Lexus refreshed their LX 570 for the 2013 model year, and today they announced pricing for the luxury utility vehicle raising it 1.9-percent compared to last year’s model to $80,930.

The new LX 570 features new, bold styling, interior upgrades, cutting-edge technology and remarkable off-road capabilities all wrapped in the luxurious package you’d expect from a Lexus.

Under the hood, the LX 570 is powered by a 5.7L V8 engine featuring four cams and four valves per cylinder with Lexus’s dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i). It pushes out 383-hp and 403 lb-ft of torque, offering plenty of power for the utility vehicle.

An optional Luxury Package was also announced for the 2013 LX 570 priced at $1,510 and will include a cool box for beverages, semi-aniline leather-trimmed upholstery with contrast stitching, heated steering wheel, new mahogany wood-trimmed door switch plates, a rear-center armrest cover, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats and Smart Access card key.

Additional entertainment can also be had for $2,005, adding dual screen rear-seat entertainment system with wireless headphones and three-prong electrical outlet. The two video sources can play different content at the same time, so no fighting amongst the kids on which Disney movie to watch.

The announced MSRP of $80,930 does not include delivery, processing and handling fee of $875.

GALLERY: 2013 Lexus LX 570

As a lead-in to a range of new products planned for introduction this year, Lexus is putting together its first ever Superbowl commercial, which will air during the first half of this year’s game on February 5th on NBC.

The almost Super 8 esque 30-second commercial, centers around the new 2013 Lexus GS, which officially launches in February, as well as emphasizing future products to come (catch a sneak peek below).

In the run up to the Superbowl XLVI commercial, Lexus is also launching a social media activation tool called “TweetDrive Engineered by Lexus.” This airs live on NBCSports.com and will provide football fans with the opportunity to put both their knowledge of the game and social media skills to the test during the actual Playoffs, according to Lexus’ vice-president of marketing Brian Smith.

The objective is for each fan to gain enough yards on the “field” so their “team” can score a touchdown, by providing the correct answers to both trivia and predictive game questions, using a Lexus TweetDrive hash tag.

For every Playoff game in which fans play TweetDrive, they are entered into a draw for a grand prize, which is a trip for two to any NBC Sports Premium Event.

Watch the teaser video below:

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Looking to reclaim its spot as America’s number one luxury automaker by sales, Lexus is planning an extensive product rollout in 2012 that will include nine new or updated models, plus three F-Sport cars. On the list are the new GS350 and GS450h, while later in the year we’ll see updated versions of the ES350, IS250 and IS350, as well as the LS460 and LS600h. In addition, an updated LX model arrived in 2012.

Lexus is forecasting a 21 percent sales increase for the year with Lexus GS Mark Templin telling Automotive News, “We will grow more than any other luxury brand this year.”

Beyond refreshing or introducing new versions of current models Lexus will look to add more cars and more versions of existing cars, likely starting with the CT200h hybrid hatchback – of which a higher performance version has long been rumored.

In addition, Lexus is still reportedly planning a new seven-seat crossover as the brand looks to phase out its body-on-frame SUVs with Templin commenting that he expects the brand to have moved almost entirely to car-based platforms for its “trucks” by 2025.

And finally there’s the coupe segment, which Lexus gave an impressive preview of at last week’s Detroit Auto Show, with the LF-LC Concept. A production version of that car could arrive in the medium-term with Lexus Japan’s global product boss Karl Schlicht telling Auto News that if it were to make it to dealerships, expect a price point between $100,000 and $130,000. (See AutGuide’s First Look Video of the LF-LC here).

But the design shown in the LF-LC may foreshadow more coupes than just one, with Templin commenting that he’d like an SC430 replacement, priced around the $70,000 mark. In addition, several rumors have suggested Lexus is also planning a GS Coupe to compete with rival Mercedes and its E-Class two-door.

Amidst all the product add-ons there will likely be one model removed from the Lexus lineup, the slow-selling HS. With sales dropping 73 percent last year to just 2,864 units its not surprising that Toyota Motor Sales USA president Jim Lentz commented that, “It’s a car that doesn’t necessarily fit the long-term needs of the brand in the U.S.”

GALLERY: Lexus LF-LC Concept

[Source: Automotive News]

The automotive aftermarket and motorsports have a lot in common, so it’s no surprise to see both celebrated together at venues like the Tokyo Auto Salon. On hand to cover the latest tuning trends from Japan, AutoGuide decided a closer look at the numerous race cars on display, from Formula cars to custom machines and plenty of hardware from the world famous Super GT series.

See below for extensive galleries on some of the most jaw-droppingly amazing race cars:

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As popular as drifting has become in America, the sport’s home will forever be in Japan and a quick demo out at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon gave us a reminder why.

