Lexus to lose top spot in U.S. luxury car market

2011 Lexus RX 450h

CHICAGO, July 8, 2011 - Toyota Motor Corp's brand Lexus will end its streak of 11 years as the top luxury brand in the U.S. market due to lost sales in the aftermath of the Japan earthquake and tsunami, said Mark Templin, Lexus Division general manager.


Templin said Lexus U.S. sales will fall about 17 percent to around 190,000 vehicles in 2011.

The United States is the biggest market for Lexus.

All Lexus models, except the RX 350 crossover sport utility vehicle, are made in Japan.

Templin said the Cambridge, Ontario plant that makes the RX 350 will be back at full capacity in September.

Most Japanese plants assembling Lexus models have already returned to full strength.

However, the RX 450h hybrid SUV will not be at full production until October. The hybrid is typically 15 percent to 20 percent of RX sales in the U.S. market.

Lexus U.S. sales fell 38 percent in June as dealers ran out of key products. At the end of the month, dealers had about half their normal stock.

"June was the bottom of the trough, and we've turned the corner. We see the rest of the year being much better for us," Templin said, speaking to reporters at a Lexus media event in Chicago.

Lexus sales tumbled 18 percent in the first half of 2011 to 88,010, and German rivals BMW and Daimler AG's (DAIGn.DE) Mercedes-Benz sprinted by.

BMW's sales rose 13 percent to 113,705, and Mercedes-Benz climbed 7 percent to 110,926. If 2011 full year results end as expected, it would be the first time that BMW has outsold Lexus in the U.S. since 1997.

Templin shrugged off the significance of losing the luxury sales crown, and when asked if Lexus could reclaim the top spot in 2012, he said.

"Whether we're No. 1 or not, I don't care. We've never focused on that. We won't change our plan midyear because someone else is selling more cars than us."

BUICK SYNDROME?

Industry analyst Aaron Bragman of IHS Automotive Insight said on Friday the slump at Lexus goes deeper than a shortage of vehicles. He suggested that Lexus could suffer from the same stigma as did General Motors Co's Buick brand for the past several decades: old people's car.

Bragman said it would be "quite a challenge" for Lexus to reclaim No. 1 in luxury sales in 2012 even with full production because its lineup is not as alluring as it once was and it relies heavily on two models, the RX 350 and ES 350 sedan, a spinoff of the Toyota Camry.

The RX so far this year accounts for 45 percent of Lexus U.S. sales and the ES sedan 19 percent.

"Like Toyota, they've lost their momentum. They have an aging buyer base, and a lot of their dealers are afraid they will become the next Buick. Their new products haven't resonated with younger buyers."

The median buyer age for Lexus is in the mid-50s, and Templin said he is comfortable with that because it is a result of high loyalty.

Sportier models such as the IS sedan and CT hybrid sedan are attracting younger owners, said Templin.

[Source : RUETERS]

Lexus reveals Unique Royal Wedding LS 600h L Landaulet

Lexus LS 600h Landaulet

• One-off coachbuilt limousine to be used on the occasion of the wedding of Prince Albert of Monaco on 2 July
• Full hybrid powertrain will allow the car to operate in zero-emissions mode for most of the newlyweds’ tour of the principality
• Landaulet styling uses a one-piece transparent roof manufactured using advanced technologies from the aerospace industry

COLOGNE : June 24, 2011 - A unique, full hybrid Lexus LS 600h Landaulet fitted with a one-piece transparent polycarbonate roof will serve as the official royal wedding car when His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco marries Carlene Wittstock in Monte Carlo on 2 July.

The conversion was undertaken by Belgian coachbuilder Carat Duchatelet, working closely with Lexus engineers based in Brussels. The project took more than 2,000 hours to complete, with a focus on maintaining the levels of quality and technological sophistication that are fundamental to every Lexus, and preserving the performance, safety and dynamic attributes of the original LS 600h L.

The process began with computer-aided design calculation, simulations and 3D modelling. Reinforcing the bodyshell required extensive use of honeycomb structures Kevlar and carbon fibre composite materials to achieve suitable chassis stiffness and torsional rigidity following the removal of the roof and pillars.

