Courtesy of Auto Blog
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Alex Wurz gets behind the wheel of the Lexus LFA
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Lexus & Sports Illustrated Present the "Tori 500"
Can you handle the curves of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Tori Praver? Want to show-off a custom photo with you and Tori? Go behind the scenes of the making of "Tori 500," then download our two new iPhone apps at http://www.Lexus.com/Tori500.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
2013 Lexus ES Spotted in China!
Besides its larger size, the very first thing I notice about the new ES is the coupe-like roofline that glides down into the trunk:
More than anything, this line defines the car to me — it’s a bold statement by Lexus to change their best-selling sedan in such a strong manner, especially when the style and size bring to mind the flagship LS.
As for the rest of the exterior design, I’m not sold on the hoodline and the way it cuts across the front-end, but the side profile makes it all worth it:
And then there’s the interior, which is such a quantum leap over the existing model that only a side-by-side comparison will do:
Here’s a closer look at the interior:
As with the new GS, this ES interior could sell the car on its own — there’s simply no way to overstate the improvement compared to the current model and its teardrop center console.
Now, I try not to get too excited or too disappointed by leaked cameraphone photos, but the new ES looks like a homerun to me. What do you think?
Courtesy of Lexus Enthusiast
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Lexus GS Takes on Curves of SI Swimsuit Model Tori Praver with TORI 500 Racing Game App
Courtesy of Lexus Enthusiast What do you get when you cross a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model with a hot new sports car? One cool app. Lexus and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit have fans revving their engines with the release of Lexus’ new TORI 500 racing app, available at Lexus.com/tori500 and iTunes. The app brings to life an actual racetrack the automaker created in the shape of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Tori Praver’s body. Players of the TORI 500 game get to see what it’s like to race the all-new 2013 Lexus GS sport sedan around a larger-than-life, 3-D image of the supermodel. The game is part of a multi-faceted print and online campaign supporting Lexus’ role as the Official Automotive Marketing Partner of SI Swimsuit and launch week. The Lexus team began by photographing Tori—being sure to capitalize on her curves—in poses that mimicked the angles and curvature of a true racetrack. The images of Praver were then photomapped and used to design the racetrack with the digitized version providing the game environment for the iOS application. From there, a live 1-to-1200 inch scale track was created and two of the world’s best professional drivers, racecar driver Scott Pruett and stunt driver Greg Tracy, competed to post the best time and win a victory lap with Tori. A behind-the-scenes video of both the photo shoot and the race is available at Lexus.com/tori500. Additional elements of Lexus’ SI Swimsuit partnership include: 
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Lexus of Maplewood - Luxury Contest! Enter to win fabulous prizes!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Toyota Motor Corporation Vehicles Dominate J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Vehicle
Dependability Study
TORRANCE, Calif., February 15, 2012 – Eight Lexus, Toyota, and Scion models captured segment awards in the 2012 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study, a performance equal to all other vehicle brands combined and more than twice as many as the runner-up nameplate.
The study also found:
- Lexus is the number one nameplate improving by 23 fewer problems/100
“We are extremely pleased that not only did we win awards in eight of the 14 model segments, but that in two segments we finished one-two and made the podium in 12 segments overall”, said Jim Lentz, President and Chief Operating Officer Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
2012 Vehicle Dependability Study performers by segment
Entry Premium Car
Ranking: 1
Lexus ES350
81/100
Midsize Premium Crossover SUV
Ranking: 1
Lexus RX350
85/100
Large Premium Car*
Ranking: 1
Lexus LS460
72/100
Lexus Nameplate
Ranking: 1
Premium Brands Industry Average
129
Additional examples of Toyota’s commitment to the highest standards for quality, safety, reliability and retained value include:
- Lexus was the highest ranking nameplate in the industry in the 2011 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study and earned more segment awards than any other premium brand.
- The Lexus IS won the entry premium car segment in the 2011 J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study.
- Toyota and Lexus won 11 awards – more than half the 21 total awards – in IntelliChoice.com’s Best Overall Values of the Year.
