2011 Lexus LFA

2011 Lexus LFA

2011 Lexus LFA

2011 Lexus LFA

2011 Lexus LFA

2011 Lexus LFA

2011 Lexus LFA

2011 Lexus LFA

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Lexus Launches CT 200h in Japan to Boost Domestic Sales

Lexus has added the new CT 200h dedicated hybrid model to its Japanese line-up in an attempt to boost flagging sales in its home market. The company's first entry in the premium-compact segment is also its cheapest offering with prices in Japan ranging from 3.55 million yen to 4.33 million yen (about US$42,600 to US$52,000).

Originally designed with European customers in mind, the CT 200h has also made its way to North America as well as China, with more countries to be added to the list. In the U.S., the CT 200h is priced from $29,120.

The five-door hatchback from Lexus features the same hybrid powertrain as the Prius mating a 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle combustion engine with an electric motor, nickel-metal-hydride battery and a generator. Lexus said that using the 10-15 test cycle of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the CT 200h returned a fuel efficiency of 34 km/lt (equal to 79.9 mpg US or 2.9 lt/100km).

The company said it plans to sell around 1,500 units a month of the CT 200h in Japan.

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China's BYD Debuts Lexus RX-Inspired S6DM Dual-Mode Hybrid at Detroit Motor Show

Chinese automaker BYD marked its fourth consecutive appearance at the North American International Auto Show with the world premiere of the S6DM hybrid, with the DM in the name standing for "Dual-Mode".

The gasoline-electric hybrid is based on the Chinese firm's S6, a mid-size SUV model first introduced at the Shanghai Auto Show in 2009. And no, you're not the only one to find the overall styling of the S6 reminiscent of the previous generation Lexus RX.

The Warren Buffett-backed battery and car maker claims the S6DM is "the world’s first independent 4WD dual-mode electric SUV". Under the hood, the Chinese model is equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and three electric motors. Two 10-kilowatt electric motors drive the front wheels while a more potent 75 kilowatt motor powers the rear wheels. A six six-speed dual clutch transmission handles power transfer.

Despite the "Dual-Mode" moniker, BYD says the system offers three driving modes including electric only, hybrid gasoline-electric and gasoline engine only. In detail, here's how the Chinese automaker describes each mode:

THREE DRIVING MODES

Fully electric (BEV) mode: At normal speeds, the vehicle can operate in its all-electric mode, with the electric motor (M2) propelling the rear wheels.

Hybrid gasoline-electric (HEV):

1. 2WD: The gasoline engine not only directly powers the vehicle, but also drives the electric motor (M1) at the front wheels to charge the battery pack.

2. 4WD: When more power is needed, the gas engine and the electric motor (M2) power the vehicle together. If the combined power is enough, the gasoline engine will also drive the electric motor (M1) to charge the battery pack. As speed increases, the gasoline engine can take over seamlessly with support from the 6-speed DCT; when braking, the gas engine automatically shuts down and the electric motor (M2) takes over.

3. 2WD: When battery power is low and not much driving power is required, the gasoline engine drives the electric motor (M1) to charge the battery pack and the electric motor (M2) powers the vehicle by itself.

Gasoline powered: When driving on the highway or in case the battery pack is depleted, the gasoline engine can power the vehicle on its own very efficiently.

According to BYD, the S6DM can travel over 38 miles (60km) purely on electric power (BEV) and over 500km (310 miles) combined when engaging the gasoline engine.

BYD said that the S6DM is amongst the models being considering for the U.S market. At the Detroit show, the company's Chairman, Wang Chuanfu, pushed back the brand's U.S. launch to the first quarter of 2012.

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______________VIDEO: BYD S6 from 2010 Beijing Auto Show ______________

READ MORE - China's BYD Debuts Lexus RX-Inspired S6DM Dual-Mode Hybrid at Detroit Motor Show

New Lexus LFA Sports Car

2012 Lexus LFA is an admirable piece of Japanese sports cars. Only 500 of these mid-engine cars by hand by craftsmen in line with Japan in the car.


consumption of 4.8 liter 10-cylinder engine is home to a total of 562 horses.
Assistance in the winding curves attacks and catenary on straight roads, high-grip tires and sport-tuned suspension will feel full of LFA in touch with their surroundings.
2012 Lexus LFA price is U.S. $ 375.000

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First Generations 2007-Lexus-RX350

But what makes this story even more intriguing and apparently quite frustrating for Toyota / Lexus officials, is that believe it or not, we discovered that BYD Auto has actually succeeded in patenting the S6's design (see photo gallery bellow) at the European trademark office!

