2000 Lexus LS Reviews

The new Japanese hero is likely to line up against the Audi e-tron and Mercedes-Benz SLS E-Cell as the fruit of a technical tie-up between Toyota and its American battery powerhouse, Tesla.  An insider close to Toyota tells Carsguide that plans have been put in motion to develop a supercar to rival the plug-in Audi and Benz speedsters and also the Citroen Survolt concept first seen at this year’s Geneva motor show. The Lexus is expected to produce more than 350 kiloWatts for a 0-100km/ h sprint time around four seconds. It is likely to feed its power through four electric motors, one at each wheel. It will also incorporate a switch that allows drivers to select between driving programs such as comfort, sport and super sport, a system which will also regulate battery use and vehicle range. The plug-in Lexus is not expected until 2015 but a Carsguide artist in Japan has already been at work on a peek at the project.  He has installed a computer-generated image on the Nurburgring racecourse in Germany, where the Lexus engineering team fine-tuned the LF-A.Toyota sources say the large grille and air intakes beside the headlights are critical to provide sufficient cooling for the electric motors. The vehicle would reportedly borrow undisclosed know-how from Tesla and utilize aerodynamic expertise gained from the LF-A project.  Toyota's recent investment in Tesla adds weight to the Lexus story, and company chief Akio Toyoda recently drove a Tesla Roadster during a dinner meeting with Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk. Sources say Toyoda is so impressed he green-lighted the Lexus program, while Tesla is also about to deliver two as-yet-unidentified EV prototypes to Toyota this week.  An electric RAV4 and Lexus RX are also being evaluated by both companies. Toyota, which has become the hybrid trendsetter largely thanks to the success of the Prius, now has the world’s largest range of hybrid vehicles and is fully aware of the stricter emissions regulations coming into play worldwide.  Not surprisingly, it sees EVs as one way of improving its carbon footprint while helping to repair the company’s damaged public image in the wake of the unintended acceleration fiasco. As Toyota continues to channel a huge portion of its research-and- development budget into hybrids, improving battery technology and electric motor output has naturally led the company to focus on EVs as well. Its Prius PHEV, which has a lithium-ion battery pack and a 30- kilometre range on electric power, follows the company’s initial trials in EV mobility with the FT-HV concept at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show and the FT-HV II’s debut at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Toyota engineers who raced Lexus LF-As recently in the Nurburgring 24- hour race were impressed by the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid’s ability to lead the race for more than 22 hours using a fresh F1-style take on hybrid technology. The GT3 RH is fitted with a hybrid system that stores energy generated by the brakes in a large flywheel, to be fed back to the front wheels. One Toyota engineer hints that such a regenerative system could become normal in future race cars and open doors for road cars as well.

No, it doesn't mean a luxury version for the models they are based on are more than luxurious already. The L means long, or more correctly long-wheelbase.

Lexus' image has been battered this week by engine and steering problems in a year of rolling quality concerns over its cars and those of Toyota.  In Australia, Toyota says problems with the Lexus V6 and V8 engines were not subject to a recall "but that may change next week". Customers in Japan have reported that the engine stalls and is hard to restart. Lexus says the problem is with the engine's valve springs. It affects about 1200 Lexus cars in Australia.  The second Lexus issue is an official recall over steering problems on two models, including its $244,000 LS600h hybrid flagship. Lexus reports that the there was a problem with the car's computer system that controls the steering. It says no accidents had been reported relating to the issue but on this issue alone it was recalling 11,500 cars globally and 37 in Australia.  Lexus says the problem centres on the computer-controlled, variable power steering unit. It says some owners reported that after manoeuvring at low speed with the steering wheel in full-lock position, the steering wheel remains in an off-centre position even though the front wheels are straight.  The company says that this phenomenon is resolved automatically in a few seconds and the driver may notice this correction as the steering wheel centre moves slowly by itself to the centre position. Toyota admitted the issue had been under internal investigation since March after recieving 10 customer complaints from Japanese owners.  It follows the announcement that some V6 and V8-engined models may have an engine problem that could lead to stalling and a dificulty in restarting. "Improperly functioning valve springs have been found in some Lexus engines and there is a small possibility that abnormal engine noise or unstable idling may occur," it said in a statement.  "In very rare instances, there is a chance that the engine may stop. There have been no reported accidents related to this issue." Models affected are the Lexus GS450h, GS460, LS460 and LS600h models that range in price from $127,000 to $244,000.

