In the TV show "Revenge," Conrad gives Ashley something special - a Lexus. Check it out!

Lexus moves to trademark spindle grille

Apparently the new Lexus spindle grille is here to stay. According to the Kaizen Factor blog, Toyota has filed numerous trademark applications in both the United States and Canada for various spindle grille designs.

The main differences in the designs are the inserts, either a zig-zag mesh like the current F Sport models of the CT, IS, GS, RX and LS, or a horizontal pattern like the non-F Sport models. But there's also a new "vertical bar" design revealed by the filings, which the report speculates may be applied to the next-generation IS.

Toyota has also filed paperwork to trademark the basic spindle outline with no insert, according to the report.

 

Courtesy of AutoBlog

Lexus of Maplewood is an official vehicle partner for the 10th Anniversary of Cities97’s Oake on the Water!

Check out Cities97’s Oake on the Water this Thursday at Bayside Grille where Meiko & Selah Sue will be performing!

 

Click here for more details.

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Driving in High Wind Conditions

Driving in high winds can be dangerous and even more hazardous because of the other weather conditions that normally accompany them. Extreme caution should be used when driving a car in any type of severe weather.

• Be aware of the other vehicles around you in high winds. This is especially true with RVs, campers, trucks, buses, or trailers being towed.
• Slow down the speed of your car to minimize the wind’s affect on your vehicle.
• Avoid parking near trees, downed power lines and buildings.
• The main factors that keep you on the road are the weight of your vehicle, so if you are driving a little city-car along the motorways in the high winds,you should be more careful.
• Plan ahead. As you have to drive more slowly in high winds you should expect your journey to take longer than usual and therefore leave extra time. You definitely don’t want to be speeding to make up the time!
• Make steering corrections when driving from a protected to unprotected area. This is because the wind may move your car with a sudden force after being in the protected area.
• Lower your speed when driving next to larger vehicles such as trucks and buses. These vehicles can swing out and hit your car if the wind picks up suddenly.
• Listen to the radio for changes in weather conditions that could become more dangerous.
• Wind is often accompanied by heavy rain or winter precipitation. Stay alert for slippery areas.

• Courtesy of Car-Use.net

2013 Lexus RX 350 - Review

The Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h have a lot going for them. They're understated and comfortable, yet somehow also iconic, and they've found a loyal following among those who want plush comfort, plenty of practicality, and standout tech and entertainment features in a package that won't be seen as fiscally or environmentally irresponsible (these models' long-established reputation for reliability and dealer service factor in, no doubt). In today's image-conscious world, they're upscale but not ostentatious.

For the first time since the current third-generation RX models bowed, for 2010, they've received a light refresh. The 2013 Lexus RX models get a version of the new 'spindle grille' that's already made its debut in the GS sport sedans, which makes it just a little menacing in our opinion, while all the snub-nosed, blunt-shouldered purposefulness--crossed with soft elegance--of the current generation's design remains. LED running lamps, new rear taillights, and a few new colors are the extent of the exterior changes, while inside there's a new steering wheel, contrast stitching for the leather, and a redesigned center console.

New for 2013 on front-wheel-drive models is a Sport Appearance Package that includes a unique front bumper, halogen headlamps and superchrome-finished 19-inch wheels.

If there's a clear pronouncement to make about the RX 350 and 450h, it's that performance takes second stage to comfort and luxury. While parents or empty nesters will find the RX plenty responsive in either guise, it's seldom exciting, edgy, or nimble, and there's a muted feeling to all of the driving inputs. Power comes from a 275-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive an option. Even with the heavier AWD system, the RX 350 steps off the line quickly and smoothly, and shifts during passing are quick yet downright seamless. Hybrid models perform nearly as well--in an absolute sense, though they manage to mute out even more of the outside world through the steering and brakes.

The 2013 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h are plush, yet not over-the-top lavish, and just a short ride in one is enough to see why it's such a popular choice for upscale realtors who don't want to look to filthy rich. There's a certain wholesomeness about the practical design, and its versatile seating is roomy and accommodating for four adults; at the same time, it's supremely smooth and quiet, with the passenger experience about as refined as you'll find in flagship luxury sedans like Lexus' own LS. Our only gripe remains that the standard front seats are a little flat and have odd back contouring, while the ride can be sharper (though still not rough) with the 19-inch wheel options.

