Lexus promises to catch up with BMW and Mercedes

The company announced the release of new models IS - a series that will constitute direct competition BMW and Mercedes
In the next few years, Lexus is going to fill up its line of cars, luxurious models, which will be positioned in the same price niche as the most popular models from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. , Said in an interview with Wall Street Journal vice president Denny Clements (photo).According to him, Lexus lacks sedans and convertibles in the niche of "up to $ 70 000, which is positioned most selling model BMW 3-Series.In the niche of "High End" above $ 70 thousand, which "works" Mercedes-Benz, a Lexus also notes "the gap". (Recall that the flagship SUV Lexus GX 470 on the U.S. market worth $ 45 275. The same model in Russia is released for $ 90 thousand.)Last year Lexus sold a total of 259 755 of its cars - 11% more than in the previous year. Nevertheless, this figure is 4 times less than that of BMW.Denny Clements promised that in the next 5 years will bring the company to sales of 350 thousand cars per year.

Rear-wheel drive, classiс

Cars Lexus brand sold well in the states - for 15 years presence in the U.S. market managed to achieve two million cars. No wonder that all the new items being taken Japanese in the United States - another premiere in the framework of the New York motor show. This time, the Americans presented RWD concept Lexus LF-C,The first information about the car came a week before the premiere - the Japanese have distributed sketches of the car and announced that a prototype ready to show the new coupe. It turned out - slukavili. LF-C - is not just a coupe, but rather a coupe-cabriolet with a convertible roof. Iron hood you can not just lay in the trunk, but leave in one of the intermediate positions - making, for example, a coupe car with a body targa.The new prototype is continuing the development of design ideas, concept shown at last year's LF-S (Lexus Future Sedan). Obviously, the Japanese created a new family of machines, which will replace Lexus IS. The future car will be an ideological rival "treSka» BMW: rear-wheel drive, drayverskoe chassis and powerful engine (under the hood of the concept - the 300-strong "eight" volume 4.3 liters). Sports ideology is visible in the interior - before the eyes of the driver almost "formulaic" donut steering and three main instrument. Steering wheel, pedals and the like, has no mechanical connection to the wheels - the car realized the principle of Drive by wire (by-wire). All other controls located on the central console, which stretches along the entire passenger compartment, and door panels. And here was not without oddities - displays, switches and buttons are hidden under the transparent membrane and react to the touch of fingers. However, it is unlikely all of these delights in the near future will be used on serial machines, but the direction in which to develop the appearance of future cars the company Lexus, Japanese stylists have already identified.

Lexus LF-C: coupe, convertible, targa ...

At the motor show in New York City Department luxurious Toyota, Lexus introduced the brand concept car sports coupe LF-C. The main highlight of this car - a folding hard top. Depending on the willingness of the driver's compartment may become Targ, convertible and even double speedster. Design LF-C is built on a combination of convex and concave surfaces. Its length is about 4.5 meters, width - 1,85 m, height 1.35 meters.At Lexus LF-C rear-wheel drive, since it is built on an elongated platform sedan IS300. Under the hood of the car hiding hybrid V8 engine capacity of 4.3 liters and rated at 300 hp This same engine was installed at the conceptual sedan LF-S, which is presented at the recent Tokyo Motor Show.In the cabin LF-C (calculated at the four passengers), the company managed to combine luxury and sports notes. Average console extends throughout the cabin from its front to the rear. All displays and switches are hidden under the transparent shell, which makes the LF-C similar to the alien ship.But for the driver decided in a purely sports-style - as if the steering wheel moved up to the race car, and the instrument panel consists of three separate devices that are fixed in a classical style.

Lexus - the best brand, according to Americans

Lexus scored 910 points out of a possible 1000, Porsche - 903 and Cadillac - 902. The largest increase in rating compared to the results of last year showed Jaguar (897) and Cadillac. The average for the automotive industry this year stood at 852 points. Below is a list of all brands were Jeep (818), Oldsmobile (811) and Isuzu (810). Suvs Lexus RX 330 and LX 470 also received first place in their categories.

Compact car: Mini Cooper

The medium-sized passenger car: Chevrolet Malibu

The medium-sized passenger car premium »: Volvo S40

Full Size car: Mercury Marauder

Luxury car: Chrysler 300

Luxury car premium »: BMW 7 Series

Sportcar: Pontiac GTO

Sportcar premium »: Porsche Boxster

Compact pick-up: Subaru Baja

Full Size medium-duty pickup: Cadillac Escalade EXT

Full Size Pickup High capacity: Dodge Ram Pickup HD

SUV: Chevrolet Equinox

The medium-sized SUV: Nissan Murano

Full Size SUV: Nissan Armada

Luxury SUV: Lexus RX 330

Luxury SUV premium »: Lexus LX 470

Compact Van: Toyota Sienna

New York: Lexus showed wheel-drive version of the model IS

Presenting at the Geneva Motor Show in the compact sedan IS, Lexus at the company motor show in New York will join the line with two new versions of the very curious.The most anticipated modification - it certainly IS350 with 300-horsepower engine, which brings the dynamic characteristics of this Lexus sport-Karam. For example, sprint from place to "hundreds» IS350 from "automatic" can be done in less than 6 seconds.In addition, IS350 system is equipped with Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM), which, working in parallel with the traditional system of stabilization of Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), helps the driver to fully realize the potential maximum vehicle speed when cornering, while maintaining complete control over the machine.The second version is aimed at drivers who for the sake of the stability of the machine is ready to sacrifice a little dynamic - it is all-wheel drive IS 250 AWD. Equipped with a 200-horsepower engine sedan starts with a place to "hundreds" of 7.5 seconds and on a plan of founders should be more recklessly and at the same time safely managed on a wet and slippery pavement.