First Generations 2007-Lexus-RX350

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First Generations 2007-Lexus-RX350

But what makes this story even more intriguing and apparently quite frustrating for Toyota / Lexus officials, is that believe it or not, we discovered that BYD Auto has actually succeeded in patenting the S6's design (see photo gallery bellow) at the European trademark office!

First Generations 2007-Lexus-RX350

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Perfomance The Lexus-RX-Wald-Black-Bison

Another great bonus for us is the spacious boot. It seems each member of the family competes for the most hobbies, so at any given time the boot is a mish mash of cricket kit, fishing equipment and more. The boot's wide opening gives good easy access, too, which is great when you're stowing or removing heavy loads.

Safety features are included with the standard dual front airbags, side bags, head curtain side bags and driver knee airbags. In crash tests, the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid received 5 stars, the highest rating a vehicle can get, in side impact and head on collisions. The Four-Wheel drive suspension the controls the vehicles height varies with the driving conditions, a nice and unique feature. At 62 mph, the vehicle lowers by 0.3 inches when driving normally. In low mode it can shrink more, another 0.6 inches and 1.2 inches for easier passenger access when in access mode.

Lexus-RX-Wald-Black-Bison

READ MORE - Perfomance The Lexus-RX-Wald-Black-Bison

Perfomance The Lexus-RX-Wald-Black-Bison

Another great bonus for us is the spacious boot. It seems each member of the family competes for the most hobbies, so at any given time the boot is a mish mash of cricket kit, fishing equipment and more. The boot's wide opening gives good easy access, too, which is great when you're stowing or removing heavy loads.

Safety features are included with the standard dual front airbags, side bags, head curtain side bags and driver knee airbags. In crash tests, the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid received 5 stars, the highest rating a vehicle can get, in side impact and head on collisions. The Four-Wheel drive suspension the controls the vehicles height varies with the driving conditions, a nice and unique feature. At 62 mph, the vehicle lowers by 0.3 inches when driving normally. In low mode it can shrink more, another 0.6 inches and 1.2 inches for easier passenger access when in access mode.

Lexus-RX-Wald-Black-Bison

READ MORE - Perfomance The Lexus-RX-Wald-Black-Bison

Lexus UK Winters-up RX 450h with New SE-I Special Edition

A new special edition model has been added to the UK range of the Lexus RX450h hybrid crossover. Named the SE-I, the new model sports a host of accessories said to be suited for those "who love the great outdoors" - always according to Lexus.

On the outside the so-called Lifestyle model adds roof rails and a rear bumper protect, plus front and rear under-run plates. Interior features of the package include a tough boot liner, claimed to be designed to cope with muddy boots, and a warm / cold storage box.

Lexus says that if these features were to specified individually, it would cost buyers up to £1,500, but brought together for the new RX 450h SE-I Lifestyle they add just £499 to the on-the-road price of the crossover for a total of £48,899.

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READ MORE - Lexus UK Winters-up RX 450h with New SE-I Special Edition

The 2011 Lexus CT 200h is also somewhat a kind of sports car

The Lexus CT 200h on the other hand was introduced in the Geneva Motor show. It is basically a five door hybrid car. The car has a 1.8 litre four cylinder vvt-I petrol engine as well as a motor. For the high voltage battery, nickel metal hybrid is used in the car. By means of the electrically controlled variable transmission in the Lexus CT 200h, the power is transferred to the front wheels.

The Lexus CT 200h is also somewhat a kind of sports car. it has a LED rear lighting. The car can give excellent performance and the driver can get immense satisfaction by driving this car.

Lexus introduced their first luxury hybrid in 2005, and has never looked back. Lexus hybrid drive generates significantly less particulate emissions. The system operates seamlessly, switching between full battery operation or gasoline power. Toyota and Lexus have outstanding credentials and a proven record with their hybrid vehicles and this newest hybrid is no different.

2011 Lexus CT 200h F Sport Front Top View

The 2011 Lexus CT 200h is also somewhat a kind of sports car

READ MORE - The 2011 Lexus CT 200h is also somewhat a kind of sports car

The 2011 Lexus CT 200h is also somewhat a kind of sports car

The Lexus CT 200h on the other hand was introduced in the Geneva Motor show. It is basically a five door hybrid car. The car has a 1.8 litre four cylinder vvt-I petrol engine as well as a motor. For the high voltage battery, nickel metal hybrid is used in the car. By means of the electrically controlled variable transmission in the Lexus CT 200h, the power is transferred to the front wheels.

