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Toyota may return to F1 under Lexus banner

A new report in from the website Club Lexus claims to have insider knowledge about a return to Formula One racing by Toyota, this time under the auspices of the Lexus brand. Toyota competed in F1 from 2002 through the 2009 season. That final year saw the team return competitive, if inconsistent results, but the larger economic woes in the automotive market made a decision to pull the plug relatively easy at the time.
Now, citing recent interviews with Toyota executives and insider sources, Club Lexus says that the move to re-enter F1 for the 2014 season is "all but finalized." The choice to go with the Lexus nameplate over Toyota makes some sense, too, considering the success that rival Infiniti has had in recent years through its partnership with Red Bull Racing. Further, the emerging Lexus identity as a performance car builder, with a strong background in hybrid vehicles, could help the F1 move resonate with buyers.
A few technological factors and formula changes within F1 offer some credence to the Lexus rumor, too. F1 will increase the available capacity of KERS from 60kW to 120kW, a change that theoretically benefits the hybrid-savvy Toyota. What's more, 2014 will see a switch from the current 2.4-liter V8 engines to 1.6-liter turbocharged V6s. A Lexus team that goes racing in 2014 will be on a level playing field with the rest of the grid then, with all teams adjusting to and continuing to develop the new engines.

2023 Lexus IS packages add fancy looks, paint, and wheels

Lexus made big changes to the IS range for the 2021 model year after introducing the latest generation in 2014. For 2023, the updates are primarily cosmetic, a couple of appearance packages aimed at keeping a fresh edge on a proven package, to go with one handling package. Prices are only up a few hundred bucks as well. MSRPs for the coming IS range after the $1,150 destination charge, and the changes compared to 2022, are: 2023 IS 300 RWD: $40,585 ($310)  2023 IS 300 AWD: $42,585 ($310)  2023 IS 350 F SPORT DESIGN RWD: $43,660 (new trim)   2023 IS 350 F SPORT DESIGN AWD: $45,660 (new trim)   2023 IS 350 F SPORT: $44,910 ($210) 2023 IS 350 F SPORT AWD: $46,910 ($210)  2023 IS 500 F SPORT PERFORMANCE: $58,270 ($270) 2023 IS 500 F SPORT PERFORMANCE PREMIUM: $62,770 ($270)  There are two additional trims in the lineup, the IS 350 F Sport Design driving the rear axle or both axles. It wears the F Sport exterior trim pieces like the grille, bumpers, decklid spoiler, and badging, as well as a quartet of 19-inch F Sport alloy wheels. There are two reasons the Design trim is less less expensive than the regular F Sport, the first being that it's missing standard and optional features. The Design doesn't get goodies like the heated, leather-trimmed steering wheel, climate-controlled front seats, or rain-sensing wipers, nor can it be optioned with tech like the driver's memory seat and NuLuxe surfaces with black geometric trim. The second reason is that the IS 350 F Sport gains a Handling Package for 2023, installing an adaptive suspension, Drive Mode Select with Sport S/S+ and Custom Modes, and on the RWD version, a Torsen limited-slip differential. Because the AWD version lacks the LSD, the package costs $770 on that model, versus $1,610 for the RWD trim. The F Sport Handling Package can be upgraded with 19-inch matte black forged BBS wheels. There's even more menace to be had on the IS 350 F Sport with the $1,500 Special Appearance Package. On this one, the hood and roof are painted black, the wheels are swapped for 19-inch Enkei split-ten-spoke F Sport Performance units with a dark finish. Lexus will offer only 480 units with this package for the model year. The 19-inch Enkei alloy wheels standard on the IS 500 F Sport will come with a dark finish for 2023. The IS 500 F Sport in either standard or Premium grade gets its own limited-edition Special Appearance Package, this one costing $3,570 and offered in just 150 examples.

This LED-covered Lexus IS doubles as a display

Why would you put 41,999 LEDs on a 2017 Lexus IS sedan? Well, for starters, because you don't have 42,000 LEDs available, but also to get attention. This car was built as a mobile programmable screen to be featured in a music video by Dua Lipa. (No, we hadn't heard of her either, but that's cool.) It's called the LIT IS, because, well, you know, and it is featured in Dua Lipa's new music video for "Be the One." Lexus says it used a mile of wire to connect all of those light sources (how much must that weigh?) and that together they put out 175,000 lumens, or about the amount of light emitted by 100 100-Watt bulbs. They're even stuck inside the spindle grille. It sort of reminds of the Swarovski crystal headlight option on a Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe, only if the entire car were a headlight. And the headlight could change color. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. You can see the lighting system in action in the promotional video above. And in the vein of of one-off Lexus IS sedans, don't forget about the Sriracha IS that was shown at the LA auto show. For some reason. Apparently Lexus wants us to pay attention to this car. Related Video: Auto News Celebrities Design/Style Lexus Luxury Sedan lexus is