Composite parts have to be cured at very high temperatures and these were literally ‘cooked’ on to the bare chassis in a specially prepared oven. This meant that first, much of the vehicle had to be dismantled, with around 20,000 mechanical parts, electric component and interior features and upholstery being stripped out. Re-assembly was carried out under close supervision of a Lexus engineering team to ensure consistency with original vehicle specifications and performance. Prior to re-assembly, the car was finished in an elegant Midnight Blue livery, applied by hand using several coats of a bespoke, water-based paint, adding to the car’s environmental credentials.

The transparent roof presented a challenge in both design, as a large, single piece with no reinforcements or pillars, and in manufacturing. To make the roof, Lexus sought co-operation with a French company that specialises in supplying similar components to the aerospace industry, such as helicopter windscreens and fighter jet canopies.

The roof is a single, lightweight polycarbonate shell that is 8mm thick and weighs just 26kg. Fixed to the body of the Lexus through two intermediary parts, it allows a perfect view in and out of the car.

A template was made in a honeycomb structure and carbon fibre to validate the roof’s shape and structural integrity and to ensure a perfect fit with tolerances of less than 1mm. Once the design was complete, robotic tools were used to produce the canopy and fit it to the Landaulet in a completely automated process.

The final stage of the conversion, re-assembly and finishing took a team of 10 specialists working with Lexus engineers more than two weeks to complete, to ensure the highest quality levels were achieved.

On the day of the wedding the LS 600h Landaulet will be used by the royal couple to tour the principality after the marriage ceremony. For most of this distance the car will operate in its fully electric mode, with zero tailpipe emissions. After the celebrations the car will be displayed at the Media Centre and later the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco.

Images : Lexus LS 600h Landaulet

[Source : LEXUS]

Lexus announced GAZOO racing LFA for 2011 ADAC 24h-race with Andre Lotterer

GAZOO Racing - Lexus LFA ADAC 24h-race

COLOGNE : June 21, 2011 - Gazoo Lexus and start racing next weekend for the fourth consecutive year with two sports cars of the type "LFA" ADAC 24h-race at the Nurburgring.Lexus LFA both start in the SP8 class for near-standard vehicles from four liters of displacement.Body and chassis of the cars are like the street legal vehicle with carbon fiber reinforced plastic.A built-in 4.8-liter V10 naturally aspirated cylinder front-engine drives the rear wheels.The engine reached a peak in Serientrim power of 412 kW (560 hp) at 8700 rpm - enough for a top speed of 325 km / h. The race version has to Fulfill The "balance of performance 'of rules, each with two 34.2 mm diameter air flow be fitted. The prescribed minimum weight of the vehicle is 1450 kg with Significantly higher than for any of the top favorites for overall victory.

Andre Lotterer (GER)

The most prominent driver of the Gazoo Racing team is the Andre Lotterer(GER). He won two weeks ago, the 24-hour race at Le Mans. Lotterer, very successfully for years with Toyota and Lexus in the Japanese Formula Nippon and Super GT championship, is committed to on LFA cockpit forward to the long distance specialists Juichi Wakisaka and Takayuki Kinoshita.Your minimum goal is the class win, with an optimal course of the race, despite the weight Disadvantage as a top-10 ranking in the overall classification is within reach.

The second LFA is controlled by team manager Akira Iida and two young riders from the Toyota "Young Drivers Program," Kazuya Ohshima and Hiroaki Ishiura.Akira Iida occurs as a driver and team manager as manager for the successor to the legendary TMC "Master Test Driver" Hiromu Naruse, who in 2010 died in a tragic car accident.Both cars are looked after by a team of engineers and mechanics from the development department for production cars.Their experiences on the most demanding racetrack in the world wants to contribute to the termination of their "side jobs" at the 24-race to drive the quality level of the already sophisticated Lexus cars to continue on the tip of what is technically feasible.

At the ADAC 24 hour race of 2010, one appointed by the LFA Gazoo Racing class was won by the SP8 and 18 Place in the overall standings. Its fastest lap was incubated with 8.55.stopped.When the VLN endurance race 2011 the Gazoo racing at the Nurburgring LFA showed a strong early form: two class wins in the SP8 and a fifth place overall in the last VLN race are already impact.Min with 8.29.is the fastest lap time of the LFA.

[Source : LEXUS - German auto translated]

Lexus announced the new LS 460 Touring Edition

2011 Lexus LS460 Touring Edition

• Limited Units Will Be Produced
• Features Sport Body Kit
• Sport Seats, Wood and Leather Steering Wheel

TORRANCE, Calif. : June 17, 2011 – Lexus today announced the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $73,000 for the 2011 LS 460 Touring Edition (rear wheel drive model) which will arrive at dealerships in late June/early July. The MSRP does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $875.

