2005 Lexus Rx Base Awd 4dr Suv on 2040-cars

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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

Lexus boots up 2014 IS configurator

Throw away those scraps of paper and pull yourself up to a keyboard, as Lexus has launched the online configurator for its all-new 2014 IS sedan. The base price for the entry-level IS 250 RWD is $36,845 (all listed prices include the $895 delivery fee), delivering a 2.5-liter V6 rated at 204 horsepower that provides enough thrust for a 0-60 sprint in 7.7 seconds. The range-topping IS 350 AWD starts at $42,595, packed with a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 306 horsepower that will deliver 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds.
After choosing an engine and driveline, the configurator will offer eight exterior colors and five interior upholstery shades (some combinations, such as selecting Obsidian over Rioja Red NuLuxe leather, require upgrades such as the F Sport package). Consumers are then offered four different bundled option packages as enhancements. The least expensive is Navigation ($4,670), followed by the aforementioned F Sport ($5,800) and a choice between two luxury packages ($7,195) with light or dark wood trim.
Last to come are the accessories and dealer-installed options such as remote engine start, glass-break sensor, wheel locks and a cargo net. Go crazy with your choices, as we did, and the price will exceed $50,000. Head over to the Lexus IS configurator, and check it out for yourself.

Lexus reveals LF-NX crossover concept for Frankfurt

Compact luxury crossovers are becoming big business for upscale automakers. Mercedes is slotting the new GLA beneath the GLK, BMW has the X1 below the X3, Audi has downsized from the Q5 to the Q3, and Lexus is keen to get in on the game. And to that end, Toyota's luxury division is coming to the Frankfurt Motor Show this year with the concept crossover you see here.
Previewed a couple of weeks ago with an enigmatic teaser, the LF-NX concept, in the company's own words, "explores the potential for a compact crossover within the Lexus model range." The latest adaptation of the "L-finesse" design language could be the sharpest and most stylistically Japanese we've seen yet, with the sharp creases of the signature spindle grille repeated all around for a razor-sharp look. Lexus only released one shot of the cabin, but it looks as sharp as the exterior and, while clearly stylized, looks essentially more production-ready than most show cars.
Lexus hasn't revealed much about the powertrain, saying only that it incorporates "a new variant of the Lexus Hybrid Drive system tuned for SUV performance." Whether it actually has an engine that Lexus will detail at the show remains to be seen, but you can delve into the press release below for more and scope out the five images released thus far in the gallery above for a closer look.