While we have plenty of fun listening to V8-powered Ford Mustangs and Chevy Camaros go at it sideways, this year’s TAS played host to a Toyota GT 86 doing tandem with an old school AE86, only to be outdone by a Lexus LFA Roadster.

And as cool as it was to see the new Toyota GT 86 going sideways alongside its classic predecessor, what’s even more interesting is the fact that the LFA Roadster isn’t even supposed to go on sale until 2014, so how did someone get their hands on one? Either it’s a pre-production model or someone decided to chop the roof on theirs themselves. But leave it to D1 to put on yet another demo to whet everyone’s appetite for drifting, despite how controversial the series is out in Japan.

Check out the video after the break with various cars putting on a drifting demo.

[Source: Jalopnik]

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Toyota’s motorsports partner Gazoo Racing had several machines to show off at the Tokyo Auto Salon, but none as impressive as this Lexus LFA. Prepped for race duty, the car has already seen competition, with an automotive CEO behind the wheel no less.

Akio Toyoda? Nope. Try Dr. Ulrich Bez, the man in charge of Aston Martin and a long time racer.

How exactly the CEO of a competing automaker wound up behind the wheel of the Lexus supercar is the result of a friendship that has grown between Dr. Bez and Mr. Toyoda – a friendship that started when the two shared garage space at the Nurbrgring 24 Hour endurance race a few years back.

The two automakers have volunteered to share space ever since and this past year even shared cars, with Bez getting behind the wheel of the LFA, while Akio Toyoda had the opportunity to pilot Aston Martin’s Zagato V12 race car.

GALLERY: Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA

Aftermarket wheel manufacturer TWS Forged obviously liked what they saw when Toyota unveiled the Nurburgring Edition Lexus LFA. Sporting a more track-oriented aerodynamic kit and a functional rear spoiler, that package (even in its shocking orange paint scheme) now looks tame compared to the modified LFA on display at the TWS booth at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

Along with that huge spoiler out back the LFA gets a custom set of TWS wheels, as well as an ultra-aggressive rear diffuser setup to further improve aerodynamic flow over and around the supercar.

GALLERY: Lexus LFA by TWS Forged

See AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon Coverage here

To celebrate the return of America’s troops from overseas deployments, Toyota and Lexus are both offering special promotions and discounts for those needing a new car back at home.

Men and women in uniform can take advantage of special financing offers on new vehicles as well as receive cash-back rebates so long as they jump onto the deal in time. Toyota is offering a 1.9-percent APR promotion for up to 60 months on new 2011 and 2012 models and a $500 military rebate comes along with it. Purchases need to be made before March 5, 2012 in order to take advantage of the low APR financing, but the rebate will last until January 2, 2013.

Lexus on the other hand will be offering military personnel 0.9-percent APR loans on 2011 and 2012 vehicles from their ES, IS lines and the 2012 RX350. All other vehicles from Lexus can be financed at 1.9-percent APR and Lexus will give a rebate of $750 to new buyers. The loan offer expires on February 29, 2012 while the rebate will run until March 31, 2012.

Of course you’ll have to qualify for the low APR financing and all applicants must be on active duty in the US Military or US Military Inactive Reserve. Retired military personnel are not eligible. You can find a dealer participating in the “Welcome Home Special APR Program” by looking up your closest dealer at www.toyota.com/dealers and www.lexus.com/dealers and giving them a ring. Financing must be done through either Toyota Financial Services or Lexus Financial Services.

10. Chevy Tru 140S Concept

For some of the more minor auto shows, a Top 10 list of the most important cars often covers most of the new debuts, but not so at the North American International Auto Show. Held each January in Detroit it’s the obvious launch site for major products by the Big Three domestic automakers and over the years has also become the venue for important new models by the rest of the auto industry.

Domestics made their mark at this year’s Detroit show, starting with one very different concept car revealed by Chevrolet. Called the Tru 140S it may look like some outrageously fast and expensive exotic machine, but it’s neither. Based on the same front-drive platform as the Chevy Cruze, it is powered by the same 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, which makes just 138 hp in that car. Designed, along with the Code 130R concept, as part of an initiative to attract youth buyers back to the brand, Chevy seems serious about the concept, even announcing that if it made production, the target price would be around the $20,000 mark.

Easily one of the stars of this year’s Detroit Auto Show, and arguably the best looking, the Lexus LF-LC hybrid coupe concept is a bold look at the future styling direction of the brand, while also hinting at a new model.

With styling cues from the new GS and the LFA supercar, there’s plenty of innovation packed into it – though Lexus is being extremely quiet as to what the powertrain is, apart from commenting that it’s a next-generation hybrid drive system that will deliver both fuel economy and performance.

For more on the LF-LC, watch the video below.

GALLERY: Lexus LF-LC Concept

Watch the video below:

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