CarsGuide has assembled our top 10 motoring snow companions.

The electronic control units are needed to address a recall notice issued last week for 11,500 of the Lexus flagship sedans.  Less than 40 of those vehicles are in Australia, with only 15 of those sold and on the road.  The recall was issued due to a defect in the steering system that could leave the steering wheel off-centre by up to 90 degrees after it had been turned to full lock in manoeuvres such as a sharp corner or U-turn. “If the driver has fully turned the steering wheel to full lock and then very quickly attempts to turn it back to the centre position, the steering wheel may temporarily become off-centred before automatically returning to the centre position within 1-5 seconds,” Lexus says.

But peak motoring body the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries believes consumers are confused enough to warrant a broad-ranging education program about what ESC is and what it does.The Transport Accident Commission has already been running an ad highlighting the merits of curtain airbags and ESC. It has been endeavouring to lift awareness among buyers about what they do, via websites like howsafeisyourcar.com.au.But with Victoria moving ahead for the compulsory fitting of ESC to all passenger cars from January, the FCAI believes now is the time to increase awareness among car buyers.Despite TAC's efforts some carmakers like Honda believe consumers are still confused by the different acronyms used to describe the various systems. However, FCAI spokesman, James Goodwin, believes it will be difficult to mandate a single naming strategy."It comes down to marketing," he says. "All systems are different to some degree."Goodwin also believes it would cost too much to standardise the terminology on imported cars because the volumes are relatively small. Carmakers use different terms for the proprietary electronic stability program invented by Bosch and co-developed with Mercedes-Benz.Subaru Australia spokesman, David Rowley, says Subaru's own research shows a higher awareness among buyers of its own electronic stability control system, called vehicle dynamic control."Our customers tend to look in depth at the features of our cars," Rowley says. He backs an education program as “something worth considering" but balks at a name change. "A lot a brands have invested a lot of intellectual time in creating a point of difference with their various stability systems," he says.What they call it -Electronic Stability Control (ESC) - Holden, HSV, JeepElectronic Stability Program (ESP) - Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes Benz, Renault, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, Skoda, Peugeot, SuzukiDynamic Stability Control (DSC) - Ford, FPV, BMW, Mazda, Land Rover, Aston Martin, JaguarVehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM) - ToyotaVehicle Stability Control (VSC) - LexusVehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) - Nissan, SubaruDynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) - VolvoElectronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) - Audi, VolkswagenActive Stability Control (ASC) - MitsubishiVehicle Stability Assist (VSA)- HondaAutomatic Stability Control + Traction (ASC+T)  MiniMaserati Stability Program (MSP) - MaseratiPorsche Stability Management (PSM) - PorscheStability and Traction Control - FiatStabiliTrak -Hummer

