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Lexus and Fender build a gleaming blue Stratocaster guitar

Car-themed guitars are nothing new, but they can sometimes be a little corny. They can look odd, having been shaped to be reminiscent of the car they're related to, or just have too much branding. But this Lexus LC Fender Stratocaster uses its automotive inspiration to its advantage and is a stylish instrument, regardless of whether you care about cars. Right off the bat, the guitar is refreshingly free of Lexus branding, save for the plaque on the back that also bears the instrument's serial number. But most every part of the guitar is based on the Lexus LC. Most prominent is the blue paint, which is the same Structural Blue that was offered on the LC. It gets its name from the fact that there are no blue pigments in the paint, but the materials used reflect blue light, giving it its hue. It's used on the body as well as the head of the guitar. The body also features a carbon fiber pick guard with a weave that matches the carbon fiber used on an LC spoiler. Even the knobs were machined to look like those used on the LC's sound system. It all comes in a case wrapped in carbon-fiber-patterned vinyl with leather ends. There are other elements that aren't specifically automotive. The neck is a light-stained flame maple with a dark blue fret board Fender used to complement the colors of the guitar. The fret board also features cool white inlays that glow blue in the dark. Only 100 of these LC Stratocasters will be made. Each is priced at $6,000. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Check out this awesome Lexus manga art with exploding cities and dragons galore

Lexus just did something a bit different, and it has to do with manga art. The headliner piece is the Lexus LC 500 with the masked warrior crouching on top of it, seen above. We think it's objectively awesome, as the car autonomously races away from an exploding city. The LC 500 was drawn by Bulgarian artist Daniel Atanasov. He says it's "heavily influenced by Japanese culture. The main character is wearing an oni mask, which in Japan are worn at festivals to protect from evil spirits. He is holding a nodachi sword (a type of Samurai sword), and the pose of the character has been influenced by martial arts." Atanasov says the LC 500 is self-driving, controlled by the character on top of the car. Next up is a drawing of a Lexus ES driving amongst dragons. We're not so sure how long the car will last in that landscape ... perhaps an LX 570 would be the more prudent choice for bombing through a rocky desert. This one blends manga with classical paintings from the west, making it more of a hybrid. It was drawn by Tim Kong — he says he chose to draw dragons in order to "highlight the brave design of Lexus cars." Lexus' last commission is of the UX. This one is much simpler, with fewer things going on in the background. There is simply a girl and her Lexus UX in the dunes as the sun sets. It's rather calming and warm in nature compared to the first two drawings. The artist, Yishan Li, says she drew the UX like this because this is where she envisions taking it if she owned one.

2021 Lexus GX 460 Interior Review | A competent cabin ... a decade ago

The Lexus GX 460 is really old. How old is it? It’s so old, I was still in high school when it launched. This generation of the GX launched for the 2010 model year, and it's mostly received cosmetic updates in the decade since. And few areas reveal that age more than this luxury SUV's interior. It's not all bad, but there's no question that it isn't exactly on par with the latest and greatest SUVs from other automakers. Or even its own. Let's dive in, shall we? Climbing aboard the GX welcomes the driver and front passenger with broad, thickly cushioned chairs wrapped in soft leather. They're very much the kind of seats you sit on and not in, and with a decent amount of adjustment, they're quite comfortable on a commute or on a cross-country trip. Also immediately noticeable is the high seating position and huge amount of glass offering superb visibility in all directions. Between this and the GX's modest exterior dimensions, it's quite easy to maneuver. Then we get to the dashboard, and this is where the GX becomes more of a letdown. Aside from the steering wheel, a slightly larger instrument screen with an updated infotainment operating system, nothing has changed in a decade. The prominence of the silver painted plastic is the most disappointing element, as it feels like it would barely be acceptable in a Toyota, let alone a current Lexus. The same goes for the blurry, easily washed-out center screen and pale blue digital clock and climate temperature readout. Wood trim and upholstered panels certainly help, but overall this doesn't look like the command center of a new SUV costing more than $50,000. Things get a little better when actually interacting with things. The volume and tuning knobs are weighty and smooth like on a nice hi-fi system. Having physical controls for the audio as well as most climate functions are welcome features. The touchscreen system is much more intuitive than the Remote Touch mouse and touchpad systems Lexus rolled out in later years. It's fairly responsive, and the shortcut buttons on the sides are useful. Another sign of age is the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But hey, you get a CD player, remember those?  Buyers do still get a lot of nice features on the GX. Standard equipment includes heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity locking and starting, a sunroof, and new for 2021, acoustic front side glass that makes the GX astoundingly quiet inside.