2010 Lexus IS F-Sport in UK

2010 Lexus IS F-Sport

New F-Sport grade
The new F-Sport grade, available for both 2010 Lexus IS F-Sport and 220d models, takes its cue from the high impact styling of the IS F and is positioned in the IS line-up between the established SE-I and SE-L models.

The dedicated 2010 Lexus IS F-Sport exterior features include lowered suspension (IS 250 only), exclusive 18-inch wheels and an IS F-style front grille and rear bootlid spoiler. In the cabin there are aluminium sports pedals, IS F-style sports seats, steering wheel and (on the IS 250 automatic) gear lever. The seats are finished in a combination of Alcantara upholstery with leather side bolsters.

A black-on-black interior colour scheme is complimented by a black headlining and grey stitching detail on the front seats and steering wheel.

F-Sport models share a number of premium equipment features with SE-L grade, including rain-sensing wipers, HID headlights with AFS, 13-speaker audio system and memory settings for the front seats and door mirrors.
Lexus IS prices, insurance and VED

MODEL OTR PRICE INSURANCE
50 group VED BAND
IS 220d SE £24,350 27 F
IS 250 SE manual £24,625 29 L
IS 250 SE automatic £25,285 29 K
IS 220d SE-I £26,610 28 F
IS 250 SE-I manual £26,885 29 L
IS 250 SE-I automatic £27,545 29 K
IS 220d F-Sport £28.290 TBA F
IS 250 F-Sport automatic £29,365 TBA K
IS 220d SE-L £29,075 29 F
IS 250 SE-L automatic £30.150 30 K

Option prices

HDD navigation £2,350
Multimedia package £3,120
ACC/PCS (250 SE-L only) £2,640
DAB audio £360
18-inch Hoshi wheels £1,425
18-inch Baransu wheels £1,425
18-inch Tsuki wheels £1,550
Metallic/mica paint £595

Best overall: Lexus 460L

Lexus 460L
Price: $70,925

Mileage: 24 Hwy, 16 City

Parent company Toyota has been taking its lumps lately, but the carmaker and its luxury division Lexus still makes some very good vehicles. Case in point: the Lexus LS full-size luxury sedan scores a near-flawless 99 on Consumer Reports 100-point scale.

Toyota's recall mess has caused some problems, though. Toyota would have had four cars in this Top 10 list instead of just two. Two vehicles -- the Rav4 and Highlander SUVs -- have had their recommendations suspended as a result of recalls that resulted in "stop sale" orders by the carmaker.

Lexus Planning Wagon For Next-Gen IS

Some of you will remember that from 2001 to 2005, Lexus sold a wagon variant of the IS, dubbed SportCross. Unfortunately, relatively dismal sales numbers didn't really make a business case for keeping that car alive, and Lexus canned it when the second-generation IS debuted in 2006. However, all hope of seeing a SportCross redux has not been lost – Autocar is reporting that the third-generation IS, set to arrive in 2011, could spawn a wagon variant once again.

Now, let's be realistic. If Lexus does build an IS SportCross again, it probably won't make it to American soil. Why? In Europe, wagons are hot sellers, with the BMW 3 Series Touring and Audi A4 Avant leading the pack. Lexus even admits that not offering a wagon in Europe has hurt overall sales of the car. Mercedes-Benz made a similar decision with the current-generation C-Class to only offer the wagon version in Europe, while in previous years, the C-Class Estate could be found at American dealerships as well.

Lexus CT 200h Hybrid Hatchback Planned for the US

The Lexus CT 200h Hybrid hatchback is planned to coming to the U.S. market, and will have a starting price under $40K.

When Toyota debuted the production version of its Lexus CT 200h compact hybrid late last month, it was almost certainly destined to be a European-only vehicle. European buyers love smaller vehicles and hatchbacks in general, and the vehicle didn’t seem likely to appeal to the buying tastes of traditional U.S. Lexus buyers.

However, that doesn’t appear to be the case now. Following the success of its midsize Lexus HS 250h hybrid which slots in below ES 350, Toyota has confirmed that the compact CT 200h will come to the U.S. in 2011. According to Edmunds Inside Line, Lexus officials in the U.S. practically had to beg the execs in Japan to get the sporty vehicle to appeal to a younger clientele.