Jeromy Moore, race engineer for Craig Lowndes, said under the new guidelines for the category's Car of the Future, it would be "easier and cheaper" to build a new race car than convert from Ford to Holden as they had done this year."Lexus has several V8 engines available and Chrysler has 5.7 and 6-litre V8s, while Hyundai seems like a company with the drive and enthusiasm to want to take part," he said. "We will probably see the first cars up and running halfway through next year, but I doubt we will see any newcomers on the grid when the rules take effect in 2012. Most will adopt a wait-and-see approach."V8 Supercars "Car of the Future" chief Mark Skaife said he had been contacted by several interested manufacturers since the plan was launched last month. But the five-time Bathurst champion says even if no other manufacturers end up joining Holden and Ford in the championship it won't dent its future. Skaife says the plan, which is to be implemented by the start of the 2012 season and aims to dramatically reduce the cost of the race cars, will work with or without the support of new manufacturers."If in five years down the track no other manufacturer has joined Ford or Holden the whole plan is a better car for us over the next 10 years," he said. Moore said the introduction of the new guidelines could shake up the series. "I think we'll see a lot of surprising results and a big separation in the field until they all come back together, a bit like F1 last year," he said. "You might see big teams struggle and small teams do well if they strike it lucky with set-up."Regardless of whether other manufacturers join the championship, Skaife said Holden and Ford would remain key partners in the V8 program. "Ford and Holden are the absolute foundation of where we are today," he said. "They don't really feel endangered by this in a competitive sense because they've got their own factory teams already. If those teams weren't good enough they wouldn't be the factory teams. If another manufacturer came in they're not going to be able to acquire Holden Racing Team for instance, so that part of their feeling is desensitised because of already having factory racing outfits."Skaife also emphasised the sport's commitment to using a V8 engine as the power-plant for any future cars competing in the championship."For us the mandate of being a V8 power plant is crucial to the sound, the vibe and the atmosphere that we're able to deliver as an entertainment package," he said. "That part of it we're pretty strong on. Clearly there are other alternatives from all sorts of V8s. The capacity of the V8, how hard they rev, what weight they are, whether they're all alloy, what sort of specification they are, we've got a very scientific way of analysing that specification and being able to equalise the performance of the engine."

Each 50th anniversary model will get special exterior design elements, exclusive interior finishes and more standard equipment. The range will include G Series and XR models, with six individual variants available across both sedan and ute models, including a G6E, G6E Turbo, Falcon XR6 sedan, XR6 Turbo sedan, XR6 Ute and XR6 Turbo ute. Ford will build about 750 G-Series and 4000 XR birthday specials. The Falcon XR 50th Anniversary sedans will feature "Dark Stealth" colour accents on the grille, fog light bezels and rear bumper insert, and "Medium Stealth" accents on the alloys, along with high series side mirrors with integrated indicators and G6-spec tail lights. Anniversary features for the exterior include "XR50" graphics, body stripes and a "50th Anniversary" badging. Inside there is an embroidered XR50 logo on the seats, carpet mats and door scuff plates and 50th Anniversary instrument graphics. Other highlights include special interior trim on the centre console, dashboard and front doors, along with standard dual zone climate control, premium audio system and high series sports leather steering wheel. Features specific to the Falcon XR6 50th Anniversary include new partial leather seat trim and 18-inch XR alloy wheels with the detail accent treatment. The Falcon XR6 Turbo 50th Anniversary receives new leather-detailed seat trim, reverse sensors and 19-inch XR alloys with full colour accents. Production of XR anniversary models start in June, with G Series anniversary models to follow a month later. The longest running vehicle name in Australian motoring history marks its 50th birthday on June 28. It will be half a century after the first XK Falcon rolled off Ford Australia's Campbellfield production line. Ford Australia's marketing, sales and service vice president Beth Donovan, says 50 years of continuity in any industry is a remarkable achievement "but it's especially rare in a dynamic field like the car industry". "The Falcon's long and distinguished heritage is unmatched by any other car in the history of Australian motoring." Prices for the 50th Anniversary range will be announced closer to the on sale date. "But as with previous limited edition models, customers can expect these special vehicles to come with some equally special pricing that will deliver exceptional value for money," Donovan says. The timing of the anniversary anniversary Falcons also marks 50 years since the first inline six-cylinder engine was built at Ford's Geelong engine plant. The 144 cubic inch (2.4-litre) overhead valve (OHV) engine developed 67kW when it was introduced, which was class-leading at the time but only average for a 1.5-litre four-cylinder today. By comparison, the advanced design of today's Falcon engine would have been unimaginable back in 1960, with high-tech features like a dual-mode split plenum composite intake manifold, fast burn cylinder head, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and dual independent variable camshaft timing (DI-VCT). The current Falcon's six-cylinder engine produces almost three times the power and more than twice the peak torque, while being significantly more fuel efficient despite a 50 per cent increase in total vehicle mass.