Lexus vehicles have a reputation for being not just refined and comfortable, but also for being exceptionally well-equipped. That's definitely the case here in the 2013 RX 350 and RX 450h; you'll find a comprehensive list of comfort and convenience features, while options are pretty much limited to interior upgrades and top-notch infotainment systems. Major options include leather; a USB port; navigation with real-time traffic; a rear-seat DVD entertainment system; and a superb Mark Levinson sound system. The Remote Touch controller remains a mandatory part of the interface that we're conflicted about, but nearly everyone will like that the new Enform system enables apps for Pandora streaming audio and other information services.

 

Courtesy of The Car Connection

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Caring for Windshield Cracks and Dings

Checking your windshield is important because a ding that occurs in spring or summer can cause a break in the winter. Most people drive more in warm weather and more driving means more vibration, which can cause a ding to expand into a cracked windshield.

Warmer weather also means running the air conditioning. "The shock of quickly going from hot to cold stresses a windshield and causing that ding to suddenly become a cracked windshield," says Jim Olson, director of national accounts and brand awareness for NOVUS® Windshield Repair.

Here are some tips if you have a ding or star on your windshield:

    Inspect the ding. If it has a cone shape, a circle deep in the glass or looks like a small star with points spreading out, have the ding repaired promptly. These are serious dings that can grow into a cracked windshield.

    Don't touch a ding or attempt to repair it yourself. Without special equipment and training, you will only contaminate the damaged area, making repairs hard to complete.

    As a temporary measure, put a piece of clear tape, like packing tape, over the ding. This won't keep the ding from spreading, but will help prevent contamination.

    Don't wash the vehicle-especially through the car wash.  Soap and water can contaminate the spot and a high-pressure wash can cause the ding to expand.

    Driving a vehicle with a windshield ding causes vibration and exposure to the elements cause the ding to spread.

    Avoid slamming the car doors and don't close the doors with the windows rolled all the way up. The vibration or buildup of air pressure inside the car can cause the ding to spread.

    Don't run the defroster, heater or air conditioning on high settings.  Don't park the vehicle in the sun. Rapid changes in interior temperature or prolonged exposure to sunlight can stress and weaken the windshield.

 

Source: NOVUS via Road & Travel Magazine

The Stunning New Lexus 2013 LX - Perfect For the Middle of Nowhere Or the Center Of Everything

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Cold Facts About A/C Refrigerant

How did we ever get along without air conditioning in our cars? It’s a feature we take for granted until, suddenly, it’s blowing hot air.

 

In the past few years, many owners have discovered that fixing an inoperative air conditioner can cost a few hundred dollars or more, depending upon the make and model of vehicle. The reason is that the old standby R-12 refrigerant, trade named DuPont Freon, has been replaced by R-134a. Touted as being environmentally safer than its predecessor, R-134a has been standard since ’94.

If your older vehicle needs major repairs to the air conditioning system you can expect to replace refrigerant and the oil in the compressor in addition to the old components. You also may need to install a retrofit conversion. Do not allow anyone to mix refrigerants. They’re not inter-changeable. You cannot add R-134a to your older air conditioner without first flushing the system. Further, according to the Car Care Council, some substitutes are volatile mixtures of propane, butane and flammable hydrocarbons. Keep in mind the fact that if your vehicle is leaking refrigerant, you’re damaging the ozone layer.

An annual inspection of the vehicle, including the air conditioning system, may help forestall costly repairs. Ask your service center to evaluate your system before those hot and humid days of summer.

 

Courtesy of CarCare.org

Thank you for the kind words, Kat & Shauen! We appreciate the positive feedback.

"We definitely choose this location over Wayzata even though we stay 10 minutes from Wayzata. The Service Department has been amazing! We've been there three times and will go back in the future." - Kat & Shauen

In Conversation with Lexus General Manager Mark Templin: My NY Auto Show Interview

Earlier this month at the New York Auto Show, I had an opportunity to sit down with Mark Templin, Group vice-president & general manager of Lexus USA, to talk about his recent promotion to general manager of the global Lexus Product and Marketing Planning Division.

Kevin: Hi Mark, thanks for taking the time to meet with me. My first question is about your new position — could you tell us about it?

Mark Templin: Sure. In addition to my role here in the US, I’m going to be the General Manager of the global Lexus Product and Marketing Planning Division, so I’ll take the role that Karl Schlicht had concurrently with the role here.

I’ll spend a week to ten days a month in Japan, then a few days flying to other global markets for different business. I’ll spend the other half of my time here in the US.

