Lexus Owner Recreates Epic LS400 “Champagne Glass” Ad from the 1980s

In one of the cleverest ads from the 1980s, Lexus stacked fifteen champagne glasses on the hood of its (then new) LS400 sedan...and then placed it on a dynamometer. Taking the LS400 up to a simulated 145 mph (233 km/h), the viewer marvels as the glasses remain exactly where they should be. The ad ends with the Lexus logo and the words, “The Lexus LS400 is designed to stir the soul...and not much else.”

It’s a great bit of advertising and holds up pretty well even today. There is one question that many would-be Lexus owners may be asking themselves today: are the cars still as good as they were back then? Has engineering perfection über alles survived twenty years of market reinvention and product development?

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READ MORE - Lexus Owner Recreates Epic LS400 “Champagne Glass” Ad from the 1980s

Lexus LS 460 SZ: Sporty Variant said to Debut at Tokyo Show this Fall

News just in from Japan: in its July issue, Best Car magazine is reporting that Lexus will reveal a sportier variant of its LS 460 luxury sedan at the Tokyo Motor Show in October. The magazine claims that the car will carry the SZ moniker and that it will feature a subtle aerokit that includes a new grille treatment plus uprated Brembo brakes and BBS alloy wheels shod in chunkier tires. The LS 460 SZ is estimated to cost in Japan between 9 and 10 million Yen or around to $100,000 US.

There's no mention of any upgrades under the hood so it is possible that the SZ may simply be a special Japanese-market model / trim-level. But as is the case with these kind of rumor-reports, we'll just have to wait for Lexus to come out with something official before we make any definite conclusions.

READ MORE - Lexus LS 460 SZ: Sporty Variant said to Debut at Tokyo Show this Fall

VIDEO: Lexus Sets the Bar High, Chains Four Cars on LS in New TV Ad

In another sign that luxury automakers in the U.S. are raising the stakes -or so to speak- with their latest commercials, following Audi's recent A8 ad, Lexus has released a new TV spot as part of an advertising campaign to demonstrate how far the company goes to achieve perfection.

This particular broadcast ad is titled “Chain” and it shows a crane slowly lifting the front end of a LS, which is attached to four more Lexus models (RX, GS, ES and IS) using nothing more than cables and stretch bars. At the end of the spot, a $375,000 LFA comes into the shot and parks directly below the chain of vehicles weighing a total 21,000 pounds.

The key point here is that the commercial is real and that no special effects were used for its creation as Lexus proves in the 'Behind the Scenes" video.

“It isn’t enough to just say that we pursue perfection, we want to demonstrate the great lengths we go to in our pursuit,” states Dave Nordstrom, vice president of marketing for Lexus.

“The new broadcast spot allows us to focus on the foundation of our vehicles, the chassis, and show its almost unbelievable strength. In fact, we feared that it would be so unbelievable, we invited a physicist and structural engineer to witness the shoot, to prove that it did, in fact, occur without the use of special effects or computer generated-imagery.”

READ MORE - VIDEO: Lexus Sets the Bar High, Chains Four Cars on LS in New TV Ad

VIDEO: Top Gear Assembles Fleet of Police Cars

In one of their television flicks, Top Gear trio Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard -I love Rod Stewart's 1980s spiky hairpiece- Hammond create a fleet of police cars in their own unique way. The cars of their choice are a previous generation Lexus LS, a Suzuki Vitara 4x4 and a Fiat Coupe. Hit the jump and enjoy the two-part video.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

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Lexus Officially Announces Recall on U.S. Market Models to Fix Engines

Toyota today notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of its intention to recall certain Lexus models in the United States to fix faulty engines in the automaker's latest quality problem.

The recall affects approximately 138,000 Lexus vehicles powered by 4.6 and 5.0 liter V8 and 3.5 liter V6 engines in certain 2006, 2007 and 2008 GS, IS and LS models. No vehicles from the current 2010 model year nor 2009 are affected.

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READ MORE - Lexus Officially Announces Recall on U.S. Market Models to Fix Engines

Lexus U.S. Says 137,000 Cars May have Faulty Engines in the States

Toyota's U.S. division has just issued a statement regarding potential engine faults on Lexus models sold in the States. The automaker said that around 137,000 vehicles could be affected in the U.S., including the IS 350, GS 350, GS 460, GS 450h, LS 460, LS 600hL, noting that current model years are not affected.

Earlier today, Toyota announced that approximately 270,000 vehicles (Lexus IS, GS and LS, and Toyota Crown) sold worldwide risk engine failure.

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READ MORE - Lexus U.S. Says 137,000 Cars May have Faulty Engines in the States

Toyota May Recall Up to 270,000 Cars Including Lexus IS, GS & LS Over Engine Problems

It looks like Toyota might be hit by another recall (the second one in a week after the HS 250h announcement) as the Japanese automaker admitted today that about 270,000 of its Lexus IS, GS and LS, and Toyota Crown vehicles may have a problem causing engines to stall.

