Smaller downmarket SUVs are in Lexus‘ future lineup according to one company executive who spoke to Auto Express. 

Luxury and learning to use a new computer probably don’t align themselves readily in your mind, which is why Lexus, among other luxury brands, is taking measures to soften the curve after your purchase.

“With the advent of more technology in luxury cars, customers often have questions about their navigation system, establishing a Bluetooth connection for their phone or managing other telematics systems,” Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president said. “While we’re happy to answer their calls, we think it will be much more beneficial to have experts at our dealerships who can establish and maintain relationships with customers to answer any questions about their cars.”

In order to offer those experts, the brand is partnering with its dealer network and creating two new positions at each facility: a vehicle delivery specialist to introduce customers to their new cars and a vehicle technology specialist to answer tech questions about their car’s increasingly sophisticated electronics.

People filling those positions will be trained through iPad apps designed to educate users on the latest Lexus technology and vehicles. The same app is available for customers to download and learn from too, meaning they won’t be left unaware after dealing with the specialist on the lot.

Lexus also plans to follow up with customers to evaluate their experience and gather feedback during the vehicle’s first scheduled service, something the vehicle technology specialist will carry out.

Since its unveiling, the Lexus spindle grille has spun a web of new vehicle designs that has yet to stop growing and the ES sedan is the latest addition to that network.

The company issued a press release today saying that it will debut the new ES at next week’s New York Auto Show. We don’t get any more details than that, but the picture you see above was a part of the announcement. From it we can see that the ES will follow suit with the rest of Lexus’ newly restyled cars which implement the signature spindle grille first seen on the LF-LC concept in Detroit.

LED headlight accents, differently-styled fog lamps and chrome touches will lend new style to the front fascia. We’re expecting more than just an updated face, though. Lexus said its sixth-generation ES will introduce a “dynamic new driving experience.”

If current car design trends are any indicator, bet on seeing LEDs in the tail lights and the same sharper lines found on the rest of the automaker’s new lineup.

While we’re not sure what that means, we’ll be reporting live from New York City next ween on April 4.

It’s official, the very first Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition has finally landed on US soil.

Hotter (if possible) than the normal LFA, the special edition is named after the infamous Nordschleife (Northern Loop) circuit where nearly every manufacturer (including Lexus) conducts vehicle dynamics testing of its performance cars these days. The Nürburgring Edition features additional aerodynamic aids, such as a carbon fiber front splitter, nose strakes and a prominent rear wing.

Powered by a 562-horsepower version of the 4.8-liter V8 (up 10 hp from the regular LFA), the Nürburgring Edition is capable of galloping from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and topping out at 202 mph, according to official factory literature. If you’re somehow in doubt as to how fast it is, Japanese race driver Akira Lida piloted a Nürburgring Edition around the Nordschleife in just 7 minutes, 14.64 seconds.

That said, is the $70,000 the extra 10 hp and aerodynamic aids cost over the regular LFA worth it? Well according to the buyer of the first US spec Nürburgring Edition, who chose to have the car finished in traditional white with a red interior, every penny.

GALLERY: First U.S. LFA Nürburgring Edition

Typically at any big auto show, car companies come up with concept cars to not only attract the attention of the press, but also to bring buying consumers onto their show stand.

However, the only turns most concept cars ever see are on the turn-tables at auto shows, not the turns of a road. Some concepts however, have been able to leap into the real world. Car’s like the original Audi TT, the 2002 Ford Thunderbird and the current Chevrolet Camaro started off in life as just concept cars, but strong press and customer response lead their makers to put the vehicles into production.

Now it seems that Lexus might be inclined to do the same regarding their LF-LC concept, which first showed up at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.

We first reported on this concepts favorable public reaction earlier this month. Since then, Lexus has taken the concept to the Geneva Auto Show, where it received a similarly positive reaction.

This has given Lexus and its parent company Toyota something to think about. So now, Lexus’ product planning chief Karl Schlicht is saying the LF-LC’s chances of making it to production are 50/50.

“A decision has not been taken,” Schlicht said. “But we’re now up to a 50 per cent chance from a zero per cent one. Every top Toyota Motor Company manager is aware of the great reception it has received and now we’re talking about how we can do it and fit it into the product plan.”

Schlicht said the only reason this vehicle is even being considered for production is because of the reaction the concept got, if it was just a drawing, it would not have gone much further.

Worth noting, the LF-LC was designed at the Calty Design Center in California and the only brief the designers were given was regarding the size of the vehicle and that it needed to be a 2+2 coupe.

