2009 Lexus Rx 350 4d Sport Utility on 2040-cars

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Vice chronicles Okinawa's illegal street racing scene

We all know that street racing is dangerous, and that motorsports are best left on the track or drag strip. However, that doesn't mean that there still isn't some outlaw allure among enthusiasts of racing on public roads. In this video, Vice Japan profiles Eikichi Nagayoshi of Japan's island of Okinawa. He is a used car dealer by day and an illegal racer by night.
Nagayoshi has a deep love for his highly customized Toyota Aristo (better known to us as a first-generation Lexus GS) that he claims produces over 1,000 horsepower and has hit 205 miles per hour. He races his car both on drag strips and in drifting competitions, but says that he often has to ship the car to mainland Japan to compete. In the absence of those opportunities, he sometimes gathers friends and takes the racing to the public roads. While we're not down with street racing, this Vice video is an intriguing personality piece, as well as a look into Japan's fabled underground racing scene. Scroll down to check out the video, but make sure you have the "CC" button clicked, because several portions are subtitled.

2013 Lexus LS 600h L

I have spent the last seven days driving the Starfire Pearl (read: white) 2013 Lexus LS 600h L you see here. And after roughly 500 miles of errand-running, highway-cruising, commuting and people-schlepping, I can safely say this: I don't get it.
The LS hybrid is a nice car. It's comfortable, has every amenity you'd ever want in a luxury boat, and with its freshened appearance for 2013, it looks modern, integrating the company's new spindle grille into an overall package that's elegant. None of this is bad news. But let me explain why I still cannot wrap my head around the overall LS 600h L package:
Driving Notes

Next Lexus RX looks ready to roll

Lexus' bread-and-butter crossover, the RX, has been long overdue for a substantial redesign, with the current third-gen crossover entering its sixth year on sale. Considering this, it's no surprise that the fourth-generation RX is well on its way to production readiness, as evidenced by our latest round of spy photos. This new model looks larger than the current RX, like the wheelbase has been stretched, which would likely explain reports that the company was looking at an optional third-row for the mid-sizer. Aesthetically, the Lexus spindle grille is easy to spot, as are its aggressive headlamps. It's unclear based on these images if the RX will adopt the same styling statement seen on the RC, IS and NX, with sharp LED running lamps mounted below the actual headlights, but it certainly seems likely. Besides the design changes, our spies report that Toyota will be working hard to shed weight, likely through the use of aluminum for the doors, hood and rear hatch. Underhood, expect the typical combo of a gas-powered six-cylinder as well as the V6/hybrid setup found in Lexus' 450h models. As for when we could expect to see the next-gen RX, your guess is as good as ours. Geneva is, as always, a candidate, as is April's New York Auto Show. Of course, should we confirm a debut at either show, we'll be sure to let you know. Stay tuned.