New Lexus RX450h 2011

Lexus RX450h has been completely redesigned for 2010, and Lexus has introduced minor changes to the year 2011. Over the years, Lexus has been setting the standard for the crossover segment, Lexus decided that messing with success is not the way to go.

The new RX is grown in almost all its dimensions than previous generations, but the end result is a better looking vehicle overall. While the previous generation RX looked bubble, the new RX has sharp bends and its maximum and then give an attractive appearance.

The new RX headlights, taillights and grille are much more aerodynamic and a spoiler mounted on the roof gives it a sporty look. Lexus identifies with hybrid formations Logos blue-trimmed, tinted headlights, tail lights and our test vehicle also came with 19-inch wheels. We think Lexus has done a great job in refining the exterior of the 2011 RX450h and it's really a vehicle other than looking over the competition.

Lexus 450h shares the inside with his brother, non-hybrid, the only difference is the display that shows information about hybrid. Like any other Lexus, the interior quality is first rate and the RX is loaded with high-tech options such as heads-up display, CD changer, navigation with Bluetooth audio and XM Satellite Radio. The best thing about the RX is the Remote Controller that really puts the Touch iDrive and similar systems to shame. We played with the controller and were amazed to see how simple life can be.

RX 450h is powered by 3.5 liter V6 is carried over from last year's model with the combined production of 295 horses. The Atkinson cycle V6 with the help of electric motors hour increases fuel economy by about 10% over the previous generation RX. Lexus engineers have mounted a DC 288V Ni-MH battery under the rear seats that receives power from two or three engines, depending on FWD or AWD configurations.

Overall, we believe that Lexus has really learned this segment of the crossover and now with a hybrid variant are a force to reckon with. It 's true that there is someone available for Highlander Hybrid does not want to spend more than $ 51K, but Lexus has a cult following. In this day and age we all pay for the brand and Lexus RX450h is no different. So if you have a small family and are cautious green then RX450h is a perfect purchase. It is a crossover of performance, but anyone in the market for a hybrid is well aware of this fact. We really think that Lexus RX450h is for someone who cares about energy efficiency, yet still want luxury - Lexus RX450h is exactly that!

 source: Lexus Press

2011 Lexus GX460 Exterior Photos

2011 Lexus GX460

2011 Lexus GX460 Engine

2011 Lexus GX460 Trunk

2010 Lexus RX450h Exterior Photos

2010 Lexus RX450h

2010 Lexus RX450h Trunk

Lexus CT 200h – RM168,000 OTR

If you’ve been thinking of owning a new Lexus for under 200 grand, well, here’s some cheery news. The soon-to-arrive Lexus CT 200h hybrid will go for just RM168,000, on the road without insurance, according to the Lexus Malaysia website, which has put up the pricing for the hatchback. That’s for the standard CT 200h, with a Luxury version slated to pop in as well at RM196,500, also OTR without insurance.

The vehicle – in either guise – is powered by the same powertrain combination as found on the ZVW30 Prius: the 2ZR-FXE 1.8 litre Atkinson cycle petrol block – which develops 98 hp at 5,200 rpm and 142 Nm at 4,000 rpm – and permanent magnet synchronous motor/168-cell NiMh electric drivetrain, which offers 80 hp and 207 Nm, together offering a combined total output of 134 hp.

Specifications-wise, common to the two CT 200h variants coming into Malaysia are perforated leather seats (with seat heaters), dual-zone air conditioning, cruise control as well as a six-speaker Lexus Premium Audio system for the basic and a 10-speaker one for the Luxury model, among other things.

There’s also the usual host of safety assist kit, these being ABS, BA, VSC, TRC and EBD, along with eight airbags and rear seat Isofix points, and the car will come wearing 16-inch wheels with 205/55 series tyres.

In what might be an effort to get the price to where it’s at, there’s a bit of fare that’s been omitted in the stock CT 200h – the headlamps are halogen units (the Luxury gets LED lamps), and the driver and passenger seat adjustment is of the manual variety (the driver’s seat on the Luxury is powered).

