Lexus has brought several models to the Tokyo Auto Salon to show what a little tuning can do for some of its cars.
Alongside the CT200h F Sport, which was first revealed at the Australian Motor Show back in October, Lexus also featured at the show two versions of the IS F - the CCS-R (Circuit Club Sport Racer) and Club Performance Accessory.
The IS F CCS-R is a true racer and comes with carbon fiber body panels which include the bonnet, boot lid and front and rear spoilers. It is fitted with a new frameless constructed roll cage and polycarbonate windows. Carbon fiber is also used for the dash center console and door trims. The CCS-R has a 6-point safety harness and short-diameter steering wheel.
For performance on the track the CCS-R has been fited with race suspension, brakes, cooling and exhaust systems, a mechanical limited-slip differential and forged alloy rims with racing tires.
The IS F Club Performance Accessory, courtesy of TRD (Toyota Racing Department), comes with front and rear spoilers, rear diffuser and a carbon fiber hood. The model also makes use of carbon fiber inside the cabin and features orange sports seats. The IS F Club Performance Accessory is fitted with sport suspension and brakes, titanium exhaust, magnesium rims and also comes with a mechanical limited-slip differential.
Source: Lexus
Lexus at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon
Review: 2010 Lexus LS460 Sport could'a been a contenda
With Lexus having carefully cultivated a reputation for isolating drivers from all of the undignified sensations normally associated with driving, it might seem surprising to find a Sport model in the LS lineup. Sure, Lexus offers the M3-chasing IS F, as well as the outrageous LFA supercar, but an LS460 Sport? Come on... even sport-synonymous BMW doesn't offer an M version of its full-size 7 Series luxobarge.
BMW does offer, however, an Alpina B7, as well as a BMW M5. There's also the Cadillac CTS-V, Audi S6 and S8, and a whole undercard of Mercedes-Benz AMG cars out there that prove there is a market for sports-tuned large sedans like this 2010 Lexus LS460 Sport. You certainly can't begrudge Lexus for trying to steal a slice of that more stiffly-sprung, high-test pie – but is it just promoters' hype or can this LS Sport really float like a butterfly and sting like a bee?
Whereas the hard-edged CTS-V makes the plain-jane CTS look like a rental fleet darling, the LS460 Sport doesn't look a whole lot different from the regular LS460. There are some cool 19-inch split ten-spoke wheels, little aero bits all around and a blacked out panel between the exhaust tips. There's also a carbon fiber-esque field behind that big "L" on the black mesh grille. Other than that, you'd have to look inside to see any changes.
Open the door, though, and you're treated to a view like no other in the Lexus lineup, or anywhere else for that matter. Lexus has chosen a black and saddle color scheme with unpolished wood accents as the sole interior "choice" for the Sport. It is exceedingly handsome in a cigar lounge kind of way (you can practically smell the Cohibas). It's not just a pretty face, either. The interior layout is flat-out well-designed and flawlessly executed, and we'd be hard pressed to think of a luxury sedan with better materials or workmanship costing less than six figures.
Aside from having GQ-worthy looks, the interior offers one big clue to this model's sporting nature: those metallic paddle shifters flanking the steering column, a first in the LS. The transmission behind them is the same one found in the IS F, an eight-speed automatic that provides quick, seamless cog swaps and even blips the throttle on downshifts, just like a real sports sedan. The paddles are a pleasure to work with and add a sporty feel to the driving experience – even if most buyers will never find a need to use them. And honestly, the eight-speed automatic never disappoints.
That gearbox manages power from the same 4.6-liter V8 found in the rest of the LS460 lineup. It's no slouch with 380 horsepower – but would a token bump in power be too much to ask? Competitors usually add at least a little extra punch in their sport models. We had the LS460 Sport during a week of uncharacteristically torrential rains, but still managed to find enough gaps in the downpours to play a few rounds of dodge-the-mudslide. There's more than enough power to make any passing maneuver or stop light getaway smooth and swift, even if the tarmac is a bit slick. We don't think the weather affected it much, but mileage was decent with an overall average of 17.8 miles per gallon and a highway stretch that returned 26.2 mpg at a steady 65 miles per hour.