The Lexus CT 200h is also somewhat a kind of sports car. it has a LED rear lighting. The car can give excellent performance and the driver can get immense satisfaction by driving this car.

Lexus introduced their first luxury hybrid in 2005, and has never looked back. Lexus hybrid drive generates significantly less particulate emissions. The system operates seamlessly, switching between full battery operation or gasoline power. Toyota and Lexus have outstanding credentials and a proven record with their hybrid vehicles and this newest hybrid is no different.

2011 Lexus CT 200h F Sport Front Top View

The 2011 Lexus CT 200h is also somewhat a kind of sports car

READ MORE - The 2011 Lexus CT 200h is also somewhat a kind of sports car

High Demand for German Luxury Cars in the U.S. and China

Germany’s car market has definitely seen better days, as sales in the first 11 months of 2010 are down 25.2% compared to the same period last year. However, strong demand for luxury cars in the U.S. and China is keeping premium automakers like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz busy during the holiday season and, most importantly, profitable.

“2010 was expected to be a tough year all round” John Lawson, a London-based analyst at Citi Investment Research, wrote in a report. “But rich China sales have leapt (and) foreign exchange has been very supportive”.

As a result, German manufacturers have shortened Christmas holidays and are keeping some of their production facilities open between Christmas and New Year’s.

State-side, the premium segments have seen an 11.1 percent increase in demand, outperforming the overall market growth. Audi has profited the most from the economical rebound, with sales up 23.6% for the year through November. Mercedes follows closely behind, with an 18.6% increase, while BMW takes third place with +11.6%, according to Autodata Corp.

The Chinese market fared even better, registering a 40% increase in the luxury car segment, also led by the Ingolstadt-based carmaker. Nine of the ten top selling premium vehicles in China are German, with Lexus securing just one spot on the list. Furthermore, the uphill trend is expected continue over the next five years.

“The luxury car segment is expected to keep double-digit growth in the next five years, with the booming number of second-time buyers who are eager to distinguish themselves and keen to prove their social status”, J.D. Power said in a December report about the Chinese market.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Detnews

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Japan’s Economic Future in Doubt: A National Introspective

It’s not been a good year for Japan. China has recently overtaken the Land of the Rising Sun as the world’s second biggest economic power and a recall of over ten million vehicles by one of the nation’s biggest and most respectable companies, Toyota, kicked off a global PR debacle that some analysts predict will take years to recover from.

Add to that Japan’s aging population, its growing national debt and heavy reliance on manufacturing, all of which are effectively killing what was once thought destined to be the world’s leading economic superpower. The departure of its fourth Prime Minister in three years and a nasty diplomatic row with China over the detention of a trawler captain by the Japanese Coast Guard is also hurting.

What’s worse is that Japan’s population is dwindling due to a low fertility rate of just 1.3 children per woman. It is expected that the population will drop from 127 million to just 90 million by 2055, with 40% of that number being over 65s.

As the nation enters its third decade of economic stagnation, university students worry whether they can find steady employment or support their families. A third of Japan’s workforce is temporary workers or “Freeters” that flit from one available job to another. Such workers are unable to qualify for unemployment benefits, and make up more than three-quarters of the nation’s jobless. In these dark times, it’s no wonder -and a sad fact- that more than 30,000 people a year have committed suicides since 1998.

Japan’s Prime Minister, Nato Kan, is aware of the burgeoning crisis. His solution is to open up the country; reducing trade barriers and tariffs and loosening regulations to make the country a more attractive proposition to outside investors. A free trade agreement with the U.S. and other nations, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, is also under consideration. Though it could lead to Japan’s economic revival and cheaper imports, it could also cause significant job losses and social dislocation of the rural classes.

Analysts are convinced that the nation needs to find new growth areas such as green energy, software engineering and health care to help prop up the failing economy. More so, however, Japan needs to change its national mindset. Perceived to be rooted in conformism and census, it is seen by some to be too insular and too slow to change and respond to crisis. Without change, Japan has little hope of a short term recovery.

Of course, this is just one opinion. As always, our readers are encouraged to voice theirs in the comments.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: AP via Yahoo

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