Will this hybrid sports coupe concept make the leap into reality? We would certainly like to see that.

GALLERY: Lexus LF-LC

[Source: Autocar]

Considerations for developing a Lexus GS-F have been raised and discussed in multiple occasions in the past but the idea has yet to take hold.

Now, rumors surface one again as Lexus product planning chief Karl Schlicht  says that we could expect to see a high-performance GS-F on the market in the not-too-distant future that would rival the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.

The engine will likely be adopted from the high strung 4.8-liter V10 engine found in the Lexus LFA supercar. However, rather than 4.8-liters, the engine in the GS-F will likely be a slightly smaller displacement 4.6-liter producing approximately 450-hp.\

To distinguish itself from the standard GS range, the front fascia of the GS-F would receive sharper, more exaggerated surface treatments dominated by the spindle grille and preview the design of the next generation IS sports sedan range.

Details on a GS-F remain scarce as the project has yet to be official. If given the green light, expect the GS-F to arrive on showroom floors in approximately two years.

[Source: AutoCar]

The slow unveiling of the all-new Lexus LS luxury sedan has unofficially commenced when the sharp eyes of Lexus Enthusiast discovered a flash of an image of the concept within a Lexus RX crossover promo video featuring chief engineer Takayuki Katsuda.

When Katsuda started to elaborate on the new and unique “spindle-grill” corporate face of the Lexus line-up, a series of spindle grill profiles were briefly displayed to make a point. More importantly, the images are marketing easter eggs providing hints at Lexus models to come. According to Lexus Enthusiast, the 25-second mark of the video commences a series of images including a GS 450h, the CT 200h F Sport, the next-generation ES, the next-generation LS, and finally the LX luxury SUV.

Having limited information to go by, Lexus Enthusiasts points out the unique full spindle chrome treatment and an elaborate headlight formation.

See for yourself by clicking the gallery and the video after the break.

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Weighing one model against another can be a hassle for people mulling over a new car purchase. As if it wasn’t difficult enough, those shopping for luxury cars also have to weigh the incentives being offered.

“What we see with the beginning of the fourth quarter is that the pressure on the pricing front has increased. When it will end is, at the moment, not clear,” BMW CFO Friedrich Eichiner said in reference to the array of incentives luxury car makers are offering customers. The list of enticements, sweet as they may be, can be a little overwhelming.

Audi for example, is offering current owners a $3,000 loyalty incentive or will extend a $2,500 discount to anyone trading in a luxury car towards a 2012 A8. Mercedes-Benz is offering an extra $2,000 discount on buying a 2012 E-Class if you’re already financing or leasing another Mercedes through its financing division. Fina;;y, BMW is offering a $1,000 rebate on a 2012 BMW M3 coupe or convertible, or a $2,500 manufacturer-to-dealer incentive on a 2011 335i or 328i. It’s worth mentioning that the $2,500 manufacturer-to-dealer incentive might not even come up if you don’t ask the dealer.

It isn’t just the German automakers jumping into the discount battle, Infiniti and Lexus are both offering incentives. Current Jaguar or Land Rover owners can also save up to $5,500 in total rebates on a 2011 Range Rover. Both Cadillac and Lincoln are offering rebates and discounts, with Cadillac offering a ridiculous $7,000 in manufacturer-to-dealer rebates on any left over 2011 DTS models.

[Source: Left Lane News]

J.D. Power and Associates’ annual Customer Service Index Study offers crucial automotive information for consumers and the latest results are out.

Lexus tops the list  this year in the luxury segment while MINI made the top spot for mass market brands.

J.D. Power statistics are based on responses from over 84,000 new vehicle owners that rate dealer service performance during the first three years of vehicle ownership. Five facets of customer service are measured in the study: service quality, service initiation,  service advisor, service facility and vehicle pick-up. The responses are gathered from around the world to avoid regional bias, with statistics from 16 countries including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany and India.

The study is divided into two categories: luxury brands and mass market brands.

For the luxury brands segment, Lexus was rated with the best customer service for the fourth consecutive year, scoring 861 points of a possible 1000. The average luxury brand CSI ranking score was 835. Rounding out the top five top brands, from second to fifth are Cadillac, Jaguar, Acura and Porsche.

In the mass market segment, MINI took the top spot with an overall CSI ranking score of 809 where the average score for all automakers in the mass market segment was 778. While the company didn’t win overall,  GM dominated the top five mass market brands. From second to fifth they are Buick, GMC, Chevrolet and Hyundai.

