2001 Lexus Rx 300 on 2040-cars

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Online Find of the Day: Lexus-engined Mercedes pickup is a vintage hybrid

You have to love someone who gets incredibly committed to a very weird idea. What you see for sale here is a right-hand drive 1971 Mercedes-Benz 220D in South Africa, but this old Mercedes is now converted into a pickup, complete with bed cover, and there's big secret under the hood, too.
The pickup conversion appears well done based on seller Sedgefield Classic Cars' photos. Even the tonneau cover fits well. You could almost believe that this Mercedes lived its life as a Chevrolet El Camino-like pickup from the very beginning.
However, the rear-quarters conversion might not be the weirdest thing about this Mercedes. The original diesel is gone from the engine bay in favor of a Lexus V8. It seems really odd to pop the hood and find a Japanese mill in this German car, but the photos make it look like a fairly well performed swap. So, bravo to the crazy thinking. According to the seller speaking to Autoblog by email, "as far as we can establish, this was done a few years ago, with all Lexus components."

2015 Lexus NX 300h

With so much hullabaloo being made over the first gasoline turbocharged engine produced by Lexus, it's easy to forget that there's another option for those who'd rather (barely) hear the whirring of electric motors than the high-pitched whizzing of turbos. That's too bad, because we think the NX 300h is one of the more interesting hybrids on the market, due in large part to its innovative all-wheel-drive system and relatively sporty driving dynamics. We spent several hours with the brand-new hybrid crossover from Lexus, and we came away with plenty to talk about.
Driving Notes
Of course, the big thing that differentiates the 300h from the 200t is its drivetrain. In place of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder sits a 2.5-liter gasoline engine that runs exclusively on the Atkinson cycle to save fuel, augmented by a pair of electric motors and mated to an electronic continuously variable transmission. Lexus is no stranger to hybrids, buoyed by parent company Toyota's expertise, and the basic setup used by the NX 300h is a well-known quantity shared with the ES 300h.

Lexus LF-FC concept is a preview of the next LS [w/video]

As far as flagship luxury sedans go, the Lexus LS is one of the oldest on the market. But the upscale Japanese automaker is out to fix that in short order. And to give us a taste of what's to come, it's presenting the concept you see here at the Tokyo Motor Show today. Called the LF-FC, the show car clearly points the way forward for the next-generation LS. The design adopts the latest take on the brand's "L-finesse" styling language, with a large, spindle-shaped front grille leading to sharp creases cutting their way across the entire surface. Lexus refers to the roofline as approaching that of a four-door coupe, though it clearly places more of an emphasis on rear-seat space. Power comes from a conceptual hydrogen fuel cell whose components have been scattered throughout the vehicle to optimize weight distribution. The fuel cell drives the rear wheels and sends power to hub motors in the front wheels as well for all-wheel-drive capability. Those 21-inch rims are made of carbon fiber, with aluminum spokes, to minimize unsprung weight. Naturally, Lexus has equipped the concept with all the latest electronic aids to track the flow of traffic and even drive autonomously through it. Of course a vehicle like this is designed around the driver and occupants. The white and brown interior space features four individual bucket seats, because really, who wants to dream of riding in the middle? Interior appointments look suitably tasteful, all done in satin-finish wood and metal with white and brown leather, and would look at home on the next generation of first-class aircraft cabins. Lexus has equipped the concept with gesture control that incorporates a floating holographic image to show users where to place their hands to operate the audio and ventilation systems touchlessly. In typical concept style, the LF-FC sits wider and squatter than the production sedans at which it takes aim. More telling, however, is the overall length: at 208.7 inches, it's a few thumbs longer than even the extended version of the current Lexus LS, and a touch longer than the current long-wheelbase Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ, and Maserati Quattroporte. We're looking forward to seeing the production version in the form of the next LS in due course to see how it measures up against the competition, and not just in terms of size. Related Video: Lexus LF-FC Flagship Concept Revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show TOKYO (Oct.