Impeccable 2006 Rx330 Fwd With Navi / Mark Levinson Audio, Premium Plus And More on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Toyota offered $146.5 million to build Lexus ES in Kentucky

Toyota posted a media advisory yesterday saying that Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota, and Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota North America, would be making a production announcement tomorrow in New York City, and Automotive News reports that the automaker will be announcing a plan to domestically produce the Lexus ES. According to the report, numerous plants are competing to build the ES in North America, and the State of Kentucky has offered the automaker up to $146.5 million to build the luxury sedan at the Georgetown, KY assembly plant.
If Georgetown gets the ES, which has been built in Japan since its debut in 1989, it would be built alongside the Toyota Camry, which is somewhat ironic since in our review of the 2013 Lexus ES350, we wrote that this ES finally says "goodbye to its Camry roots." In order to get the whole amount offered, the article states that Toyota would have to invest $531.2 million and hire 570 full-time workers at the plant, which doesn't sound all that unreasonable since the plant would require an additional 50,000 units of annual production, not to mention the fact that the Georgetown facility is already at its capacity for building the Camry.

Lexus thinks small with ultra-compact LF-SA concept

Lexus used the Geneva Motor Show to premiere its concept for a forward-thinking 2+2 urban vehicle, the LF-SA. The concept is small – Lexus says it's an "ultra-compact sub-B-segment" vehicle – and it is designed for maneuverability and agility on congested city streets. It also celebrates the 25th anniversary of the first Lexus, the LS400. The LF-SA has prominent wheel arches, the signature Lexus spindle grille and L-shaped headlights. Lexus calls the appearance "a Time in Design styling approach, in which perceptions of the vehicle change when it is viewed from different angles." It was penned in Toyota's European design studio. It's all capped with a striking paint color, called "Silver Stellar," that the automaker claims is meant to evoke space exploration. The inside has room for two, but it is biased toward the driver. The pedals and steering wheel are adjustable, and the passenger seat is slide adjustable to allow access to the rear. Perhaps the coolest feature is the infotainment system's hologram-style display. The LF-SA leaked last week, and the live shots from Geneva prove it's worth another look. Related Video: Lexus LF-SA World debut at the 2015 Geneva motor show European debut for the Lexus GS F and LF-C2 roadster concept The new Lexus LF-SA concept makes its world debut today at the 2015 Geneva motor show. Last year marked the 25th anniversary of the very first Lexus, the LS400 saloon. To celebrate this milestone, Lexus challenged ED2, its European design studio, to create a concept of an ultra-compact (sub-B-segment) urban 2+2 model. The LF-SA Concept explores unexpected territory for the brand in a powerful, emotional execution that illustrates Lexus's passion for up-coming design trends. The LF-SA Concept is also a driver-focused vehicle, reflecting Lexus's vision that in a future world where technology and virtual experiences are expected to hold more sway, the real driving experience could become the ultimate luxury. Taking that insight as inspiration, the new concept presents an audacious interpretation of Lexus's L-finesse design philosophy, while never losing sight of the requirement for driving pleasure – a quality that will always be a defining element of Lexus's progressive luxury.

2017 LC 500 is the future of Lexus [w/video]

The 2017 LC 500 shows where Lexus is headed. In this case it's not just a flashy grille and a big engine like earlier Lexus efforts. This time every facet of the engineering went into making the car handle better, and the styling and engineering were developed hand in hand. It won't set any sales records, but it will win a lot of eyeballs. Why is Lexus making another coupe? That's a fair question, as slow-selling two doors don't do much to improve market share. The reason for the LC is to make a statement, both in terms of style and engineering. It looks remarkably close to the 2012 LF-LC concept. And underpinning the taut styling is a new global architecture that will underpin future cars like the LS. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. The LC 500 is Toyota's way of saying, yet again, that it's serious about reforming the Lexus reputation into one that include performance and style. On paper the 467-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8 (the same as in the RC F and GS F) performance claim looks like sloppy handwriting, but Lexus claims a 0-60 time of less than 4.5 seconds. Rumors abound that more power will come to the LC lineup in a few years, most likely in some kind of turbocharged form. Backing up the engine is a ten-speed transmission. Yes, ten. Lexus claims the gearbox is nearly as fast as a dual-clutch automatic, and that the overall size is smaller than some eight speed 'boxes. Underpinning the LC is an all new structure that includes carbon fiber reinforced plastic, aluminum, and high-strength steel. Torsional rigidity is said to be better than the all-carbon fiber LF A supercar. We're worried the ride could be on the stiff side, with run flat tires on both standard 20-inch wheel and the optional 21-inch wheels seen on the show car. All hope for retaining a pleasant ride lies with the suspension, which is nearly all aluminum. But as we mentioned, this car is skewed towards performance, and Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires on show car promised new levels of lateral grip for a big Lexus. What's more promising is the claim that Lexus spend triple the standard time developing the steering feel and handling. This could be the best-handling Lexus ever, but don't expect the LC 500 to be a Porsche 911 competitor. Preconceptions aside, the LC is bigger than a Carrera and that alone dictates a different character. The Lexus is closer to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe and BMW 6 Series in size.