Stop by Lexus Carlsbad to give your car some much needed attention with our exclusive special for our online fans!

We are offering a full Alignment for ONLY $99* for our online fans! Hurry in, this special is only available through the end of March. You're welcome to give us a call or visit http://bit.ly/15jvRvg to schedule your appointment today.

*Valid only at Lexus Carlsbad. Cannot be combined with any other specials, discounts, or offers. See Lexus Carlsbad for complete details. Valid only at Lexus Carlsbad. Cannot be combined with any other specials, discounts, or offers. See Lexus Carlsbad for complete details. Offer expires 03-31-2013

Lexus Introduces All-New Third-Generation IS Sport Sedan for 2014

Lexus debuts the third-generation 2014 IS sport sedan, with a bold design highlighted by the new dynamic signature spindle grille and for the first time separated LED Daytime Running Lights. A combination of “aggressive elegance,” a more powerful road presence and a stronger brand identity help make the new IS models more alluring than ever.

Thanks in large part to substantially increased overall body rigidity, the 2014 Lexus IS provides a more dynamic driving experience with enhanced stability and body control while delivering improved ride comfort. New, laser-screw welding and adhesive body-bonding techniques, along with additional spot welding, have made the higher rigidity possible. An all-new multilink rear suspension, revised front suspension and steering derived from the well-received GS sedan are adopted in the smaller IS package. Two IS models are available for 2014. The IS 250 is powered by a smooth 2.5- liter V6 providing 204 hp @ 6,400rpm and 185 lb.-ft. torque @ 4,800rpm. The engine is matched to a six-speed Electronically Controlled Transmission (ECT) that features a sequential manual-shifting mode with rev matched downshifts in SPORT mode.

The even more exciting IS 350 gets a 3.5-liter V6 with D4-S direct and port fuel injection. The 3.5 engine produces 306 hp @ 6,400rpm, 277 lb.-ft. torque @ 4,800rpm. The IS 350 inherits the eight-speed, Sport Direct Shift (SPDS) automatic transmission from the IS F high-performance model. This transmission features paddle shifters and the G-force Artificial Intelligence (G-AI) system, which automatically selects the optimum gear and downshift pattern in response to G force. Available for both IS models, an electronically controlled all-weather drive system is designed to help enhance traction and grip under all driving conditions by automatically varying front-to-rear torque balance from 50:50 to as much as 30:70.

A new Drive Mode Select system features up to five driving modes. The IS 250 and IS 350 feature ECO, NORMAL, and SPORT modes. The IS 350 F SPORT features four drive modes: ECO, NORMAL, SPORT S, and SPORT S+. These drive modes are tailored to meet the driver’s preferred combination of economy, comfort, performance and handling characteristics. In addition, AWD models also feature a SNOW mode.

The available F SPORT package includes unique 18-inch wheels and special suspension tuning, unique interior and exterior design. It is available for IS 250 and IS 350 RWD and AWD models. The Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) featured on IS 350 F SPORT allows the driver to fine tune the IS FSPORT’s ride characteristics with a choice of two settings; Normal, for everyday driving comfort, and SPORT S or SPORT S+ mode, for optimized body control and agility. Exclusive for all IS 350 models and IS 250 F SPORT, is an intake sound generator that creates a more sporting engine note.

The Lexus LFA supercar provided design inspiration for the driver-focused Lexus IS cockpit. F SPORT models inherit the innovative TFT instrumentation with moving center ring from the LFA.

The driver can appreciate improved seating position and headroom, while the rear seat offers significantly improved roominess, ingress , and egress. Separating the shocks from the springs results in a larger trunk, as well.

New luxuries abound in the 2014 Lexus IS. A high-efficiency dual-zone climate control system uses new, touch-sensitive electrostatic temperature switches. The IS offers two multimedia systems. A standard high-resolution Lexus Display Audio (LDA) with controller or the optional Lexus navigation system.