“The Touring Edition adds excitement to our flagship sedan,” said Mark Templin, Lexus Division group vice president and general manager. “The package on this car enhances styling and comfort, allowing us to attract younger buyers to the LS line-up.”

The 2011 LS 460 Touring Edition will be available on both the LS 460 Rear Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive models. It will be distinguished from other LS models by a Smoky Granite Mica exterior, and following equipment:

• 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels (18-inch on All-Wheel Drive model):
• Sport kit and grille;
• Sport seats;
• Wood and leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob;

Other Touring Edition standard features include matte brown wood trim, black and tan leather-trimmed seats and premium floor mats.

“The LS 460 Touring Edition is a unique package of sporty exterior styling and comfort. With limited units available nationwide they’ll sell out fast to customers who want an all-inclusive luxury package,” said Templin.

Images : 2011 Lexus LS460 Touring Edition

[Source : LEXUS]

LEXUS sends CT hybrid compact car on the VLN endurance race

2011 GAZOO Racing CT250h

COLOGNE : May 13, 2011 - The legendary Nürburgring will host the racing debut of Lexus’s full hybrid CT tomorrow (14 May) when the luxury hatchback lines up on the starting grid for a gruelling endurance race.


Primed by Gazoo Racing, the motorsport specialists responsible for the racing Lexus LFA, the CT is competing in the Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy, contested over six hours on one of racing’s most daunting circuits. Almost 200 cars are expected to line up for the start.

Competing in the SP4 Class, the GAZOO Racing CT, like its road-going sister CT 200h model, features Lexus Hybrid Drive, but with a higher capacity 2.4-litre petrol engine instead of the usual 1.8 unit. The batteries and hybrid system are identical to the road car. At start-up and under braking, the race car uses just its electric motor, producing zero tailpipe emissions and using no fuel. The combustion engine seamlessly takes over at higher speeds with the electric motor providing extra power when accelerating and at racing speeds.

Throughout its operation, the Lexus full hybrid system intelligently selects the most appropriate power source and also captures energy through regenerative braking to charge the battery, which in turn powers the electric motor.

Thanks to Lexus Hybrid Drive, the GAZOO Racing CT will require less fuel and will emit lower levels of CO2 and harmful NOx than any equivalent petrol or diesel race car.

Lexus remains the only car manufacturer to compete in major endurance races with full hybrid cars, starting with the Lexus RX 400h which contested the Nürburgring24 Hours in 2005.

The GAZOO Racing CT driver line-up features three experienced pilots: Kumi Sato, a female racer who competed in a Lexus IS 250 in 2008; Masahiko Kageyama, who previously supported Toyota’s vehicle development programme; and MinoruTakaki, who is responsible for production vehicle development.

[Source : LEXUS]

Premiere at Nürburgring : First LEXUS LFA delivered in Germany

2011 Lexus LFA - The first LFA in Germany

COLOGNE : May 13, 2011 - The 412 kW/560 hp Lexus LFA is not only the first super sports car in the portfolio of premium Japanese brand, it's also one of the most strictly limited cars in the world. As unusual as the car, so unusually the much-anticipated delivery of the first LFA in Germany: The proud owner took his own personal LFA on the most beautiful racetrack in the world, the Nürburgring.

Manfred Sattler - Owner of the first LFA in Germany

There have been from the start a special relationship between the Lexus LFA and the legendary circuit in the Eifel. In all phases of the two-seater with the immensely powerful V10 engine has been tested repeatedly prototypes and pre-production models on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring. The revolutionary super sports car with the body made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic had not only closed to the public as a camouflaged Erlkönig by the Green Hell, but also before the eyes of hundreds of thousands of spectators and cameras at the legendary 24-hour race. A class win and a thousand lessons learned to the CAA paved the way to market, but also fueled the desire of the super sports clientele for the fastest and most exclusive model of the Lexus brand.