- Two Lexus vehicles were named 2012 “Top Safety Picks” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The 2012 Lexus models are: Lexus CT 200h and RX
####
Courtesy of Toyota Newsroom
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Lexus Throws Sports Illustrated Swimsuit a Curve
The Official Automotive Marketing Partner for SI Swimsuit Launch Week,
Lexus and the All-New GS Take on a Real Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Supermodel’s Curves in Its TORI 500 Campaign
TORRANCE, Calif. (Feb. 14, 2012)—Admiring the curves of a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model is one thing, but actually driving it—that’s something only Lexus and its all-new 2013 GS sport sedan could do with style. As the Official Automotive Marketing partner of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit property, Lexus created a multi-faceted campaign called TORI 500, showcasing an actual racetrack the automaker created in the shape of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Tori Praver’s body. Campaign elements include:
“What better way to help introduce the bold new face of Lexus—the all-new GS—than with a bold new campaign featuring a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model?” said Brian Smith, Lexus vice president of marketing. “With the new GS, there’s no going back for Lexus. Instead of just looking at the pictures, consumers can share in the fun through our many campaign components, including having Tori appear in their own photos.”
Courtesy of Toyota Newsroom
Monday, February 13, 2012
Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Tire Rotation
Tire rotation is an important maintenance duty that extends the life of your tires and ensures safe driving. We'll take a look at this simple but effective procedure.
Whether you plan on doing the job yourself or having it performed by a certified mechanic, it's important to know why we rotate our tires.
Front And Rear Tires Wear Differently
Think about it. All that parallel parking. All those three-point turns. With each turn of the steering wheel, pressure is brought to bear on the front tires. (This is even more accentuated in front-wheel-drive cars, where the front wheels also supply the main motive power for the vehicle.) Resistance causes friction, which in turn produces heat. The result? The front tires wear quicker than the rears. Because of this, it's necessary to rotate the tires front-to-rear several times during their life cycle to 1) equalize tread wear and 2) maximize the life of the tires. This is what we refer to when we say "rotate the tires." Rotating generally does not refer to either of the following actions:
- Exchanging tires on the same axle — for example, swapping the rear tires left to right
- Criss-crossing tires — moving a tire from the passenger's side rear to the driver's side front
There's a good reason for this. Tires develop wear patterns as they age. Some of these patterns are tied to the suspension system and the alignment. That's why we keep the tires on the same side of the car.
If your car has staggered wheels -- the front and rear tires are two different sizes, such as with the Chrysler Crossfire — you can still swap the tires side-to-side, but not front to back. If your tires are unidirectional (specific to one side of the car) or asymmetrical (the tread pattern changes from the inside of the tire to the outside), you can rotate them front to back but not side to side. And if you happen to have staggered wheels that are also unidirectional or asymmetrical, you cannot rotate your tires at all! But that's rarely the case.
How often should you rotate your tires? That depends. Refer to your owner's manual for exact guidelines, but most manufacturers recommend rotating tires roughly every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Again, see your owner's manual for specifics.
Remember, this quick and simple procedure will extend the tread life of your tires. It will also provide maximum gripping power to the vehicle.
To repeat: this should be done roughly every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Check your owner's manual for exact intervals.