We had driven the Sport back-to-back with the standard LS on our first drive down in San Diego and could readily feel the steering and suspension tweaks. Here in the real world without another LS at the ready, the differences were less noticeable. The bigger wheels and lower profile tires harsh the ride's mellow a bit, but it's barely worth mentioning. The retuning of the steering, however, is definitely worth talking about.
While Lexus isn't generally known for its precise or natural steering feel, the LS460 Sport adds some heft to steering motions that makes the car feel more connected to the road, a very welcome change. That, coupled with the suspension revisions and swank interior, make this the LS we'd most like to own.
Nevertheless, we can't decide if we really liked the Sport package itself or simply using the sport mode on the suspension selector that you'll find on all LS models. The car is oddly detached until you fiddle with that three-position switch on the center console. Clicking the rocker over from normal to comfort makes the ride a bit cushier and slightly springy, although not sloppy. This is the perfect choice for broken local roads during regular commuter duty. Switching it over to Sport...wel,l that was what made this LS bob and weave like a champ in the making.
While San Diego's ripple-free highways didn't upset the ride during our first drive, this go-round the ride was considerably rougher in Sport. It was almost too harsh on the same pothole-strewn commute, but on twisty backroads or through the canyons, the Sport setting kept this big boulevardier flat and stable. Even bumps through high-speed sweepers didn't faze it with those meaty 245/45R19 Dunlops keeping the LS planted. In those situations, the LS Sport actually feels like a genuine sports sedan – not an AMG E63 or M5, but certainly closer to the BMW 750i or Audi A8. It even stops like a sports sedan thanks to upgraded Brembo brakes that scrub off speed without drama – no dive and no fade.
The mechanical changes in this Sport package include the brakes, flappy paddle transmission, 19-inch wheels, re-tuned suspension, thicker stabilizer bars and upgraded shocks. With the $6,185 Lexus is charging for the Sport package, the MSRP climbs to around $72,000. Our Obsidian black tester also had the Luxury Value Edition (Mark Levinson stereo and navigation) for $2,080 and another two grand tacked on for the Comfort Package with Sport, which seems a bargain for climate-controlled front seats, power rear sunshade, rear heated seats, headlamp washers, intuitive parking assist, power door closers and a one-touch power trunklid. Our total tab was $76,014.
Some of the features on this Lexus can be alarming if you're stepping out of a run-of-the-mill family sedan, but most are the norm in this class. Take the navigation, for instance. As we mentioned earlier, we had this loaner during some historic rainfall. During a particularly stormy freeway drive, the navi actually began warning us of inclement weather ahead, going so far as to suggest alternate routes. It did that with heavy traffic as well, a feature that seems so natural after a short while that you can't imagine how anybody survives without it. The system takes and gives audio commands, handles phone calls, even keeps an eye on your stock portfolio thanks to the 90-day XM satellite radio trial subscription you get as part of the deal.
The trunk opens and closes with a touch of a button, the rear sunshade is power operated, the sideview mirrors fold in automatically when you park, the seats are air-conditioned, cameras aid your parking – the car talks to you and you to it – it's amazing how cars have changed in just a few short decades. At the end of the day, though, all of these features emphasize the fact that the Lexus LS460 is a luxury car first and foremost. The Sport package helps this light heavyweight spar with the big boys – and it can even land a few good shots – but it's not going to steal the championship belt anytime soon.
So... who will buy this package for their new Lexus? The company thinks most of the sales will come from existing Lexus customers, maybe the guys (and gals?) who want the sportiest driving experience in their LS. Disgruntled Audi, BMW and Mercedes owners might push sales a bit higher too, but the Lexus doesn't have the same street rep as the Germans and the Sport badge doesn't do a lot to impress the average Joe.
The 2010 Lexus LS460 Sport does handle well, especially in Sport mode, but the issue we take is that we believe these should be the basic suspension and steering settings on all LS models. The Sport package merely brings the handling and driving experience up to the level of base model luxury sedans from Cadillac and the German Big Three. The Sport should be taking things even further, not just playing catch-up. We'd have no reservations in recommending the LS Sport, but for someone expecting a true heavyweight contender, we'd suggest keeping it to a three-round sparring exhibition.
