2008 Ls460 Navigation Mark Levison Lexus Certified Low Miles on 2040-cars

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Toyota and Lexus show off advanced safety research vehicle [w/video]

While Google and Audi explore the possibilities of autonomous vehicles, Toyota and its Lexus division are studying the intermediate step of vehicles equipped with a deep suite of technology that help drivers make the best decisions. Introduced at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the Lexus advanced safety research vehicle is an LS sedan fitted with three high-def color cameras to detect objects up to almost 500 feet away, 360-degree Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) lasers that can detect objects up to 220 feet away, three radar units to keep track of other vehicles at intersections, a precision odometer on the rear wheel, GPS that estimates orientation and an accelerometer.
Currently testing at a purpose-built 8.6 acre urban testing ground at the Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Susono, Japan the Toyota research vehicle is being used to study how to make better drivers, as well as figuring out how to reduce crashes as the industry's journey through passive and active safety systems progresses. In the event of a crash, new rescue systems are also being tested.
Further investment is being put into the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) that would use shortwave signals to harness information from the car and from other vehicles on the road, as well as roadside infrastructure and even pedestrians. Toyota reasons it could then build a picture of interactions and, for instance, alert the driver to a potential collision at a blind intersection.

2016 Lexus GS F revealed ahead of Detroit debut

The last time we heard about Lexus' new Detroit Auto Show-bound performance car debut, all signs pointed to GS F. Now, the cat's out of the bag, and we've got the first official images and details of the Japanese automaker's latest performance sedan, and honestly, it's exactly what you'd expect – though that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Power comes from the automaker's 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 – the same eight-pot that powers the RC F – good for 467 horsepower at 7,100 rpm and 389 pound-feet of torque that comes on strong between 4,800 and 5,600 rpm. That force is sent to the rear wheels via Lexus' eight-speed automatic transmission. In order to make this F a significantly better-handling vehicle than the standard GS, Lexus is fitting its Torque Vectoring Differential from the RC F, which uses three modes – Standard, Slalom, and Track – to alter torque delivery to better suit different driving dynamics. Lexus has released a few preliminary specifications about the GS F, so we know the sedan tips the scales at 4,034 pounds and will ride on 19-inch wheels with 255/35-series tires up front, and 275/35 rubber out back. This all sounds pretty good, but we can't help feel a wee bit disappointed, especially considering the numbers being thrown down by competitors like the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, not to mention the new 640-hp, 200-mph Cadillac CTS-V that'll also debut at next week's Detroit show. Still, if the Lexus RC F is any indication of the brand's future performance offerings, we don't doubt the GS F will, at the very least, be a super fun car to toss around. Stay tuned for the GS F's official unveiling, next week.

Lexus LCs for SEMA inspired by Blue Morpho butterfly, Marvel's Black Panther

Lexus is bringing a pair of LC 500 coupes to this year's SEMA show, and they're thoroughly different vehicles to one another. The first is a production car, the Lexus LC Inspiration Series. It's a highly limited-edition car that is mostly stock except for a unique paint job. The other also has a special paint scheme, but it's a one-off show car designed around the upcoming Marvel movie, " Black Panther," in which an LC 500 will be featured. The LC 500 Inspiration Series, being a production car, should be of the most interest to consumers, but also because of its special paint. Looking at it, it's very clearly blue, but according to Lexus, there are no actual blue pigments in the paint. Instead, the blue hue comes from the way nano-structures buried in the paint reflect blue light. It works similarly to the wings of the Blue Morpho butterfly, which also lack any actual blue coloration, but the structure of the wings' surfaces reflect blue light. This paint is not easy to make, either. Lexus says it takes eight months to produce a batch, and only two cars with the coating can be built each day. So it's easy to understand why this is a limited edition car and color. Only 100 will be sold in the United States. To sweeten the deal, this Inspiration Series edition comes standard with 21-inch forged wheels, exclusive carbon fiber door sill plates, and, for some reason, a Barneys sommelier bar set with a design inspired by the LC. View 11 Photos As subtle as the Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series is, the Black Panther LC 500 isn't. The car features an extremely widened body. It's a fairly elegant design, except for the stuck-on claws on the side mirrors that are echoed by the silver panted fender vent strakes. The paint scheme is equally absurd. The dark indigo blue paint has an enormous Black Panther mask design on the hood. Under the car is blue underglow, and the interior is finished in black leather with blue Alcantara. Lexus also lists a number of fictional features for the car, since it is meant for the Black Panther superhero. Among them are a bulletproof, self-healing Vibranium body, systems controlled by a "Wakandan B-CPU (Brain/Computer interface) creating a symbiotic relationship between the vehicle and its driver," and side mirrors with "instinctual positioning technology" to automatically move to the right position for the driver.