I discovered a great new use yesterday for the redesigned 2008 Lexus LX 570. I’ve been testing it this week and drove it up to Elkhart Lake, Wis., for a rally event. On day two of the event, rain descended on the Road America track and I retreated into the security of the LX 570 to get some actual work done.
Friday Fleet Notes is back, and even in its absence our staff has been diligently recording thoughts on the latest cars to come into the Cars.com offices. The new Smart elicited the most comments we’ve gotten in a long time, but a Lexus hybrid and Lincoln SUV made an impression too.
Smart ForTwo Passion (original expert review w/video)
There’s an auto-manual mode that helps a lot with the jerkiness, but it’s a pain to use paddle shifters at low speeds. The paddles turn with the steering wheel, so midway through a left turn, as the tachometer quickly approaches the redline, you’ll be left to reach frantically for an ever-moving target. Why this car doesn’t have a plain-old manual transmission is beyond me.
The ergonomics inside aren’t bad, though the seat adjustments aren’t very smooth. My biggest gripe here was that the cargo shelf behind the front seats is inaccessible without moving the seat forward, and that handle is on the inside of the driver’s seat. That means that if you need to toss anything back there (like, you know, a purse), be prepared to reach across the seat and get smacked by the seatback before you can do so. — Beth Palmer, copy editor
We’ve seen a Lexus LF-A concept before, as a coupe. This year, the company brings the concept back in roadster form, and in red. That might not sound like a big deal, but after a few years of seeing the same silver arrow concept on show floors, this red beauty is a nice change of pace.
The promised 500-plus-hp front-mounted V-10 engine that’s capable of going 200-plus mph is also somewhat closer to reality, as Lexus now seems serious about having a performance lineup, starting with the IS-F that recently got a real price.
There are 20-inch wheels in front and back with beefy tires. The looks are radical yet surprisingly refined for such an audaciously powered car. We didn’t know Lexus had it in them. Many more photos below.
Lexus dives into the high-performance waters with its new sports sedan, the IS F. It’s the fastest model Lexus has ever produced, and it can be yours for $56,000. This, of course, does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $765.
With an eight-speed Sport Direct-Shift automatic transmission, we’re inclined to believe the IS F can make 0 to 60 in an impressive 4.6 seconds, as Lexus claims it does. This should put it hot on the tail of competitors like the BMW M3 and Audi RS 4. The IS F is slated to hit dealerships in February.
Before everyone starts spouting off comments about how bad SUVs are and how expensive this particular SUV is, let’s all just acknowledge that it might not be right for everyone, but there are folks out there who are really interested in hearing about the price of the redesigned 2008 Lexus LX 570. Those people now know it will come with a base MSRP of $73,800, which does not include a $765 destination fee.
That’s a $6,400 bump over the outgoing model, but the LX 570 does add a much more powerful V-8 engine and standard features like four-zone climate control and a power-folding third row of seats.
Today, Lexus announced a recall on 2006-model-year GS 300 and IS 250/350 models. Approximately 34,000 cars are involved in the recall over two fuel pipes in high-stress areas that can crack over time. Only one case has been reported, with no accidents, the company says.
The recall involves both rear- and all-wheel-drive versions of the GS and IS. Owners will receive notifications in the mail in December and can visit their Lexus dealer to have newly designed fuel pipes installed at no charge.
Lexus made some revisions to the GS model lineup for 2008, including changes to the exterior and interior. The GS 350 and GS 450h hybrid’s prices remain unchanged at $44,150 and $54,900, respectively. The GS 430 has been replaced by the GS 460, which sports a new V-8 engine with 342 hp — 52 more than the outgoing GS 430. The price increase is a modest $245 to $52,620.
While we find the GS an underrated model when it comes to performance, it‘s also one of the few cars in Lexus’s stable to score poorly in reliability ratings. Consumer Reports recently removed it from its list of recommended models and the AWD version scored especially poorly.
Related
Toyota Reliability Plummets in Consumer Reports Survey (KickingTires)
Lexus is using the high visibility of the Tokyo Motor Show to debut the LF-Xh concept. The SUV could be the next RX, which is the brand’s best-selling model in the U.S. Yes, this is a big deal. Of course, besides the hybrid drivetrain, Lexus isn’t revealing much about this concept.
