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Lexus GS 350 F-Sport 2013 Keeps 2011MY’s $47,775 Price – Latest Reviews & photos of Lexus GS 350 F-Sport 2013: We’re accustomed to carmakers upping prices on brand-new models, especially if when they feature significant enhancements over their predecessors. But given the competition from its German rivals, Lexus decided to play it safe and keep the base U.S. price of its all-new 2013 GS 350 sedan unchanged over the outgoing model.

“With all of the enhancements to the all-new GS, the base price remains the same at $46,900*,” said Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager, Lexus Division. “We expect the GS will suit the needs of many drivers and compete well in the segment.”

If you add a delivery, processing and handling [DPH] fee* of $875, the rear wheel-drive 2013 GS 350′s MSRP rises to $47,775.

There’s also an all-wheel drive model priced at $49,450 or $50,325 with the DPH fee, which equals to a $600 increase over the 2011MY GS 350 AWD.

Both the RWD and AWD versions of the 2013 GS 350 are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with 306HP matched to a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The RWD model accelerates from standstill to 60mph (96km/h) in 5.7 seconds while returning EPA-estimated ratings of 19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined.

Standard features include bi-xenon HID headlamps, L-shaped LED daytime running lights, paddle shifters, a new energy-saving auto climate control system and the S-Flow system that uses the occupant-detection system to focus air-flow only to the front area where passengers are actually seated.

A next-generation Remote Touch that allows the user to control the climate, audio, phone controls and optional navigation, and a color TFT multi-information display are also standard.

Photos of  Lexus GS 350 F-Sport 2013:

The Japanese brand’s premium sedan will offer buyers three optional packages named Premium, Luxury and F-Sport.

Priced at $1,400, the Premium Package includes rain-sensing wipers, heated and ventilated front seats and power rear sunshade.

The Luxury Package, priced at $5,750, includes the aforementioned features plus: Adaptive Variable Suspension; an Adaptive Front Lighting System; high gloss linear espresso wood trim; semi-aniline leather, 18-way power front driver and passenger seats, side bolster and thigh support controls; four-way lumbar; driver and passenger seat memory; rear HVAC and audio controls; rear manual side sunshades; 18-inch alloy wheels, and wood and leather steering wheel.

The F-Sport package, which carries an MSRP of $5,690, enhances the GS 350 with a comprehensive aero kit, 19-inch alloy wheels, an F SPORT-tuned Adaptive Variable Suspension, larger front brakes with high friction pads, Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS), sport seats and interior trim plus an Sport S+ mode that changes the settings of the adaptive variable suspension, steering system, and vehicle stability control (VSC).

photos of  Lexus GS 350 F-Sport 2013:

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Lexus CT 200h F-Sport prices start from £27,850 at Britain – Latest photos & reviews Lexus CT 200h F-Sport 2012 Autos: In a move to target customers looking for a bit more character in their cars, Lexus is expanding its UK lineup with the introduction of the CT 200h F-Sport…

which is available to order now with first deliveries in January. On-the-road prices start from £27,850.

The new F-Sport grade brings a raft of unique exterior and interior styling goods, additional equipment features and perhaps more importantly, sharper handling thanks to a modified suspension.

Lexus says it has made the CT 200h F-Sport more engaging for the driver by changing the coil spring rates and replacing the standard Showa shock absorbers with sports-tuned Kayaba dampers.

On the outside, the CT 200h F-Sport gets 17-inch dark-finish alloys, a larger rear spoiler, flared side skirts, a mesh front grille and newly styled front and rear bumpers. Inside, there’s a new flat-bottom steering wheel and aluminium pedals and scuff plates.

The F-Sport is based on the SE-L equipment grade adding cruise control, F-Sport black leather upholstery, heated front seats, electric driver’s seat adjustment, auto-dimming (electrochromatic) electrically retractable door mirrors and a rear parking camera that links to a display in the rear-view mirror.

Available options include an HDD navigation system combined with Lexus’s Remote Touch control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, back guide monitor and 10-speaker audio package, along with parking sensors and a sunroof.

All photos Lexus CT 200h F-Sport 2012:

Lexus-GS450h-Hybrid-Sedan-2012

Lexus GS450h Full Hybrid Sedan 2012 at Auto Show in Frankfurt 2011 – Latest photos & reviews of Lexus GS450h Full Hybrid Sedan 2012 Cars: Having revealed the new gasoline-only GS 350 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, Lexus chose the 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt for the unveiling of the hybrid variant that we will come to know as the GS 450h.

