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Chris Harris flogs the Lexus RC F

Chris Harris went to the Monticello race track in New York to sample the Lexus RC F, and, to be honest, he had to figure out how to love it on a circuit. Smitten with the luxury coupe's looks and cabin and naturally-aspirated V8 before taking the driver's seat, Harris found that four laps on track exposed its Achilles' heel: mass. Harris quoted the weight of his car at 1,860 kilograms, or 4,092 pounds, which is about one junior varsity athlete beyond the 3,958-pound curb weight of the coupe we drove. The 478 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque couldn't stoke the hustle Harris wanted, removing all the easy friskiness expected from the coveted FR setup, and leading to quick brake fade. He made note of the Lexus' lack of torque compared to the BMW M4, but in truth the RC F is only 15 lb-ft shy of its Munich nemesis. It is, however, at least 400 pounds heavier. On public roads, though, it's a different story. When not being pushed to prove itself in tight spaces, Harris thinks the Lexus is still a "curious blend of things," but a GT whose noise, styling and non-Germanness mean that it "certainly has a place," and might just take time to grow into. Related Video: News Source: Chris Harris on Cars via YouTube Lexus Coupe Luxury Performance Videos chris harris

2016 Lexus GS gets 2.0L turbo engine, updated styling

The Lexus GS gets a number of enhancements for the 2016 model year, and the updated sedan makes its official debut in California during Monterey Car Week. The usual mid-cycle refresh styling nip/tuck is evident, but the bigger story is the addition of a new, rear-wheel-drive GS 200t model. Lexus' IS sedan isn't the only one getting turbo-four power for 2016. The GS 200t uses that same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, good for 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It's paired exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, and Lexus says the GS 200t should be able to achieve 33 miles per gallon on the highway. Not to be left out, the naturally aspirated GS 350 gets a small power bump for 2016. The 3.5-liter V6 now produces 311 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, up from 306 and 277, respectively. The GS 450h hybrid carries over with its powertrain unchanged, as well as its 29/34 mpg city/highway rating. Other changes for 2016 include standard bi-LED headlamps as part of the reworked front fascia, and a host of technology upgrades. The 12.3-inch central display screen now has full-width map capability, and the controller gets some extra "enter" buttons. Lexus also gave its Enform system some updates, with a Service Connect system. The ever-important Apple CarPlay and Android Auto features are missing from this update, though it's not exactly surprising. Have a look at the updated GS 200t in the gallery above, and scroll down for the full press blast. Related Video: Mingling with the Classics: Lexus Introduces 2016 GS During Pebble Beach Concours Celebrations New GS 200t RWD Model With 2.0-Liter Turbo Engine - More Power and Torque for GS 350 - Restyled Front End With Standard Bi-LED Headlamps - New Available Lexus Safety System + - Upgraded Multimedia Technology and for GS 350/GS 450h Standard Navigation - New Available Lexus Enform Service Connect - New Interior Colors and Wood Trim Selections MONTEREY, Calif. – Aug. 13, 2015 – The Pebble Beach Concours d' Elegance, the premier concours event in the United States, is an appropriate setting for the 2016 Lexus GS models to be introduced. The GS enters 2016 with a bolder design, a new GS 200t rear-wheel drive model and new luxury finishes that match the refinement of Monterey. The Lexus GS continues to feature impressive agility and sporty handling for turns along California Highway 1, as well as comfortable ride quality for extended highway driving.

Forget LCD displays, the Lexus UX concept has hologram orbs

Two weeks ago, Lexus revealed the UX concept for the Paris Motor Show. The company only showed one photo of the exterior, but did give a generic description of the interior, saying it would have "imaginative technologies for an immersive driver experience." Now we know what that means: holograms! Yes, Lexus has done about the only thing that can impress in this world of high-resolution automotive displays – it brought instruments and infotainment into the third dimension. In the process it has somewhat reimagined the way occupants interact with the car as well. We're guessing the name UX, which stands for user experience in the tech world, was intentional. The large crystal-shaped box in the center console stands out immediately. The company says the box will display climate control and infotainment options in full 3D for the driver and passenger. The instrument cluster gets the hologram treatment as well with an orb floating in the middle and the ability to display both analog and digital information. No word on whether a small, blue Princess Leia will appear in the console asking for help. The UX's interior has a few other nifty surprises. The windows are electrochromic, so they can be darkened as needed (similar tech is already in use on some car roofs). The passenger side of the dashboard has a large, finned sound bar that can be removed. We're not entirely sure the thinking behind that feature, but we suppose it would be nice as a stereo for a picnic or a day at the beach. To cap things off, Lexus included the concept car staples of touch-sensitive buttons and side-view mirror cameras. As for when you'll see hologram displays in future Lexus models, we have no idea but wouldn't count on them coming anytime soon. We have a more optimistic view of the Lexus UX concept itself. With crossovers as popular as ever, we expect to see an attractive production model with these bulging fenders and a steeply raked windshield in a year or so. Related Video: Image Credit: Lexus Design/Style Paris Motor Show Lexus Technology Emerging Technologies Infotainment Crossover 2016 paris motor show interior design lexus ux concept