After Everybody Else Casts Their Vote on the New Lexus IS, It’s Time for the Verdict from CR

Most of the reviews we’ve seen of the new Lexus IS have been fairly positive, with some criticizing the car for not having enough power in its base specification, the IS250, as well as the strong styling which is opinion-splitting, with very little chance of a gray area in between – you either like it, or you absolutely think it’s too much… Read more »

Moron Alert: Nissan GT-R Driver Crashes Right Into a Lexus RX

Yes, it's head-scratching, Russian dash-cam time again and here we have a foolish and impatient driver, who after this incident, shouldn't really be allowed behind the wheel of any car, let alone one of the likes of the Nissan GT-R, for a very long time.

While all other motorists were patiently waiting for the red light, the person driving the tuned Japanese sports car wanted to play smart guy violating a basic road rule that says stay on your side of the road, especially when there's a double line.

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Scoop: Lexus Field Testing New NX Compact Crossover

We won't blame you for thinking out loud that the prototype model with the zany zebra stripes pictured above and below looks like a Lexus CT 200h riding on a jacked up suspension and crossover-like wheels, because partly, that's what it is. However, it's also a test mule for the Japanese brand's upcoming compact crossover that will take the base right under the RX. Read more »

Ferrari California Replica with Real Folding Hardtop is Based on Lexus SC430 [w/Video]

From the makers of the admittedly convincing Aston Martin DBS replica based on a Toyota Supra with details inspired from the 2008 James Bond flick, Quantum of Solace, which we shared with you last year, comes a new project, this time of a Ferrari California roadster built on the Lexus SC430 convertible and named the Cali. Read more »

What Do You Think About This 2015 Lexus IS Coupe Rendering?

With an all-new Lexus IS sedan fresh on the market, the Japanese luxury automaker could use a coupe version to help it compete with the Audi A5, Mercedes C-Class Coupe and BMW’s upcoming 4-Series. 

The Lexus LF-CC Concept provided a clear signal that the automaker wants to build an IS Coupe, with the study’s design offering some clues of how the series production car would look. Now that the 2014 Lexus IS sedan is no longer a secret, we can have a much better idea of the future IS Coupe.

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Lexus Bids…Another Farewell to the LFA with Video Tribute

The Lexus LFA, which went out of production in December of last year, will undoubtedly be remembered as a great car. It was partly down to the wacky angular styling, partly down to the unique scream of its V10 engine and finally to the story of how it came to be and the sheer level of engineering which went into its development. Read more »

Toyota Issues Recall for 242,000 Prius and Lexus HS 250h Hybrids Over Brake Glitch

Japan's Toyota group said on Wednesday that it will conduct a worldwide voluntary safety recall of around 242,000 Toyota Prius and Lexus HS 250h hybrid vehicles made between March and October 2009 (2010MY), including approximately 87,000 cars in the United States. Read more »

AutoExpress Says New Lexus IS300 Hybrid is a Good Car, But Not a Game Changer

The new Lexus IS is a head-turning car, regardless if the looks you’ll get while driving it are filled with jealousy or accompanied by disapproving horizontal head motion - the styling stands out whether you like it or not. I think it looks good and different, but others criticize its design and call it too busy and immature, commenting that it may not age well... Read more »

Fast & Furious Star Paul Walker Drives Lexus LFA on Track

Actor Paul Walker’s name will forever be inextricably linked to the Fast and Furious franchise, through which literally everybody has heard of him, associating him with reckless driving through traffic and highly-tuned Japanese cars. This was always his F&F character’s differing opinion to that of Dom, played by Vin Diesel – the latter preferring classic American muscle.

However, some Japanese cars don’t need any more extra work to make them exciting, or special, and one of these cars is the Lexus LFA. Walker was recently asked to participate in a special event celebrating the accumulation of 30,000 miles on the odometers of two LFAs, in which he and a professional driver hoon the two cars around a (very dusty) track.

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TRD Tries to Make the 2014 Lexus IS F Sport Look Even Sharper

Some would say that the 2014 Lexus IS hardly needs a styling upgrade, which is even more true if we’re talking about the factory-offered F-Sport package. However, you will always have people wanting more, which is why Toyota Racing Development (TRD) has released a styling and performance kit for the new IS.

The aero kit includes more pronounced side skirts, lower corner pieces on the front bumper, a generous diffuser with dual exhaust on the rear bumper and an integrated trunk spoiler. A set of 19-inch alloy wheels with 15 spokes rounds out the exterior upgrades.

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New Lexus IS 250 Falls Short in Edmunds's Comparo with BMW 328i and Cadillac ATS 2.0

The newest entry in the extremely competitive premium compact saloon category is the third generation of Lexus' IS sedan that brings with it a sharper design with more character inside and out, along with the promise of improved dynamics.