The full hybrid model is based on the fourth generation body style and it uses a 290-horsepower, 3.5l-itre V6 Atkinson cycle petrol engine, in conjunction with a two-motor hybrid system.

The total system output is 343-horses [DIN] at 6,000 rpm and 345Nm (255 lb-ft) of peak torque at 4,600 rpm. Power is channelled to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential-shift E-CVT.

The Japanese company says it has made improvements to every aspect of its second-generation Lexus Hybrid Drive system, achieving both substantial reductions in fuel consumption, CO2, NOx and PM emissions, while also promising performance that is on par with comparable V8-powered rivals.

In European specification, the GS 450h completes the sprint from 0-100km/h (62mph) in 5.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 250km/h (155mph).

In the European driving cycle, average fuel consumption has been reduced by 18% to 6.3lt/100 km (equal to 37.3mpg US or 44.8mpg UK), while CO2 emissions have fallen to below 145g/km.

Notable new technologies making their debut on the GS 450h include an energy saving air conditioning system that is said to be 10 times more powerful than the previous system while significantly reducing power consumption and a second-generation Remote Touch Interface (RTI) linked to a gigantic 12.3-inch multi-information display screen.

Compared to its predecessor, while keeping the same overall length, the new GS has a 10mm shorter front overhang, a 10mm longer rear overhang and is 30mm taller. Furthermore, the front track has been increased by 40mm and the rear track by 50mmm while the overall width has increased by 20mm.

The repackaging of the hybrid battery into a stacked format helps increase the GS 450h’s luggage capacity to 465 litres (55% increase over current GS 450h).

Exclusive styling features to the hybrid GS 450h include a different headlamp design that aligns the turn signal and the high and low beam LED lamps in a single horizontal row, hybrid-specific, front rear and side blue badging and hidden exhaust pipe apertures. Inside, the differences over the GS 350 include a real bamboo-finish for the steering wheel and a bespoke hybrid monitor display.

Look all photos of  Lexus GS450h Full Hybrid Sedan 2012 at Auto Show in Frankfurt 2011:

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2013 Lexus GS luxury sedan at the Pebble Beach Festival – Latest photos & review for 2013 Lexus GS: Time is up for Lexus to pull the wraps off the third-generation GS luxury sedan that made its first outing today at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California.

Based on the LF-Gh concept we saw in New York, the new GS features much bolder lines that its predecessor. Key highlights include a prominent trapezoidal grille that the company says will be a trademark of all future models, deep-set headlamps with L-shaped LED daytime running lights and an aerodynamic body that brings to mind the smaller IS.

Lexus’ Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class challenger is underpinned by a revised platform that is more rigid thanks to the increased number of spot welds as well as laser welds in specific locations.

The engineers also redesigned the suspension, which features aluminum upper, and lower control arms for reduced unsprung weight and an updated rear subframe that supports a new multilink suspension.

The mid-size sedan also features wider tracks (+40 mm up front and +50 mm at the rear) and different shock absorbers with lighter-viscosity oil, allowing for faster response to small driver inputs. Braking is taken care of ventilated discs all around with four-piston calipers up front.

In Europe, Lexus will offer the entry level GS 250 (we presume equipped with the IS’s 2.5-liter V6 as the company did not reveal any specific details) and a GS 450h full-hybrid version, whereas in the US the line-up will include the GS 350 and the GS 450h.

The North American market GS 350 is motivated by a 3.5-liter V6 generating 306-horsepower and 277-pound-feet of torque, enough to propel the premium sedan from 0 to 60mph (96km/h) in 5.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 142mph (228 km/h). Acceleration from 30 to 50 mph takes 3.0 seconds. The V6 engine is linked to a six-speed sequential shift automatic transmission with paddle shifters and sport driving functions as standard equipment.

Although its dimensions are almost identical to the outgoing model, the new Lexus GS offers improved space in the cabin, while boot capacity has been increased by 25%. Entry and exit are made easier thanks to wider door openings and the redesigned seat frame and steering column give the driver better visibility as well as increased comfort.

The dashboard’s design bears no relation to that of the outgoing GS, with the styling clearly inspired from the LF-A sportscar.

