Hey Lexus fans! Check out the 2013 Lexus LS Information:

Plenty of information to go through with the new 2013 Lexus LS — let’s start with the press release and some photos.

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• First-Ever LS F SPORT Offers More Engaging Driving Experience
• New, Bold Signature Lexus Design Cues
• New Instrument Panel with a High Resolution 12.3” Navigation Screen
• Advanced Safety Innovations including Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Advanced Pre-Collision System

With its dynamic handling, bold new design and superior craftsmanship, the 2013 LS flagship models hail the future of the Lexus brand as it embarks on its third decade in the premium luxury category.

 

While retaining many of the qualities that have defined Lexus for more than 20 years, the LS reaches new heights with an exciting blend of beautiful design, modern refinement and advanced technology.

The 2013 LS line-up includes the LS 460, LS 460L, LS 600hL hybrid, and the first-ever LS 460 F SPORT. LS 460 and LS 460L are available in RWD and AWD. The LS Hybrid is available with a full-time AWD system.

The all-new LS 460 F SPORT combines a more aggressive exterior with a unique sport interior featuring F SPORT seats with larger bolsters, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters and genuine aluminum trim. With a sport tuned air suspension that has been lowered 0.4 inches, a Torsen® limited slip rear differential (RWD model), Brembo six-piston caliper brakes, and 19” forged wheels with summer or all-season tires, the LS F SPORT promises to be the most engaging LS ever.

The entire 2013 LS lineup is refined with dynamic, fresh styling that reflects the bold new face of Lexus. The aggressive spindle grille gives the new LS a greater road presence and stronger brand identity while heralding a significant improvement in driving dynamics, responsiveness and handling.

Increased body rigidity enhances stability, and allows for a more comfortable ride. Pitch and bounce control has been enhanced by adopting new frequency dependent shock absorbers, resulting in an even flatter, road-hugging ride. Revised steering offers improvements in accuracy and turn-in response. The braking system has been adjusted for more immediate power and greater pedal feel.

Available safety enhancements include the industry’s most advanced Pre-Collision Safety (A-PCS) system with Collision Avoidance Assist. This system is designed to assist the driver in avoiding or mitigating collisions with vehicles and pedestrians under a wide range of city and highway speeds. At speeds lower than 24 miles per hour, this technology helps the LS to avoid accidents by automatically bringing the LS to a full stop.

The driver-focused interior integrates modern refinement with intuitive technology. The Advanced Illumination System (AIS), an all-LED interior lighting system, illuminates to greet the approaching occupants and then fades in sequence with the vehicle starting procedure.

The new, available Lexus Climate Concierge offers maximum comfort for every LS occupant. The customizable system uses multiple sensors to automatically regulate not only the temperature of the cabin, but also the climate control seats and the heated steering wheel, quickly bringing each occupant to their preferred temperature.

The standard navigation system is displayed on a 12.3-inch, split-screen, high-resolution multi-media display which is large enough to support simultaneous viewing of a large map display and other vehicle functions.

A next-generation Remote Touch, with one-push confirmation, is standard on all models and enables smooth, intuitive control of many vehicle systems. The Remote Touch allows the user to operate the climate, audio, phone controls, navigation system and more. The screen menus are selected with a controller conveniently located within easy reach on the center console. A number of well-placed buttons on the steering wheel and instrument panel enable the direct control of frequently used functions (e.g. temperature setting, fan speed, preset audio stations, etc.)

Lexus Enform® with App Suite leverages the customers’ mobile phone technology to provide a new level of connectivity and information management. Users can conduct local searches through Bing™, utilize voice-enabled apps to make restaurant reservations through OpenTable®, get movie tickets via MovieTickets.com, tap into internet radio, including Pandora® or iHeartRadio, search business reviews on Yelp and check in on Facebook places. A one-year trial subscription is included for the App Suite.

Chassis/Body/Suspension/Brakes/Tires

• Numerous stabilizing fins help the LS to be one of the most aerodynamically efficient cars in its segment with a coefficient drag of 0.26.
• Laser screw welding, body adhesives and other structural reinforcements increase rigidity and enhance stability, steering feel and handling.
• New standard Drive Mode Select allows the driver to choose from 3 distinct drive settings (Eco, Normal and Sport). Vehicles equipped with the available air suspension add Comfort and Sport S+ modes.
• The available Air Suspension with Variable Gear Ratio Steering automatically adjusts the damping force for optimal comfort and performance.
• The available AWD system features a central, permanently engaged, Torsen Limited Slip center Differential (LSD) to further enhance grip, traction and cornering stability.
• Noise-reduction wheels channel resonant noise from the main air chamber to adjacent hollow areas within the wheels via resonator holes, resulting in an incredibly quiet ride.