We can tell you that the design language — a fancy term for style — of the LF-Xh falls in line with the company’s other concepts of late. However, we haven’t seen any of those other Lexus concepts yet come to fruition as production cars. But Lexus needs to replace the RX sometime around the end of the decade, so we’d guess this concept is a stab at a replacement. What do you think? Check out the photos below and tell us if this is a step in the right direction for Lexus.
Can you hear the radio ad? “Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! It’s your last chance to get a hybrid tax credit on all Toyota and Lexus green machines!”
We warned you earlier this month, but if you still haven’t gotten off your duff but don’t feel like paying for more carbon-offsetting, this is your last chance to get a tax credit on a new Toyota or Lexus hybrid car or SUV. This is part of the government’s phased credit program. After each automaker sells a certain number of hybrid vehicles, the credits dwindle per quarter until they’re gone. For Toyota — which has 75% of the hybrid market share — that time is now.
To see how much tax credit ka-ching is left for each model, keep reading. You can also check out other makes and models and their corresponding tax credits here.
This has got to be the easiest-to-fix recall notice we can remember, even though the problems caused can be severe. Toyota is recalling 55,000 all-weather floormats because they can stick underneath the gas pedal, causing unwanted acceleration. It seems that complaints arose about the unintended acceleration in 2007 Lexus ES 350 sedans, but we’ve also heard similar complaints regarding the Toyota Prius.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is highlighting the recall because of the number of reported accidents — eight in the Lexus ES 350 alone. So what’s the problem? The all-weather mats are made of rubber, and if they aren’t properly clipped into place they can slide below the pedals and become stuck when the gas pedal is pressed. One owner reported reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph due to the problem. There were also incidents of owners and dealers “installing” the all-weather mats over the standard floor mats instead of replacing one with the other.
In total, 30,500 mats for the 2007 Lexus ES 350 and 24,500 mats for 2007 and 2008 Toyota Camrys will be recalled in November, with replacements given free of charge. There’s no word on other Toyota and Lexus models included in the recall. NHTSA suggests owners check to make sure their current mats are secured properly and are not resting on top of the standard mats.
Toyota Recalls 55,000 Floor Mats (The Detroit News)
The University of Michigan’s American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2007 was released today and identifies some interesting trends about how happy buyers are with their car purchases. This year, Lexus led the way with a score of 87, compared to the average of 82. Four other companies tied with a score of 86: Buick, Cadillac, Lincoln/Mercury (both owned by Ford) and BMW.
Toyota dropped three points from 87 to 84. The survey suggests that poor customer service and a number of recalls over the past year are to blame for the fall. Rounding out the bottom of the list is Jeep, which scored a lowly 75. Dodge and Chrysler were also both below average at 80 and 79, respectively.
Besides the success of its Lincoln and Mercury nameplates, Ford also saw the largest improvement, moving up three points to 80.
Full List of ASCI Scores
Car Buyers Give Toyota Lexus Top Score (BusinessWeek)
For the first time in a dozen years, another brand has tied Lexus for the top spot in the annual J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study, which ranks vehicles based on the number of problems their owners report in the first three years of ownership.
The surprise is even more noteworthy because the brand ranked dead even with Lexus for vehicle dependability is Buick. Both Buick and Lexus owners reported 145 problems per 100 vehicles, well below the industry average of 216 problems per 100 vehicles.
The Power study surveyed more than 50,000 owners of 2004 model cars to determine vehicle dependability and reliability after three years of ownership.
Yet another surprise: rounding out the top five most dependable vehicles were Cadillac, Mercury, and Honda. In other words, three of the top five were domestics and two were Japanese at a time when Japanese car sales are rising and domestic sales are retreating.
There were more surprises.
I really wanted to give this week’s nod to a glowing 2008 Subaru Outback owner who would totally validate my own recent purchase, but I figured our readers might be a bit tired of hearing about that particular model. Instead, I decided on this review by “IS Impressed” in Boston. He of course loves his new car, but also points out some flaws. An even-handed take on a personal ride always increases a consumer review’s chance of winning our no-prize-attached weekly award.