In particular, the world's biggest carmaker said it discovered "improperly functioning valve springs" in some engines that could lead to abnormal engine noise or unstable idling, and in some instances, even cause the engine to stop while in motion. Toyota said that there are no reported accidents related to this issue.

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READ MORE - Toyota May Recall Up to 270,000 Cars Including Lexus IS, GS & LS Over Engine Problems

Toyota to Recall 11,500 Lexus LS Models Worldwide

In the latest episode of a series of massive recalls, Toyota Motor Corp. said today that it plans to recall four Lexus LS models due to problems related to the steering wheel system of the car.

The models in question are the LS460 and LS460L as well as the LS600h and LS600hL hybrids equipped with the Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS), with the recall covering around 11,500 vehicles worldwide including 3,800 units sold in the U.S., 4,500 in Japan and about 40 cars in the UK.

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READ MORE - Toyota to Recall 11,500 Lexus LS Models Worldwide

Lexus Announces Increased Prices for 2010 Models, Updated LS600h L Starts from $109,675

The 2010 model year brings a price increase for most Lexus models, ranging from $300 for the IS 250 and IS 350 to $900 for the GS 450h and SC 430. The company also announced pricing for its updated flagship limo, the 2010 LS 600h L that starts from $109,675 including a delivery, processing and handling fee of $875.

The new LS 600h L hybrid sedan benefits from a subtle makeover that includes revised front grille, bumper and tail lights, plus newly designed 19-inch alloy wheels, exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals and exhaust diffusers.

Also new are the front active headrests, the standard Intuitive Park Assist with Advance Parking Guidance and Intelligent High-Beam, a driver's seat with auto slide-away, an LCD instrument cluster, rear power sunshade and an upgraded navigation system.

Finally, the repackaging of the battery pack has resulted in the increase of the LS 600h L's trunk capacity by nearly two cubic feet.

READ MORE - Lexus Announces Increased Prices for 2010 Models, Updated LS600h L Starts from $109,675

US-Spec 2010 Lexus LS460 Facelift with New Sport Package: Full Details and High-Res Photo Album

Having showcased the 2010 LS600h Hybrid at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, Lexus has now revealed the U.S.-spec version of its revised LS460 flagship sedan that has been freshened up for the 2010 model year with subtle styling updates, added features and a new optional performance-tuned Sport Package. Once again, the LS460 is offered with standard and a long-wheelbase body styles, both of which are available in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive layouts.

On the outside, the 2010 LS460 gains a reworked front grille, revised headlamps and tail lights, newly styled front and rear bumpers as well as a new license plate surround. The new exhaust diffusers and side mirrors that feature integrated turn signals along with the standard 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels complete the exterior updates.

For 2010, the LS460 benefits from the new Safety Connect and Lexus Enform telematics systems as well as the available Advanced Pre-Collision System (APCS) that made its debuted on the 2009 Pebble Beach Edition LS 600h L special. The APCS uses two small cameras mounted at the front of the car that work in conjunction with millimeter-wave radar to detect vehicles and pedestrians in the vehicle's path and to warn the driver before taking evasive braking actions.

Also new for the 2010 model year is the introduction of a Sport Package for the rear-wheel drive LS460 that combines an exterior aero kit with special air suspension tuning and exclusive interior features.

The aero kit, which is also available as a stand-alone Appearance Package, includes a unique front grille, side rocker panels and spoilers for the front and rear bumpers along with larger 19-inch five-spoke forged alloy wheels.

Inside the, the Sport Package adds perforated Black/Saddle leather interior with sport front seats, a unique leather-trimmed steering wheel and paddle shifters for the eight-speed automatic transmission.

But that's not all. The Sport Package also includes beefier Brembo brakes and a sport-tuned air suspension with specific stabilizer bars and shock absorbers that promise to further improve handling.

There are no changes under the hood as the 2010 LS460 continues to be powered by a 4.6-liter V8 linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The maker says that the V8 puts out 380HP and 367 lb.-ft. of peak torque in rear-wheel-drive configuration and 357HP and 344 lb.-ft. of torque with all-wheel drive.

In terms of performance, the RWD LS 460 can accelerate from zero-to-60 mph (96 km/h) in about 5.4 seconds while it's AWD sibling, in 5.9 seconds. According to Lexus, the RWD model achieves an EPA-estimated 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway rating and the AWD, 16mpg city and 23mpg highway.

Prices are due to be announced shortly.

2010 Lexus LS460 with Sport Package

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2010 Lexus LS460

READ MORE - US-Spec 2010 Lexus LS460 Facelift with New Sport Package: Full Details and High-Res Photo Album