Lexus may be the perennial number 1 luxury car maker in America, but BMW has been on top of them in the sales charts for the third straight month, leading to speculation that the German auto company could overtake Lexus by year’s end.

With sales of their 1 Series up 53 percent, BMW is cautiously optimistic that their sales will continue to grow. “We are seeing a slowdown in the market and do not expect the second half of the year to be as strong as the first half,” Jim O’Donnell, BMW of North America president, said in a statement. “Despite this, building momentum throughout the year and narrowing the gap with our competitors is still our plan.”

BMW has a stated goal of becoming America’s #1 luxury brand by 2012, while Lexus was hit hard by quality problems, most notably the GX460 recall scandal earlier this year.

[Source: Automotive News]

Lexus is offering a special on its F-Sport lineup of parts with up to $300 available as a discount. The F Sport lineup consists of expensive bolt-on parts like intakes and mufflers, but some pieces, like the swaybar kit, will do a lot to wake up your Lexus.

The F-Sport lineup is ostensibly meant to bridge the gap between the standard Lexus products and their IS-F and LF-A sports cars. Sort of like seeing your grandpa lace up some Air Jordans and go shoot hoops. Unlike other tuner parts, the F-Sport products are warranty approved and look appropriate enough that you can arrive at a business meeting without shame or embarrassment.

Check out the coupon here

[Source: Autoblog]

Lexus is set to offer an adjustable drive mode system on their upcoming CT200h hybrid hatchback, similar to systems from automakers like Nissan and Subaru.

While other performance hybrids, like the Honda CR-Z, are content with Normal, Sport and Eco modes, the CT200h has all of the above, plus an EV mode. As you can infer by the names, Normal is the standard setting, while Eco dials back the air-conditioning and throttle response and Sport sharpens up the throttle and steering. Stability control and traction control systems are also dialed back to give drivers a bit more fun behind the wheel.

The EV mode is a bit more interesting, and allows drivers to drive for one mile under electric power, but at speeds of 25 mph or under – a pretty useless feature, but a promising glimpse of things to come from Lexus. Autoguide will be previewing the CT200h at the end of September, so stay tuned for our driving impressions.

Get More Lexus CT200h News and Info at CT200hForum.com

Hit the jump to see the official press release

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BMW’s continued sales success and repeated declines at Lexus, the U.S. market’s luxury leader, have now put the German automaker ahead of its Japanese competitor for the third straight month. In August Lexus suffered yet another loss with sales down 15 percent compared to August of last year, totaling 19,465 units.During the same month, BMW managed to move 19,540 vehicles (up 1.6 percent) with strongest growth for the 1 Series and 7 Series.

Part of the blame lies with the bad press generated by the significant number of Toyota recalls, while the Lexus brand wasn’t without its own problems, issuing recalls for both the LS460 and GX460. Stale Lexus models are also to blame, with little in the way of new product, while both BMW and Mercedes continue to churn out new cars.

BMW has made it clear that it intends to become the number one luxury brand in the U.S. and is gaining ground on Lexus.

For the year, however, Lexus still remains in top spot with 145,490 units (and 11 percent increase), while Mercedes takes up second place with 139,867 units (up 18 percent) and BMW trailing just behind with 139,236 units – an increase of 7.8 percent.

[Source: Bloomberg]

After officially debuting the car at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this year, Lexus will release full details and specifications on the CT200h, the world’s first premium hybrid compact, at the upcoming Paris Auto Show.

Info set to be released includes expected fuel economy numbers as well as performance stats and pricing. To date, Lexus has yet to even officially state what engine is in the CT200h, with possibilities including the Prius powerplant as well as the more powerful motor found in the HS250h. The HS gets 187-hp and gets a combined 35-mpg.

In addition to the CT200h info, Lexus will also showcase its new lineup of IS models for Europe, including a new turbodiesel IS200d model.

GALLERY: Lexus CT200h

Get more CT200h news and info at CT200hForum.com

Official release after the jump:

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Lotus will leverage their partnership with Toyota be equipping a variant of their new, flagship Esprit with the hand-crafted V10 used in the Lexus LFA.

