Lexus LS Reviews

Lexus has added special X pack editions of its sales-leading IS 250 and IS 350, ahead of a new model’s arrival later this year to continue the battle against the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4 in the luxury mid-sized sedan market. The upgrade packs - worth $9000 - echo special editions from 2011, and are a bid to boost the appeal of the outgoing model until the end of March.  Prices start from $58,990 for the IS 250X and $64,990 for the IS 350X. This represents an increase compared to the base model Prestige spec IS250 ($55,800), while the IS350 price remains the same. However, the special driveaway pricing and extra features are where the added value is found. The X range keeps the IS 250’s 2.5 litre V6 and the IS 350’s gutsy 3.5 litre V6, however gets extra equipment. While the IS 350 already has SATNAV and a reversing camera, these top spec features have been added to the IS 250 X special edition.  The value pack for both variants also includes six-head parking sensors, smart card key and sports pedals. And the ‘XTRA’ appeal coined by Lexus comes in the form of the red accented interior, with red perforated and red stitching. The outside gets a reworking with attractive 18-in alloy wheels, rear lip spoiler, aluminium scuff plates, HID headlamps with daytime running lamps and of course the special edition’s “X” badge.  

If you’ve ever shopped for a new car, chances are good that someone has passed along this bit of automotive wisdom: never purchase a new or redesigned model in its first year of release. While that may have been true in years past, the latest vehicle dependability data from J.D. Power and Associates in the US shows that it’s no longer true today. Based on three years worth of accumulated data, new or redesigned cars released in 2010 show fewer reported problems than carry-over models. That’s just the tip of the iceberg for good news concerning vehicle dependability, too. Overall, the three-year (what J.D. Power considers long-term) dependability of vehicles has increased year-on-year, with the 2013 numbers showing a five percent improvement over the 2012 numbers. In fact, the latest data shows just 126 problems per 100 vehicles, representing the lowest problem count since J.D. Power began conducting the study in 1989. That speaks volumes about the potential reliability of vehicles coming off lease, and it should also give peace of mind to owners with expiring warranties. While both domestic brands and imports have seen increases in reliability, the once-pronounced gap between the two is narrowing. General Motors, for example, has received four segment awards for dependability, with honors going to the Buick Lucerne, the Chevrolet Camaro, the Chevrolet Tahoe and the GMC Sierra HD. The greatest improvement in year-on-year dependability also came from a domestic manufacturer, with Chrysler’s Ram trucks improving by 52 problems per 100 vehicles. The most reliable vehicle, however, is the Lexus RX, which saw just 57 problems per 100 vehicles. Overall, Lexus ranks highest in dependability among all nameplates for the second year in a row. Toyota’s luxury division racked up just 71 problems per 100 vehicles, followed by Porsche (94), Lincoln (112), Toyota (112), Mercedes-Benz (115), Buick (118), Honda (119), Acura (120), Ram (122) and Suzuki (122). At the bottom of the list, however, are Volkswagen (174), Jeep (178), Mitsubishi (178), Dodge (190) and Land Rover (220), which would seem to indicate that not every manufacturer has stepped up its dependability. www.thecarconnection.com  

Compact luxury crossovers are the new darlings of the automotive industry, as they give buyers the amenities they expect while delivering improved fuel economy (compared to their larger siblings) for

