Lexus Enform will make cars speak and spam

Lexus is set to reach out to its customers, in a more personal way. Lexus vehicles this year will come installed with a new system called Lexus Insider, a part of the Enform gadget package. The system will be used to convey voice messages from the company to the vehicles, like tips and suggestions, but Lexus has decided to leave any marketing related messages out for now.

While the automaker sees the move as a means of delivering “highly targeted” messages, many analysts think its nothing more than “verbal spam.” These messages will be available once a user starts the engine, much like mails. Lexus says the system will be available only for drivers willing to participate, so it does not sound much like spam, but even in that case, the success for this system appears to be very, very difficult.

Via: USA Today

Lexus Enform will make cars speak and spam

Lexus is set to reach out to its customers, in a more personal way. Lexus vehicles this year will come installed with a new system called Lexus Insider, a part of the Enform gadget package. The system will be used to convey voice messages from the company to the vehicles, like tips and suggestions, but Lexus has decided to leave any marketing related messages out for now.

While the automaker sees the move as a means of delivering “highly targeted” messages, many analysts think its nothing more than “verbal spam.” These messages will be available once a user starts the engine, much like mails. Lexus says the system will be available only for drivers willing to participate, so it does not sound much like spam, but even in that case, the success for this system appears to be very, very difficult.

Via: USA Today

Blinged Lexus SC430 Shi-crystal-like vehicle

The Lexus SC430 sports car pictured above is more a work of art than a car. The Shi-crystal-like vehicle designed by the Zheng Zhiren is festooned with more than more than 300,000 Swarovski crystals. Currently on display in Taiwan, the Lexus SC430 Shi-crystal-like vehicle is a showstopper at the show. The SC430 has long been known as ‘The Jewel of LEXUS’ and now, this Swarovski-studded version is decorated with crystal made roses and ribbon in pink. The crystals are everywhere on the car, on the front, back and the wheels. The Swarovski-studded Lexus SC430 is worth more than NT 10,000,000 (US $306,045).

Via: Xinhuanet/Yam

Blinged Lexus SC430 Shi-crystal-like vehicle

The Lexus SC430 sports car pictured above is more a work of art than a car. The Shi-crystal-like vehicle designed by the Zheng Zhiren is festooned with more than more than 300,000 Swarovski crystals. Currently on display in Taiwan, the Lexus SC430 Shi-crystal-like vehicle is a showstopper at the show. The SC430 has long been known as ‘The Jewel of LEXUS’ and now, this Swarovski-studded version is decorated with crystal made roses and ribbon in pink. The crystals are everywhere on the car, on the front, back and the wheels. The Swarovski-studded Lexus SC430 is worth more than NT 10,000,000 (US $306,045).

Via: Xinhuanet/Yam

Lexus C-segment premium hatch due in 2011?

Lexus sales in Europe only commands 1% of the total market, but Lexus plans to hopefully increase this to 150,000 units a year by the year 2015. Spearheading this push is a new premium hatchback that’s now been confirmed by Lexus Europe managing director Tadashi Arashima, but a launch date has not been set yet. A tentative guesstimated launch has been set for 2011. Europe is quite fond of premium hatchbacks such as the BMW 118d that recently won the World Green Car of the Year award. The new Lexus hatch will rival the likes of that car, and the Audi A3.

Internally, the new Lexus hatchback is called the C-Premium. It’s development is in such early stages that it’s not quite sure at the moment whether it will be a rear wheel drive platform based on the IS, or a front wheel drive platform likely to be based on the Toyota Auris, which spawned a premium C-segment hatchback in Japan called the Toyota Blade.

Source

Lexus C-segment premium hatch due in 2011?

Lexus sales in Europe only commands 1% of the total market, but Lexus plans to hopefully increase this to 150,000 units a year by the year 2015. Spearheading this push is a new premium hatchback that’s now been confirmed by Lexus Europe managing director Tadashi Arashima, but a launch date has not been set yet. A tentative guesstimated launch has been set for 2011. Europe is quite fond of premium hatchbacks such as the BMW 118d that recently won the World Green Car of the Year award. The new Lexus hatch will rival the likes of that car, and the Audi A3.