Elsewhere, there’s no smart entry, Electro Multi Vision (EMV) screen, rain sensing wipers or rear reverse camera on the basic CT 200h, all of which are of course to be found on the Luxury variant, and the additional RM28,500 for the latter also bags you a Lexus navigation system and remote touch controller on top of the above items.

Nonetheless, it’s an achievement, a Lexus for that price in its standard guise. More when the car is launched, undoubtedly, but one can sense some hamsters running already.

New and Future Lexus Cars

Recession or not, here I come!

Just like you, we always want to know what's coming next from Detroit, Tokyo, Stuttgart, Munich, Los Angeles, and all the other places where automotive engineers and designers dream and scheme on our behalf. Car companies, of course, are loath to share information on new products lest their competitors try to copy them--or you decide not to buy the cars they already have on dealer lots. Car companies, though, are simply groups of people, and some of them have a hard time keeping secrets. So, we poke, we prod, we cajole, and we uncover information that becomes the basis for our annual Sneak Preview issue. As always, some of our information is educated guesswork based on hints, insinuations, hunches. Make no mistake, though, these cars are on their way, even though details may change. Ladies and gentlemen: our list of 136 cars coming over the next few years Did you think that the worldwide economic meltdown meant that Toyota was canceling its long-planned LF-A supercar project? Think again. The LF-A is a pet project of new chief Akio Toyoda and therefore remains very much on track. In fact, we'll finally see the production-spec car at the Tokyo Motor Show this October, and the V-10-engined coupe will go on sale late in 2010. With the car's development costs ballooning way beyond initial estimates due to increased use of carbon fiber and other exotic materials, a very limited production run is planned. After the LF-A is introduced, the company will take orders for about a year, deliver a predetermined number of cars (fewer than 1000 units is a good guess), and then cease production, going out on a high note. How much money are we talking? Well over $300,000, which puts the LF-A firmly in Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano and Lamborghini Murciélago territory.

Actual performance statistics remain murky at this point, but we know that the LF-A will look essentially like the front-engine concept from the 2007 Detroit auto show, and it will be powered by a V-10 making in excess of 500 hp.

SPORT MEETS THE 2009 LEXUS IS350

To follow up on the IS300/Altezza story that was published earlier today on Speedhunters, I thought I'd post up a new car story, featuring this newly revamped 2009 Lexus IS350, which is built up with F-Sport accessories. In case you haven't yet heard of F-Sport, it's the newly branded line of performance parts available from Lexus - basically the same concept as TRD parts for Toyotas, but for the Lexus brand.

As almost all our readers know, I'm a huge fan of, and owner of several Toyota/Lexus vehicles. I recently heard from a friend at Lexus that the corporate offices just received the kouki (late model) versions of the IS350s, which had minor exterior revisions from the early, or zenki model, so I asked him if I could stop by the office and see the newly re-done IS.

The subtle differences in Toyota's zenki and kouki (before and after minor change) models are often difficult to to spot unless you have both cars right next to each other, so I thought I'd just explain some of the new styling differences in the cars. New for 2009, Lexus revised the IS model's front bumper and front grill. While I like the overall sporty appearance of the front grill and bumper, I'm quite honestly a bit saddened by the fact that there isn't an available front lip spoiler at the moment, due to the bumper redesign. I sure hope someone makes a bumper lip kit pretty soon. Vertex lower lip kit, anyone?

Aside from the exterior changes, this F-Sport equipped IS350 also comes fully equipped with the F-Sport suspension, which consists of TRD/Bilstein shocks, F-Sport lowering springs, F-Sport rear chassis brace, larger diameter F-Sport sway bars and polyurethane bushings. Nice! These suspension improvements will surely make a difference in the high and low speed handling of the F-Sport equipped IS models, as if the IS350 didn't handle well enough already! This is great news!

Wheels are important for the looks and performance of any car. This new F-Sport equipped IS350 features new lightweight forged alloy wheels with a staggered fitment - specifically, 19x8J up front with 225/35/R19 tires. The matching back wheels are actually 19x9J; I think it would look awesome to have 19x9J wheels all the way around the car. That would look awesome, due to the inceased fat lip of the wheels, from front to back. Aggressive.