Safety/Security

• The Advanced Pre-Collision Safety system (APCS) can detect stationary pedestrians and those moving at speeds of up to three miles per hour and stop the vehicle from a speed of 24 miles per hour if a collision with another vehicle is imminent.
• Available Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) constantly monitors the distance to vehicles ahead and is capable of operating at any speed. The system can bring the vehicle to a complete stop, and accelerate away once the road ahead is clear
• An upgraded, optional Lane-Keep Assist system (LKA) helps the driver stay in the intended lane.
• New to LS, the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) uses rear millimeter-wave radar to monitor the vehicle rear side blind spots at 10 miles per hour or more. This feature includes Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) which automatically operates when the vehicle is in reverse, alerting drivers to the approach of other vehicles when backing out of a parking place.
• The Available Automatic High Beam system features a camera located in the inner mirror that detects light sources in front of the vehicle — including the headlamps of oncoming vehicles, the tail lamps of a vehicle ahead and street lighting – to automatically switch the high beams on and off accordingly.

Luxury/Comfort/Convenience

• Enhancements have been made to the sound insulation for an even quieter cabin.
• Redesigned front seats minimize pressure peaks and increase support. Both front seats feature an improved standard heating and cooling system with larger heating and cooling areas and reduced heating and cooling times.
• All AWD models including the LS600hL feature a heated steering wheel and Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heating elements which warm the front cabin area quickly after vehicle start-up. Windshield de-icer and headlamp washers are standard on AWD models.
• The LS features a standard Lexus Premium Audio System with a nine channel amplifier, 10 speakers, CD / DVD player changer, DVD audio and video compatibility, MP3 sound enhancement, HD Radio™ with iTunes tagging, and a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM™ Satellite Radio. Standard entertainment and connectivity advancements include enhanced Bluetooth® capability with automatic phonebook download and streaming audio.
• The optional Mark Levinson Reference Surround System provides a 5.1 home theatre surround with 7.1 architecture , discrete circuitry, 15 channel, ML3-16 Processor Power Amplifier covering a frequency range of 20Hz-20kHz, and 450 watts with less than 0.1% Total Harmonic Distortion (THD).

Luxury Options

• Available Power rear seats with Climate Concierge.
• An available Ottoman Seating Package with Shiatsu Massage and a Rear Seat Entertainment System featuring a Blu-ray DVD player, an SD card slot and a retractable, ceiling mounted, nine-inch full-color VGA screen.

Exterior Design

• The inverted trapezoidal upper grille and slanted lower grille that were first introduced on the GS sedan have been combined and integrated into a single element on the LS to create a more prominent spindle shape.
• When equipped with the optional three projector LED headlamp unit, the LS offers all LED exterior lighting, including turn signals an fog lamps
• LS 460 F SPORT features a unique front fascia with an enhanced three-dimensional mesh grille, larger cooling openings, black grille surround, and round fog lamps. A chrome-plated bar running along the bottom edge of the rear bumper accentuates the lowered center of gravity. F SPORT exterior badging completes the look.
• LS F SPORT offers six exterior colors; Ultra White is exclusive to F SPORT.

Interior Design

• The dashboard is divided into two distinct zones: an upper Display Zone, with the large, 12.3-inch, LCD multi-display screen, and a lower Operation Zone, which allows access to system controls such as the second generation Remote Touch Interface (RTI).
• The driver’s instrument meter cluster incorporates high-visibility, large diameter Optitron dials; a 5.8-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) Multi-information screen; and an aluminum analog clock with a GPS-based time correction function.
• The interior is offered in 5 color schemes: Ivory, Light Gray, Black, Black and Saddle Tan, and a newly available Topaz Brown.
• Optional wood includes Walnut, Shimamoku Espresso, Matte Brown Bird’s Eye Maple. The LS 600h L also offers an eco- friendly Bamboo wood trim.
• The new, Shimamoku finish is an example of the finest traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Shimamoku, translated as “striped wood,” involves the painstaking layering of angle-cut dark and light shaded wood veneers in a unique process which involves 67 manufacturing steps over the course of 38 days.
• The LS 460 F SPORT features aluminum ornamentation and a unique interior, featuring a black Alcantara headliner.

courtesy of http://lexusenthusiast.com

Will these people manage to keep their heart rate below 120 heartbeats per minute?

Thank you for this fabulous review! Happy Wednesday!