Internally, the new Lexus hatchback is called the C-Premium. It’s development is in such early stages that it’s not quite sure at the moment whether it will be a rear wheel drive platform based on the IS, or a front wheel drive platform likely to be based on the Toyota Auris, which spawned a premium C-segment hatchback in Japan called the Toyota Blade.

Source

Japanese Magazine Reveals Lexus HS250h

Scan of article about Lexus HS250h, from Japan's Mag-X magazine.

For nearly five years, a single gas-electric hybrid car—the Toyota Prius—has dominated the hybrid market, making up more sales than all other hybrids combined. In an effort to capture the Prius magic, Lexus—Toyota’s luxury brand—will unveil a new hybrid-only model at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January. Toyota will also unveil the third-generation Prius at the same time.

But what would an upscale Prius look like?

A newly published rendering from Japan’s Mag-X magazine, an enthusiast publication, provides clues. The drawing reveals a well-proportioned four-door car with Prius-like lines and angles—especially the front slope of its windshield and hood—while retaining design cues which are unmistakably Lexus, most notably the back-end and taillight styling. According to the magazine, the vehicle will be badged as the Lexus HS250h. Caveat: At this point, it's speculation that the Lexus HS250h and the new dedicated Lexus hybrid are one in the same.

Take Camry Hybrid Guts, Add Gizmos

The publication says the Lexus HS250h will most likely be outfitted with the 2.4-liter engine and electric motor combo found in the Toyota Camry Hybrid, and share many of the same mechanicals as that car. This includes the current-generation nickel metal hydride battery. Carrying over the powertrain would be significantly more cost-effective than developing an entirely new system for the Lexus brand.

Setting itself apart from the more mainstream Toyota brand, the Lexus concept car will feature a technology and entertainment module, controlled from the center console, much like BMW’s iDrive system. A roster of luxury equipment not offered by the Prius or Camry Hybrid will also be included.

If the HS250h sedan comes to fruition, it could join the Lexus lineup by late 2009 or early 2010. Price, technical specs, and other key stats will remain unknown, until official word from Toyota.

Japanese Magazine Reveals Lexus HS250h

Scan of article about Lexus HS250h, from Japan's Mag-X magazine.

For nearly five years, a single gas-electric hybrid car—the Toyota Prius—has dominated the hybrid market, making up more sales than all other hybrids combined. In an effort to capture the Prius magic, Lexus—Toyota’s luxury brand—will unveil a new hybrid-only model at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January. Toyota will also unveil the third-generation Prius at the same time.

But what would an upscale Prius look like?

A newly published rendering from Japan’s Mag-X magazine, an enthusiast publication, provides clues. The drawing reveals a well-proportioned four-door car with Prius-like lines and angles—especially the front slope of its windshield and hood—while retaining design cues which are unmistakably Lexus, most notably the back-end and taillight styling. According to the magazine, the vehicle will be badged as the Lexus HS250h. Caveat: At this point, it's speculation that the Lexus HS250h and the new dedicated Lexus hybrid are one in the same.

Take Camry Hybrid Guts, Add Gizmos

The publication says the Lexus HS250h will most likely be outfitted with the 2.4-liter engine and electric motor combo found in the Toyota Camry Hybrid, and share many of the same mechanicals as that car. This includes the current-generation nickel metal hydride battery. Carrying over the powertrain would be significantly more cost-effective than developing an entirely new system for the Lexus brand.

Setting itself apart from the more mainstream Toyota brand, the Lexus concept car will feature a technology and entertainment module, controlled from the center console, much like BMW’s iDrive system. A roster of luxury equipment not offered by the Prius or Camry Hybrid will also be included.

If the HS250h sedan comes to fruition, it could join the Lexus lineup by late 2009 or early 2010. Price, technical specs, and other key stats will remain unknown, until official word from Toyota.

2009 Lexus IS Facelift unveiled in Europe!

The facelifted 2009 Lexus IS range have been unveiled in the UK this week (though at first sight I cannot tell what on earth has changed with the design), and it is now more accessible with the cheapest model (which is the IS 220d SE) costing £22,490. The entire range has also got price slashes, some by more than £1,000.

This is probably an effort to keep up sales volumes in these tough times.
The IS 220d is now more environmentally friendly, with a small drop in CO2 emissions from 168g/km to 163g/km. In the UK, this means it moves down a band for vehicle excise duty from E to D. The owner of a facelifted IS 220d will save £25 a year on his road fund license and reduces the Benefit in Kind (BIK) rate for company car tax calculation to 23 per cent.