Knowing this history, it is not surprising that the first delivered in Germany LEXUS LFA now moves into the garage of a passionate racing driver and a proven Nürburgring connoisseur. Manfred Sattler, owner of the launching in the VLN Long Distance Championship volcano Racing team showed determination joy. "When I saw the first prototype at the Nurburgring, I was so impressed that I wanted to buy the car immediately," And he showed patience, because - that was it clear from the beginning - to be delivered should be LFA only at this time. Now the proud owner of his dream car from Lexus, Germany took over at the Nurburgring. After the first few laps Nordschleife Sattler summed up: "The wait was definitely worth it. The car is sensational! "

The Lexus LFA is one certainty at the most exclusive cars in the world. But it's actually even more exclusive: 2012 Lexus will launch a limited edition of 50 copies special version of the LFA, which is trimmed by hand to the ultimate race track - thanks to the strictly selected components of the "Nürburgring" packages. Each buyer will also receive an unforgettable driving course on the legendary Nordschleife and an annual pass for the personal challenge, "The Lexus LFA through the green hell."

Images : 2011 Lexus LFA - The first LFA in Germany

[Source : LEXUS]

Lexus signals future design thinking with LF-Gh [/w first dynamic video]

LEXUS LF-Gh

• World debut for LF-Gh hybrid concept at New York International Auto Show
• Concept car offers cues for future Lexus design direction, including new “spindle” front grille
• Potential for new ideas to be carried forward to future Lexus production vehicles

The Lexus LF-Gh will make its global debut at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. The concept has been conceived as a redefinition of the luxury grand tourer, with a “clean sheet of paper” approach to design.

The aim was to produce a perfect blend of style, performance, efficiency and environmental compatibility, while introducing the benefits of advanced, new technologies. The design process has brought about a refinement and evolution of Lexus’s L-finesses design philosophy – established since 2001 – with a bolder and more distinctive projection of what a premium segment model could become. As a result, original ideas included in the new concept may migrate to future Lexus production models.

Taking the GT tradition further

The LF-Gh sees Lexus take the idea of the grand tourer saloon a step further. It has been designed as a high-performance concept that can deliver an inspiring driving experience, carrying passengers in comfort over long distances. It combines presence and emotional appeal with functionality, offering enhanced creature comforts and load space big enough to carry luggage for an extended trip.

The car’s bold, wide stance reflects its strong dynamic performance. Built on an agile, rear-wheel drive platform, it offers generous interior space for four occupants within a distinctive, long greenhouse design. The LED lighting is a clue to the range and scope of new materials, electronics and dynamic systems incorporated in the LF-Gh.

Exterior design

The front end design incorporates a spindle-shaped grille that projects a resolute look, while also contributing to efficient aerodynamics and radiator and brake duct operation. It is a key feature that will be inherited by future Lexus models.

Every line of the body is about both form and function: for example, air flows in through the front inlets next to the vertically arranged LED fog lamps, and exits through similar slim outlets at the rear that follow the curve of the tail lamps. The concept also explores how traditional features such as door mirrors and handles can be minimised to enhance overall sleekness and improve aerodynamics.

The very deep front bumper adds to the sense of movement and a low centre of gravity, while the raised bonnet line implies strong performance potential. The twin-spoke 20-inch wheels further add to the sense of driving appeal.

The concept’s increased width gave the designers an expansive canvas on which to create distinctive wraparound LED tail lamps, with intricate reflectors set behind all-red lenses. Judicious use of slim chrome trim elements in the bumper, exhaust and diffuser adds subtle quality touches.

The LED headlamps and independent L-shaped LED daytime running lights ensure the LF-Gh has a “face” like no other car on the road.

Interior design

The LF-Gh is equipped with a future Lexus interior, in which every detail has been newly scrutinised to create an environment that is driver-orientated.

The driver’s zone has a high-visibility instrument panel and a centre console that is intuitive to use. A new analogue clock with a three-dimensional face serves as a focal point for the cabin and represents another shift in Lexus’s design philosophy. The space is finished in high-quality materials with finely honed detailing, designed to respond to the demands of customers who know and appreciate true quality.

Lexus Hybrid Drive

The LF-Gh’s hybrid powertrain is denoted by its Blue LED Lexus Hybrid Drive badges in the front grille and on the bootlid. The way in which the sculpted tailpipes blend with the rear valance minimise the visual impact of the exhaust system, suggesting that the flow of exhaust gases will be substantially reduced. Overall, the concept’s design supports engineering that changes current notions of power, efficiency, safety and environmental consideration in a luxury car.

Video : LEXUS LF-Gh : First dynamic video

Images : LEXUS LF-Gh

[Source : LEXUS]