Lexus Announces 2011 IS 350C F Sport Special Edition

Lexus has unwrapped the limited run 2011 IS 350C F Sport Special Edition convertible, which is set to go on sale in the U.S. later this month. Only 175 units will be built, each carrying a $55,120 (not including $875 destination) sticker and some styling and performance upgrades over the standard model.

The limited run hardtop convertible comes in a choice of two new colors (Starfire Pearl or Obsidian), and features bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, special exterior badging and 19-inch alloys in a dark graphite finish, wrapped around in 225/35 Michelin Pilot Sport tires. Heated and ventilated black-red leather sport seats with red stitching plus a new wood trim spice up the cabin.

Lexus is also offering a comprehensive standard equipment package, which includes navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, rear back-up camera, voice command, Lexus Enform telematics system with Safety Connect and various XM services.

To improve handling, the Japanese brand's engineers fitted the F Sport model with new Bilstein shock absorbers, shorter springs and a sway bar.

“The F Sport Special Edition builds on the IS 350C and takes the fun of the convertible up another notch,” said Mark Templin, Lexus Division group vice president and general manager. “The racing inspired F Sport accessories on this car were precision engineered specifically for this vehicle, allowing us to provide performance without compromise.”

By Csaba Daradics

Lexus Issues Voluntary Recall on 245,000 GS and IS Models in the U.S.

Lexus has issued a voluntary safety recall involving some 245,000 cars in the U.S. because of a potential defect that may cause fuel leakage. The models affected by the recall include the GS300 and GS350 from the 2006-2007MY, the IS 250 from the 2006-2009MY, and the IS 350 from the 2006-2008MY.

The company said that due to insufficient tightening, the connection between the fuel pressure sensor and a certain fuel line could loosen over time, resulting in a possible fuel leak. No accidents related to the problem have been reported to date.

According to statement from Lexus' parent company Toyota, the firm's dealers will inspect the vehicles and if no leakage is found, will tighten the sensor with the proper torque. In case of a confirmed fuel leak, the gasket between the fuel sensor and the delivery pipe will be replaced and the sensor tightened. As expected, all operations will be conducted free of charge.

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Lexus Tries to Lure UK Buyers with Special Edition IS Advance Models

Lexus has announced the availability of a pair of new special edition cars for the UK market called the IS 250 and IS 200d Advance. As is common with most special or limited edition models these days, the new IS cars are distinguished by the added -and not unique- features to the standard equipment.

Based on the regular SE specification, the new IS 250 and 200d Advance models come equipped with a hard disc drive (HDD) satellite navigation system, rear parking camera, heated electrically adjustable front seats, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, rain-sensing windscreen wipers and an auto-dimming rear view mirror.

These extras would normally cost an arm and leg if they were to be added to the SE separately, but in this case, the new Advance IS 250 costs just an extra £340 compared its SE equivalent (£26,495 on-the-road), with the diesel-powered IS 200d coming in at an additional £130 (£24,995).

Both cars are on sale in the UK now.

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VIDEO: Lexus Sets the Bar High, Chains Four Cars on LS in New TV Ad

In another sign that luxury automakers in the U.S. are raising the stakes -or so to speak- with their latest commercials, following Audi's recent A8 ad, Lexus has released a new TV spot as part of an advertising campaign to demonstrate how far the company goes to achieve perfection.

This particular broadcast ad is titled “Chain” and it shows a crane slowly lifting the front end of a LS, which is attached to four more Lexus models (RX, GS, ES and IS) using nothing more than cables and stretch bars. At the end of the spot, a $375,000 LFA comes into the shot and parks directly below the chain of vehicles weighing a total 21,000 pounds.

The key point here is that the commercial is real and that no special effects were used for its creation as Lexus proves in the 'Behind the Scenes" video.

“It isn’t enough to just say that we pursue perfection, we want to demonstrate the great lengths we go to in our pursuit,” states Dave Nordstrom, vice president of marketing for Lexus.

“The new broadcast spot allows us to focus on the foundation of our vehicles, the chassis, and show its almost unbelievable strength. In fact, we feared that it would be so unbelievable, we invited a physicist and structural engineer to witness the shoot, to prove that it did, in fact, occur without the use of special effects or computer generated-imagery.”

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New Toyota Recall, this time for Toyota Avalon and Highlander, and Lexus GS300, IS250, and IS350

Toyota has announced a voluntary recall of some 740,000 vehicles in the United States to address a potential leak problem with a seal in the brake master cylinder. The models that are being recalled in the U.S. are the 2005-2006MY Toyota Avalon, 2004-2006MY Highlander (non Hybrid) and Lexus RX330, and 2006 Lexus GS300, IS250, and IS350. Another 600,898 vehicles were recalled in Japan and approximately 200,000 in China for the same issue.

