Lexus » Australian Car Advice

Toyota implementing GPS brake-assist

February 8th, 2008 72 Comments

It seems Toyota’s ultimate goal is for even the driver to become a passenger, having today outlined a system which will incorporate brake application into satellite navigation technology.

Using GPS data and a rear-mounted camera, the system will acknowledge an upcoming stop sign and calculate whether the driver has applied enough brake force to stop in time, if not the system takes over bringing the car to a halt.

2008 Lexus GS 460 unveiled

February 1st, 2008 72 Comments

Lexus has just previewed the all-new GS 460 performance sedan at the Brisbane International Motor Show, prior to its local launch next month.

The 460 will replace the current performance orientated GS 430 sedan, it will feature an all-new 4.6-litre V8 developing 255kW of power and 460Nm of torque.

Lexus LF-A - 2008 Detroit Auto Show

January 14th, 2008 8 Comments

Lexus LF-A - 2008 Detroit Auto Show

The car we have all been waiting for, the Ferrari and Porsche-beating LF-A went on public display at the Detroit Auto Show and as you can imagine, the reaction has been very positive.

Lexus IS-F - 2008 Detroit Auto Show

January 14th, 2008 4 Comments

Lexus IS-F - 2008 Detroit Auto Show

Our photographer took a liking to the new M3/RS4 killer. Meet Lexus’s new performance car, the IS-F.

Lexus IS350 F-Sport - 2008 Detroit Auto Show

January 14th, 2008 3 Comments

Lexus IS350 F-Sport - 2008 Detroit Auto Show

The Lexus IS350 get the F-sport treatment.

Lexus recalls 264,000 cars, 927 in Australia

November 29th, 2007 74 Comments

Lexus will recall 264,000 cars- including 927 in Australia - with GS and IS sedans affected.

The issue relates to cars built between December 2003 and December 2005 which may have a faulty fuel pipe that could lead to a fuel leakage. Lexus says no accident has been reported as a result of the issue but 39 defects have been reported by drivers

2008 Lexus RX 400h

November 26th, 2007 8 Comments

Lexus has given the RX 400h - the best selling hybrid SUV- a range of specification updates. Hybrid car buyers are a unique bunch of people, they wish to make a difference in the world, but most want to be noticed in the process.

So far Lexus has managed to sell over 1000 Hybrids in Australia and the RX 400h has been leading the charge, accounting for 66% of sales.

2008 Lexus LS 600hL V8 Hybrid

November 12th, 2007 14 Comments

Lexus Australia have launched their flagship LS 600hL hybrid sedan which will hit showroom floors from November 19.

The new long-wheel base sedan features a sophisticated all-wheel-drive V8 hybrid system, the first application of LED low-beam headlights and the world’s first anti-submarining in-seat airbag.

The hybrid system is Lexus’ most powerful ever, combining their highest output petrol and electric motors to produce a combined 327kW of power.

The quad-cam V8 engine alone produces 290kW of power at 6400rpm and 520Nm, however the 650-volt electric motor adds 165kW and an instantaneous 300Nm at zero rpm.

The new LS 600hL does away with the quarter mile in just 14.3-seconds. With 9.3-litre/100km fuel economy, it provides the exhilaration of a V8 without the fuel bill to match.

The unique powertrain also features dual variable valve timing with electric inlet camshaft actuation (VVT-iE) which improves performance and fuel efficiency coupled with lower emissions and vibration.

For the lead-foot drivers also concerned with their carbon footprint, the LS 600hL is rated as a SULEV (super-low emission vehicle) in the United States, with carbon dioxide emission levels at a relatively low 219g/km.

The LS 600hL also features an Intelligent Park Assist System (IPA) - a first for any Australian vehicle. The system combines a rear parking camera and ultrasonic sensors to identify a parking space and calculate the appropriate steering angle to manoeuvre into the spot. Confused? Top Gear explain.

The level of technology is staggering. A world first anti-submarining seat airbag deploys just under the occupant’s knees to reduce forward movement in an accident.

Breakthrough light-emitting diode (LED) low-beam headlamps offer daylight-quality illumination in a split second, which are integrated into Lexus’ new-generation Intelligent Adaptive Front Lighting System (I-AFS), which helps illuminate bends, road junctions and parking spaces.

An advanced quad-zone climate control system features a world first thermal body temperature sensing network which constantly monitors and assesses the body temperature of rear occupants and adjusts individual climate settings for each person through any number of the vehicles 20 air conditioning outlets.

A Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound System tailored specifically for the LS 600hL’s interior offers playback of a variety of media including CD, CD-R/RW, DVD, DVD Audio and DTS 5.1, as well as MP3 and MWA music files, over 19 individual speakers.

The LS 600hL will enter the market with a price tag of $240,000 for the fully specified four seat model, and $233,000 for the five-seat model. Although this still represents a price difference of over $85,000 less than its nearest similarly specified competitor.

“LS 600hL is Lexus’ first long-wheelbase vehicle and as such opens up a whole new clientèle range to us. The premium market will appreciate LS 600hL for its mix of innovation and luxury.”

So just what does it take to become part of this exclusive clientèle? Well mention of the BRW Rich List in the press release should be an indication. With minimum wealth required to join the rich list soaring from $130 million to $180 million, it is perhaps slightly out of reach from your average John Citizen.