BMW has the 1-Series, Audi has the A3, and the U.S. officials too wanted a vehicle in the same mold. With the exception of the IS range and the ultra-exotic LFA, Lexus doesn’t have anything in its lineup that would exactly raise the pulse of many younger buyers.

Lexus launches GX460 SUV in UAE

Lexus GX460 has been launched in the UAE

The new Lexus GX460, showcased at December’s Dubai Motor Show, has been launched in the Middle East.

The GX460, based on the fourth generation Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, combines the inherent strengths of the off-roader with luxury and prestige of a Lexus. The SUV will fill the gap between the high-end LX570 and the crossover RX350.

The GX460 shares most of its underpinnings with the Toyota Prado including the 292bhp, 4.6-litre V8 engine, the six-speed automatic transmission with 4WD and all the off-road oriented techno wizardry.

However, it sets itself apart from the Prado thanks to a mildly revised exterior and plush interior, which are differently laid out than the Prado. Premium plastics, wood trim, chrome and leather abound giving the cabin an upmarket feel.

The Lexus comes in a choice of three dual combination interior colours. The third row seats feature a power flush-with-floor function, which automatically folds and stows the seats flush with the floor at the touch of a button. The GX460 also comes loaded with a Mark Levinson 17-speaker system and headrest-mounted displays in the second row as part of the Rear Seat Entertainment system in the top end model.

2010 Lexus GX 460

Lexus, and its parent company, Toyota, seem bent on producing an SUV or crossover for every possible market niche. Between the two, if you count the Matrix (which is basically a small crossover), they offer no fewer than 10 distinct models.

Filling the gap between Lexus's car-based RX crossover and its top-dog LX SUV, the mid-sized Lexus GX line has been with us for more than six years. Still, you'd be forgiven for not ever having seen one; of the 15,802 vehicles Lexus sold in 2009, just 198 were GX 470s. Admittedly, this was the final year of that model's cycle; after a thorough redesign for 2010, Lexus expects to sell 600 GX 460s.

Those who follow such things may have noticed the slight name change. In Lexus nomenclature, model names for non-hybrids reflect their engines' displacement, and last year's 4.7-litre V8 has been replaced by a 4.6-litre unit.

This is not a loss. Essentially the flagship LS 460's engine, the GX 460's "1UR-FE" V8 provides gains of 38 horsepower and six lb.-ft. of torque (to 301 and 329, respectively), while returning 11 per cent better fuel economy. Lexus claims that at 14.1 L/100 km in the city and 9.8 L/100 km on the highway (20/29 m.p.g.), it's best-in-class, although the GX does still require premium fuel. Unfortunately, there are no official plans to join similar models from Mercedes and Audi in offering a diesel alternative.

Lexus CT 200h breaks cover

First official pictures of Japanese 1-Series released ahead of its Geneva show debut

The hybrid revolution is gathering momentum! These are the first official pictures of the Lexus CT 200h - the firm's first compact five-door car and the first full hybrid to enter a segment that until now has been ruled by the BMW 1-Series and Audi A3.

Previewed by the LF-Ch Concept shown at Frankfurt last year, the production car, which will debut at Geneva next week, has retained many of the show car's design cues, albeit toned down for the showroom. Up front there's Lexus' familiar family face, but the rest of the hatchback design, including a stylish wraparound rear windscreen, represents new territory for the Japanese manufacturer.

The cabin uses a plethora of luxury materials to compete with its premium rivals, and there's a useful 700-litres of boot space with the rear seats folded. Infotainment features are displayed on the eight-inch LCD screen and controlled via the Remote Touch pad which works much like a computer mouse.

Lexus already has ten years experience with hybrids and the CT 200h uses the latest iteration of the technology. A 1.8-litre VVTi petrol engine works alongside a electric motor to produce similar performance to a 2.0-litre engine, but class-leading CO2 emissions. The system is capable of working in petrol and electric modes alone, as well as a combination of both.