According to the company, there's a possibility that a small amount of the brake fluid could slowly leak from the brake master cylinder, resulting in illumination of the brake warning lamp.

"If the brake warning lamp has illuminated and the vehicle continues to be operated without refilling the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir, the driver will begin to notice a spongy or soft brake pedal feel and braking performance may gradually decline," said the automaker.

Toyota said it will begin notifying owners of the involved vehicles through mail beginning in early November 2010. As with all recalls, Toyota and Lexus dealers will replace the brake master cylinder cup with a newly designed free of charge.

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Paris Preshow: 2011 Lexus IS-F gets Euro 5 compliant V8 and new instrument panel

European fans of the Lexus IS-F rejoice; this is one sports car that won't be axed on the other side of the pond due to the introduction of the more stringent Euro 5 emissions standards. Unlike the current generations of the Ford Focus ST, Honda Civic Type R and Mazda RX-8 -just to mention a few, the IS-F will make it to the 2011 model year thanks to its tweaked 5.0-liter V8 that is now fully compliant with the upgraded Euro 5 norms.

The specification sheet says power remains unchanged at 423HP with the IS F being capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h (62mph) in 4.7 seconds and on to an electronically governed top speed of 270 km/h (168mph).

Similarly to the rest of the 2011MY IS range, the flagship IS-F benefits from some subtle exterior and interior revisions. On the outside, the sports saloon gains revised headlamps with LED daytime running lights and a new optional finish named "Starlight Black GF".

On board, changes include new dark sliver fibre inserts, revised front seat design for improved driver support, blue instead of white stitching for the leather upholstery and last but certainly not least, a new instrument panel design that repositions the tachometer, speedometer and shift indicator within the binnacle. U.S. buyers should expect similar styling upgrades for the 2011MY (or 2012MY) version of the IS-F.

The 2011 IS-F will have its world premiere at the Paris motor show next month with sales in Europe to follow shortly after.

2011 Lexus IS with Minor Facelift Unveiled in Europe, comes with new 150HP Diesel

Carmakers continue to roll out product announcements ahead of next month's Paris Motor show. The latest is Lexus that revealed details on its revised for the 2011 model year, IS series for Europe, which benefits from some modest cosmetic tweaks, additional standard features and the introduction of a new diesel model.

Blink an eye, and you'll easily miss the styling changes on the sedan and coupe-convertible models, that include tweaked headlamps that gain LED daytime running lights, reworked rear light clusters, a revised front grille design, new exterior colors and alloy wheel designs. Interior revisions are limited to a

Meanwhile, the 2011 F-Sport trim level gets a new deep front spoiler with faired-in fog lights, new grille design and a rear spoiler with integrated stop light plus new 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, there are extra touches of titanium-effect trim and a new dark, anthracite roof liner.

Other revisions to the IS range include improvements to the SE-I specification with the addition of rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rear view mirror and new leather upholstery with heated front seats.

For the 2011 model year, there's a new IS 200d model powered by a 150-horsepower version of the 2.2-litre diesel engine of the 177HP IS 220d. In the UK, the IS 200d replaces the more potent IS 220d, but in other European markets such as Germany, the two diesel models will be sold together.

The IS 200d can accelerate from nought to 100km/h (62mph) in 10.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 205km/h (127mph). Combined cycle fuel consumption is 5.1lt/100km (55.4mpg UK or 46.1mog US) and CO2 emissions are 134g/km compared to 148g/km for the IS 220d.

There are also changes to the 2.5-liter V6 petrol engine featured in the IS 250 and IS 250C coupe-convertible with six-speed automatic transmission. According to Lexus, the V6 unit has been revised to meet future Euro5 emissions standards, achieving better fuel economy and CO₂ emissions.

While power and torque figures remain unchanged at 208HP and 252Nm, combined cycle fuel consumption drops from 9.1lt /100km to 8.4lt/100km (31.7 to 33.6mpg UK), with a concurrent fall in CO2 output from 209 to 194g/km.

The 2011 Lexus IS will be formally revealed at the Paris Motor Show next month with European sales starting shortly after.

Identity Crisis: A Honda Civic Sedan with Lexus IS Buttocks and Toyota Crown Fascia

To be honest, we are not sure if we should shake our head with a smile or applaud the owner of this latest find. What you see here is a latest generation Honda Civic sedan from Thailand with a Toyota Crown face transplant, and a Lexus IS350 rear end, modded in the so-called VIP style. What a mix... Apparently, Japan's "Junction Produce" tuning shop had something to do with the build. While the styling may not appeal to all, there's little to find fault with the execution. More pictures after the break.

Source: Stancenation / Thanks for the tip Mikhail!