"This review is for the service department.  This was the first time taking our vehicle to any Lexus dealership in the San Diego area, and we chose Lexus Carlsbad due to their highly rated service reviews.  The feedback was more positive than San Diego Lexus in Kearny Mesa - apparently Lexus Carlsbad is a family owned dealership while San Diego Lexus is owned by Penske, and that seems to have an impact. Chris Guglielmucci was our service consultant and did a great job.

Everyone in the service department worked together to make sure we were taken care of every step of the way.  We received the high quality service all the way from vehicle drop off to cashier payment that we have come to expect from Lexus.

One surprising point - service prices were surprisingly reasonable.  They were only slightly higher than prices quoted by local repair shops.  With the advantage of having quality service, parts, and a great loaner car we were completely happy to drive 30 miles from our home to have maintenance performed at Lexus Carlsbad.  The 2012 IS250 was a great loaner, too.

I would gladly return to Lexus Carlsbad for future work and recommend their service."

Lexus shifts LF-LC coupe concept to higher gear!

See the full gallery on Posterous

The wild Lexus LF-LC coupe concept that wowed visitors at the Detroit auto show is on track for development, signaling a new direction for a brand that has fallen from first to third in the U.S. luxury sales rankings.

Toyota is on a mission to make Lexus sportier and more compelling to potential buyers--and it starts with the LF-LC, which was designed at Toyota's Calty studio in Newport Beach, Calif.

Company executives said in January that the flashy 2+2 sports coupe was not planned for production. But several Lexus insiders now say the overwhelming reaction means it almost certainly will come to market.

Dealers could see the coupe in their showrooms within three years.

Toyota registered the trademark for LF-LC in February, after the Detroit show.

"There has been a lot of interest from dealers and distributors," a Lexus official said.

The LFA V10 supercar was a first step in the effort to give Lexus more flash, but only 500 are being built worldwide. Company insiders have said that a production version of the LF-LC would be more advanced technologically than the dowdy, heavy SC 430 coupe that was killed in 2010--more of an LFA "lite" than a traditional coupe.

It also would be targeted further upscale, against the Porsche 911 Turbo and Aston Martin Vantage, both of which tickle the $120,000 mark.

Lexus dealers recently were sent crystal sculptures with a 3-D laser rendering of the LF-LC etched inside the crystal. Inscribed on the crystal were the words, "2012 GS Challenge ... 27,500 Sales." The underlying message: Hit the sales target for the mid-sized sedan and get the cool coupe.

But the Lexus source said the LF-LC probably would be produced even if dealers don't hit the GS sales target.

Lexus' 11-year reign as the best-selling luxury brand in the United States ended last year as it slipped behind BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Lexus continued to trail BMW and Mercedes in the first half of this year.

The 2011 earthquake in Japan hurt sales by pinching production, but executives concede the brand's staid lineup needs to elicit more surprise and delight from buyers through styling and performance.

Mark Templin, Lexus' global and U.S. chief, said recently: "In the past, we talked about the perfection of our product. But the 'Pursuit of Perfection' idea lacks emotion."

While carrying the signature spindle grille of all Lexus vehicles, the LF-LC has swoopy, fluid lines similar to those of the exotic LFA. But with 2+2 seating and a hybrid powertrain, the LF-LC appears way more practical.

Toyota can take up to 36 months to take a prototype to Job 1. Much depends on whether the new vehicle is derived from an existing chassis and component set. If Lexus uses the IS-F sedan platform, it could shave months off the development time.

At the Detroit show, Toyota executives expressed enthusiasm for the car but said it was just a concept created to judge consumer reaction.

The debut of the Acura NSX may have shocked Toyota executives into taking action.

The LF-LC has since toured the auto show circuit and has appeared at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este on Lake Como in Italy.

Coupes typically are slow sellers after the initial excitement dies down. But Lexus may be willing to take the risk to inject some pizzazz into the brand.

The previous-generation SC 430 peaked at 14,462 sales in 2002, its first full year of sales, before dropping sharply to half that in 2006. Volumes plummeted from there.

courtesy of autoweek.com/article/20120717/carnews/120719879#ixzz215jW7a6c

Hey there Lexus fans! Check out our great specials, time is running out!

All you have to do is head on over to our website to view this deal and many more!

How does the F SPORT Factory Package compare to the F SPORT Accessories Package?

MT Then and Now: 1990-2013 Lexus ES

The Lexus ES has come a long way since 1990, when the entry-level luxury sedan was nothing more than an optioned-up Toyota Camry with a new grille, headlights and taillights. We recently sampled the 2013 Lexus ES and came away impressed at the progress the front-drive luxury sedan has made over the last 20 plus years.

