Lexus Visits St. Vincent Meals on Wheels

Throughout the year, Lexus sponsors Meals on Wheels' Cart for a Cause food truck. On December 15, Lexus General Manager Mark Templin and members of the Lexus marketing team visited St. Vincent Meals on Wheels in Downtown L.A. to get an inside look at how this amazing organization supports the hungry and home-bound.

To make your own $5 donation to St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, simply text MEALS to 20222 or visit www.StVincentMOW.org. (Standard text messaging rates apply. Contact your cell phone carrier for details.)

Lexus of Maplewood - December Newsletter

Season's Greetings from all of us at Lexus of Maplewood! We would like to wish you and your loved ones a joyous, safe and happy holidays.  We hope the coming year brings you all good fortune and heath!

Vehicle Profile: The 2012 Lexus CT 200h Luxury, style, performance, value and 43 mpg. Last year, the five-door CT 200h hybrid became the fifth hybrid vehicle to join the Lexus stable, slotting in as the high-value, high-efficiency gateway for younger buyers, along with environmentally conscientious buyers of all ages, looking to enter the Lexus fold. The new 2012 Lexus CT 200h continues to offer incredible fuel economy, superior refinement and remarkable value while broadening the model line with a new limited F SPORT special edition that puts the emphasis on the car’s sporty side. December to Remember - Our Gift To You! by Matt Koehnen - General Sales Manager Click on the red bow for our Season's Greetings specials!   Do you have a December to Remember story you would like to share with Lexus of Maplewood? If you have Lexus or Dealership story you would like us to share in the Lexus of Maplewood Newsletter please contact Katie the Corporate Marketing Manager at Ktroutman@lexusofmaplewood.com or 952-746-6910 for more information. [FULL STORY]   The Lexus Courtside Club is here! Minnesota Timberwolves Premium Seating by Katie Troutman - Corporate Marketing Manager Starting December 17th, the Timberwolves season will begin, so take a seat in the Lexus Courtside Club and prepare yourself for an NBA thrill ride! In 2006, the vision for the Lexus Courtside Club began in the conference rooms at Lexus of Wayzata and Lexus of Maplewood. The number one goal was to provide the most exclusive luxury experience at Target Center, driveway-to-driveway, for Timberwolves games. Not only do members receive benefits like valet, gourmet cuisine and access to the Lexus Lounge and Locker Room every game but they sit in the Lexus seats just inches from the game's greatest players. Read the full newsletter: http://bit.ly/uJHV0F

Toys for Tots Charity Drive - 'Share a Bow' through January 3!

There is only a week remaining in the Lexus charity drive for Toys for Tots. Help us give up to $100k to the organization by going to the following link http://on.fb.me/jGoCOr then clicking "Share a Bow." Through January 3, Lexus will donate $5 each time you share the bow with your friends. Hurry!

'Tis the season for the Lexus Holiday Pandora channel! What is your favorite holiday song?

Listen to the Lexus Holiday channel on Pandora: http://bit.ly/uYtcnK

Lexus LF-LC Revealed!

In a screwup of epic proportions, Road & Track accidentally published a video on their Youtube page revealing the Lexus LF-LC concept set to debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

The video has since been taken down, but not before spreading like wildfire across the Internet — here’s some screenshots taken from the ten second clip:

Also mixed through the video were cut-up shots of the side profile — here’s my attempt to composite them together (click for a larger version):

The image doesn’t respond well to boosting the brightness, but it does reveal one crucial detail — the LF-LC will be a hybrid:

Considering the poor quality of the video, there’s still plenty left to see of the new concept — but I have to say, this LFA-inspired coupe is nothing short of amazing.

More tomorrow (after I have some time to absorb all this awesomeness)!

 

Courtesy of Lexus Enthusiast

Lexus reveals another concept teaser!

The latest teaser of the new Lexus Concept coming to Detroit features a unique design, with continuous flowing lines filling the cabin – all of which are wrapped in embroidered leather, wood, and other high quality materials. Lexus and parent company Toyota still haven’t offered any real information on this new Concept but the steeply sloping roofline supports that idea that this new Lexus will be a sports car. However, in fine Lexus fashion, we can expect the Concept being unveiled at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show to offer all premium interior finishes, a high end infotainment system and a comfortable – yet sporty- race inspired seat also clad in leather.

The only official information offered on the Lexus Concept coming to the Detroit Auto Show is that the car was designed at the Calty design studio in Newport Beach, California. We do not know what type of vehicle this is, whether it sports a traditional or hybrid (or electric) drivetrain or what – if any – existing Toyota product the new Lexus Concept will be based on.

Lexus has shown their sporty spirit with models like the IS-F, the GS350 F Sport and, of course, the incredible Lexus LFA supercar. The issue is that the sport-inspired IS and GS models are the range topping so they are among the most expensive vehicles in the lineup and the LFA carries a $375,000 price tag…making it well out of reach of even most Lexus buyers. However, Toyota and Subaru have seemingly done a great job of developing the new rear wheel drive, Boxer engine powered vehicle so packing the Toyota GT-86 full of luxury amenities and giving it a Lexus name of its own could help Lexus appeal to a younger crowd with a lower price than any of the other sporty Lexus models.

Of course, this is all speculation and until the 2012 North American International Auto Show opens in January, we may not know exactly what Lexus is going to unveil. Hopefully Lexus and parent company Toyota will continue to issue teasers of what could be a very exciting new concept from Lexus.

Courtesy of TorqueNews

Your Monday Maintenance Tip: Oil Changes

An oil and filter change involves draining out the old motor oil and replacing it with fresh, new motor oil. The oil filter also gets replaced at the same time.

Should I do this service when it's recommended?

In general, yes. Changing your vehicle's oil is one of the most important things you can do to avoid bringing large bags of money to your mechanic later on.

However, there's a lot of controversy about exactly when engine oil gets old and how often it should be replaced with new oil. Because there are many factors at work -- how you drive, the condition and age of the engine, the external environment you drive in, and stop-and-go versus highway driving -- it's an inexact science. Owner's manual recommendations for oil and filter changes vary from 3,000 to 10,000 miles.

We recommend that you change your oil and filter every 5,000 miles. That's our best estimate. It may be too soon for many people and too late for a few, but for the vast majority, 5,000-mile oil changes will help your engine last to a ripe, old age.

You may want to consider changing your oil more frequently if:

• You drive like a knucklehead: jackrabbit starts, heavy acceleration or high-speed driving
• You live where the climate is extremely hot or cold
• You often drive on dirt roads
• Your engine is old and burns oil
• You frequently carry heavy loads (several mothers-in-law or other cargo)

Why do I have to do this?

Oil undergoes thermal breakdown due to high operating temperature. When this occurs, the oil becomes less effective as a lubricant. And without a good lubricant (read: expensive), parts of the engine rub together and wear each other out.

Oil also contains additives that have the ability to neutralize acids. Over time, these additives get used up and stop being effective.

Finally, oil can absorb water, dust and combustion byproducts and also hold them in suspension. Eventually, the oil gets saturated with this stuff and can't absorb any more. Then that stuff remains in the engine and can cause corrosion.

What happens if I don't do this?

Your engine won't last as long as it could. Oil serves many crucial functions, and clean oil performs those functions better than dirty oil. Oil is relatively cheap, and changing your oil every 5,000 miles is a very cheap insurance policy against major repairs down the road.

Courtesy of CarTalk