This exclusive version would have some stiff competition from the “base” Esprit – said to be powered by the 5.0L V8 from the Lexus IS-F. Lotus cars in the past have used engines taken from more pedestrian cars like compact Fords, Renaults and Toyotas. The shift to serious high-performance engines comes as CEO Dany Bahar seeks to move Lotus from being a niche sports car maker into a legitimate rival to companies like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin.

Since the Esprit is likely to cost far less than the LFA’s $375,000 sticker price, the theoretical V10 Esprit could be the cheapest way to get a bit of that Formula 1-inspired magic. We’ll know more when the car is unveiled at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.

Check out our Paris Auto Show preview page here

[Source: Inside Line]

Lexus is soliciting the advice of some 20,000 owners for opinions on product features, social media and demographic information. “This is a great way of listening to customers,” said Deborah Senior, Lexus corporate manager of marketing strategy and communications.

According to Senior, incentives like cash cards as a monthly draw prize helped draw in the substantial amount of responses, which will help shape future Lexus product. “We can use this information in combination with information from other resources to develop future plans. Everything from products to the customer’s relationship with the dealer to the ownership experience to how we communicate with them.”

Lexus is hoping to get a better idea of the wants and needs of its customer base as it battles Mercedes-Benz and BMW for supremacy in the luxury vehicle sales race. The primary challenge for the brand appears to be drawing in new customers while meeting the needs of its core buyers, who tend to be aging baby boomers.

[Source: Automotive News]

Claus Ettensberger, founder of CEC Wheels, was fortunate enough to have some of the Lexus PR types bring a Lexus LFA around so he could take a little test drive. What these Lexus people didn’t know was that Claus doesn’t just sell wheels, he’s CLAUS, which means he must drive completely crazy all the time.

Claus is a 4-year veteran of the Bullrun Rally, and also participates in the Gumball3000, generally in some type of tuned German exotic. Well, now Claus has a new record to add to his rally trophies: the first person to be caught speeding in the Lexus supercar.

Hit the jump to watch the short video and see just how fast Claus was going. Ouch.

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Over the weekend we brought you several photos of the Lexus LFA supercar in a stunning new yellow paint scheme. Lexus has since released a selection of studio shots of this particular car and we just can’t resist showing them to you.

There’s nothing else is new about this particular version of the Japanese exotic, with a 552-hp V10 engine and 354 ft-lbs of torque. With a six-speed sequential transmission and a curb weight of just 3,263 lbs, the LFA has a power to weight ratio of 5.8 lbs/hp and can hit 62 mph in 3.7 seconds and top at at 202 mph!

Priced at $375,000 just 500 LFA models will be produced. Lexus also recently announced that along with its complex leasing program, the LFA is also available to purchase outright, but customers must agree not to flip the car.

GALLERY: Yellow Lexus LFA

A world-class luxury car deserves its own world-class luxury luggage. That’s why Lexus and Tumi joined forces to create premiere custom luggage for 2012 LFA supercar.

The Lexus LFA premium line of travel cases was customized to complement the look and feel of the 2012 LFA supercar. It’s so select that the vehicle identification number (VIN) that corresponds with the owner’s LFA will also be inscribed on each bag – how’s that for exclusive?

Custom fitted to the LFA’s trunk, this set of hard-shell suitcases is made of aluminum and carbon fiber. Styled using components that are directly related to the appearance of the car, the pieces to be easily packed and lifted from the cargo area. Each one has been designed with a distinct purpose. The smaller “concourse” case is made to fit the essentials for track racing, including gloves and shoes, or items for a quick getaway. The larger “coastal” case is for longer trips when a change of clothes is needed. Each suitcase has an asymmetrical retractable handle and shoulder strap as well as non-skid feet, which hold the luggage in place while the car is in motion.

“The LFA’s unparalleled, hand-built quality dovetails with Tumi’s dedication to creating excellence,” said Dave Nordstrom, Lexus vice president of marketing. “The custom luggage enhances the LFA experience and demonstrates Lexus’ dedication to making each encounter with the brand memorable.”