1990 Lexus ES 250
In 1990, Toyota launched its premium Lexus brand with two models: the executive-level LS 400 and the volume model ES 250 based on the Toyota Camry family sedan. The ES 250 was powered by a 156-hp 2.5-liter V-6 mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. We found the Lexus ES 250 “a pleasant, if benign, little sedan with a light and polite feel, a car brimming with high quality and the latest technology but totally lacking the aggressive character and style sought after by enthusiasts.”

1992 Lexus ES 300
Two years after the Lexus ES 250 arrived, the premium automaker debuted the Lexus ES 300. More upscale features and options as well as a sleeker, more rounded body distinguished the ES 300 from the Camry. The ES 300 still shared the Camry’s engine, now a larger 185-hp 3.0-liter V-6. Transmission choices remained the same as the ES 250.

“The ES fulfills the promise of its new styling, delivering a balanced blend of sporty performance and spoiling comfort,” we wrote. “The V-6 is exceptionally smooth and quiet. Yet one stab on the accelerator will prove it’s not daydreaming under there.” We were also impressed by its ride, noting the Lexus “soaks up bumps without distraction” despite not being as cushy as the contemporary Camry.

1999 Lexus ES 300
Lexus continued to evolve the ES 300, and by 1999 the 3.0-liter V-6 now made 210 hp and 220 lb-ft of torque. We were impressed with the revised car’s performance saying, “At the track, the new car hit 60 mph in 7.8 seconds, two tenths quicker than our recently departed 1997 ES 300 long-termer. A quarter-mile pass of 15.9 seconds at 88.5 mph also topped that car’s 16.1-second/86.5-mph best effort. While a slightly improved slalom number (64.4 versus 62.9 mph) rightly indicates that transitional handling and responsiveness have been sharpened a tad for 1999.”

2002 Lexus ES 300
With the 2002 ES 300, Lexus added more pronounced bubble headlights similar to those found on the Toyota Celica. Mechanically a new drive-by-wire system replaced the throttle cable and a five-speed automatic transmission was new. We were pleased with its price-to-value ratio as well: “The ’02 ES 300 is a slick piece. Its velvety mechanical refinement and ride are unmatched in the $30,000-plus price range. … Although the target customers may need some time to get used to the avant garde front-end created in the company’s Japanese design studios, the new ES 300 is definitely an entry-lux knockout.”

2007 Lexus ES 350
Any pretense of sportiness was gone by the 2007 model year, despite the new 272-hp 3.5-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic transmission. We said the new engine’s power was “perfectly adequate” and that “the car is soft in corners, but well controlled over bumpy, uneven road surfaces. It’ll neither excite nor surprise, and except for some vague on-center steering feel, it won’t make the spirited driver feel out of sorts.”

2010 Lexus ES 350
“Those who want spectacular handling should look at a BMW 3 Series or an Infiniti G before the ES,” we said about the outgoing ES, but we suggested the Lexus may shine as a road trip car. “The soft suspension does a great job of absorbing bumps and potholes; combine that with the quiet cabin, and this is a car that would be a terrific place to burn miles on the Interstate.”

2013 Lexus ES 350
While the original Lexus ES was supposed to be the larger LS sedan’s cheaper stablemate, it “started life as little more than a Toyota Camry playing dress-up.” For 2013, the sixth-generation model now uses the Avalon’s platform instead of the Camry’s, with styling that “adds character and panache to a car that desperately needed a big dose of it, and the resemblance to the senior Lexus will surely appeal to social climbers.”

courtesy of motortrend.com

James, thank you for this fantastic review!

"We just purchased our 3rd Lexus from Lexus Carlsbad and could not be more pleased.  We commend Mark Sweeney the General Sales Manager and Rick Torres the Service Parts Director for their professionalism and effort in working with us. For the last 10 years we have traveled from San Diego to Carlsbad to do business with Lexus Carlsbad.  We purchased a new 2003 Lexus GS 430 and they helped us find a  a hard to find low mileage 2003 amethyst colored SC 430.  We have had the cars serviced at Lexus Carlsbad except for one brief period.  After the GS 430 was out of warranty I took it to an independent Lexus garage where they told me I needed to replace the master brake cylinder which was very expensive.  I then went back to Lexus Carlsbad to get a quote and they determined I did not in fact need to replace the master brake cylinder and have been with them ever since."

From Turn 1 at Daytona to Wehrseifen at Nurburgring, every famous curve has an equally thrilling, lesser-known counterpart, complemented with the Lexus IS performance line. Real performance demands real precision.