Lexus’ much anticipated new LS 600h L hybrid just got a price tag, but it isn’t for the faint-hearted. The all-wheel-drive sedan features the first V-8 hybrid engine producing more than 430 hp, but all that comes at a steep price, $104,000. And that’s just to start.
There is usually a considerable premium on a hybrid model, but the gasoline-powered version of the LS, the LS 460 L, starts at $71,000. That paltry sum gets you a V-8 engine that produces 380-hp, but with the regular emissions associated with gasoline engines.
Lexus hasn’t announced what mileage will be, but it should be better than the LS 460’s 18/27 mpg city/highway. The LS 600h L goes on sale in June, but dealers have been taking reservations for some time now.
When we heard about the new Lexus LX 570, we had some guesses on what it would be. We guessed correctly that it borrows the 5.7-liter V-8 from the new Toyota Tundra, for example. We just didn’t know what it would look like.
Now that we’ve seen it, we’re not blown away. The styling is more than subtle — perhaps “nondescript” would be the right terminology. Maybe that’s so the folks sharing the road with you won’t notice what a large luxury SUV you’re driving. That’s just a guess, and a wild one.
Regardless, people shopping for a large luxury SUV will appreciate the 381 hp and six-speed automatic transmission. It can also tow up to 8,500 pounds. The suspension is radically upgraded; it even lowers the LX 570 by an inch when it hits highway speeds in order to reduce drag. We’ll have more on the LX 570 later today on our main Cars.com auto show page, but for now, check out the photos below.
We’ve tested the new LS 460’s automated parking system before, but now Mike Hanley gives a full report on the latest luxury cruiser from Lexus. Does it retain the “cloud on wheels” designation of its predecessor? Is it worth the extra ducats over the past model? We’re not going to tell you here; check out Mike’s full review.
The day is not slowing down in the automotive news world. Lexus just announced it will debut a new LX 570 luxury SUV at the upcoming New York Auto Show. The third-generation LX will feature a new V-8 engine, presumably borrowed from the redesigned Tundra. In the Tundra, the 5.7-liter V-8 puts out 381 hp and 401 pounds-feet of torque while getting 14/18 mpg city/highway when equipped with four-wheel drive. There’s no doubt this model has been in development for some time, but does the industry need another large, truck-based SUV, luxury or otherwise?
We’ll find out in April.
We’ve missed a week or two because of auto show scheduling, but we’re back with a take on the Lexus RX 400h hybrid SUV from a reader in Rockville, Md. We know, we’re suckers for the hybrid reviews, but almost all of them articulately point out why they decided to take the plunge and buy an alternative vehicle despite the added cost. Thankfully, our friend Rockville1 also gives his or her real-world fuel economy. As always, you can write your own car review right here.
Lexus tells us that the 2008 RX 350 has a new grille and chrome door handles, along with new color schemes and wheel choices, all for the same price as the 2007 models. The only problem is we can’t really see any difference in that darn grille.
We compare 2008 to 2007 below and if you can tell them apart let us know.
As for the pricing it remains $37,400 for the front-wheel drive RX 350 and $38,800 for all-wheel drive when the 2008 hits dealerships in early February. Prices do not include a $715 destination charge.
Here we go again. Lexus first showed an LF-A concept back at the 2005 Detroit auto show. Now it seems that, with Acura planning a new supercar, Lexus had to answer the call with a further-along LF-A Sports Car Concept.
Plans are for the LF-A to be powered by a mid-engine V-10 with more than 500 hp going to the rear wheels, unlike the Acura concept’s front-engine, all-wheel-drive setup. There’s obviously not a lot more we know about the LF-A, but Lexus is using it to gauge interest in a semi-exotic sports car. Check out the pictures below and let us know if you would buy one.
Lexus finally joins the high-performance luxury car fray today with the introduction of the 2008 Lexus IS-F. The car is based on a regular IS sedan but is beefed up significantly with a 5.0-liter V-8 engine that pumps out over 400 hp and 350 pounds-feet of torque, paired to the same eight-speed transmission found in Lexus’ LS 460 flagship sedan. The new car will hit 60 mph in less than 4.9 seconds.
