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Lexus parts prices cut in China amidst antitrust fears

It's been a topsy-turvy summer for foreign businesses in China ever since that country's National Development and Reform Commission and State Administration for Industry & Commerce launched a horde of investigations into anti-monopoly practices. When the law outlining monopolistic behavior was passed in 2008 foreign companies appreciated it, expecting it to illuminate some of the more opaque corners of Chinese government enforcement. That hasn't exactly been the case, and now as more than 1,000 auto-sector firms get investigated and pay huge fines to settle the nebulous charge of having prices that are too high, that hoped-for clarity is all but gone.
A recent news report said Audi, Chrysler and Daimler "would be punished for unspecified violations" concerning the prices of spare parts. Earlier this month Toyota said that Lexus China was being looked at, and before there's been any public notification of punishment Lexus has decided to lower the price of its replacement parts. From next month, customers will save an average of 26 percent on roughly 15,000 parts. It's unknown whether the move will appease authorities enough to end the investigation, which outside analysts have said targets foreign firms in China over domestic industry.

Lexus LC 500 coming to Detroit Auto Show

Believe it or not, it's been nearly four years since we first saw the Lexus LF-LC Concept. Its swoopy style and spindle grille kicked off a big design revolution for Lexus, and we saw a number of LF-LC design elements work their way onto production cars. But now, rumor has it a full-on production version will see the light of day, and soon. Motoring.com.au says the LC 500 coupe will show its face at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show in January, and we have little reason to doubt this. In fact, it's kind of been a long time coming. The LC was reportedly approved for production in 2013, and though we were told it might resurrect the SC name, Lexus filed copyright applications for "LC 500" and "LC 500h." Oh, and a prototype of this car was recently spotted testing. The LC 500 will arrive with – no surprise here – Lexus' naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8, plucked from the RC F and GS F. That said, Motoring says it could arrive with a new, 10-speed automatic transmission from Aisin. As for the LC 500h, Motoring thinks it'll be powered by a, 3.5-liter V6-based hybrid drive system that could produce something like 470 horsepower – not the current V6/hybrid unit from the GS 450h. A hotter LC F should follow in a couple of years, and earlier reports suggest it could make something like 600 horsepower. Of course, Lexus refuses to comment on future product speculation, so we don't have any official proof that this is actually happening. But it all makes a lot of sense. Watch this space in two months' time for more details.

Optimistic Lexus bumps US sales target higher

Last year Lexus sold 244,166 cars in the US, slotting into third place in the luxury segment behind BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Earlier this year Lexus said its target was 260,000 units in the US (which would still put it behind BMW's and Mercedes' numbers from last year), but Automotive News reports that it has raised its upper outlook to 270,000 cars.
The half-year pace hasn't been enough to make either number, but Lexus is gunning for a 15-percent gain in IS sales behind the arrival of the 2014 model, and this is also the first full year of sales of the new ES and LS. Lexus will most likely end the year in third place in the luxury segment behind BMW and Mercedes again, even if it does sell 270,000 units, but has said its prime directive is "good, steady growth."