The Lexus IS 250C has been with us for a long, long time and the convertible is due for a reboot soon along with the rest of the range, heralded by the new model unveiled at Detroit motor show this week. Meantime, to help keep sales bubbling, and capitalise on the success of the F-Sport trim level – which takes up 30 per cent of IS sales -- there is now an IS250C wearing the F badge on the front quarter panels. With the F-Sport adding some visual and chassis changes it is a genuinely different car – not as distanced as, say, BMW's M Sport packages, but enough for us to have another look. VALUE The IS250 F-Sport sits in the middle of a three-tiered convertible range. The IS 250C Prestige kicks off at $76,800 while the $94,800 Sports Luxury puts $13k of clear air between itself and the $81,800 F Sport. The headline items on the F Sport include sat-nav, Bluetooth, reversing camera and front and rear park assist, LED daytime running lights, Xenon headlights, new grille and front bumper and graphite 18-inch alloys. All are powered by the same 2.5 litre V6, good for 153kW and 252Nm of torque. Combining variable valve timing and direct injection, the powerplant is properly Lexus - revvy, but so, so smooth. The interior also benefits on the F-Sport - silver stitching on the leather, sports pedals, a new roof lining and unique seat and dash trim. The seats themselves are electrically operated as is the steering wheel, which adjusts for reach and rake. The seats have three memory positions, which also store the steering wheel position. The front seats also score heating and cooling. Our test car also had the active cruise control and pre-collision safety system, which is standard on the Sports Luxury. The same enhancement pack brings the 12 speaker Mark Levinson stereo with bluetooth and USB connectivity, adding $4615 before luxury car tax. The IS250 benefits from Lexus' 48-month/100,000km warranty and as a Lexus owner, you'll never need to darken a dealer's door again - as long as you own the car, the company will fetch it from you when it requires a service. Alternatively, if you so choose, Lexus will supply a loaner while your car is serviced. You won't get that as "standard" from the European marques. Volvo's folding hardtop C70 T5 is as close as you'll get for a genuine competitor. The T5S starts at $61,950 and packs Volvo's characterful (and thirsty) Ford-sourced 169kW turbo five cylinder. It's as slow as the Lexus, uses more fuel and is not a sharp drive. The T5 (yes, the pricier version has a shorter name) adds full leather, different steering wheel and stereo and adds adaptive headlights and Volvo's renowned safety innovations. Both block and parry each other for specification items but the Volvo's newer design is more coherent. The fabric-roofed BMW 3 Series Convertible range starts at $81,318 for the 320d. Developing 135kW and a muscular 380Nm of torque, the diesel will carry you to 100km/h in 8.4 seconds and a combined fuel figure of 5.1l/100km. You will need to tick a few boxes before achieving the same spec level as the Lexus but there's also a lot more stuff to choose from. After-sales service doesn't come close to matching Lexus' generous offering and, like the IS, the E93 is soon to be sent on its way. Audi's A5 Cabriolet is Audi's closest contender, which starts at $77,779 for a 125kW 1.8 TFSI litre petrol engine, and that's before the addition of the F-Sport equivalent, the S-Line. The A5 bests the Lexus' fuel figures, but struggles with rather less power. It also has a fabric roof and substantially less equipment. Like the BMW, many boxes will require ticking to match the Lexus' specification. The range stretches to the $100,108 3.0 TFSI quattro. A slightly left-field alternative is the sober Volkswagen EOS which starts at a tick under $50,000 for the 103 TDI and just over that mark for the 155TSI. DESIGN The IS 250C was introduced at the 2008 Paris Motor Show and…well, is showing its era. From front bumper to the A-pillar, the 250C is as elegant as its gracefully ageing sedan sibling (introduced in 2005), or would be were it not for the tacked on plastic pieces that form part of the F-Sport package. From top of the windscreen back -- and with the roof up -- it looks slabby and a bit of a mess. The roof's arc doesn't gel with the rest of the design or identify well with the sedan, and the result is ungainly. The wheels look too small and the accommodation for the folded roof called for a rising beltline that magnifies the boot's size and deck height. Lexus designers have tried to disguise the rump by increasing the size of the rear lights. Once the roof is folded away, the proportions do improve, but it's impossible to hide that very high-set backside. Another sign of the IS250C's age is that the car must be stationary before you can fold or unfold the roof, while many rivals allow a gentle pace to be maintained during the roof's operation. Being a Lexus, fit and finish is exceptional. Even on this older design, everything is tight and the paint is beautiful. The roof's folding operation barely makes a sound and what little you do hear are reassuring clicks, clunks and whirrs. Materials in the cabin are like any other Lexus, with soft-feel plastics and supple leather on the seats. It's clear the dash wasn't really intended for a convertible as the central screen is angled the wrong way -- with the roof stowed, sunlight reflects into your eyes and obscures the screen. The main dials, though, are super-bright and set deep into the dash. The 250C could kindly be called a 2+2. There is no centre seat in the rear and passengers would have to be of the short, tolerant variety, with cropped or no hair to suffer the strong buffeting from the wind at speed. TECHNOLOGY The IS250C shares the 2.5 litre V6 with the sedan. Despite its advancing years, there are few engines that match it for smoothness and refinement. Direct injection and dual variable valve timing help the unit to 153kW at 6400rpm and 252Nm of torque at 4800rpm. The car needs every last kW and Nm, however, as it weighs in at a portly 1700kg. Missing is stop-start for fuel saving, which would be handy given its true thirst of 11.5l/100km. The IS350's 3.5 litre V6 is not available in Australian-delivered convertibles. SAFETY Six airbags, including two kneebags (in lieu of curtain airbags) are fitted to the IS250C. Active safety features include ABS, brake force distribution, traction control and stability control. A rear-facing camera is essential and, thankfully, standard on the IS250C - you can't see a thing behind you and it's almost impossible to judge where the elephantine rear ends. DRIVING With the roof up, the IS250C's on road dynamics are not far at all from the 250 sedan's. The overall road manners of the F-Sport are, if anything, an improvement despite firmer springs and dampers and bigger wheels. The F-Sport chassis tweaks reduce roll and introduce a little more discipline. The 250C's rear-wheel drive dynamics are still apparent, but the extra weight of the 250C's bracing blunt the handling. Turn-in is a little woolly and it understeers a lot earlier than you might expect. With the roof folded away, things begin to deteriorate. While it's no Saab 900 convertible (which had all the structural integrity of Rolf Harris' wobbleboard) the steering column shakes in corners and over sharp bumps and ridges in the road. It's not encouraging, but nor does it ever lose composure. The giveaway that the chassis isn't coping is the way the front tyres sound like they're struggling for grip even at low speeds, trying to keep everything on the straight and narrow. Then again, chucking an IS250C through corners is missing the point. It's far more of a boulevardier, a car you buy to carry you between fun things while letting you have fun on the way. It's far more enjoyable if you ease off and let the car dictate your pace. Through it all, however, the ride is impeccable, even with the F-Sport's firmer disposition. It suits the character of the car perfectly without letting things get out of hand. The engine struggles with the extra weight but, like a good butler, never lets you know it's under pressure. The transmission is sometimes a little jerky on the upshift, but only under a more-than-moderate throttle or after an abrupt lift-off. The six-speed transmission can be actuated with steering wheel mounted paddles that are actually nice to use. While the gearbox claims to be intelligent, it takes too long to drop a gear or two on steep descents. This is a problem while using cruise control as you can't depend on the car to stay near the speed you've chosen, requiring your intervention to slow the car. The electric power steering system is well-suited to the car, but keen drivers will notice a lack of feedback. Our test car was fitted with Active Cruise Control, part of the Enhancement Pack. This option is a double-edged sword -- you won't have to monitor the car in front but it lulls you into a state of apathy -- you'll occasionally peer down and realise you're dawdling along much slower than the speed you've set because you're behind a slow-moving vehicle. It's far more useful in urban motorway traffic rather than outright freeway cruising. VERDICT The IS range is not long for this world but for most buyers, it's hardly an issue. As a relaxed cruiser and almost-practical coupe, the IS250C is hard to beat as long as you aren't expecting class-leading anything. It's probably as middle of the road as it's possible to get but at the same time leads the way on build quality, noise and driving refinement -- the engine and ride are true standouts in a pretty good package. However it uses a lot more fuel than most of its competitors, is down on performance and some people will find the looks challenging. But to many buyers of a car like this, none of that really matters. You can't help but enjoy a car like this with the roof down on a beautiful summer's evening. Added to that, the IS250C stands alone in this class by having the security of a hard top roof and that might just be enough to clinch it. Lexus IS250C F-Sport Price: from $76,800 Engine: 2.5-litre 6-cylinder, 153kW/252Nm Transmission: 6-speed auto, RWD Thirst: 9.3L/100Km, CO2 219g/km