Overall, J.D. Power reports that almost every brand has improved on the Customer Service Index scale in 2012, with 28 of the the 33 eligible brands improving their score. A leading factor in overall attitudes towards customer service is the change from less repair work to more maintenance that is happening at dealers thanks to better built cars, J.D. power says.

In 2012 72 percent of vehicle owners say that their latest dealer encounter was for routine maintenance and not repair work, a 9 percent increase from 2011.

Review the J.D. Power CSI charts below for a list of all car manufacturers.

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Lexus leaked images of its updated RX 450h CUV ahead of the Geneva Auto Show this year, but we were there beforehand to catch some early photos.

Exact details on the new RX line aren’t clear yet, but we know from looking at the new crossover that, as is the same with other updated Lexus vehicles, it will sport the face-lifted front end first shown during the company’s first Superbowl Ad. That updated grille borrows heavily from the radically different front fascia originally seen in the LF-LC concept.

Opposing Lexus “L’s” form the new pinched and refreshed front-end look that other cars including the GS sedan have adopted.

Otherwise, the CUV still looks very much like its predecessor with the same body shape and recognizable styling that set it apart as a Lexus from other Japanese car-based platforms like the Acura MDX.

We’ll bring you more details with the official release, for now browse our gallery.

GALLERY: 2013 Lexus RX 450h

Caring about concept cars takes a lively sense of wonder and a little bit of short-sighted foolishness, at least in most cases.

These sleek, snazzy models appear long enough to tantalize the public and capture imaginations, only to disappear with the show just like a stage performer. What happens, then, when the crowd chants an encore, when they insatiably demand another taste? Sometimes nothing. On the other hand, the flattered performer may return to deliver.

The Lexus LF-LC concept that debuted in Detroit last January is one such performer. The world represents the crowd, who at this point are standing in their seats, chanting for more.

The LF-LC hybrid concept that garnered lavish praise and the EyesOn award for its striking design is proving to have lasting popularity. So much so that Lexus is taking notice.

“This is just a concept at this point, but judging from the fantastic reception it received at the recent Detroit auto show, people want us to build it.,” Yoshi Inaba, president and COO of Toyota Motor North America said.

For anyone who missed out on what was undeniably one of the most striking scenes in Detroit this year, the LF-LC hybrid concept car featured striking exterior styling with the opposing Lexus “L” grille that is already making its way into new models. The interior featured wild, organic, curvy designs that integrated new technology like speed-sensitive touch pads to lower and raise the windows.

It’s true that the car isn’t headed for production yet, but maybe Lexus can be coaxed if the crowd keeps chanting.

GALLERY: Lexus LF-LC concept

After driving an F1 car in competition, it would be hard not to have an unrealistic set of expectations for any car after that. So you would think that an F1 driver could never sit in a production car and still become enthralled with its performance capabilities. Well, according to Alex Wurz, the former F1 driver, the Lexus LFA is a rocket ship he would take home any day of the week.

Lexus is still eager to prove that it is fully capable of producing a super sports car that can perform with the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini. And with the LFA still sitting in the fifth position for fastest laptime around the famed Nürburgring, above both Lamborghini and Ferrari, the car has shown the world its true potential.

Watch the video below of Toyota Racing’s Alexander Wurz take the LFA out for some hot laps on the Estoril circuit in Portugal. Its interesting to listen to his take on the car, and how it handles.

Alex calls the car a “rocket ship”, and by the looks of the LFA in the video, we wouldn’t disagree.

GALLERY: Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition

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Lexus is a top of line car company focusing on performance and luxury, and the Japanese automaker plans to keep it that way.

It seems there is a trend emerging of high end car companies offering lower priced cars, an attempt it seems to coerce some customers who would have never planned on stepping into a luxury brand in the past. The newest example of this being the Acura ILX, which does not have official pricing yet, but will sell for “well under $30,000″ says the company.

Lexus recognizes the trend, but does not see the need to sell cheap cars, as it would cheapen the brand and the image of Lexus and Toyota. ”I don’t think [entry-luxury] is a focus of ours right now,” said Brian Smith, Lexus’ vice-president of marketing. “Other manufacturers have a reason for going there. Some might be customer demand; some might be government regulation.”

Smith adds that the company would rather focus on building a better quality product, like the all new GS flagship line, than try and expand its market. It makes sense when you consider that Scions and Toyotas can both be had for fairly cheap prices, so it seems pointless for Lexus to even try to reach out to a cheaper market.

The only example of a Lexus slotting in at what some might call an affordable price point is the CT200h, starting at just $29,120.