It features cleaner lines while highlights include the extra-large touchscreen (up to 12.3 inches) and the relocated controls for the audio (a 17-speaker Mark Levinson, if you tick the options box) and climate system. The latter uses a new, energy saving technology called S-Flow with an occupant-detection system to direct airflow only to the front area where passengers are actually seated.

In this class, a multimedia all-in-one control system is practically compulsory and the new GS has its own “next generation Remote Touch with one-push confirmation” as standard for “intuitive operation of climate, audio and phone controls as well as the navigation system” (Lexus’ words, not ours…).

In terms of safety, the new GS features a huge array of both passive and active safety features. There are 10 airbags in total, including knee ones for both driver and front passenger and side airbags for rear passengers.

The new GS can be equipped with a pre-collision system that uses the radar cruise control system to detect a probable accident and an infrared camera that monitors the driver’s eyes. If it detects that he is not looking forward when road circumstances suggest that an accident is probable, it sounds an alarm. If the driver doesn’t respond the system will automatically activate the brakes, reducing the severity of the impact.

Lexus said that it will also offer an F-Sport Package with styling and chassis upgrades.

According to the Japanese company, GS production will start in December with the first cars arriving in showrooms in February.

Look all photos 2013 Lexus GS luxury sedan:

Lexus-GS-350-2013

New Lexus GS 350 2013 to Debut in August at Pebble Beach Concours – Latest photos & details of Lexus GS 350 2013: This year’s edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance that takes place in California on August 18 will see Lexus lifting the veil off the next generation of its GS premium sedan, which we recently showed you testing at the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany.

Lexus teased the new GS with the LF-Gh Hybrid concept study at the New York Auto Show in April.

“Our customers have been waiting for a new GS that’s more intense in every way,” commented Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “They’ll soon discover this GS was well worth the wait.”

The Japanese company claims that the fourth-generation of the GS, which will be shown in GS 350 form with power coming from a regular V6 gasoline engine, will introduce “a more defined and emotional design philosophy featuring a new distinctive front grille and styling cues that will soon be seen on all future Lexus vehicles”.

Lexus added that its new BMW 5-Series rival will also provide owners with “a more engaging and dynamic driving experience and the highest levels of refinement”.

As always, we’ll keep an eye open for any teaser photos that may come out before the official reveal.

All photos of Lexus GS 350 2013:

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Lexus LS 460 Touring Edition 2011 Target Younger Buyers – Latest pricing and details of Lexus 2011 LS 460 Touring Edition: How do you attract younger buyers into your showrooms? The easy to say, but evidently hard to follow-through, answer would be to design a vehicle(s) from scratch that caters to the needs of the all important 35-to-55-year-old male demographic.

So what happens when you want to do something about it…yesterday? Well, obviously, the most cost and time efficient method is to enhance the range of your model with a sport trim level. And that is exactly what Lexus is attempting with the latest addition to its top-end model.

The new 2011 LS 460 Touring Edition adds a hint of sportiness to Lexus’ flagship with some select cosmetic upgrades. “The package on this car enhances styling and comfort, allowing us to attract younger buyers to the LS line-up,” says Lexus vice president and general manager, Mark Templin.

Available on both the rear wheel- and all-wheel drive versions of the LS 460, the Touring Edition package is offered exclusively with a bespoke Smoky Granite Mica exterior finish. On the outside, it features 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels (18-inch on the AWD model) and an aero kit that includes a front apron, side skirts, a rear apron and a different grille.

Inside, the package adds sports seats, matte brown wood trim, black and tan leather-trimmed seats and premium floor mats.

Pricing starts at US$73,000 [€51,800] for the 2011 LS 460 Touring Edition.

Look all photos of Lexus LS 460 Touring Edition 2011:

Lexus-CT200h-Hybrid-Race-Car-2012

Lexus CT200h compact hybrid Race Car to Debut at the Nurburgring – Latest photos & info of Lexus CT200h compact hybrid Race Car 2012: The Lexus CT200h compact hybrid will debut in racing car guise at an endurance race this weekend at the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit.

Entered by Gazoo Racing, the same organization that races the Lexus LFA, the CT200h will compete in the Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy. Around 200 cars will line up at the start of the six hour-race.