More Lexus Cars in Luxury Auto Blog:
+ Review: 2009 Lexus IS F pursues perfection, might need more personality
+ First Drive: 2010 Lexus RX
+ Lexus confirms 2010 RX SUV, IS Convertible and updated LS for L.A. Auto Show
+ Lexus RX Getting Bigger And Seven-seat RX coming
Review: 2009 Lexus IS F pursues perfection, might need more personality
The Lexus IS F is the sole Japanese contender in a crowd of compact high-performance sport sedans. Boasting a full complement of performance upgrades, including a 5.0-liter V8 mated to a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, the 416-horsepower sedan blasts to 60 mph in well under five seconds. But the stats only tell part of the tale. Do the sum of the IS F's parts make it a contender against the best from Germany and America? Let's find out.
The first Lexus IS rolled into showrooms about a decade ago. The rear-wheel drive sedan sported a silky 3.0-liter inline-six (2JZ-GE) and went head-to-head against the standard BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4. A fine compact sedan under anyone's scrutiny, the first-generation IS only offered one engine. Lacking a factory-tuned performance variant, it was forced to sit on the sidelines and watch as the competition's high-performance M3, C43, and S4 frolicked through America's canyons and race circuits.
First Drive: 2010 Lexus RX
"The RX is arguably our most iconic vehicle." Those are the words of Lexus group vice president and general manager Mark Templin, who made the claim at the 2010 Lexus RX's press preview in Northern California. More symbolic than the IS, the GS, and even the LS, the lux sedan that spearheaded Lexus's U.S. launch in 1989 and sent the Europeans back to the drawing boards? According to Templin, it's entirely possible.
Perhaps he's right; since the RX 300 created the luxury-crossover segment in 1998 and the RX 400h -- the first hybrid luxury crossover -- turned gas pumps cold in 2005, consumers have often referred to the RX as the Lexus SUV or the Lexus hybrid, despite the fact that there are other notable sport/utes and hybrids in Lexus's lineup. Plus, RX sales numbers don't lie: Through November 2008, it was Lexus's best-selling vehicle not to mention the best-selling luxury SUV in the U.S.
Lexus confirms 2010 RX SUV, IS Convertible and updated LS for L.A. Auto Show
The Los Angeles Auto Show will play host to the world premiere of the 2010 Lexus RX SUV, with the Japanese luxury brand confirming today that both the new RX 450h hybrid and RX 350 will be on show at next week’s event. You can check out previously leaked images of the 2010 Lexus RX SUVs here, which reveal a longer, wider, and taller model than the current version.
Recently revealed at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, the 2010 IS Convertible will also be making its North American debut in L.A. The IS 250C and IS 350C convertibles feature a lightweight aluminum three-panel roof, which means that they should be heavier and less rigid than their sedan counterparts. The IS 250C will come with a 2.5L 204hp (152kW) V6 engine mated to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, while the IS 350C gets a 3.5L, 306hp (228kW) V6 with a six-speed automatic.
Lexus RX Getting Bigger And Seven-seat RX coming
Bigger is better at Lexus. Our exclusive picture shows that the next RX will be larger than the current model – and it could even be offered as a seven-seater for the first time.
Despite this, the Japanese firm is likely to take a conservative approach to the newcomer’s styling. It will feature swept-back headlamps and the trademark Lexus grille, while the distinctive curved roof of the existing car will also be retained. Our spy shot (below) shows that the replacement’s underpinnings are already being fine-tuned in a test mule wearing the current SUV’s body.
At first glance, it looks like any other RX, but close inspection reveals that the rear lights no longer sit flush with the bodywork. That’s because the panels have been widened to account for the new platform’s bigger dimensions. This added size could pave the way for an optional third row of seats, which would put the Lexus up against BMW’s X5 when it arrives in dealers in 2009.
The new 4x4 likely to debut at that year’s Tokyo Motor Show because, although the biggest market for the RX is the US, the model will be the first SUV in Japan to wear a Lexus badge. The current generation is called the Toyota Harrier in its home market.
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