Moving forward, Lexus’ focus will be expanding existing product lines to better suit the needs of its customers. ”I would love to see the RX family grow. We don’t have specifics, but it’s a very capable vehicle, and it’s a broad section of the market,” added Smith, which hints at the possibility of a baby RX SUV.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

The all-new 2013 Lexus ES was recently spotted in China. It looks like the luxury Japanese automaker will follow in its newly released GS footsteps with more aggressive styling in its entry-level model.

One quick glance at the above photo reveals that the new-generation ES will feature a much more prominent front-end design similar to what Lexus changed on their new GS model. The front grille and bumper features curves never seen before on the ES model.

The sleek roofline conjures up coupe-inspired styling and it’s a pleasant surprise to see Lexus change so much from their best-selling model, but we definitely agree that it’s all for the better. The interior has also got a huge refresh, giving it a much more luxurious look and doing away with the teardrop console we’ve seen in various current-generation Lexus models.

There’s no absolute guarantee that what we see before us will be what will make its way to the U.S., but chances are good that changes will be subtle. Either way, we’re excited at the direction Lexus is heading – first the GS and then with the ES model. Hopefully the IS gets a nice refresh soon. The current generation is getting a little outdated.

[Source: Lexus Enthusiast via MotorAuthority]

Recently Lexus announced the creation of the Tori 500 track, inspired by swimsuit model Tori Praver’s curvaceous body. At the time of that release, Lexus teased that a TORI 500 app would be available for iOS devices, and now here it is.

The TORI 500 racing app allows iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users to enjoy driving a virtual Lexus GS sedan around a virtual Tori Praver. Of course the racetrack in the game is the one created by Tori Praver’s body and the 3D image of the supermodel might not be the best of things to show off to your significant other.

Lexus also released another app that allows users to place the swimsuit model into their own photos with a click of a button. Oh the beauty of today’s technology. The Japanese automaker is the Official Automotive Marketing Partner of SI Swimsuit. Cars and beautiful women in bikinis, what more could a guy ask for?

Download the TORI 500 app here and the Supermodeled app here.

GALLERY: TORI 500 Gaming App

And in case you missed it, watch the creation of the Tori 500 race track below:

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With Toyota vehicles dominating their segments in the latest J. D. Power and Associates 2012 Dependability Study, as a brand, Lexus claimed the top spot as the overall most dependable brand.

And we know, technically Lexus is Toyota, but owners of Lexus vehicles topped the rankings with 86 problems per 100 vehicles. Toyota as a brand in comparison reported 104 problems per 100 vehicles and was tied in third place with American automaker, Cadillac. Porsche was second place right behind Lexus, while Scion, Mercedes-Benz and Lincoln followed Toyota.

The bottom three on the list were Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler, with Chrysler reporting an astonishing 192 problems per 100 vehicles, while Dodge had 183 and Jeep had 179.

It’s also worth mentioning that the industry-wide rate of problems fell 13-percent from the previous year to 132 problems per 100 vehicles, the lowest since J. D. Power and Associates began the study back in 1990.

The study measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by owners of three year old vehicles, with overall dependability determined by the level of problems per 100 vehicles – the lower the score, the higher its dependability.

Can you handle the curves of this track? Lexus created a track based on the curves of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Tori Praver – va, va, va, vroom!

Photographs were taken of Tori’s body, and using the photos as a guide, a track that was based on a one inch to one hundred foot scale ratio was created. The fun didn’t stop there – in fact, it was just getting started. It was time for the “Tori 500” – two drivers, two laps. And to the winner, the spoils – a victory lap with the inspiration for the track, Tori herself.

Professional race car driver Scott Pruett and professional stunt driver Greg Tracy took to the track in a Lexus GS F Sport. We’re not going to tell you the outcome – you can see for yourself in the making-of video after the jump.

Do you want to try your luck racing the “Tori 500” or take a custom photo of you and this hot model? Download the two new apps for iPhone and iPad from Lexus’s website.

GALLERY: Tori Praver and Lexus

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A 2013 Lexus brochure has been leaked showing images of the RX crossover’s mid-cycle updates – including a big surprise.

The popular luxury crossover receives a new corporate spindle grill facelift, revised headlamps and taillights, and new wheels. Images of the interior also reveal a rear-seat entertainment system.

While the facelifts was expected, Lexus has also taken a leaf from the German premium crossover offerings; the 2013 RX will also receive a new F Sport trim package. The F Sport trim features a sporty honeycomb spindle grill, aero kit, a sports steering wheel and alloy pedals.

While it is not clear what sort of performance upgrades the F Sport trim entails, we expect a package similar to that of the GS F Sport’s chassis tuning.

