2008 Lexus Is 250 Base on 2040-cars

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2018 Lexus RX 450hL hybrid will start just over $50,000

Lexus has announced pricing on its 2018 RX 450hL, saying that its new three-row, all-wheel-drive hybrid crossover will carry a starting MSRP just $1,550 higher than the non-hybrid AWD RX 350L when it goes on sale starting in April. The RX 450hL will start at $51,615, positioning it right in-between luxury crossover competitors like the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 and Infiniti QX60. The Luxury package, which adds features like semi-aniline trimmed seats, interior LED ambient lighting, laser-cut wood trim and 20-inch machine-finished alloy wheels, bumps the price up to $55,550. Prices include a $995 delivery, processing and handling fee. Lexus says the 450hL will get new features like second-row captain's chairs, leather-trimmed seats and complimentary Lexus Inform Safety Connect and Service Connect membership for the first 10 years of ownership. Standard safety features include a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assistance, intelligent high beam headlights and all-speed dynamic radar cruise control. The RX 450hL combines a 3.5-liter V6 engine with two high-torque electric drive motor-generators to produce 308 in combined horsepower, with an EV mode allowing it to run on pure electric power at lower speeds for short periods. Lexus hasn't yet released fuel-economy figures for the hybrid, but the conventional RX 450h is rated at a combined 30 mpg by fueleconomy.gov. Lexus has added 4.3 inches to the rear body length of the 450hL and added more room for third-row occupants by incorporating a steeper tailgate. We've previously covered the introduction of the three-row RX 450hL and the 2018 RX 350L, which is powered by a 290-hp 3.5-liter V6 and is available in both front- and all-wheel-drive. The latter starts at $48,665 and goes up to $55,080. The RX line has been Lexus' best-selling model, with sales of 108,307 units in 2017.Related Video:

Krafcik says US Gov. shutdown is slowing Oct. auto sales

The government shutdown is eroding consumer confidence in the auto market, says John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai's US sales unit, and could lower October sales by as much as 10 percent, Automotive News reports. "It's that anxiety that keeps customers, potential buyers, on the sidelines when making a big purchase like an automobile," Krafcik says, adding that industry sales could be off by five to 10 percent in October compared to September.
The fourth quarter, which started October 1, usually consists of increased auto sales as dealerships clear their lots to make room for the next year's models. Leading up to the fourth quarter this year, the auto industry was doing well in the fragile, recovering US economy, although September deliveries decreased by 4.2 percent, due in part to this year's Labor Day sales being recorded for August.
To help its customers, Hyundai announced it is deferring new-car loan and lease payments for furloughed federal workers until they're called back to work and also offering them a three-month payment deferral if they buy a new Hyundai in October. "We have already had requests from over a thousand people to have their payments deferred," Krafcik says.

Most reliable cars and trucks of 2022

Related: Least reliable cars and trucks of 2022   For years now, Consumer Reports has been one of the most prolific sources of vehicle reliability data around. The organization tests a number of vehicles each year and surveys its members on various automotive topics, including reliability. The results of its 2022 annual auto survey are in, and the list of most reliable vehicles has been revealed. Unsurprisingly, Toyota and Lexus dominated the list of most reliable vehicles, but BMW and Mini snuck into the top 10 as well. The list includes: Toyota Corolla Hybrid: 93 Lexus GX: 91 Mini Cooper: 89 Toyota Prius: 89 Mazda MX-5 Miata: 85 Lincoln Corsair: 82 Toyota Corolla: 81 Subaru Crosstrek: 80 BMW 3 Series: 80 Toyota Prius Prime: 77 In terms of the most reliable vehicle type, Consumer Reports says that sedans remain the best choice. Their average score is 58, which is notably better than SUVs’ average score of 51. Minivans and pickup trucks are lower, at 44 and 39, respectively. As Consumer Reports notes, many sedans are older models that have allowed their manufacturers to iron out the wrinkles, making them more reliable. Domestic automakers' SUVs and trucks performed better in the survey than their imported counterparts, with scores of 45 and 41, respectively. The study also showed that hybrids and plug-in hybrids are becoming more reliable, and have climbed the score ladder to the tops of their segments in many cases.  Consumer Reports says its study includes 17 trouble areas, including small stuff like creaks and rattles and much larger problems like drivetrain failures. The organization states that it weights each issue based on its severity to create its predicted reliability scores, with 100 being the best. A car must be in production for at least two model years to be considered for the list. Related video: Green BMW Lexus Lincoln Mazda MINI Subaru Toyota Car Buying Maintenance Ownership Convertible Coupe Crossover Hatchback SUV Hybrid Sedan Consumer Reports reliability