The styling has also gotten the high-performance treatment, most noticeably on the side, where there’s a huge scoop behind the front wheels. The front and rear get more bodywork than before, and paired with the car’s larger wheels and lower stance it makes an aggressive statement. We also love the off arrangement of the quad tailpipes. For Lexus’ first leap into the ultra-performance arena, there doesn’t seem to be much missing. We are bummed that we won't see one on the road until early 2008.
In a very strange cross-branding move, the first 100 Lexus LS 600h L hybrid sedans to hit the market will go to members of Neiman Marcus’ InCircle members. This program is like other frequent-buyer clubs, but rarely do you see a brick and mortar retailer — especially of the department store variety — selling cars.
The 100 LS 600h L hybrids will be called Launch Editions with a unique exterior color called Truffle Mica, 19-inch chrome wheels and matching luggage. We don’t really see the value of the program as the vehicle is widely believed to be a hot commodity through most shoppers’ normal route, the car dealer.
Source: Lexus & Neiman Marcus
If you’ve turned on the TV this holiday season, or during any of the past few, you’ve probably seen those Lexus ads where some lucky person gets a shiny new Japanese luxury car or SUV for Christmas. All of them have a great big bow on top. Now, where do you get such a big bow? Well, if you buy a Lexus you can actually arrange a holiday surprise through the dealer. According to the company, it provides each dealer with two bows for display purposes, then produces 550 more bows that can be purchased. Lexus says all the bows sell out before the holidays.
What if you want to get your sweetie a new car that isn’t a Lexus? Not to worry, there’s a website — www.kingsizebows.com — that will help you out with $48 bows in red, silver and yellow. What car would you ask Santa to put a bow on for you? Let us know in the comment section.
Japanese luxury brand Lexus is getting into the high-performance game with a new moniker, F. The F designation will be added to the IS sports sedan first. The IS-F will be unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January along with a separate Lexus exotic sports concept.
Lexus is following the pattern of BMW’s M and Mercedes-Benz’s AMG models by adding significant performance upgrades to their biggest sellers. The rumored power plant for the IS-F is a 400+ hp V-8 borrowed from the upcoming Lexus LS 600 Hybrid. We’ll let you know as soon as we get more information.
Source: Lexus
Few posts on KickingTires have inspired such debate as Joe Wiesenfelder’s walkthrough of the new Lexus LS 460’s automated parallel parking system. Our readers weighed in with their thoughts, mostly seeing the technology as either an insult to drivers or a step closer to full car automation.
What was overlooked was the fact that Lexus chose to focus on this one feature out of the many in the new LS 460 during the vehicle’s launch and initial ad blitz. The parking feature is only an option, while standout attributes like an eight-speed transmission and 380-hp V-8 are standard. Maybe Lexus chose that route because even if the LS 460 turns out to be the best-driving, best-handling car ever made, people have seen all those ads before. They’re inundated with commercials of cars driving on picturesque roads with a voiceover telling them how great Car A is versus Car B. Would they care if Car A is a luxury sedan that can hit 60 mph in 5.4 seconds? Maybe.
But Car A parking itself? They’ve never seen that before.
We’ve covered the all-new Lexus LS460’s automated parking option, and at one point we even guessed that the new Lexus flagship would be significantly more expensive than the outgoing model. Today, Lexus confirmed that the new sedan, with its 380-hp V-8 and eight-speed automatic transmission, will start at $61,000 — compared to $56,525 for the 2006 version.
That’s actually not so bad when you consider the 2007 is redesigned inside and out, has 100+ more horsepower and offers a ton of technological gadgets, 18-inch wheels and a 10-speaker sound system. The LS may look big and slow, but it hits 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds and gets impressive mileage of 19/27 mpg city/highway. A longer LS 460 L will also join the lineup, starting at $71,000, for those who want a limousine-sized backseat. Both go on sale Oct. 20.
The pace is picking up around the Cars.com offices as a slew of new and redesigned models are coming into our test fleets. Since the last time we posted a wrap-up, our staff has tested three new cars, but the leader board for most popular review on the site is pretty familiar.