Courtesy of Edmunds
Thursday, February 9, 2012
2013 Lexus GS Commercial - "Earn It"
The 2013 GS is the culmination of a million decisions. It represents where you see yourself going and how you choose to get there. It's our boldest response ever.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Lexus Revs Up Campaign to Launch the All-New GS
TORRANCE, Calif. (Feb. 6, 2012)—On the heels of Lexus’ first Super Bowl spot, the luxury automaker is launching a multi-faceted marketing campaign today for its highly anticipated 2013 Lexus GS sport sedan. The bold new GS—which arrives in showrooms this week—marks a defining moment in Lexus’ history, with major enhancements in performance, design, technology and luxury. “This vehicle has come farther, faster than any other vehicle we've developed, and is the first to wear the new design face of Lexus,” said Brian Smith, Lexus vice president of marketing. “With the GS, we’re redefining our place in the industry, as well as in drivers’ minds. Our marketing campaign has to do the same, and it’s supported by one of the largest media buys in the history of the company.” There’s No Going Back
Each of the four television commercials featured in the campaign reinforce the notion that once you rewrite the rules of your industry, “There’s no going back.” Two spots titled, “Resistance,” highlight the cutting-edge technology features available in the new GS. On a moonlit night, objects from technology’s past, including a telephone booth, turntable, and typewriter, begin to slide along a desolate road, as if pulled by a mysterious force. The GS begins to get pulled back as well, but the car fights the force and breaks free, taking off in the other direction. As the car gains momentum, it skillfully swerves around the oncoming objects. One spot introduces us to the next generation Enform® app suite, where apps allow drivers to perform local searches, make restaurant reservations, purchase movie tickets and more. The second spot promotes leading-edge safety technology—including the Night Vision System and Blind Spot Monitor—which help keep the driver safe from the dangerous objects hurtling his way. A third spot, “Beast,” is a derivative of the brand’s Super Bowl commercial and showcases performance features of the vehicle, including the four driving modes (ECO, Normal, Sport and Sport S+) and Lexus Dynamic Handling system. In a futuristic lab, there are several loud thuds, and a large metal containment box bursts open with a dramatic explosion as the all-new GS races out of the box. As the GS F Sport aggressively maneuvers through a tunnel in the science facility, the voiceover announces that “the next generation of Lexus will not be contained.” The GS F Sport drives through city streets in the fourth spot of the campaign, “Earn It,” a multicultural spot illustrating that success comes from “bold decisions.” This spot will run nationally on select cable networks. Campaign Fueled by Interactive Technology
Beyond the new broadcast spots, Lexus is launching several programs in print, online, TV, and radio as part of its overall GS integrated marketing campaign. In a first-to-market opportunity for the automaker, Lexus will create an insert utilizing NFC (near field communication) technology for Wired, appearing in select copies of the April issue. In a highly targeted campaign component that transforms consumer interaction with print publications, Lexus will utilize emerging technology to showcase the Enform app suite to tech enthusiasts. The insert will allow NFC-enabled smartphone users to view the mobile site upon placing the phone on top of the insert. Other smartphone users can access the mobile site by entering the URL in their browsers. The next-generation Enform app suite also will be spotlighted in two new partner programs. Luxury lifestyle website JustLuxe will feature editorial content on upscale dining experiences, allowing readers to link directly to Open Table to make reservations. Lexus also will create a new GS branded music station on Pandora highlighting artists, songs and albums that have revolutionized the music industry. As another campaign initiative to engage consumers, Lexus is partnering with NBC Universal to Shazam three popular programs during certain episodes. Viewers become active participants while watching “The Soup” on E!, “Psych” on USA, and “Being Human” on SyFy. With the NBCU “Shazam Nights” program, viewers will have access to extended programming content, as well as GS video and photo galleries via their mobile devices. Participants also will gain access to win a custom travel package, upgraded in GS fashion. Online initiatives celebrating Lexus’ Super Bowl debut include YouTube mobile and MSN and ESPN homepage takeovers, the biggest post-game presence in Lexus history. The overall campaign also consists of a heavy digital presence with high-impact roadblocks on auto and lifestyle sites, as well as exclusive mobile and tablet sponsorships. The print campaign will be featured prominently in Automobile, Esquire and Robb Report. Key out-of-home marketing highlights include full-motion video boards at DC Gallery Place and new digital boards in New York City’s Times Square. Additionally, “Beast” will run in 700 movie theaters in more than 150 markets. The broadcast spots begin airing tonight during primetime, late night, cable programs, network and cable sports, and spot TV. Additional sports broadcast packages include multi-channel advertising with NHL and NCAA March Madness. The spots are also available at www.YouTube.com/lexusvehicles.
Courtesy of Toyota Newsroom
Monday, February 6, 2012
Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Driving in Rain
- First and foremost: slow down! It takes longer to stop or adjust in wet weather.
- Stay toward the middle lanes - water tends to pool in the outside lanes.
- Maintain proper following distance (3 Second Rule). This needs to be increased in wet weather.
- Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you.
- Don't follow large trucks or busses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.
- Be more alert when driving in wet or slippery conditions. Watch out for brake lights in front of you.
- Avoid using your brakes; if possible, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.