Even when randomly glancing at the car, it's impossible not to notice the F-Sport brake upgrade, which consists of 6-piston calipers and cross drilled 355mm rotors, which are mounted on very nice looking black anodized aluminum hubs. Stainless steel braided brake lines also replace the factory rubber lines for added stopping performance - no danger of the brake lines expanding and bulging when the brake fluid gets hot from use on the racetrack or your favorite winding road.

New for 2009 models, Lexus has this slick looking turn signal incorporated into the side mirrors. I think these mirrors will be an extremely cool upgrade for owners of first generation IS250s and IS350s.

Inside the car, D-mode paddle shifting functions behind the steering wheel have been added to the normal IS350s, as well as contrast stitching on the door panels, leather covered center console/armrest lid and seats. Very nice way to step up the styling of the car, Lexus! As if it weren't classy enough. IS350 owners with high attention to detail may notice that the center panel instrument cluster is different as well.

While I prefer driving the 6-speed manual transmission version of the IS, I must admit, the automatic version is pretty fun to drive as well, especially with the paddle shifters. Nice looking shift knob and center console too.

If you look closely, you can notice the double contrast stitching on the leather seats and center console armrests. It's details like this that make me like Lexus a whole lot.

If you look closely, you can notice the double contrast stitching on the leather seats and center console armrests. It's details like this that make me like Lexus a whole lot.

Even though the particular IS350 F-Sport in the photos doesn't have it installed, Lexus makes an additional optional F-Sport carbon fiber engine cover for the IS350. Although, to be extremely honest, I don't see the point in paying big money for a carbon fiber piece that just covers your engine. It doesn't make the IS350 perform better, but I'm sure some people out there will buy it just because.

Even though the particular IS350 F-Sport in the photos doesn't have it installed, Lexus makes an additional optional F-Sport carbon fiber engine cover for the IS350. Although, to be extremely honest, I don't see the point in paying big money for a carbon fiber piece that just covers your engine. It doesn't make the IS350 perform better, but I'm sure some people out there will buy it just because.

What I think does matter for performance, however, is the addition of the slick looking F-Sport intake system, which has a high flow air filter, and nicely badged piping system, as we can see here in the photo. Whoever designed that metal F badge did a hell of a good job. And I never like anyone's logos! Good job as usual, Lexus.

For the 2009 model year, the rear bumper of the IS350 has been revised, as well as the taillights.

From here, you can see the flat lip on the 19x9J rear wheels, which have 255/35/R19s mounted to them. Like I mentioned before, I think I'd like to see these 19x9s all the way around, with 225s mounted to them. That would look awesome, especially if the car was lowered a couple more inchers, and used spacers to improve the offset. You could do that, too... because these F-Sport accessories are just accessories, there's nothing stopping you from ordering rear F-Sport wheels only, especially if you're ordering the wheels from an easy-to-deal-with Toyota parts counter guy like Herb at Cabe Toyota in Long Beach, or Jay at Glendora Toyota.

The exhaust uses polished stainless steel pipes and mufflers, and looks pretty nice with the exhaust tip style subtly placed under the bumper. Don't worry about getting pulled over by the local five-oh though... this exhaust system is certified street legal, and doesn't affect emissions compliance, and isn't too loud either - it is under the 95 decibel legal limit. So take that, officer. Go harrass someone else.

All in all, the F-Sport equipped Lexus IS250 and IS350 are really well done in my opinion. The big brakes and suspension modifications drastically improve the high speed and low speed cornering characteristics of the car, while retaining the smooth and luxurious Lexus ride quality. Even though installing an aftermarket intake system and exhaust are very simple mods, the beauty of the F-Sport packaged IS250 and IS350 is that the car comes with better-than-stock looking wheels, amazing big brakes, engine performance bolt-ons, and a good all-around suspension setup... and everything can be financed from the dealer as part of your monthly payment plan.

Good job, Lexus. I honestly think that the IS series cars are great for daily driving, and even more so if they are F-Sport equipped! Now the only difficult question is... which one to choose? IS250 F-Sport, IS350 F-Sport, or the monstrous ISF? Either one is pretty effin sporty.