GALLERY: 2013 Lexus RX

[Source: lexusenthusiast.com]

10. 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S

Whether you’re heading to the Chicago Auto Show and want to know what to check out, or your trip is a bit more virtual, AutoGuide editors have compiled a list of the must-sees at this year’s event.

Head into McCormick Place and hang a left. You can’t miss the all-new 2012 Porsche 911. It might not be a world premiere, or even a North American debut, but the beautifully blue Carrera S is a piece of art. Four inches longer than the outgoing model it’s more substantial and a much sleeker design.

Powered by a 400 hp 3.8-liter flat-six engine the Carrera S can hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds when paired with Porsche’s PDK 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and the optional Sport Chrono Package. It’ll also lap the Nurburgring as fast as the previous generation GT3!

The one percent is doing just fine in the Midwest. At least that’s what you’d be lead to believe if you dropped by the Lexus stand at the Chicago Auto Show.

There you’ll find a stunning display of not one, not two, not three, but four Lexus LFA supercars. Priced at an exorbitant $375,000 (each), you’re looking at $1.5 million dollars in total. Is that a ton of cash? You bet! But if you look at it another way, it’s also 40 cylinders, generating 2,208 hp.

For more on the Chicago Auto Show, see our complete coverage page here.

GALLERY: Lexus LFA Collection

The Lexus GS has been around for a while, and has often gone unnoticed. Maybe it just couldn’t compete with it’s European counterparts? Or maybe it just wasn’t advertised enough?

Lexus is hoping for the latter, and is aiming to correct that issue with a multi-pronged advertising campaign to help support the launch of the all-new 2013 GS (read our review here). The campaign will see the Lexus GS showing up in several media spots.

The new GS, which will arrive at dealerships this week, is showing off a different side of Lexus. The car is supposed to have a whole new approach to performance, technology, design and luxury.

The first commercial aired during the Super Bowl and three more are planned to circulate on national television.

In addition to the television ads, Lexus will be engaging viewers of TV shows using the Shazam mobile App. During certain episodes of popular TV shows “The Soup” “Psych” and “Being Human” the audience can use the Shazam app to get extra content of the show, and extra media on the Lexus GS. Users can even win a contest for a custom trip “Upgraded in GS fashion.”

This campaign doesn’t just stop at television though. In co-operation with Wired magazine, readers will have access to extra content using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in smart phones.

Lexus is also going heavy on digital with their approach to advertising. A Lexus promoted radio station will be available on Pandora Internet Radio, showcasing artists, songs and albums which have revolutionized the music industry. Other websites including YouTube will also feature the new GS.

Easily the most beautiful piece of sheetmetal unveiled at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, the Lexus LF-LC Concept stunned crowds with its technology, style and mystery – hinting at a future super coupe that’s still a few years off.

Created by the brand’s Calty design studio in Southern California, one can’t help but wonder how a vehicle like this moves from concept to reality. To answer that question the Toyota luxury division has commissioned short film that entitled “Resonance of Passion” that is, in and of itself, is a work of art.

GALLERY: Lexus LF-LC Concept

Watch the Lexus LF-LC Concept Inception video below”:

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If you’re a Facebook user, you may be dreading your profile’s eventual move to the new “Timeline” look. Not so with Lexus – the automaker is proving itself a social media trendsetter by offering a Timeline-inspired Facebook app.

The Points of No Return app was designed to allow Lexus to connect with its fans on a more personal level, as well as highlighting the all-new 2013 Lexus GS and showcasing big moments in social media, technology and design history. Lexus is the first brand to offer a Timeline-inspired application and one of the first to incorporate Facebook’s new Gestures platform.

The Points of No Return app will be an easy way for fans around the world to connect and engage with the brand. It utilizes Facebook’s new custom Open Graph and it features “I Want This,” “I Own This,” and “I Remember This” buttons on each item in the timeline. Once you click on a button, your response will be shared as a story on your personal Facebook Timeline.

Check out the Points of No Return app on Facebook. And while you’re there, don’t forget to like AutoGuide!

Not to be left out of the fun, Lexus is joining the Super Bowl action with an ad of its own.

The first time the company is running an ad during the big game, this 30-second spot will star the 2013 GS. Titled “The Beast,” the commercial features the GS breaking free of a silver metal box, proving that “change cannot be contained.” At the end of the commercial, you can see four additional containers in the background – according to Lexus, these represent new models that will be revealed later this year.

“The Beast” will air during the end of the first quarter, but just watch it after the jump if you can’t wait a few more days to see it.

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