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Lexus IS commercial made with Instagram photos

Facebook was so 2010, so it's no surprise that automakers are taking advantage of newer social media applications for their marketing purposes. Most recently, Lexus invited more than 200 followers on Instagram ("Instagrammers"), along with their smartphones, to make a commercial of the 2014 Lexus IS using hundreds of their photos of the car strung together into a video.
Instagram, taking advantage of smartphone cameras, is an application that allows users to shoot, edit and share photos or video online with friends and strangers alike. Lexus's stop-motion Insta-commercial is unique as far as commercials go, with each photo in the sequence sporting a personal touch thanks to the app's photo editor. But, even more impressive is the ability of social media to bring people together for, and involve them in, a commercial shoot. All of which you can watch below. Stay tuned after the commercial to get a look behind the scenes at the making of it all.

Lexus puts the 2.0T into the Euro-market RC Coupe

The Lexus IS got the brand's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder to become the IS 200t. So it is with the Lexus RC in Europe, which gets the engine swap in Europe and as the RC 200t becomes the entry level model in the range. It goes on sale over there at the end of this year, and is predicted to make its way here eventually. The engine is rated the same in this application as in the IS: 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, working through an eight-speed transmission for a 0-62 mile-per-hour time of 7.5 seconds. It can be picked out by its smaller wheels and the lack of aggressive bodywork. Lexus will offer an F-Sport package that restores some muscularity. Better still is the available Torsen limited-slip differential and the adaptive variable suspension for improved handling. We don't have the entry-level coupes here like the Euro-market BMW 420i, which would be a good competitor for the RC 200t. In our market base competitors like the BMW 428i, Audi A5, and Cadillac ATS, all fitted with 2.0-liter engines, are faster, and will most likely be lighter and might be less expensive than the RC 200t. That looks like it will make the Lexus offering best for buyers who already want to get into the line but at a friendlier price. The press release below has more info. Related Video: RC JOINING THE LEXUS 2.0L TURBO PETROL LINE-UP - 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder, twin-scroll turbo unit developing 180 kW/245 DIN hp and 350 Nm of torque - 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and 230 km/h maximum speed - 8-Speed Sport Direct Shift (SPDS) transmission with G-force linked gear shifting Brussels, Belgium Lexus: 31 Jul 2015 - The new Lexus RC 200t is the fourth Lexus model to feature the refined driving performance of the company's 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine. Mated to an 8-speed Sport Direct Shift (SPDS) transmission, the turbo unit adopts numerous sophisticated engine technologies to offer drivers an engaging combination of smoothness, turbo-lag-free throttle responsiveness and fuel-efficiency. The superior driving dynamics of the new RC 200t may be further enhanced through the availability of an F SPORT version, which is equipped with a Torsen Limited Slip Differential. Together with the already announced RC 300h, the new RC 200t go on sale throughout Europe at the end of the year.

PSA: Toyota wants to save your life, needs an hour of your time

Toyota wrote Autoblog to ask if we could spread the word about the Takata airbag inflator recall. Defective inflators remain installed in tens of millions of cars made by 19 carmakers, with manufacture dates that go back to the year 2000. Each inflator compounds the risk of serious injury or death in an airbag-activating crash. With a new ad campaign called "in about an hour," Toyota wants to make sure that unaware owners, or overly busy owners, know they can get their Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles repaired free of charge in about the time it takes to do a load of laundry. The campaign focuses on cities in three so-called Zone A states where hot, humid climates worsen the threat of the ruptured inflators: Los Angeles, Dallas, and Miami. However, every owner everywhere who cares about his life, or his child's life, should at least check to see if his car is affected. All it takes is a quick VIN entry at the dedicated recall site at Toyota.com/Recall. The results will let you know if your car is affected and, if so, locate a local dealer for the free fix. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration said the Takata affair has become "the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history." The numbers so far suggest the recall covers more than 42 million vehicles and more than 60 million airbags. Autoweek keeps an updated list of Takata information, including every make and model on the recall list. Consumer Reports published a list of frequently asked questions covering issues directly related and tangential to the recall. The 19 automakers maintain pages dedicated to the issue; Fiat Chrysler lists every relevant model and how it prioritizes repairs by Zone, Honda says it offers a free rental car while owner cars are repaired, Daimler vans says its fix only takes about an hour. And of course NHTSA serves all owners with its own VIN lookup site. We encourage you to check your vehicle — the life you save could be your own. Related Video: