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.

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.

The new Lexus RX SUV range will debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, although we have already seen the redesigned RX thanks to a leaked photo that hit the net.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The refreshed 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser will make its North American debut at the upcoming 2012 Chicago Auto Show on the media preview day on February 8th.

Lexus clearly has a winner on its hands with their new 2013 GS – read our review here – and it appears that they didn’t want to stop the customizing options with just the F Sport model. Toyota Racing Development (TRD) has come up with a lineup even more special parts and accessories for the performance variant.

Lexus debuted its LF-LC concept at this year’s Detroit International Auto Show and in doing so snagged the spotlight and our attention.

Never let it be said that high-mileage hybrids are grim, joyless, or Spartan. The 2012 Lexus HS 250h sedan was the smallest and most economical car Lexus had ever built when it went on sale in late 2009 as a 2010 model, but it’s unquestionably luxurious.

Toyota motorsports partner Gazoo Racing is known for its Super GT teams and Nurburgring race cars. How do they stack up when it comes to the sport art of drifting? Not too well, judging from this video.

As part of a demonstration event held at the Tokyo Auto Salon each year, automakers, tuners and racing teams get the chance to display the power of their vehicles on a small course set up outside the venue. One of the vehicles this year was a Lexus IS-F prepped by Gazoo.

We don’t want to ruin it for you, but let’s just say, perhaps there’s a reason pylons are made of plastic.

Watch the video below:

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.

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:

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.

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:

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]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

There seems to be a new wave of thinking spreading through Toyota and luxury brand Lexus, which at the 2012 North American International Auto Show, manifested itself in this, the LF-LC Concept.

Ahead of its official debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Lexus has released photos and a press release on their refreshed 2013 LX570 SUV. The facelifted LX570 is surprisingly aggressive and sporty, and it’s clear that Lexus is trying to make a consistent statement with their front fascia designs across all their models – starting with the 2013 GS.

It’s quite possibly the most exciting debut of this year’s Detroit Auto Show and after a few teaser images, followed by the release of two photos yesterday, we can now share the Lexus LF-LC concept from its many stunning angles.

Lexus has released new photos of its stunning new concept car, pointing to the future of the brand’s styling as well as a possible new model. The LF-LC hybrid concept adapts the brand’s new grille, as first seen on the 2013 GS, while looking like a luxurious 2+2 version of the LFA supercar.

Praised as a true rival to the Lexus ES when it first debuted ( though not by us), the Buick LaCrosse will soon be “laughable” as a competitor says one auto industry executive.

Kelley Blue Book has announced the winners of their 2012 Best Resale Value Awards with Toyota being the best resale value brand and their luxury counterpart, Lexus, topping best resale value luxury brand.

Toyota of Japan has released the first official photos of their 2012 Land Cruiser refresh, the first major update since the SUV first hit the market in 2007.

Lexus dropped a surprise today announcing pricing for the new 2013 GS350 will remain unchanged from the 2012 model. Despite all the changes that greatly improved the GS – read our extensive review here – the base price for the model will remain at $46,900.

Hours after photos of the upcoming Lexus super coupe concept leaked onto the net, the Toyota luxury brand has released a full photo of the car, confirming it will be called the LF-LC.

Photos of the new Lexus concept car have leaked online, revealing a stunning luxury coupe that is certain to put the Japanese luxury brand back in the spotlight. Called the LF-Lc, it can be seen as a successor to the much-maligned SC model.

In the run-up to the Detroit Auto Show this January, Lexus has teased a new concept car twice, first showing an aggressive exterior, and then a futuristic interior. Now comes word that the vehicle in question may wear the “LF-LC” badge when it is fully uncovered.

Last week we received a macro image of a new concept car from Lexus that will be fully revealed at the upcoming 2012 North American International Auto Show. Lexus PR literature revealed only that the concept will introduce a new design direction for the luxury brand but did not hint what role the concept will play for the future line-up.

The Lexus LX 570, set to debut at next month’s Detroit Auto Show, will look different but remain almost identical beneath the skin, as Lexus spokesperson said in an interview with Autoblog.com.

If you’ve decided your next vehicle will be a hybrid but you don’t want one that stands out like the Prius – and also wouldn’t mind increased luxury and fun-to-drive quotient – the 2012 Lexus CT 200h could be the one for you.

After stunning the world with a Lexus super car, and surprising us with the pure driving experience of the Scion FRS, Toyota R&D is now rumored to be working on the return of the most legendary Toyota of all– the Supra.

