up close we immediately noticed the quality of the workmanship. All the panel seams lined up - nothing looked or felt tinny or fake.Then there were the big alloys that perch it nice and high, the smooth, bold front and rear and the sharp purposeful creases.Climbing in we searched hard for setbacks but again we fell short. It’s just a nice place to be. The soft leather seats are comfortable and supportive and the dash is simple clean and intuitive. The wooden steering wheel is a nice touch too, highlighting the overall prestige feel.There was plenty of storage space for cups and bottles and the 40/20/40 flat folding split rear seats allow for a tonne or room in the back for big trips.But we were keen to drive the thing; especially since Lexus claim that it’s “the world’s most powerful hybrid luxury SUV”. Pressing the starter button was a non-event – no guttural roar here, just a couple of lights on the dash indicating something had changed in the last second or two.Hitting the accelerator was the first time we heard noise, as the parallel hybrid powertrain did its thing. And with the quick knock of a button on the steering wheel, we could see this fascinating system illustrated in front of us on the LCD display.Sadly, we got more of a kick out of watching that than we did from the throttle. The new, beefier 450h – 150kg heavier than the outgoing 400h – didn’t push us back in our seat so much as gently whooshed us into a mild coma.We thought it was slow, even for heavy hybrid, but once momentum took hold we quickly found the grunt they were banging on about. At speed the Lexus was responsive and very smooth. Sharp corners were handled like sweeping bends. There was negligible body roll and we remained upright from entry to exit.Having said that though, the brakes took a bit of getting used to. They were spongy and lacked the immediacy we felt such a big car needed. There were some hairy times when the anchors needed to be stood on to stop quickly enough. We both agreed they could have been a lot better.On the freeway was where the 450h came into its own. It was deafeningly quiet - leaving us to chat freely without having to shout – and painfully smooth.Generally, the Lexus RX450h was as prestigious and substantial as it set out to be. It really is a step above the mid-range pack in terms of luxury and the economy figures for such a big car are outstanding. But there were some important points that we felt needed a bit of work.Lexus RX450h Price: from $89,788Engine: 183kW/317Nm 2.0-litre petrolTransmission: front-wheel drive, five-speed manual, six-speed autoEconomy: 6.1L/100km combinedEmissions: 150g/km CO2

On one side of the glittering $50 million display at the Darling Harbour exhibition centre in Sydney is the $700,000 Lexus LFA, a sellout speed machine that can top 315km/h, and across the aisle is the latest $12,490 Holden Barina Spark.It's a sign of the times that GM Holden, which stunned Australia when it revealed its Monaro concept car at Darling Harbour in 1998, has the Spark as its centrepiece for 2010. More than a decade ago the Holden stand was flooded by chequebook-waving fans who had to have a Monaro, but there is no repeat this time with the Spark.Instead, the smallest Holden is going up against an all-new $12,990 Nissan Micra unveiled at the show and a Toyota Yaris that cops a price   chop as sales chief Dave Buttner does opening-day duties for Australia's favourite brand.It takes more than four hours for each of the major makers at the show - and there are more than 35 brands in total - to make their pitch on opening morning. Each has something to say, from Audi with its baby A1 through to Volvo with the first local appearance of its new S60 sedan.But the biggest news of all is that Australia finally has a single motor show. It took a walkout by many of the major brands, and months of talks between the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce that controls Melbourne and the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries for Sydney, to reach a compromise that means there is finally a true Australian International Motor Show.In 2011 it flips to Melbourne, with the date confirmed at July 1-10, and there are big plans to make an impact on the worldwide motoring calendar. The foundations are laid this year with the world debut of the T6 pickup twins, the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50, and Subaru also shows a Forester WRX-style concept that will be converted into a turbocharged headliner for showrooms in 2011."Today is our most significant motor show ever," says Ford Australia's president, Marin Burela, on opening day. "Australia is playing a key role in the global Ford product story.  Today's show is the springboard to the future."His verdict is backed by Doug Dickson, the Mazda chief who heads the FCAI. "This show is different. It's time for a contemporary approach," says Doug Dickson, chairman of the organising committee and the managing director of Mazda Australia. "It presents the very best the global motor industry has to offer."The show stands are packed but here are the stand-outs:Car of the Show - Toyota FT-86It's currently only a concept car, but the futuristic coupe provides the proof that Toyota is serious about putting emotion into its cars. It's feeling the squeeze from Korea and knows it needs to give people cars they want to buy, not just fridges with wheels.Baby Boomer - Nissan MicraThe result of a five-year plan to create a cost-down tiddler that works for customers and Nissan's bottom line is a good looker with impressive safety. It's as cute as the current Micra but has airbags-ABS-ESP safety and a new-age three-cylinder starter engine to edge out the Holden Spark and Suzuki Swift.Dream Machine - Lexus LFAThe one-off Mercedes SLS 'Blackbird' with flat-black paintwork makes a case, and and so does the Lamborghini Gallardo 570-4 Superleggera, but the LFA is a $700,000 sellout that will never be repeated. Every car costs Lexus money and that means the eight local owners have a future classic.Home Run - WP Series IIFord fans flock to the latest supercharged star at Ford Performance Vehicles, but the heaviest hitter is the supercharged, 460 kiloWatt-780 Newton-metre, Commodore from Walkinshaw Performance. The base price is $99,900 but four are sold almost as soon as the show opens.Future Spark - Honda CRZThere are fewer green machines in Sydney that most global shows, with electric cars struggling for traction in Australia. The CRZ is Honda's new hybrid headliner, although it will probably sell more of the family-friendly second-generation Insight.Funk Factor - Range Rover EvoqueThe first city car from the off-road pioneers is a game-changer for   the British brand. It will also be a huge hit in Toorak and Double Bay   once deliveries begin.Big Tease - Nissan PatrolNissan Australia had to buy the Patrol show car from a dealer in the Middle East because right-hand drive production does not begin for nearly a year. It looks good and promises to take the fight right up to the Toyota LandCruiser, once there is a steering wheel on the right-hand side.

The first international auto exhibition in Sydney since 2008 is the most expensive the city has seen, based on the value of the cars assembled and the millions it has cost certain of the 30 exhibitors to ship and assemble their showcases, some of which are themselves worth in the region on $1 million.Organisers expect in excess of 200,000 patrons to see the show which runs until next Sunday. Organisers said the 44 new models revealed at AIMS is an "absolute record" for any Australian auto show.Ford's stand is part of a globally travelling display based in Paris bought to Sydney for the launch of the Ranger ute. Mercedes-Benz commissioned a one-off car specifically for the show.Andrew McKellar, chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries which runs AIMS, said $50 million was a "conservative estimate"."I think it'll be the best show we've had for a good number years and one of the best in the world this year," he said.  "It's important that we bring this sort of event to Sydney. People have missed it, but it's a good agreement to have it here every other year."While some are calling it the "Sydney ute muster" due to the dominance of work and lifestyle vehicles, it's the "car porn" the supercars and performance rockets that will get the punters through the doors.At $700,000 the first Lexus supercar, the LFA, is among the most expensive on show. Eight have been allocated to Australia, all have been pre-sold. So too have all seven of Porsche's brutal 911 GT2 RS, which is the most powerful ever of its kind and, at $560,000, the most expensive new Porsche sold here.You'll likely never see a Hulme CamAm again in the metal. Only 20 of the manic road going race track car, hand built by a New Zealand company for performance connoisseurs, will be made. Those in search of an exotic bargain should veer over to the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 at a mere $399,000 it's the cheapest way to get into a brand favoured by the conspicuously wealthy including Ibrahim.