2013 Lexus GS 450h: 338 Horses, 30 Percent Better Fuel Economy

"Twenty-odd years of fastidious engineering and unsurpassed quality have put Lexus in the pantheon of luxury automakers. But if there’s been one gripe leveled at Toyota’s luxury division over the years, it’s that the company has played it safe in the design depa

rtment. It’s a complaint that hasn’t fallen on deaf ears.

If the scintillating LFA supercar didn’t revise the company’s conservative reputation last year, the 2013 GS sedan surely will. With sensuous lines punctuated by dramatic details, the new GS is more compact and sportier than the flagship LS sedan but grander and more spacious than the IS sedan. And like its vaunted predecessor, the new car—particularly the GS 450h gasoline-electric hybrid—is brimming with cutting-edge technology."  [Continue reading...]

Auto Review: Lexus CT 200 h

 

"For the past ten years, I’ve struggled with the subject of hybrid automobiles.There is no question that the combination of petrol and electric motors continues to be a fantastic idea to simply cut down emissions and optimize fuel economy. However, I questioned whether the general public was ready to pay a premium over regular automobiles for the sake of being “green.”

 

Since then, I tried very hard to embrace this alternative method in vehicle propulsion. After a series of turns in various hybrids, namely all third generations of the Prius, the Honda Insight and the Ford Fusion Hybrid, my internal conflict worsened. I ultimately asked myself if there was a hybrid automobile out there that drove the way I liked. Something that was actually engaging, but spewed almost no carbon in the air and sipped fuel like it was a fine wine."  [Continue reading...]

Lexus GS350 Coupe Tipped As Successor To SC430

"Lexus has dropped a few serious hints that it is planning a coupe version of its all-new GS350.  While attending the launch of the luxury sedan (we'll have driving impressions once the embargo lifts November 23rd) we spoke to Lexus Corporate Manager of Product Planning Ben Mitchell, pushing him for details on a possible GS-F to sit as a rival to the BMW M5.

To our dismay Mitchell responded that there was “nothing to announce”, but then surprised us with a shred of info, disguised as a question. Speaking to a group of assembled journalists he asked our impression of the Audi A5/S5."  [Continue reading...]

Lexus hybrid’s hush honoured with Noise Abatement award

" Lexus has been awarded a Quiet Mark from the UK Noise Abatement Society in recognition of its ‘Quiet Revolution’ marketing campaign launched to promote the release of the new CT 200h compact hybrid model.

Pop star Kylie Minoque fronted the advertisements for the new CT 200h, which launched earlier this year. In TV advisements, the pint-sized singer was seen enjoying the quiet hush of the new luxury hybrid. 


The effectiveness of the campaign has been recognised with UKNAS’s award for excellence in quiet product design, presented to Lexus at a ceremony in London last night."  [Continue reading...]

Driving on Snow and Ice: 10 Safety Tips

"The best tip for winter driving: Sometimes it's best to stay home, or at least remain where you are until snow plows and sanding crews have done their work. If you crash on a snowy or icy road, you'll certainly be late — or worse. But since you can't always call in to work claiming a "snow day," it's better to learn how to correctly deal with driving in the snow.

I've battled snow- and ice-covered highways in two-dozen states behind the wheel of both passenger vehicles and 18-wheelers. I've performed hundreds of tire tests on snow-covered roads, attended snow-driving schools and done precision (translation: "barely in control") driving in the snow for videos and still photos. From this experience, here are some snow driving tips the average driver can follow to reduce the chances of a crash."  [Continue reading...]

Lexus GS F Sport Debuts At SEMA And Melbourne

"Lexus has unveiled the handling- and style-focused F Sport package for its upcoming 2012 GS this week, giving the sharp new sedan a simultaneous unveiling in Las Vegas and Melbourne.

Lexus has unveiled the handling- and style-focused F Sport package for its upcoming 2012 GS this week, giving the sharp new sedan a simultaneous unveiling in Las Vegas and Melbourne.

We can't talk to you about how it drives, because the GS 350 F Sport and GS 450h hybrid shown to the Australian media at this week's Spring Racing Carnival weren't for driving. (No doughies on the track, in other words.)

The current GS will be with us until the new one hits showrooms next year, and with the new 5 Series, E-Class and A6 models smashing the big Lexus in Australian sales, Lexus knows it can't get here soon enough."  [Continue reading...]

Lexus Gets Top Reliability Score For Alternative-Fuel Cars

         "Among alternative-fuel vehicle makers, Lexus has the best reputation for quality, according to a new study by ALG, a data and consulting company. While electric-car maker Tesla Motors got the best rating among companies that build only alternative vehicles, it fared less well in the wider group of car makers.In the fall 2011 study, Lexus scored 89.8 out of a maximum possible score of 100 points in what ALG, a unit of auto-industry analysis and forecasting company TrueCar Inc., calls its Perceived Quality Study or PQS.  The rest of the top-five brands in the survey were Mercedes-Benz with 88.8 points; Porsche, 86.7; BMW, 86.7; and Honda, 85.6."

         "Tesla, which is known for its high-performance battery-powered Roadster, scored 69.5 points — enough to top the list of purely alternative manufacturers. But when compared with brands that sell both alternative-fuel and gas-powered vehicles, Tesla wound up in the middle of the pack."  [Continue reading...]