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The Gazoo Racing CT features the Japanese automaker’s Lexus Hybrid Drive, but has a larger capacity 2.4-liter petrol engine instead of the factory 1.8-liter unit for better performance. At start-up and during braking, the car uses only the electric motor, consuming no fuel and therefore producing zero emissions. The internal combustion engine takes over at higher speeds, with the electric motor providing extra power under acceleration and at racing speeds.

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The race car shares with the road-going CT200h the batteries and hybrid system, with the latter selecting the most appropriate power sources and capturing energy through regenerative braking to charge the battery so that the electric motor never runs out of juice.

According to Lexus, the Gazoo Racing CT requires less fuel and emits less CO2 and NOx gases than any equivalent petrol or diesel race car it will compete with. The car will be entered in the SP4 Class and will be driven by three experienced pilots: Kumi Sato, Masahiko Kageyama and Minoru Takaki.

Lexus-CT-200h-Hybrid-Hatch-2011

Lexus CT 200h Hybrid Hatch with Priced from £23,845 in UK, Latest prices for Lexus CT 200h Hybrid autos: Created with the European market in mind, the new Lexus CT 200h hybrid hatchback has made its way to UK shores.

Priced from £23,485 OTR, it costs £1,380 less than the next least expensive model in the Japanese firm’s UK lineup, the IS 200d that comes equipped with a 150HP 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine.

The compact-sized CT 200h uses a 1.8-liter gasoline engine that works with an electric motor, a high performance battery and a generator, with the hybrid powertrain producing a combined output of 134HP. The CT 200h accelerates from 0-62mph (100km/h) in 10.3 seconds en route to a top speed of 112mph (181km/h) and returns a combined fuel economy of 68.9mpg UK (equal to 4.1lt/100km and 57.4mpg US) with CO2 emissions of 94g/km.

In the UK, it is available in three model grades: SE-I, SE-L and SE-L Premier. All trim levels of the CT 200h are fitted with alloy wheels – 16 or 17-inch according to customer preference – dual-zone climate control, a USB port and Aux socket for connecting portable music players, Bluetooth for mobile phone connection and audio streaming, front fog lights, automatic wipers and dark-tinted rear privacy glass.

Lexus CT 200h Hybrid Hatch photos:

Lexus-IS-350C-F-Sport-2011

Lexus IS 350C F Sport Special Edition 2011, Latest prices of Lexus IS 350C F Sport 2011: Lexus has unwrapped the limited run 2011 IS 350C F Sport Special Edition convertible, which is set to go on sale in the U.S. later this month.

Only 175 units will be built, each carrying a $55,120 (not including $875 destination) sticker and some styling and performance upgrades over the standard model.

The limited run hardtop convertible comes in a choice of two new colors (Starfire Pearl or Obsidian), and features bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, special exterior badging and 19-inch alloys in a dark graphite finish, wrapped around in 225/35 Michelin Pilot Sport tires. Heated and ventilated black-red leather sport seats with red stitching plus a new wood trim spice up the cabin.

Lexus is also offering a comprehensive standard equipment package, which includes navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, rear back-up camera, voice command, Lexus Enform telematics system with Safety Connect and various XM services.

To improve handling, the Japanese brand’s engineers fitted the F Sport model with new Bilstein shock absorbers, shorter springs and a sway bar.

“The F Sport Special Edition builds on the IS 350C and takes the fun of the convertible up another notch,” said Mark Templin, Lexus Division group vice president and general manager. “The racing inspired F Sport accessories on this car were precision engineered specifically for this vehicle, allowing us to provide performance without compromise.”

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Lexus RX S6DM Dual-Mode Hybrid at Detroit Motor Show 2011: Chinese automaker BYD marked its fourth consecutive appearance at the North American International Auto Show with the world premiere of the S6DM hybrid, with the DM in the name standing for “Dual-Mode”.

The gasoline-electric hybrid is based on the Chinese firm’s S6, a mid-size SUV model first introduced at the Shanghai Auto Show in 2009. And no, you’re not the only one to find the overall styling of the S6 reminiscent of the previous generation Lexus RX.

The Warren Buffett-backed battery and car maker claims the S6DM is “the world’s first independent 4WD dual-mode electric SUV”. Under the hood, the Chinese model is equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and three electric motors. Two 10-kilowatt electric motors drive the front wheels while a more potent 75 kilowatt motor powers the rear wheels. A six six-speed dual clutch transmission handles power transfer.