Lexus Australia chief executive John Roca has said that demand in the upper luxury market for ‘green’ vehicles had been growing and hybrid technology was in a prime position to meet this demand.

“The LS 600hL luxury hybrid is the perfect vehicle for these customers. The LS 600hL arrives at a time when Super Affluents are looking for a vehicle that complements their values and desires. It reinforces their status while appealing to their sense of social responsibility.”

Keeping the environmentally conscious rich and famous safe during their commute may sound like a daunting task, however the LS 600hL features a raft of safety considerations including a Pre-Collision safety System (PCS) designed to recognise potentially dangerous situations in advance and prepare the vehicle accordingly.

Pre-Collision Brake Assist provides maximum brake pressure the moment the driver activates the brakes in an emergency whilst Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) stiffens the dampers and helps control nose dive when pre-collision braking is engaged, and increases the responsiveness of the vehicle to steering inputs for evasive action.

Active safety includes Lexus’ VDiM system which controls functions such as the electro-hydraulic Electronically Controlled Braking (ECB), ABS anti-lock brakes, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control (TRC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) systems.

Along with all this technology, there are also 11 SRS airbags, which coupled with the aforementioned safety features, combine to achieve class-leading safety in full-frontal, offset, side and rear collisions.

The flagship Lexus will be the most exclusive of the marque’s vehicles, accounting for less than one per cent of total Lexus sales in Australia.

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2008 Lexus LX 570

October 15th, 2007 7 Comments

Although we spent most of our time drooling over the Lexus IS-F, we did make time for another new addition in the Lexus lineup, the all-new LX 570 luxury off-roader.

Set to go on sale in the first quarter of 2008, the third-generation LX will replace the popular LX 470 and bring along more safety features, driving aides and significantly more performance.

Powered by a massive 5.7-litre V8 engine, (estimated at 270kW), the new model will provide 100kW more power than its predecessor. It is also equipped with Lexus’ latest in ABS technology, helping reduce stopping distances on slippery surfaces such as sand or gravel.

2008 Lexus IS-F - M3 Killer?

October 14th, 2007 22 Comments

The entire CarAdvice team awed in amazement at the sight of Lexus’ latest weapon against the Germans. The Sydney Motor Show proudly displays the new IS-F, and as far as first impression go, the Germans have a lot to worry about.

So far Lexus has succeeded where all Japanese ‘luxury’ makers have failed - taking on the Germans. However missing in this incredible portfolio has been a dedicated performance lineup, but it’s here now, the first of Lexus’ new ‘F’ performance vehicles to be offered in Australia .

Much like the introduction of TRD for Lexus’ parent company Toyota, the F performance vehicles have a lot to prove. However unlike TRD and the supercharged Aurion, the Lexus IS-F is an uncompromising rear-wheel-drive monster.

“From the tyres to the gearbox and engine, IS-F has been designed to stimulate the senses and deliver a driving experience that is unheard of in a Lexus. There is no doubt that IS-F will bring a whole new group of customers to the Lexus brand.” Lexus Australia chief executive John Roca said.

Powered by Lexus’ newly developed 5.0-litre V8, the IS-F produces over 300kW and more than 500Nm of torque (exact figures are still a secret). All that power propels the IS-F from 0-100km/h in less than 4.9 seconds, (top speed of 270km/h - governed).

Going by manufacturer figures, this puts the Lexus 0.1 second behind Audi’s RS4 and BMW’s M3 (both 4.8 seconds), the IS-F’s main rivals. The latest M3 has 309Kw and 400Nm of torque, while the current RS4 has 309kW and 430Nm of torque.

Acceleration figures are surprising given the IS-F is driven via the world’s first and fastest production eight-speed Sports Direct Shift (SPDS) gearbox, which can shift in just 0.1 second. But we shouldn’t make a big fuss over 0.1 of a second in official figures.

Features for the IS-F include a special three-stage version of Lexus’ Vehicle Dynamics integrated Management (VDiM) system. The system allows drivers to set VDiM between fully on (Sport mode) or off - for the most experienced of drivers.

Lexus believes the VDiM system will make even the better drivers lap a track faster with it on than off. This should hopefully mean the VDiM works with the driver rather than against.

From the outside, the rear quad tailpipes, wider front guards, larger grille, rear spoiler and unmistakable bonnet bulge will undoubtedly earn the Lexus brand some much needed street-cred, and with the power to back it up, Lexus are about to enter a whole new era.

CarAdvice will bring you a complete road test of the IS-F next year.

2008 Lexus IS-F Specifications

POWERTRAIN
Engine: 5.0-litre DOHC V8
Estimated power: more than 300kW
Estimated torque: more than 470Nm
Transmission: eight-speed Sports Direct Shift transmission with paddle shift manual mode

BRAKES
Front: 360mm ventilated and drilled discs with six-piston opposed aluminium calipers
Rear: 345mm ventilated and drilled discs with two-piston opposed aluminium calipers

WHEELS
Front: 19 x 8-inch BBS forged aluminium rims with 225/40R19 sport tyres
Rear: 19 x 9-inch BBS forged aluminium rims with 255/35R19 sport tyres

PERFORMANCE
0-100km/h: under 4.9 seconds
Top speed: 270km/h (governed)

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