Class-leading rear legroom and boot space are the obvious improvements to the Lexus IS sedan range that will arrive in Australia in the third quarter of this year.  A four-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid will also join the pair of V6 engines already used in the range and promises fuel consumption of less than 4.3 litres/100km and emissions of less than 100g/km CO2. The new IS models were officially launched at the Detroit motor show and Lexus Australia spokesman Tyson Bowen says the changes will transform the way people look at the car as a competitor to the likes of BMW’s 3 Series and Audi’s A4.  “The wheelbase is 70mm longer and the front seats are a slimline design, which saves 15mm and all of that has gone into the rear legroom,” he notes. The boot is also 20 per cent bigger and while the space may have risen dramatically, the pricing isn’t expected to follow.  That should mean a starting price for the base V6 IS250 under the $59,133 luxury tax threshold, rising to $80-something thousand for the range-topping IS350 F Sport models.  Visually the cars are easy to identify by the new spindle front grille. Regular models have horizontal slats inside the spindle; the F Sport versions use a dramatically deeper spindle with a mesh design.  The L-shaped daytime running lamps have been separated from the headlamp cluster and the exhaust on the hybrid version is now hidden to differentiate it from its purely petrol-powered siblings. Carsguide previewed a prototype of the IS late last year and reported that the driving dynamics have grown with the car, which is based on the new GS platform.  Providing an improved drive and more space was a major focus for Lexus. IS chief engineer Junichi Furuyama says driving enjoyment was the key theme. “Every aspect of the new IS has been engineered with a renewed focus on the sporting performance, agile handling, accurate response to driver input and highly communicative feedback,” he says.  Features such as adaptive suspension will be available on selected models, along with a variable gear steering ratio. F Sport models have a tauter suspension tune and more aggressive look inside and out. The IS range is rear -wheel drive and uses a variety of transmissions. The IS250 runs a six-speed auto to handle 154kW/253Nm, the 350 picks up an eight-speed self-shifter to cope with 233kW/378Nm and the IS300 hybrid uses a continuously variable transmission to manage a combined engine-motor output of 162kW/215Nm.  

