Rides : Lexus LF-CC gets green light, Evoque rival under consideration

  The traditionally stodgy Toyota premium outlet is really starting to come into its own in terms of exciting design. And not just with production models like the excellent new GS sedan. At the front of the display, a triangular formation of plinths was a feast for the eyes – the head was formed by the LFA Nurburgring Package supercar, flanked on either side by the company's outré LF-LC and LF-CC concept cars.

So consider it welcome news on our end that the LF-CC concept shown above has apparently been given the production green light, with a projected arrival by 2015. So says Autocar, which quotes an unnamed source at Lexus willing to confirm that a senior engineer has been tasked with the project. The British publication suggests that the production version of the 2012 Paris Motor Show star will probably be built in both coupe and convertible formats and ride atop the automaker's new modular rear-wheel drive architecture. Power is expected to be an evolution of the GS 350h's hybrid drivetrain.

In other news, that same shadowy source at Lexus has reportedly confirmed that the Japanese luxury brand is "seriously studying" offering a small SUV in the mold of the stylish Range Rover Evoque from Land Rover, though no further details are given. Lexus' own RX crossover range has long been a massive hit for the brand, leaving many industry analysts scratching their heads as to why the automaker hasn't already expanded its crossover offerings to include both larger and smaller formats.

 

Credit : Autoblog

Rides : Check Out The Lexus LS Sports 650

Toyota Motorsports GmbH has finally unveiled the super sedan it has been working on, and its official name is the TMG Sports 650. Why 650? Because this Lexus LS-based road rocket generates 650 PS, or about 641 horsepower, from its twin-turbo 5.0L V8 engine that's mated to an eight-speed transmission capable of handling all that force.

We don't know much more than that, as TMG unveiled the scooped, vented and flared body of the Sports 650 on its Facebook page, and while the company provided pics aplenty, details about the car like specs, pricing and availability are still absent. The Facebook post does tell us that the Sport 650's aerodynamics were developed in TMG's wind tunnels and that significant development has been dedicated to its handling, which we already knew based on the number of times prototypes were caught testing on Germany's Nürburgring.

The TMG Sport 650 will be making its official in-person debut at the Essen Motor Show in December. At that time, we might see TMG take one big step closer to becoming the factory performance tuning arm of Toyota, just like AMG is to Mercedes-Benz. Lexus could do a lot worse, with TMG having been the brains and brawn behind the company's last effort in Formula One, as well as its latest push to challenge Audi in Le Mans racing with the hybrid TS303 LMP1 car. 

 

Credit : Autoblog

Rides : Lexus rolls out new LS campaign, touts F Sport model

Cue the camera and step into the life you think you deserve.

That's the message from the new ad campaign for the Lexus LS, in which imaginary young LS owners jet-set around the globe attending fashion shows and parking their LS sedans on the roof for a cup of Joe. It's a little cheesy, but in fairness, any commercial that attempts to define a lifestyle by a vehicle tends to be that way. Now walk down that red carpet and note how bad the valet service is at the end of the piece.

The commercial, aptly named Flashbulbs, touts the new Lexus flagship and features the all-new Lexus LS F SPORT model. (You know it's sporty because Lexus made the word sport all caps.)

The sport campaign by Lexus is going to continue as the brand attempts to move away from its older owners and grab some customers who aren't hitting the early-bird special at the local diner. A second spot, Paddleshifters, continues the campaign, taking our couple on even more interesting adventures with every upshift.

 

 

Press Release

 

Lexus LS Marketing Campaign Lives Loudly
Performance and luxury elevated to the highest level

TORRANCE, Calif. (Oct. 29, 2012) - Generations of the Lexus LS have inspired an entire industry through visionary innovation, craftsmanship and design. And now the flagship not only has a new face, but has more than 3,000 new parts. The LS line-up also includes the first-ever LS F SPORT, and a marketing campaign to highlight the thrilling, exclusive lifestyle LS drivers live. The LS campaign caps off a successful year of launches showcasing the brand's bold new face and attitude for the future.

"We've given the Lexus flagship a whole new look inside and out, but its uncompromising commitment to world-class luxury remains the same," said Brian Smith, Lexus vice president of marketing. "We have created a launch campaign that, like the 2013 LS, demands to be seen."

Defy Convention
With the all new GS, ES and a refreshed RX that introduced a bold new look and attitude for the future, 2013 has been a year of launches for Lexus. But before the year is over, the LS launch will solidify the brand's new direction. Airing today, the campaign's two general market spots target those looking to live life to the fullest with experiences that matter. A third spot, "Everything" is geared to the African-American audience and will also air at launch.

"Flashbulbs" boils life down to a series of moments, loud moments, both literally and figuratively. A day-in-the-life of high-end and exclusive experiences for one couple includes front-row seats at a fashion show, a passport stamp leading to an exotic vacation, a modern home in the hills, a swanky jazz club and a glamorous red carpet arrival. The pop of a camera flash transitions through each scene and captures each photo-worthy experience. The LS, considered to be one of the world's quietest cars, still comforts its occupants but announces its presence in a confident, bold manner.

The second spot, "Paddle Shifters," features the all-new LS F SPORT and shows that people who don't go quietly constantly seek bigger, better experiences. They're not happy with the conventional. They do things faster, louder and more uniquely. Each time the LS F SPORT paddle shifter is hit the scene transitions and the music, sound and scenery gets louder and faster: a speed boat racing across the water, a stylish couple's night out, friends cheering on their favorite team. By the end the action reaches a frenetic pace with people living life in 8th gear. The LS F SPORT is the car for those who enjoy a life well-lived, and don't mind being noticed in the process.