Lexus is preparing a rival BMW M3 and Audi RS4

Company Lexus has begun testing a new "loaded" version of the new generation model of Lexus IS, which is quite able to compete with cars BMW M3, Audi RS4 and Mercedes C-Class from AMG. Japanese sedan, most likely get the name of the Lexus IS500, and will be equipped with the latest eight-cylinder engine volume of five liters and output of 400 horsepower.According to preliminary information, this novelty will be able to accelerate from zero to sixty miles per hour in less than six seconds, while its top speed is artificially limited at around 250 kilometers per hour. In addition to the powerful engine, the top version of Lexus IS will also receive upgraded chassis, stiffer and lower suspension, powerful brakes and aggressive aerodynamic body kit. However, the details of what exactly changed in this car will be known closer to the official premiere of the new items, which is scheduled for 2006.Recall also that while in Europe will be shipped version of Lexus IS with two engines - a 2.5-liter V6 power of 204 horsepower and a diesel 2.2-liter engine produces 177 horsepower.

J.D. Power: GM and Toyota - best quality

The results of the annual quality study Initial Quality Study (IQS), which conducts JD Power, leaders in quality in the world were American concern General Motors Corp. and the Japanese company Toyota Motor Co.In total, these two products received top honors in 15 of the 18 categories. The winner was the brand Lexus, subdivision Toyota. At its cars accounted for 81 failure in 100 units. British Jaguar was in second place with 88 problems per hundred vehicles, followed by BMW - 95 problems per hundred. Top five finish Buick and Cadillac Concern GM. Convertible Lexus SC430 is the undisputed leader for the second consecutive year. Its owners reported only about 54 problems a hundred machines, while the average figure for the automotive industry at last count - 118.Total Japanese company won in ten categories with brand names Toyota, Scion and Lexus, including a hybrid model Prius. American concern General Motors, which is currently going through hard times, been very pleased with the results. He won in five categories, including through the model Buick LeSabre. A HUMMER, which is also owned by GM, was the most "good" finalized a car - if last year in a hundred had 173 problems, now this figure had fallen to 110. Furthermore, among the winners of a Japanese minivan Nissan Quest, the Korean Kia Spectra, American HUMMER H2 and Scion xA - they are all significantly improved performance compared with last year.

Another good news for GM is a victory in the category of the best plant - its enterprises have been recognized as the best quality in the North and South America. In the world of the best plant was Toyota plant in Japan, which released the new GS430 and other models of Lexus.

Lexus CT 200h - hybrid hatchback presented formally

The company issued a Lexus official details on the new hybrid model - hatchback CT 200h. The car, which will debut at the Geneva Motor Show, will have to compete with BMW 1-Series and Audi A3.The main difference between new items from the Lexus - the hybrid propulsion system, unified with Toyota Prius. This uses the same 1.8-liter gasoline engine, working cycle Attkinsona, and Hybrid Drive powertrain with an integrated electric motor. At the power plant will be three modes - "eco", "organic" and "sport", but only the electric (in the hybrid uses a nickel-metal hydride batteries), novelty can pass about two kilometers at a speed of 45 kilometers per hour. Specifications are not announced, but it is worth recalling that a similar installation on "Prius" has a capacity of 136 horsepower.In terms of size Lexus CT 200h is comparable to the German competitors: its overall length is 4320 mm (from the BMW 1-Series - 4239 mm), width and height - 1765 and 1430 millimeters and the wheelbase is 2,600 millimeters, which is 60 millimeters shorter than "penny" BMW. Weight machines are not specified.The size of the luggage compartment - 345 liters with the rear seats raised, and 700 liters - when folded.Sales Lexus CT 200h should appear before the end of this year.

Lexus comes into play premium compacts

At the motor show in Frankfurt is expected to premiere exciting new items - a compact five-door hatchback from Lexus. Information has not been confirmed officially, but according to rumors, the concept car is ready.New car, which claims to the European C-Class, Lexus oppose premium compacts from Audi and BMW - it is about models of Audi A3 and BMW 1-series, respectively. The concept is called C-Premium, but the series title is not reported, presumably, it will index the type designation BS or CS. CD is almost final version of the new model.The new Lexus hybrid will get a power plant, consisting of a 2.4-liter gasoline engine and electric motor a total capacity of 187 hp, aggregated variator and front drive. A similar system is used on a hybrid Lexus HS.The world premiere production version of the premium-compact from the Lexus will take place at the motor show in Geneva in the spring of 2010.