The navigation system is operated via a second-generation Lexus Remote Touch Interface (RTI) multi-function control device, which also allows control of the climate, audio, phone controls and more.

The available Mark Levinson® Premium Surround System employs new loudspeaker technology with 15 speakers and 835 watts, for even more life-like sound reproduction.

Ten Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbags are standard. The IS models employ the innovative Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system, which integrates Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Traction Control (TRAC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) active safety systems with the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) or, where fitted (for IS 350 F SPORT), Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS).

The new IS may also be equipped with the available pre-emptive Pre-Collision System (PCS), which incorporates Adaptive Cruise Control. The model range adds several advanced new active safety features, including an Automatic High Beam (AHB) headlamp system, a Lane Departure Alert (LDA) system, a Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system and a standard Auto Location Tire Pressure Warning System (AL-TPWS).

courtesy of pressroom.toyota.com

Split World - The Entirely New 2013 Lexus ES and First Ever ES Hybrid

Introducing a reason to look twice. Introducing a stunning work of technology. The entirely new 2013 ES and first ever ES Hybrid. This is the pursuit of perfection.

Lexus RX 350 Wins U.S. News & World Report Award

Lexus earned a top honor in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Cars for Families Awards.  The RX 350 won 2013 Best Luxury 2-Row Midsize SUV for Families award for having the best combination of quality, features and space for today’s families. 

“The RX created the crossover utility segment”, said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager.  “This award speaks to the unique combination of luxury and versatility that the RX350 delivers for our customers and their families.”

The Best Cars for Families awards combine quality, size and family-friendly, features into a composite score.  Quality is measured using a weighted average of scores from the U.S. News rankings at the time the awards are published.  The rankings compare cars on the basis of safety, reliability and a consensus of automotive critic’s opinions.  Size is based on a vehicle’s seating capacity and interior space.  For family-friendly features, we factor in the availability of features deemed to be helpful to families by U.S. News editors.  All 2013 winners are listed at www.usnews.com/cars-families.>

courtesy of pressroom.toyota.com

Lexus Ranks Highest of Any Luxury Brand in 2013 J.D. Power and Associates CSI Study

Lexus ranked highest in customer satisfaction among luxury brands in the J.D. Power and Associates 2013 Customer Service Index (CSI) Study^SM for the fifth consecutive year.  Lexus achieved an overall CSI score of 862 on a 1,000-point scale, 19 points above the segment average and the highest numerical score in the study, regardless of segment.

“Customer satisfaction is the foundation of Lexus,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “We’re proud of our dealers and their continuous efforts to exceed customer expectations and make Lexus the highest ranked brand in CSI for the 16^th time, more than any manufacturer.”*

The 2013 CSI Study is based on responses from owners and lessees of 2008 to 2012 model-year vehicles.  The study was fielded from October through December 2012.  Lexus ranked highest in the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction with Dealer Service (CSI) Study from 1991-1995, 1997-2001, 2006, and 2009-2013.

courtesy of toyotanewsroom.com

Lexus’ G force with Artificial Intelligence system gets to know your cornering style.

Your Lexus is many things. A precision machine. An icon of luxury. A paragon of technical prowess.

It’s also a student.

What does it study? You, the driver. From Lexus’ beginnings in 1989, engineers have infused Lexus vehicles with systems that learn how you drive—as you’re driving—and then deliver mechanical responses that help the vehicles perform as you desire.

A prime example is Lexus’ Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i), which delivers seamless shifts by gradually adjusting hydraulic pressure, coordinated with engine power adjustments, instead of suddenly switching to a new gear all at once. Beyond this core function, however, the system studies you: the ECT-i computer actually learns from your driving behavior, and then adjusts gear-shift timing to match your driving style.

This winter, Lexus’ introduced its latest artificial intelligence technology, the G force Artificial Intelligence (G-AI) system, to be launched on the 2014 IS 350 (available summer 2013). Like ECT-i, G-AI is designed to study an aspect of your driving and personalize the car’s behavior accordingly.