The 2014 Lexus IS will make its official debut at next week’s Detroit Auto Show, but images of the new BMW 3 Series fighter are already starting to turn up online. After images began appearing on various internet sites (leaked from a single Chinese site, apparently) Lexus itself posted these images, which show the new car in F Sport trim. Finally, we get a chance to see what lurks beneath the camouflage in our previously published spy shots. The now-familiar spindle grille is present and accounted for, and it appears to be even more pronounced (and more dimensional) than on the recently updated Lexus GS. There’s a serious amount of venting in the front, too, which gives the new IS a face straight out of science fiction. Look closely, and tell us you don’t see the alien from Predator in the lower fascia; that's a bolder design that we're used to seeing from Lexus. We presume this will be tapered back in non F Sport models, though. The side skirts sweeping upward to join the taillights is a bold move from Lexus, and we like the organic shape of the headlights and taillights. They’re reduced in size, too, in keeping with current automotive design expectations. Overall, Lexus says its trying to give the redesigned IS a broad and powerful stance, and we'd say the company hit the mark. There's no denying that the car has a certain presence, and we suspect that will translate into more buyers in Lexus showrooms. If the exterior isn't enough to convince you, one glance at the new car's interior will probably do the trick. In a word, it's stunning, and easily among the more sporting designs we've seen in recent years. Lexus says the longer wheelbase and thinner front seats combine to give more rear legroom, addressing a common complaint with the previous IS models. Other cabin details include a dash-mounted analog clock, electrostatic switches for the temperature controls, and an LFA-inspired steering wheel. F Sport models also get the driver's meter with moving center ring from the LFA, as well as a perforated leather steering wheel wrap, metal film 3D-look trim, black seat stitching, and aluminum pedals and scuff plates, plus the new Rioja Red interior color option. We’ll bring you more images as well as all the details on the 2014 Lexus IS models as part of our complete 2013 Detroit Auto Show coverage. www.motorauthority.com  