- Turn your headlights on even in a light rain, or in gloomy, foggy or overcast conditions. Not only do they help you see the road, but they'll help other drivers see you. If your car has daytime running lights you still should put them on, so vehicles behind you can see you better.
- Before it starts to rain, replace old or brittle wipers.
- Avoid off-road driving: it's hard to judge the actual depth of puddles and you can easily become stuck, even in an SUV.
- Never drive beyond the limits of visibility. At night rainy roads become especially treacherous. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on your windscreen, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increasing driver fatigue. In rainy conditions pedestrians, livestock, and wildlife are extremely hard to spot and even harder to avoid.
- Never drive through moving water if you can't see the ground through it; your car could be swept off the road.
- When driving through a puddle of uncertain depth, go slow. If it's deeper than the bottom of your doors, turn around and find another route. Deep water can cause serious damage to a modern car's electrical system.
- Avoid splashing pedestrians.
- If possible, stay off the road during heavy thunderstorms. Large flashes of lightning can temporarily blind and disorient drivers, and the accompanying high winds and heavy rain can create deadly driving conditions.
Slow down! This should be obvious but it also very important. People are so used to driving certain speeds on certain roads that sometimes they forget the need to slow down when inclement weather presents itself.
Before you go - Wet-weather driving demands gentle use of all the main controls - steering, clutch, brake and accelerator - and a larger allowance for errors and emergencies. When you begin a journey in rain, your shoes will be wet and liable to slip off the pedals. Scuff the soles on the rubber matting or carpeting of the car before you start the engine. All motorists should regularly check that their headlights, tail lights, brake lights and turn signals are working properly.
How are your tires? - Check your tires on a regular basis. Bald tires significantly reduce your traction on wet roadways, and offer little resistance to hydroplaning. When your tires run over water, the water is displaced and it needs somewhere to go quickly. The best place is between the treads of your tires. If your tires are bald, the water has no place to go and you end up riding on a layer of water, like a boat. (See Hydroplaning, below.)
Turn on your wipers - Replace your wipers regularly, at least once a year. Wiper blades in bad condition don't clear water from the windshield very well and distort your view. Older vehicles may need to have the whole wiper arm replaced. The arms bend over time and sometimes can't keep enough downward pressure to clear the windscreen, even with new blades installed. Wipers will often clear light rain from the windscreen with a few sweeps, then run on an almost-dry screen and leave smears of drying dirt. Don't be afraid to use the windscreen washers liberally: the fluid is cheap (99 cents a gallon) and the safety benefit is high. Carry extra during the winter.
Don't follow large trucks or busses closely. Splash and spray from these vehicles can obscure your vision, creating a potentially disastrous driving situation. Keep your distance, and your windshield wipers on, when other traffic is in front of you.
Turn on your lights - Whenever visibility is poor or it rains, headlights are a good way to let other drivers know where you are. It's both helpful to other travelers and makes you more safe. Remember, you are not the only one affected by poor visibility. You may be able to see cars without their headlights on but others may not have vision or windshield wipers as good as yours. Many states require headlights to be turned on when it is raining or when visibility is reduced to less than 500 feet.
Heavy rain - Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades, allowing an almost continuous sheet of water to flow over the screen. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas. If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes, seldom more than a few minutes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers.
Foggy windows - Rain or high humidity can quickly cause windows to mist up inside the car. In a car equipped with air conditioning, turn up the heat and direct the airflow to your defrosters with the AC switch engaged. (Many cars automatically engage the AC when switched to the defrost mode.) In a car without AC the procedure is the same, but you may need to open your side windows to get the air moving. Most modern cars have a built-in rear window defroster that easily clears a misted rear windscreen by heating up electrodes embedded in the glass. If you don't have one, put your defroster on high and its hot air will eventually follow the inside of the roof down to the rear window. If the car has swiveling dashboard vents, adjust them so that the air flow strikes the upper edge of the side windows. The airflow will clear the side windows first, finally traveling to the rear of the car. If all else fails, a rag or article of clothing will work as well; you'll just need to clear the window more often. Drivers should regularly clean their windshield and windows, both on the inside and outside, to help them see in good and bad weather. Smokers need to take extra care to make sure their interior windows are clear of a buildup of smoke residue.