Campaign Pillars
To engage the target audience, the campaign's media extensions will focus around four pillars to highlight an emotionally exciting, upscale lifestyle: fashion, entertainment, epicurean and travel.

A first-ever sponsorship of the GQ "Men of the Year" celebrates the men who define cultural relevance, taking an aspirational approach in talking to our target. The sponsorship includes a three-page spread, digital homepage takeovers and an exclusive automotive presence at the Men of the Year and GQ Nights events.

An exclusive, 360 degree partnership with USA's "Suits" includes vehicle integration and custom on-air vignettes. Combining broadcast, digital and social channels, an interactive game component will offer digital narrative, custom videos, Facebook and Twitter posts along with a character chatter page that will include a live season finale fan chat.

In the epicurean and travel worlds, Lexus will be the presenting sponsor of a new editorial platform from Travel + Leisure and CNN called "100 Places to Eat Like a Local." This special series of print, digital and broadcast content will uncover the best authentic, under-the-radar places to eat around the globe. "100 Places to Eat Like a Local" will encourage consumers to submit videos, photos, and reviews of their favorite local spots that may be featured on-air, online or in print. The final list of the top "100 Places to Eat Like a Local" will appear in the April 2013 issue of Travel + Leisure.

Elevating travel experiences to a new level, a partnership with Condé Nast Traveler will allow a reader to win the chance to "travel with Traveler." The winner will report back via social and digital media for the world to see, creating new, engaging content as the campaign goes on.

The digital initiatives will also have a heavy prominence with standard web executions, including banners and Full Episode Players.

Print executions will feature the LS and include a strong lifestyle focus in publications such as Wired and Architectural Digest, as well as in new luxury publications DuJour and Black Card Mag.

In addition to out-of-home focused billboards, and high-impact units in New York City's Times Square and Washington D.C., placements in private airports and executive lounges will target exclusive business, corporate and private jet travelers.

Both broadcast spots will have a prominent presence in high-profile sports properties such as the NFL, including NBC Sunday Night Football, ESPN Monday Night Football, the NFL on Fox, and NFL network. They'll also have heavy coverage on ESPN College Football and NCAA basketball on CBS. These placements will be bolstered with Halftime sponsorships on NFL Network Thursday Night Football and ESPN College Football. In addition, the campaign will align with more than 25 cable networks, including CNN, USA, E!, TNT, Food Network, ESPN, Style and others. The spots are also available at www.YouTube.com/lexusvehicles

Credit : Autoblog

Rides : Lexus PROJECT LS F SPORT by Five Axis

 

Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus has recently released the first official details and images with the PROJECT LS F Sport by Axis.

Just like its name is saying, the Lexus PROJECT LS F SPORT has been customized by the carmaker and Five Axis and the model in question is getting some interesting features kike the Five Axis aero body kit, the AirRunner TC-5 air suspension system and the new set of custom alloy wheels 22×9.0-inch in size at the front and 22×10.5-inch in size at the rear, wrapped in 255/30 tires in front and 295/25 tires at the rear.

The Lexus PROJECT LS F SPORT by Five Axis has been finished in titanium matte silver with pewter grey accents and this is all we’ve got on the model for the moment because even if the Japanese based automaker has officially announced its debut at the 2012 SEMA Motor Show in Las Vegas, no more details on it have been announced for the moment. The Lexus PROJECT LS F SPORT will debut at the North American automotive event next week.

Rides : 2013 Lexus ES and GS sedans pose the risk of trapping people in the trunk

Consumer Reports magazine has found that the new Lexus ES and GS sedans have emergency trunk release handles that break too easily, increasing the risk of trapping someone in the boot.

The consumer magazine found the fault by accident, during an evaluation of 2013 ES and LS models. According to a statement from Consumer Reports, the 4-year-old son of Jake Fisher, director of vehicle testing, got into the ES 350’s trunk to try the interior release. What happened next is that the boy’s “small hands snapped off the lever that opens the lid. He was not able to escape from the trunk until I opened it from the outside,” Fisher said in the statement.
Fisher added that tests of release handles in 2013 ES hybrid and GS 350 sedans showed they too could snap when pulled toward the driver’s side. Toyota replied to the report by saying it is investigating the durability and ergonomics of the emergency trunk release lever, according to Toyota Motor Sales’ spokesman John Hanson.
From the 2012 model year, all cars with trunks have a safety release that glows in the dark and allows a person to open the trunk from inside, helping avoid a potentially tragic situation. Consumer Reports said it notified both Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the matter.

Rides : Audi Q5 promo released – “Don’t be a Lexus RX”

The German based automaker Audi has released a new promotional video with the Q5 crossover in the United States named “Be Yourself”.

The video posted below isn’t following the same path as other Audi promos and it’s starting with a body riding in the back seat of his mom’s Q5 who is noticing that everyone is driving the same SUV, the Lexus RX. Audi is telling us to be ourselves in this new commercial and if everybody else is choosing the Lexus RX, we should choose the more expensive Q5. I wonder if it works the other way around.
The facelifted Audi Q5 is coming with some aesthetic modifications in its front side, like the new front grille with chrome inserts, revised headlamps with LEDs, new fog lamps and redesigned front bumper, while the rear fascia is now coming with a new bumper and LED taillights. The cabin of the German crossover is also getting some minor modifications, but the equipment level is rising and the materials used have a better quality. The 2013 Audi Q5 will also get a hybrid version made from the 2.0 liter TFSI engine, with 211 HP and 350 Nm of torque (258 lb-ft), and an electric motor, generating 54 HP and 210 Nm of torque (154 lb-ft).