German automakers like BMW and Audi aren’t shy about tooting their own horn when it comes to Facebook followers. BMW has long lead the pack and currently lists almost seven million fans on the “social network”.

Lexus will reveal a new concept car at the 2012 North American International Auto Show…and that’s all we know. Lexus sent a brief press release, two sentences in length, stating “Lexus will unveil a new concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 9, 2012. Designed by Calty, the company’s design studio in Newport Beach, Calif., the concept showcases the new design direction embraced by Lexus.”

General Motors is moving closer to a solution for the fires that occurred in Volts after crash testing earlier this year.

It seems to be an emerging trend amongst Japanese automakers, one of transferring critical aspects of operations to locations outside of Japan. Nissan has already done it by opening a new HQ in Hong Kong, now Lexus is looking to shift key units, notably it’s global marketing operations, from the Japan to the US.

Reports are coming in that Japanese auto manufacturers are looking for ways to cut costs on vehicles being exported to the United States in order to squeeze profits due to the record high yen against the dollar. A prime example is the new GS 350 from Lexus, that has been highly anticipated and praised by the American media.

Lexus asked four fashion designers for their take on automotive design that would be the basis of a new advertising campaign to appear in Vogue magazine. Known as the Lexus Fashion Workshop, these designers took the some of the more than 2,000 individual parts of a completely dismantled Lexus CT hybrid and repurposed them into wearable works of art.

Each of the innovative fashion designers bring something different to the table with their take on the beauty of recyclying. Moss Lipow used a transmission starter and exhaust manifold gasket for his head-turning creation, “Environmental Crown of Virtue.” Jewelry designer Eddie Borgo used valve lifters, crank bearings and hose clamps for “The Valve Collection,” while John Patrick used floor mats, leather seat covers and cargo covers for a sleek trench coat, shorts and clutch ensemble titled “Nomadic Sanctuary.” And putting his best foot forward, Alejandro Ingelmo used armrest leather trim and clear plastic tubing for “The Luna Shoe.”

“Merging the worlds of luxury automobiles, art and fashion is another example of how Lexus is ‘Engineering Amazing’ or maybe more appropriately, ‘Engineering Unexpected’,” said Brian Smith, vice president of marketing for Lexus. “We were able to challenge four designers to turn one of our most progressive hybrid vehicles into innovative fashion pieces, inspiring the designers, and the world, to see things differently.”

You can see the results in a six-page advertisement found in Vogue’s January 2012 issue. The Lexus Fashion Workshop will be on display December 1 and 2 at Art Basel Miami Beach. You can purchase any of these pieces through a private auction at the event, and proceeds will benefit the Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund (CFDA).

After the jump, watch the making-of video where you’ll get a sneak peek at what the designers are creating at the Lexus Fashion Workshop.

Toyota has announced that starting in 2013, it will sell Lexus vehicles in India. No specific products were announced for sale, but likely contenders include the LS and GS sedans, as well as the RX crossover. Given India’s less than perfect roads, the LX and GX SUVs (based on the popular Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs) may also make it over.

While automakers and outside research firms publish sales figures and earnings reports on a regular basis, one metric we rarely get a glimpse of is how profitable each vehicle is. In an era of re-badging and platform sharing, one would think that the most profitable vehicles are those with a large number of derivatives to spread the cost around. But a new report from Bernstein Research suggests that two factors – price point and volume – are the keys to making big bucks off vehicles. And judging by the list, longevity seems to help as well.

For all of Lexus‘ success with its RX, ES and IS models, the company’s GS mid-luxury sedan has never been able to keep pace with their other models, let alone major competitors like the BMW 5-Series or Mercedes-Benz E-Class. For the 2013 model year, Lexus has completely redesigned the GS, with a 180 degree departure from the dowdy GS of years past.

If buzz at the LA Auto Show last week was anything to go by, a high-performance Lexus GS is on its way. During inside discussions at the west coast auto show, enthusiasm about building a GS based M5 beater was very much in evidence.

Lexus has just announced that they’re adding to the GS family with a GS 250 variant, revealed ahead of its global premiere at the 2011 Guangzhou Motor Show. No pricing was announced with the reveal, but it will go on sale starting June 2012 and it appears to not have any significant aesthetic changes compared to the GS 350.

Oh Ashton Kutcher, what are we going to do with you. The new Charlie Sheen replacement on Two and a Half Men seems to be going down a Sheen-like path himself, apparently trying to win Demi Moore’s heart back with a… 2012 Lexus LS 600h L, paying just a tad over $100,000 to get the luxury hybrid sedan.