New Cars.com Expert Reviews
Top 5 Reviews
Want to claim the full federal tax credit for a new 2006 or 2007 Toyota hybrid? You have two days left to do so. Toyota has surpassed the sales figure set by the U.S. government under which consumers can receive a tax credit of up to $3,150 when they purchase a hybrid vehicle. The credit for Toyota hybrids purchased on or after Oct. 1 will be cut in half. After April 1, 2007, the credit will be cut in half again, and no credits will be given after Sept. 30, 2007. The only good news is that new 2007 models are also eligible for the same credits as the 2006s, depending on when they’re purchased. For a full rundown of vehicle models and their credits before and after the deadline, read below.
While Mike Hanley was slaving away at his Lexus ES 350 review, I got to spend a good week in the car myself. We agree about the quality and the various improvements that have come with the 2007 update, but our opinions differ in some areas.
I made a Chicago-Detroit round trip and emerged little worse for wear, unlike Mike, who had problems with the car's seat cushion. (My own "seat" has more cushion than it did when I was Mike's age, which might explain the difference in experiences.) Like Mike, I logged average gas mileage just under 30 mpg on Interstate 94. Considering that most of the Grand Slab between Cars.com HQ and Detroit has a speed limit of 70 mph, actual speeds around 80 mph and enough construction slowdowns to turn a pacifist to murder, 30 mpg is truly excellent performance. It may equal the EPA's exact highway figure, but those estimates are based on 55 mph speeds and are frequently ... delusional.
When I heard the new Lexus LS460 flagship sedan could park itself, I knew there had to be a catch. Maybe it would only do half the job, or require a parking space twice the length of the car — or some other unreported disclaimer. I went to Detroit yesterday to try it myself, determined to discover and report the ugly truth. The truth, it turns out, is that the car freakin' parks itself. It really does it. Line it up, and the optional Advanced Parking Guidance System does the hard part. This is the coolest spectacle any of us jaded automotive journalists has seen since the retractable-hardtop convertible.
Here's how it works, starting with parallel parking: You pull up alongside a space, making sure to pass the rear car before aligning next to the front car. A sonar sensor on the front fender measures the length of the space and your distance from the cars. Put the car in Reverse, and the rearview camera, which comes with the required navigation system, presents a wide rear view on the in-dash display. (This feature comes with the optional navigation system, which is a prerequisite for APGS.) Pressing the parallel-parking icon at the bottom of the touch-screen places a simple green square roughly over the parking space.
Arrows let you adjust its position.
The nifty system automatically backs the car into a parking space once the driver has lined the vehicle up properly using a rearview camera and in-dash screen. The driver then controls the speed of the parking job using the brakes while the car adjusts the electric steering to fit into the spot. It may sound like an unnecessary option, but with a car this big any help in parking situations will be welcome. Of course, we wonder if owners wouldn't just opt for the valet. Either way, for less than $1,000 we’re betting a lot of Lexus buyers will try it out.
Related: 2007 Lexus LS 460 and LS 460 L Hitting Streets in October
Automakers are abuzz these days about the gobs of horsepower they’re conferring upon ordinary cars. Case in point: Lexus’ best-selling RX 350 SUV has a new 3.5-liter V-6 that cranks out 270 hp — a 21% gain over the 3.3-liter V-6 in last year’s RX 330.
I’ve had the Lexus in my possession for a few days now. To see if it’s the right Rx for a persistent case of lead foot, check back next week for a full review. Right now, here’s my short take.
So far, I've found the RX 350 to be a perfectly agreeable — if not particularly sporty — SUV. It has all the earmarks of a Lexus: a pliable suspension, numb steering and a high-quality interior.
Earlier this year Lexus very quietly announced that the 2-year old GS 300 would be replaced by the 2007 GS 350. What does that single number difference in the name mean? About 60 more horsepower via a new 3.5-liter V-6, raising the power figure to 303 hp. It’ll cost $44,150 and $46,100 for all-wheel drive. That’s so impressive we’re wondering who’s going to buy the GS 430 and its 300-hp V-8 for $52,375. As one staffer here said, “People like their V-8s.” Lexus better hope so.
