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TMG's super Lexus LS Sports 650 gets track tested

The people at Toyota Motorsport GmbH have been responsible for the Japanese automaker's motorsports efforts since the 1970s, but since Toyota pulled out of Formula One after the 2009 season, the tuning shop has been developing a super sedan based on the Lexus LS called the Sports 650. Details on TMG's first road car have been scarce, but XCAR was recently invited to drive the 641-horsepower Lexus on track.
Here's what we know: the Sports 650 has enough power to sprint to 60 miles per hour in under four seconds, tops out at 199 mph, weighs over two tons and utilizes LFA brakes. Oh, and its twin-turbo V8 bellows like an AMG V8. That last part isn't surprising when considering TMG could become Toyota's in-house tuning arm - like AMG is to Mercedes-Benz. As for the bespoke body kit, fender flares and stacked exhaust pipes? They fit the car well and even remind us a bit of Lexus' other high-performance sedan, the IS F. Currently there are no plans for the Sports 650 to be made into a production car, but we doubt TMG is devoting this much effort developing the LS into a road-rocket for nothing.
Check out XCAR's video below to see the AMG-fighter wrung out on track, and then ponder what could be if TMG were let loose to fiddle with other cars in Lexus' lineup. Now that's something we could get used to!

New Lexus ES will debut at Shanghai Motor Show

Lexus will debut a new version of its ES sedan at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month. Don't expect it to be a total redesign, however – with the sixth-generation ES having just gone on sale in late 2012, we only anticipate a mid-cycle refresh. That's the impression we get from the teaser image above, too. The most prominent change is the reshaping of the headlamps with an LED swoosh, the overall shape of the fascia is very similar to that of the current car. The grille looks to be a bit more angular and pronounced, perhaps indicating the inclusion of an F Sport trim – something the ES currently does not have. The ES holds a unique position in the Lexus lineup. It's the only of the automaker's sedans not to be based on rear-wheel-drive architecture – the ES uses a version of the fullsize Toyota Avalon platform. That said, the ES is hugely important, with some 1.7 million examples being sold globally over the past 25 years. We'll know more when the ES officially bows in the not-too-distant future. Related Video: THE NEW LEXUS ES TO MAKE ITS GLOBAL DEBUT AT AUTO SHANGHAI 2015 BEIJING – April 10, 2015 - The new Lexus ES luxury sedan will make its global debut at Auto Shanghai 2015 on April 20, 2015. The Lexus ES established a unique and important position in the luxury sedan segment with its elegant styling, extraordinary quality, and Lexus' best-in-class service when it was introduced in 1989. More than 1.7 million units have been sold globally over the past 25 years. The new Lexus ES maintains its classical elegance while conveying a more dynamic experience and luxurious craftsmanship. The ES will be on display April 22-29, 2015 at the Lexus booth in Hall 7.1 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center at Auto Shanghai 2015.

2016 Lexus GS F First Drive [w/video]

Performance cars used to be about horsepower and chassis tuning. Lately the question isn't so much what's under the hood, but how many buttons are on the console. We're overwhelmed with individual settings for engine response, transmission, exhaust, steering, and ride. When did these cars turn into a choose your own tuning adventure? The Lexus GS F represents an attempt to step back from this over-adjustable madness and return to more bygone sports car values. It has a special engine, unique bodywork, and a chassis tuned for high performance. There are only two settings you need to play with. The first setting is the Drive Mode Select dial on the center console, which mainly controls the response of 5.0-liter V8 engine and the shift behavior of the eight-speed automatic. The engine is the same V8 found in the RC F, making the same 467 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque. New this year are small balancing weights on the crankshaft pulley that cut down on internal vibration. Drive Mode Select also changes the electronic power steering, air conditioning, and stability control (you can also turn it all the way off via a separate button). The engine is the same V8 found in the RC F, making the same 467 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque. You will use two settings in the GS F: Eco when you want to get somewhere, Sport S+ when you want to get somewhere fast. Normal and Sport S modes offer intermediate steps you don't really need. Eco mode softens the throttle and reduces the use of air conditioning for slightly better fuel economy. It also makes the center-mounted tachometer switch into an eco-driving gauge. S+ puts everything into sport mode, including a heavier steering weight and a higher stability control threshold. While Sport S mode shifts the noon position of the tachometer to just below the horsepower peak of 7,000 rpm, S+ goes a step further and turns the rev indicator into a solid bar that grows around the edge of the display. It also adds oil and coolant temperature to the readout. And how could we fail to mention G-Force Artificial Intelligence (or grin at such an overwrought name)? That's the shift logic the transmission uses in Sport S+. It's designed to hold revs in corners and downshift during hard braking. "Our goal with F is to make a driver's car, not a drag race winner." The other button in the Lexus GS F that you need to pay attention to is next to the Drive Mode Select knob, labeled TVD for Torque Vectoring Differential.