April 19, 2005
The new Lexus GS450 hybrid
Lexus Unveils Second Ground-Breaking Hybrid Luxury Vehicle. The world's first gas/electric hybrid-powered luxury SUV, the RX 400h, goes on-sale in less than a month. Today, at a press conference at the New York Auto Show, Lexus unveiled yet another ground-breaking hybrid vehicle. The 2007 Lexus GS 450h is the world's first hybrid luxury sedan and the first full hybrid vehicle with a front engine and rear wheel drive.
"Once again, we've applied our formula of no compromise engineering - this time to a luxury sport sedan which proves to us that hybrid power trains can work superbly in virtually any application," said Lexus Vice President of Marketing Mark Templin. "It's very important to continue pursuing substantial reductions in fuel consumption and emissions, while continuing to improve performance and driving pleasure. Our customers wouldn’t have it any other way."
April 04, 2005
Two New Sedans From Lexus
Lexus takes the wraps off its next-generation IS and the innovative GS 450h hybrid.
When Lexus first introduced the IS sport sedan for the 2001 model year, the automaker had the BMW 3-Series in its sights. It seems appropriate that within hours of BMW debuting its next-generation 3-Series, Lexus would show the next version of the IS, too.
The new IS is the second example of styling that Lexus refers to as L-Finesse. The first was the new GS, which just went on sale this month. L-Finesse is represented by simplicity in design with a look of understated luxury.
At the top of the IS lineup will be the IS 350. Powered by an all-new 3.5-liter V6, the new sport sedan will have more than 300 horsepower. A 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters will be standard. The IS 350 will also feature a revised version of teh Lexus VDIM stability control system that was introduced in the new GS.
The IS lineup will also include an IS 250, which will get a new 2.5-liter engine expected to produce more than 200 horsepower, teamed with a 6-speed sequential manual transmission. The IS 250 will be available with either rear-wheel drive or full-time all-wheel drive. The automaker expects the IS 250 will make up around half of annual IS sales.
Sales of the new IS will begin this fall. Pricing information will be made available closer to the vehicle's on-sale date.
In addition to the new IS, in the Big Apple Lexus introduced a car that continues the prominence of hybrid vehicles for its parent company Toyota. The Lexus GS 450h will be the first luxury sedan—as well as the first rear-wheel drive vehicle—to feature a gas-electric hybrid powertrain.
This new hybrid powertrain is unique to the GS 450h. It features a 3.5-liter V6 engine teamed with a high-output electric motor that, when combined, will produce "substantially" more than 300 horsepower, according to Lexus vice president of marketing Mark Templin. Lexus claims that this hybrid will be quicker than the new V8-powered GS 430, yet it should achieve fuel economy similar to that of a compact sedan with a 4-cylinder engine.
Similar to the way Honda has marketed its Accord hybrid, the GS 450h will be at the top of the GS lineup. The new hybrid is expected to go on sale as a 2007 model in the spring of 2006
March 29, 2005
2006 Lexus GS300
Chief engineer Shigetoshi Miyoshi invoked the "p" word—"passion"—frequently in his preview presentation for the third-generation Lexus GS series, but after a short day of mountain-road driving around Palm Springs, we're not convinced it's the word that really captures the essence of these new sedans.
How about "sophisticated"? Hard to dispute that as a descriptor. The inventory of electromechanical enhancements—VVT-i, AVS, EPS, VGRS, EBD, TPM, AFS, VDIM—rivals the alphabetical agencies of the Roosevelt administration. These babies—the GS300 and the GS430—are nothing if not trick. Particularly the GS430.
October 24, 2004
Power APEAL Survey: Lexus on Top, Caddy and Jag Improve
Or virtual paper, if you’re on the Internet. J.D.’s latest APEAL (Get it? They’re punning on the word “appeal,” which means the ability to attract or stimulate the mind or emotions!) study judges entire manufacturers by their attention to Automotive Performance, Execution, And Layout. Since when does “And” get a letter in an acronym? Lexus is still the nameplate everyone wants, followed by (in order) Porsche, Cadillac, BMW, Jaguar, and Infiniti, and it just goes on from there. Jaguar’s high placing is mainly due to its redesigned XJ Series, and the accolade should serve as a beacon in the fog of problems that has surrounded big cat lately.