Otherwise most of the company’s 2007 lineup is priced very close to 2006 figures. One other noteworthy change is the 2007 RX 400h hybrid SUV. The green vehicle actually sees a reduction in price — Lexus doesn’t usually reduce any vehicle prices — by $3,480 to $41,180. That’s impressive until you realize that anyone who purchases one after Sept. 30 won't get the RX’s $2,200 tax credit because Toyota has already sold its allotment of hybrids. But we guess it's still nice of Lexus to think of that with new pricing.
Due to an IRS regulation, people seeking the maximum tax credit when they buy a hybrid car will be in for a shock if they don’t buy soon. After Sept. 30, buyers will only get half of the tax credit they would have been due if they'd bought a Toyota or Lexus hybrid before that date. Blame Toyota for selling 60,000 hybrid vehicles already in 2006. The cut takes effect at the end of the quarter during which that 60,000th vehicle was sold.
If you’ve been eyeing that Toyota Prius ($3,150 tax credit), Camry Hybrid ($2,600), Highlander Hybrid ($2,600) or even the Lexus GS 450h ($1,550) or RX 400h ($2,200), buy before the end of September or those credits are halved. This doesn't impact Honda’s Civic and Accord hybrids or Ford’s Escape Hybrid because those automakers haven’t sold 60,000 hybrid vehicles yet this year.
[Hybrid Hustle, AutoWeek]
Each year the arbiters of luxury descend on Pebble Beach, Calif., for the Concours d’Elegance. Imagine an exclusive country-club setting with gorgeous classic cars — worth more than the average home — on display and you have the Concours d’Elegance appropriately pictured. It could also be considered the antithesis to the blue-collar Woodward Dream Cruise we mentioned yesterday.
Anyway, for the past few years Lexus has used the event to roll out a special edition of its hardtop convertible, the SC. This year is no different. The 2007 SC Pebble Beach Edition features an exclusive Starfire Pearl paint job, Pimento Red leather interior and maple wood trim. There’s even a Pebble Beach logo stitched into the floormats.
There are a number of other options, including 18-inch alloy wheels, a Mark Levinson sound system and the requisite badging in brushed aluminum. This rendition is limited to a mere 400 examples going on sale in September.
Today Lexus unveiled the full specs for its new flagship sedans, the LS 460 and LS 460 L. The LS 460 L is Lexus’ first long-wheelbase model, and is basically a stretched version of the regular LS. In typical Lexus style, the LS is more powerful, hits 60 mph faster — in an estimated 5.4 seconds — and gets better mileage than the BMW 750i while also matching most of the performance numbers of the all-new Mercedes-Benz S550.
The LS 460 features a 380-hp V-8 with an eight-speed — yes, you read that right — automatic transmission. Even with all that power the LS manages a respectable 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
We’re still waiting on detailed pricing from Lexus, but expect a marked increase over the current LS 430’s $57,220 base price.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index does indeed track consumer satisfaction with purchases; it says so right in the name. And for the second quarter of the year — and fifth straight overall — automobiles have seen an increase in customer satisfaction, up 1.3% from a year ago.
The study also breaks down satisfaction by car brand, and we see some real surprises there. Buick, up 2.4%, now matches Lexus and Honda in a tie for the No. 2 spot, at 86%, behind Toyota, at 87%. Nissan saw the biggest rise, with a 5.1% increase to 82%. Other companies on the upswing include Mercedes-Benz, GMC, Chevrolet and Ford, while BMW, Cadillac, Saturn, Pontiac, Mazda and Jeep all saw declines.
The study’s authors say that unlike last year’s study — where heavy incentives greatly impacted the results — this year’s numbers relate more to improved quality and service. Some experts say the results are a positive sign for the economy and could spur more car sales.
[Auto Buyers More Satisfied, Detroit News]
While we don’t advocate using J.D. Power’s dependability rankings as the sole source for car research, they do offer an interesting snapshot into consumer perception. The company surveyed almost 50,000 people who bought new 2003 models and quizzed them on their ownership experiences over the past three years. It doesn't survey service records or any other concrete evidence, so we’re taking the subjects' word for it on whether the car is dependable.
The top five nameplates in the rankings were Lexus, Mercury, Buick, Cadillac and Toyota. Mini and Kia were the most-improved brands on the list. Click below for the full list of winners and losers.
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