Just two years after Toyota paid fines totaling US $48.8 million, including a then-record single fine of $16.4 million, the automaker has been hit with a new $17.4 million fine in the US over a delayed pedal entrapment recall on 2010 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h models. The NHTSA contacted Toyota in May, after receiving several reports of pedal entrapment from owners of 2010 Lexus RX models. In June, Toyota responded to the NHTSA, admitting that 63 such incidents, some dating back to 2009, had been reported on the Lexus crossover. Toyota then followed up with the recall of some 150,000 RX models, including both gas and hybrid variants, but the NHTSA saw the response as coming too late after the initial reports. In turn, it’s fined Toyota $17.4 million over the incident, the highest amount ever charged to an automaker. As part of the settlement, Toyota avoids admitting it was at fault in the incident, but agrees to further restructuring of its quality assurance group. It will also undertake a review of all safety-related issues as a result of this latest fine. www.motorauthority.com  

It was close to two years ago that the Lexus LFA supercar, after enduring an almost decade-long gestation period, finally entered production at Toyota’s Motomachi plant in Japan. At its launch, Lexus confirmed the LFA would be built in an exclusive run of just 500 units in total, and that the cars would be painstakingly assembled at the rate of just one per (working) day up until December, 2012.  Well, Lexus has now revealed that the LFA’s planned production run has now been completed, with the final example being a white LFA Nürburgring Package. It rolled off the line at the Motomachi plant on December 14.  A special plaque showing the car’s build number confirms this is the 500th LFA, which is contradictory to what comedian Jay Leno said about a special one-off LFA Spyder he recently drove during an episode of his online series Jay Leno’s Garage. In that particular episode he states that the LFA Spyder was build number 500. Regardless of what build number this LFA has, it is now a member of one of the most exclusive set of cars on the planet. A total of 170 people helped to bring each and every LFA to life, including specialists who built the car’s carbon fiber components. Roughly 65 percent of the LFA is composed of Formula One-grade carbon fiber, aiding strength and rigidity while reducing vehicle weight dramatically. Then there’s the car’s 4.8-liter V-10 engine, one of the fastest-revving and best-sounding production engines in the world. It developed a healthy 412 kilowatts and helped propel the LFA Nürburgring Package around the German race track for which it’s named in an amazing 7:14.64. No doubt Toyota will be retaining the technological skills gained during the development and production of the LFA for its future models. Unfortunately, there’s been no mention of a successor but mysterious LFA prototypes spotted on several occasions at the Nürburgring suggest future developments are planned. MotorAuthority  

“If you're prepared to do something and you're prepared to stand next to the Mall's Balls and explain to anyone how and why a decision is taken, it's worth doing,” joint managing director Paul Crawford said. It's a benchmark that seems to have worked recently for the 78-year-old automotive retailer, rural and finance company, more known for its CMI Toyota dealerships in SA. The 1200-employee firm, with Paul and his brothers Michael and David on the board, is one of South Australia's largest private companies, passing a $1 billion turnover milestone last financial year. Most of that turnover comes from its South Australian base, including wine grape and nut producer CMV Farms, CMI Toyota, Lexus and Mercedes dealerships and its truck and bus retail business. But a lucrative arm has been its maintenance contracts for 2500 pieces of equipment the fleets of Woolworths, Fronterra, Aldi and other retailers. Those contracts and ambitions to expand its bus and truck dealership network interstate, are expected to drive growth for the company over the next five years. Mr Crawford was confident about the South Australian economy, despite the palpable impact BHP Billiton's decision to delay the expansion of the Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine had on the local business psyche. “Yes, the final decision, you could feel it in the business community, you could feel it in confidence levels of small and medium businesses,” he said. “In one sense it was a relief to know that there was clearly a slowdown on the way. “There was also a bit of silver lining for us, the fact that I personally hold the view that there's been a lot of very overheated commentary surrounding the Olympic Dam Expansion... (the delay) has had a settling affect and brought into focus some of the really positive things happening,” he said. Rex Minerals' copper mine near Ardrossan on the Yorke Peninsula, Peculiar Knob and Prominent Hill were all driving activity and many South Australian businesses were more exposed to these projects than the “sensational” forecasts for expansions at Roxby. But the ore body remains in the ground, which meant that “when BHP push the button on it, I'm sure it will be done on a more efficient level,” he said. CMV Group's recent investments in SA include a multi-million-dollar purchase of Adelaide's only Mercedes dealership in July and a new $13 million Lexus dealership on West Tce, which began trading last month. “I often think of the SA psyche and I think it could be more positive and we could be much more proud of the things that we do,” he said.