But before we go into what it learns, here’s what the system does: while the Lexus IS 350 is in SPORT mode, G-AI holds the automatic transmission to a single gear as you move through a tight corner, which helps prevent automatic-shifting surprises.

This allows you to focus on what makes a tight turn a lot of fun—throttle and steering—without having to worry about an unexpected automatic shift, which can throw off the experience.

“Sporty drivers want to preserve a level of control when cornering,” says Paul Williamsen, Lexus International’s national manager of global training. “So with G-AI, we’re trying to avoid unexpected weight transfers through the turn—to prevent overloading the front tires or under-loading the rear tires. Anything that upsets the ideal balance, even slightly, such as an unplanned automatic-transmission shift, can disrupt the driver’s cornering line.”

As G-AI is helping to keep things under control, however, it’s also getting to know your preferred “cornering force”—in other words, the subtleties of your cornering style. This eventually allows the system to start choosing the right gear to hold for you through tight turns, which isn’t necessarily the right gear it would hold steady for a different driver.

It also learns quickly, says Williamsen: “I recently took one of the new IS models out on a test track in Japan. Often our intelligence-technology benefits are subtle, but I could actually feel G-AI responding in the first lap. With each turn, the car’s transmission felt as stable as a manual, and it also began learning my intent, so the tight turns felt good.”

courtesy of secure.drivers.lexus.com

Mark and Maria were kind enough to share about their amazing experience with our sales team at Lexus Carlsbad! They were blown away by our staff's eagerness to help!

5-Star Review on Yelp:

"The most impressive impact came after we had left the lot. Richard possesses great follow up skills and he was persistent without being annoying. This ladies and gentlemen is a learned art and skill that not too many sale people have mastered...."

Synchronized - 2013 Lexus GS Commercial

Fans, we received amazing feedback about our service department at Lexus Carlsbad! Be sure to read what our customer had to say.

5-Star Review on Yelp:

"Amazing service department!!! The overall customer care at Lexus Carlsbad has prompted me to buy my future Lexus vehicles from this dealership."

2013 Lexus ES300h

The Lexus ES lineup, the brand's bread-and-butter sedan, has been completely redone for 2013. With that tip-to-tail rework comes the model's first hybrid. We think the ES350 is better in every way than its predecessor, so a spin in the ES300h is warranted to see what it's like to live with the model sure to become the best-selling Lexus hybrid sedan. In particular, we wanted to see how the gas-electric luxury cruiser handled the battery-sapping realities of winter, so we ventured out into the slush and snow to file this report.

Driving Notes:

• Peel away the slush, and this car sure is sharp-looking. It strongly resembles the excellent new GS, no bad thing. With the move to the longer Toyota Avalon underpinnings, the ES300h is long and elegant.
• The Hybrid Synergy Drive system for the ES300h is the same setup you'll find in the Camry Hybrid. That means a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle engine and electric motor that are combined for 200 total horsepower and 40 miles per gallon city, 39 mpg highway.
• Hybrids are generally not great in the snow, with their harder, low-rolling-resistance tire compounds and high-torque electric motors. The ES300h performed admirably in the storm that made our pictures filthy, with power delivery that can be easily modulated to use the available traction. With a set of winter tires, you'd have no worries at all.
• The trunk is useful, even with the hybrid gear. You get a whole mess of useable space, and the rear seat legroom is enormous, too, thanks to the longer wheelbase the ES now rides on.
• The interior is quite handsome and well-trimmed, not to mention comfortable. Just like the exterior shows signs of the new mojo working at Lexus, the interior feels luxurious enough to fend off the rest of its competitors.
• There's a Drive Mode selector so you can pick between Normal, Eco or Sport modes. One nice feature is you can customize the instrument cluster to display the tachometer in any mode (among other little personalizations) instead of having to look at the hybrid power meter, that's way less entertaining.
• Observed fuel economy was 34 mpg combined. That's in winter, running E10, mostly highway.
• While the ES300h is quiet and refined.

courtesy of autoblog.com