Despite the “Dual-Mode” moniker, BYD says the system offers three driving modes including electric only, hybrid gasoline-electric and gasoline engine only. In detail, here’s how the Chinese automaker describes each mode:

According to BYD, the S6DM can travel over 38 miles (60km) purely on electric power (BEV) and over 500km (310 miles) combined when engaging the gasoline engine.

BYD said that the S6DM is amongst the models being considering for the U.S market. At the Detroit show, the company’s Chairman, Wang Chuanfu, pushed back the brand’s U.S. launch to the first quarter of 2012.

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Lexus CT-200h Hybrid 2011 Priced from $29,995 in the U.S: Lexus has dropped pricing details for its all-new CT-200h ahead of the hybrid model’s U.S. market launch in early March. The five-door model will be priced from $29,120, plus $875 for delivery, processing and handling, which comes out to a total of $29,995 [about €22,450] making it the least expensive car in the Lexus lineup in the U.S.

“For just $1,000 more than the cost of a non-luxury hybrid, buyers can indulge in a CT 200h with our proven Lexus Hybrid Drive technology,” said Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager, Lexus Division. “Lexus hybrids currently make up 90 percent of all luxury hybrid sales in the U.S., so you can imagine how excited we are to continue our leadership in this market with the CT 200h.”

The fifth hybrid model in the Lexus lineup makes use of a 1.8-liter gasoline engine that works in conjunction with an electric motor, a battery and a generator. The system has a combined total output of 134 hp (100 kW) and allows the CT 200h to accelerate from 0-60 mph [96 km/h] in 9.8 seconds. According to the manufacturer, the hybrid model has EPA-estimated ratings of 43 mpg city and 40 mpg on the highway utilizing regular 87-octane gasoline.

Standard features on all CT 200h’s include SmartAccess with push-button Start/Stop and touch sensors on exterior front-door handles; leather steering wheel; a six-speaker, audio system with a CD player, and Bluetooth; integrated satellite radio receiver (with a complimentary 90-day trial subscription); USB/iPod connectivity; 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels; and dual zone automatic climate control. The CT 200h is also equipped with a standard eight-airbag Supplemental Restraint System.

Optional features will include a sixth-generation navigation system with a backup camera, a moonroof, heated seats, and a Premium Audio Package, which includes the Lexus premium audio system with 10-speakers and six-disc CD changer, HomeLink and electrochromic rearview mirror with compass.

Photos of Lexus CT-200h Hybrid 2011

2012-Lexus-LFA-Nurburgring-Auto

Lexus Nürburgring LFA Supercar for 2012: If owning one of the 500 examples of the LFA supercar that Lexus plans to build doesn’t claim victory to your ego, then you’ll be happy to know that the Japanese automaker has just released U.S. pricing for the Nürburgring Package that will be strictly limited to only 50 units worldwide.

Those that choose to tick the option will be charged an extra $70,000, while Matte black will carry an additional cost of $20,000. The standard LFA carries a MSRP of $375,000, meaning that with the Nürburgring Package, increases the total price to a $450,000.

The 75 grand will get you a tweaked version of the 4/8-liter V10 engine producing 562HP or 10 more horsepower than the standard LFA along with a modified transmission that reduces gear-shift time by 0.05 seconds to 0.15 seconds.

A sportier-tuned suspension, exclusive black mesh-type alloy wheels with dedicated high-grip tires for better handling, as well as a larger front spoiler and fixed rear wing for improved high speed down force, are also part of the Nürburgring Package.

And if that ain’t enough, in addition to the vehicle specs, Lexus will throw in a package of special privileges in association with the Nürburgring course itself.

The company said that perks include, but are not limited to, private parking, co-pilot ride, one night stand at the Lindner Congress and Motorsport Hotel Nürburgring, private training with Nürburgring chief driving instructor, a Nürburgring branded jacket, as well as a one-year annual pass valid for driving on the Nordschleife and admission to ring werk leisure park.

The limited edition LFA with the Nürburgring Package will be available in four exterior colors – whitest white, orange, black and matte black complemented by a choice of three interior colors – black, red, and violet. All come with a carbon fiber center console and door trim.

Latest photos of Lexus Nürburgring LFA Supercar for 2012