Just as things are calming after Toyota's eight-million-vehicle mistakes in the USA and Europe, Mazda is hit with a 90,000-car recall in Japan and China.Australia has again dodged the recall, which only applies to a specific model of the Mazda3 not sold here, but things are looking tougher for even the world's most-admired brands. "The Mazda3 is not affected in Australia," says company spokesman Steve Maciver. "It's only the 1.6-litre engine, which we do not get here."But Toyota Australia was forced to recall the latest Prius hybrid for tweaking of the braking system; elderly Daihatsus have been recalled - ironically, under the Toyota banner; and Great Wall was forced to recall the first batch of its Chinese twin-cab utes to rectify a seat belt problem.Even Suzuki, which has one of the lowest warranty-claim rates in the country, was forced to recall the baby Alto because of a problem with wiring to the stoplights. Suzuki Australia is still sourcing a replacement stoplamp switch and will contact owners.Then there is Toyota USA, which is hit with another cloud over the Lexus GS460. It's a heavyweight SUV which is built up from the Prado and, thanks to an unsafe rating by the influential magazine 'Consumer Reports', sales have been stopped while the company conducts safety tests. It is responding to claims the car can develop a tail slide, leading to a rollover, in an emergency situation. Once again, Toyota Australia is responding with a 'no panic' reply."The Lexus GX460 is not and has never been sold in Australia. Toyota Motor Corporation Japan has advised us that Prado is not affected by the sales stop. It has a smaller engine and significantly less weight overall, particularly over the front wheels, says Toyota and Lexus spokesman, Mike Breen. Toyota is even putting a positive spin on the Lexus development."This is firm evidence of Toyota’s stated intention to respond even more quickly to ensure quality and customer satisfaction. It shows that Toyota is taking the matter seriously and are determined to identify and correct the issue that was identified," Breen says. "Having done that, Toyota Motor Corporation has adopted its normal approach of conducting further tests on other SUVs. These vehicles have already undergone extensive testing and Toyota is confident they meet its high safety standards. Toyota is therefore conducting these tests as an additional measure to ensure customer confidence."And it's not just cheap-and-cheerful car brands that get caught up in recalls. Ferrari is also suffering after recalling more than 2000 of its F355 model fitted with a single fuel pump system and sold in the 1990s. Ferrari says it will be contacting known owners so their cars can be checked for a problem with the fuel system pipes.Porsche, meanwhile, plans to recall 152 of its all-new Panamera flagship, which sells from $270,000 to $365,000. They have to be checked for faulty seatbelt mounting points.

After starting at the top end of the car business with its LS flagship and cascading down through the various categories, Lexus is finally ready with the most important car in its history.  The CT200h was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show as a new-age compact hybrid but the bottom line is much more important - this is the Lexus rival to the Three.It will also go up against the baby 1 Series and the Audi A3, but the CT is intended to win significant sales and do the job that Lexus has not been able to do with the IS. The CT is expected to be a major sales success in Australia.  "More importantly, it's the type of car that will bring new customers to Lexus," says the chief executive of Lexus Australia, Tony Cramb, speaking in Geneva.  "I think the CT, with its performance and equipment, is more closely a competitor to the high-end 1 Series or A3s. It is not designed or engineered as a low-end car."But he admits the right prices are essential, with Lexus Australia aiming for something in the $55,000-60,000 range.  "We need to get it at the right price and that's something we're currently working on," Cramb says.The CT200h is part of the expanding Prius family, using a 1.8-litre petrol engine liked with a compact electric motor through a continuously-variable transmission. There are three driving modes - including Sport - but the car can only run for two kilometres on battery electric power.Visually, the CT is very close to the LF-Ch concept car unveiled by Lexus at last year's Frankfurt motor show.  But it sits on a new mechanical package - with a 2600mm wheelbase and basic luggage capacity of 345 litres - with MacPherson strut front suspension and a dedicated double-wishbone rear suspension which is much more advanced than the layout on the Prius.Inside, the CT uses the same asymmetrical dashboard seen in the show car. The dashboard is split into an upper display zone with a large LCD multi-display screen and a lower zone with the gearshift lever and a remote touch multi-function controller.CT production starts in December but Cramb is reluctant to discuss an arrival date in Australia.  “If we could get it from December production then I’d be very happen,” he says.  However, a more realistic goal is within 18 months.