It doesn’t have an easy job as all contestants for the title in the segment have many strong points, with the BMW 3-Series, now in its sixth iteration, having the added bonus of being the most recognized and successful player for almost three decades now.

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Check Out POV Test Drive of the 2014 Lexus IS350 F-Sport

The BMW 3-Series is touted as being the benchmark compact executive sedan, regardless what you pit it against. However, the current generation car, the F30, has been criticized for not being as sharp to drive as the E90 model it replaces, and according to some reviews, the Cadillac ATS has it beaten when it comes to driving dynamics.

Also, its interior displays little design flair over the previous generation, and coupled with the loss of identity (can be confused with the 5-Series and vice-versa), some buyers may shy away from the Bavarian automaker, and try out a new Lexus IS, like the one filmed here by Winding Road.

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Mercedes-Benz Increases U.S. Sales Lead over BMW in April

Mercedes-Benz sold more vehicles in the U.S. in April than archrival BMW, with increases reported for some pricier models like the SL-Class.

Sales for the Mercedes-Benz brand rose 5.8 percent to 23,635 in April, while BMW posted a 10 percent increase to 23,225 units. The April results extended Mercedes’ 2013 lead to 4,695 vehicles as the two rival automakers compete for the sales crown that BMW has held for two years.

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New Lexus IS Sports Sedan Starts at $35,950*, Plus New Mega Photo Gallery

A few months after the third generation IS sports sedan's world premiere at the Detroit Motor Show in January, Lexus today released detailed pricing on its BMW 3 Series and Cadillac ATS rival, with the first examples of the car to arrive in dealerships across the States this summer.

Even though Lexus has developed the first hybrid version of the series dubbed IS 300h, this model won't be offered in North America where customers will have a choice of two regular V6 gasoline powertrains, both linked to a standard 6-speed automatic transmission driving either the rear- or all-four wheels, except for the IS 350 RWD that features an 8-speed auto.

Prices, (*) excluding a $950 delivery fee, start from $35,950 for the IS 250 with RWD and $38,485 with AWD, while the IS 350 begins at $39,465 with RWD and $41,700 with AWD.

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These Are the 10 Best New Interiors of 2013, According to Ward’s Automotive

Every year, Ward’s Automotive has its editorial staff pick out the best interior of any new or significantly improved car. This year they picked out their 10 Best Interiors from a total of 46 cars "that were all-new or sported interiors that have been significantly upgraded" for 2013, with Asian brands taking 7 top spots, and American marques occupying the remaining three positions. Read more »

Toyota Sells 5 Million Hybrids, Close to 2 Million of Which in the USA

Toyota is the manufacturer who brought hybrid drivetrains into the mainstream, and their Prius (which may undergo serious changes in the future) has now almost become a separate brand in its own right – it has "a family".

This week, the Japanese carmaker announced that it has delivered 5 million hybrid-powered vehicles worldwide, of which 1,951,243 in the USA, with a large chunk of those in California. Last year they made a similar announcement after having reached the 4 million milestone.

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Toyota, Honda, Mazda and Nissan Jointly Recall 3.4 Million Cars Worldwide Over Airbag Issue

In this day and age, automakers share a number of common components, which is beneficial in terms of pushing down costs and development times, but can also be troublesome when something goes wrong, as is the case of a faulty air bag from Japanese manufacturer Takata Corp., which is used by Toyota, Honda, Mazda and Nissan.

Overall, the four Japanese carmakers and their subsidiaries are recalling 3.4 million vehicles worldwide for the same issue that stems from improperly manufactured propellant wafers that could cause the airbag inflator to rupture and the front passenger airbag to deploy abnormally in the event of a crash.

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Lexus Confirms BMW X1 Rival, Concept Coming to 2013 Tokyo Show, Production Model in 2014

Japanese carmakers may have been the ones to kick start the SUV and crossover craze in the mainstream segments, but it’s the Germans that applied the recipe in the premium categories, leaving the former to simply follow in their footsteps.

Lexus currently offers three SUVs, the popular RX (pictured above), now in its third generation with both hybrid and regular engine offerings, and the larger GX and LX that are related to the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and Land Cruiser 200 Series respectively.

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Toyota's April 1st Return to F1 with Lexus Keeping the Foolery Alive?

One thing you should know about April Fool's Day hoaxes, is to always check out the date of reports in the following days to make sure you don't fall victim to a false story, as not all sites are clear about that.

The story on the return of Toyota to F1 under the Lexus banner from the crew at the ClubLexus is one such example, as there may not be a date on the landing page, but if you check out the comments and head to the news homepage, you'll see the date: April 1, 2013.

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Lexus Official Confirms Production Version of LF-LC Sports Concept

Lexus has stopped contemplating and has now given the green light (finally) for the development of a production version of the LF-LC Concept after the very warm reception it received in a number of motor shows around the world.

The confirmation comes from Lexus’ vice president-marketing Brian Smith, who broke the news to WardsAuto during a recent media event.

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