 

So you’ll be able to go into your new position bringing a North American perspective, and shape the brand more directly. I’m curious — do you see this as balancing North American needs with the global market, or will you be streamlining the lineup?

You know, I’ve just started this role, but I’ve already done some travelling — I was in China and talked to our dealers, and have talked with our distributors in other parts of the world, and I think there’s a lot more common ground than most people think.

Of course, there’s different size engines, right? The Chinese market, for instance, want the same kinds of cars that we offer here in North America, but they want them with small engines. Their best selling car is the ES 240 with a 2.4L engine, and the 2.7L RX is the big seller for them. As time goes by, they will continue to get big cars and small engines.

And my understanding is that they want everything long wheelbase…

Yes, absolutely. It’s really popular for brands to partner with Chinese manufacturers and build long wheelbase versions of cars that they don’t sell anywhere else in the world.

That’s a benefit of the new ES. With the longer wheelbase and much larger back seat, it’s good for their market.

The ES was also the fourth best selling luxury car in China last year, so that’s a good starting point as well.

Now, this is a broad question, but what do you see the biggest challenge to grow the global Lexus brand? Is it just a matter of time?

We have a lot of good ideas about how we can accelerate the process, but it is going to take time. Often people will ask about our volume relative to our competitors on a global basis, and I don’t really think it’s a fair comparison.

We really didn’t become a global brand until six years ago when started selling in Japan and China. We sell in far fewer markets than our competitors do. They’ve been in business for a hundred years. So, to compare us after six years to brands that have been in business for a hundred years doesn’t make sense.

There really is a lack of perspective. With my site, I try to cover the brand globally, and I’m really interested in these new emerging markets. I don’t want to classify Europe as an emerging market, but..

For our brand, it is, basically.

…it’s an interesting time for Lexus.

Even Europe, where our volume isn’t big, we see good potential in the future. In the past, we didn’t have the right products to compete in that marketplace. We don’t have small cars, we don’t have diesels. But we’ve become a real hybrid powerhouse in Europe, and other brands are starting to follow, other brands are rolling out their own versions of hybrids.

Now that we’ll have eight hybrids in our lineup in less than two years, I think we’ll continue to succeed in that way.

And now they don’t sell gas engines in a lot of the European markets.

That’s right, in many European markets we’ve become a hybrid brand because of CO2 requirements, you either have to have diesel or you need hybrid. Diesel has worked pretty good in Europe, but it’s not translating into the US market. But hybrids are starting to translate to Europe.

Give us time to expand our hybrid lineup, get better CO2 levels, and products that match the marketplace, and I think we can succeed there in a big way. There will be faster growth in places like China, of course…

Where basically everything is new.

Right.

Even with my audience, only 49% are American. At least from my perspective, Lexus really is a global brand.

Shifting gears, I’m wondering about the reasoning behind making the new ES larger — was that to put some distance between the ES & GS?

It really came around as a result of many things, but the two big ones were that consumers were asking for more space in the back seat of their cars. It’s a great car for taking people in the back seat — more legroom is always a positive, it’s really an industry trend right now. If you look around the [New York auto] show, you’re seeing a lot of brands stretching wheelbases to get more interior space.

It was also a big benefit to markets like China, where they have lots of people riding in the backseats.

And you’re doing a right hand drive, correct? Maybe we’ll see it in a market like Australia?

We haven’t announced where we’re going to sell it yet, but there’s huge potential in a lot of markets where we haven’t offered it because we didn’t have right-hand drive.

So we will launch this year in left-hand drive markets, and it will be a big seller for us — we have over 1,000,000 ES customers on the road who love the brand, love the dealers, love their cars, and I think we’ll be very successful with them.

Then next year, we’ll launch in select right-hand drive markets.

One final question — how do you decide which vehicles debut at which autoshow? Is that dictated by your product timeline or does the venue come into play?

It’s a complicated process, it’s a global process. In my new role, one of the things we’ll do is make those types of decisions. The decisions come about because of timing, trying to space them out with all the major shows around the globe, so that we have news in different markets. This was the global reveal of the ES, but we will do other reveals in Europe, and shows in Tokyo, China, so that we can try to balance the global roles of the product.

Some products are better to launch in some markets than others — we want to make sure that we hit certain shows here in the US. Detroit, New York, Chicago, and LA are the four big ones here. Paris and Geneva and Frankfurt are big in Europe, Shanghai is big now, Beijing, and Tokyo of course.

Thanks for your time, Mark.

My pleasure.

 

Courtesy of Lexus Enthusiast