Other changes include VDIM as standard on all models, and folding rear headrests. A Satnav option is available for £1,825 on SE and SE-I models which include Europe GPS maps, a 7 inch 640×480 LCD display with touch screen operation, Bluetooth hands-free, a rear parking video feed monitor and a 13-speaker audio system with an in-dash 6-CD changer. This pack can be upgraded to a Multimedia Pack on the SE-L for £2,710 which includes the same stuff but adds a 14-speaker Mark Levinson system with a 6-DVD changer.

2009 Lexus IS Facelift unveiled in Europe!

The facelifted 2009 Lexus IS range have been unveiled in the UK this week (though at first sight I cannot tell what on earth has changed with the design), and it is now more accessible with the cheapest model (which is the IS 220d SE) costing £22,490. The entire range has also got price slashes, some by more than £1,000.

This is probably an effort to keep up sales volumes in these tough times.
The IS 220d is now more environmentally friendly, with a small drop in CO2 emissions from 168g/km to 163g/km. In the UK, this means it moves down a band for vehicle excise duty from E to D. The owner of a facelifted IS 220d will save £25 a year on his road fund license and reduces the Benefit in Kind (BIK) rate for company car tax calculation to 23 per cent.

Other changes include VDIM as standard on all models, and folding rear headrests. A Satnav option is available for £1,825 on SE and SE-I models which include Europe GPS maps, a 7 inch 640×480 LCD display with touch screen operation, Bluetooth hands-free, a rear parking video feed monitor and a 13-speaker audio system with an in-dash 6-CD changer. This pack can be upgraded to a Multimedia Pack on the SE-L for £2,710 which includes the same stuff but adds a 14-speaker Mark Levinson system with a 6-DVD changer.

Lexus RX Spy Video

Even though it’s scheduled for the summer of 2009, we’ve been all expecting at least leaked pictures or images of the new generation Lexus RX, the company’s petrol-only SUV model. But we’ve put our little tails at work and we managed to get the scoop so we’ve just heard that there’s a spy video of the new RX and there aren’t many styling modifications, at least not at the front. Apparently they’ve been working their arses on the “behind”.

There are rumors (which I believe are true) that it wil get the third row of seats, which will allow the new 2009 Lexus RX to play against the big boys like the BMW X5 for example. Is that the first time Lexus, builds a 7-seater SUV? Yup. Good job guys!

Lexus RX Spy Video

Even though it’s scheduled for the summer of 2009, we’ve been all expecting at least leaked pictures or images of the new generation Lexus RX, the company’s petrol-only SUV model. But we’ve put our little tails at work and we managed to get the scoop so we’ve just heard that there’s a spy video of the new RX and there aren’t many styling modifications, at least not at the front. Apparently they’ve been working their arses on the “behind”.

There are rumors (which I believe are true) that it wil get the third row of seats, which will allow the new 2009 Lexus RX to play against the big boys like the BMW X5 for example. Is that the first time Lexus, builds a 7-seater SUV? Yup. Good job guys!

Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept reaches 200mph

If you had been looking for a great roadster, your search might just end here. Lexus’ LF-A roadster is one of their boldest ever concepts to be developed. It sort of maintains a low profile though it has a sleek and aerodynamic shape. The body uses carbon fiber and aluminum. The most interesting feature about this car has to be the speed adaptive rear wing. It runs on a V10 engine and is capable of over 500 horsepower. You can race across tracks at over 200mph. This is one of those red racecars that any movie star would love to drive along the sea front in Monte Carlo. The rest of us can wait and hope for the car to be manufactured and enter the markets.

Via: Flylyf

Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept reaches 200mph

If you had been looking for a great roadster, your search might just end here. Lexus’ LF-A roadster is one of their boldest ever concepts to be developed. It sort of maintains a low profile though it has a sleek and aerodynamic shape. The body uses carbon fiber and aluminum. The most interesting feature about this car has to be the speed adaptive rear wing. It runs on a V10 engine and is capable of over 500 horsepower. You can race across tracks at over 200mph. This is one of those red racecars that any movie star would love to drive along the sea front in Monte Carlo. The rest of us can wait and hope for the car to be manufactured and enter the markets.

Via: Flylyf