Handling a skid - Losing control of your car on wet pavement is a frightening experience. You can prevent skids by driving slowly and carefully, especially on curves. Brake before entering the curves. Steer and brake with a light touch. If you find yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas, and carefully steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. This procedure, known as "steering into the skid," will bring the back end of your car in line with the front. For cars without anti-lock brakes, avoid using your brakes. If your car has ABS, brake firmly as you "steer into the skid."
Expressway driving - Leave lots of space between you and the car in front because it takes longer to stop. You're supposed to leave a few seconds between cars in dry weather. Make sure you add space in wet weather because if you have to hit the brakes hard, your tires will lock up, you will hydroplane and you will most likely hit the car in front of you. If available, drive in the fast lane, where there are fewer cars and less oil deposited on the road. Also, because of the built-in slope of the road, water drains towards the slower lanes. Avoid lane changes, as water tends to build up between the tire ruts in the lanes.
Oily deposits - Watch for intersections because of the oil spots in the road. Rain is most dangerous when it falls after a long, dry spell on to roads that have become polished and smooth: the rain blends with oil and rubber-dust deposits on the road surface to form a highly dangerous skid mixture. That mixture builds up at intersections, where cars stop and start frequently. Be extra careful immediately after it starts raining because it takes a while for the worst of the dirt and oil to get washed off the road.
Driving Through Water - Where water has flooded onto the road, drive very slowly and cautiously. Never drive through moving water if you can't see the ground through it: you and your car could be swept off the road, possibly finishing you both. Stop the car before entering the flooded area and check the water level ahead. Generally, if the water is deeper than the bottom of your doors or the bottom third of your wheels, it is inadvisable to attempt driving through it. Seek a detour rather than braving the flood and risking damage to your electronic control systems. Attempting to go through deep water can ruin any of these systems, creating a repair bill in the thousands of dollars.
At night it's much harder to see water hazards. You'll need good road observational skills to notice the difference between a wet road surface and flood water. Watch the contours not only of the road but also of fences, trees, hedges and buildings at the side of the road ahead. If they appear to be unnaturally low, slow down at once as the road is probably flooded. If you don't slow down and hit flood water at speed, the effect is almost like hitting a wall: you will first lose control, then come to a violent stop, possibly injuring your passengers as well. Watch out for places where floodwater collects, particularly low-lying roads adjacent to streams, and dips under rail or highway bridges.
If you determine it's safe to go on, proceed slowly and avoid making large waves in the water. If you have a manual transmission, engage first gear and keep the engine running fast by releasing the clutch just enough to partially engage gear and giving more acceleration than usual. This keeps the exhaust gases moving, helping to prevent water from entering your tailpipe. Vehicles with automatic transmissions should place the car in first gear and feather your brake, slowing the vehicle while at the same time keeping your revs up. Doing this for longer than a few seconds can seriously damage your vehicle and is not recommended. If you're submerged too deeply, your engine will stall and water might enter your engine through your air intake, causing a condition known engine hydro-lock, forcing you to replace it.
What to do if you stall in deep water - If possible, have someone pull your vehicle out using a tow rope or cable winch. It may be possible to drive a manual transmission car out using the starter motor. You can make the job easier by removing your spark-plugs, thereby lowering your compression and making your starter turn more easily. Take great care not to let water enter the cylinders, as it will hydro-lock your engine, ruining it. This is a last resort for rescuing a flooded vehicle and is not recommended.
Check your brakes - If you successfully pass through a deep water hazard, test your brakes. They may be saturated, and only driving very slowly and braking lightly at the same time will generate enough heat to dry them out. Be sure they are pulling evenly on all wheels before building up speed again.
Courtesy of SmartMotorist.com
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Lexus of Maplewood - Luxury Contest! Enter to win fabulous prizes!
Official Lexus 2012 "Big Game" Commercial: "Beast"
The wait is over. The bold new face of Lexus is here, and it cannot be contained. Watch Lexus' first-ever commercial for the "big game", introducing the all-new 2013 GS and a glimpse of what Lexus has in store for 2012.
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