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2010 Geneva Motor Show: The Best of the Rest

The annual Geneva Motor Show features a veritable cornucopia of new automobiles of every shape and size, coming from countries near and far. After having brought you the best from England, France and Germany, the latest top-of-the-line supercars and a handful of new Alfa Romeos, we've collected the best of the rest

These vehicles defy classification but are intriguing just the same. Among them we've brought you hybrids from Japan, grand tourers and hot hatches from Italy, oddities from Australia, sportscars from Spain and luxury sedans from Sweden. Follow the jump to read all about 'em and see them in our high-resolution image galleries from the Geneva show floor.

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Lexus to Unveil CT 200h Hybrid Hatchback in Geneva

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Following the lead of its Toyota parent company, Japanese luxury automaker Lexus has carved out a nice niche for itself, purveying luxury hybrids in a greater range than any of its competitors. The line-up currently includes hybrid versions of the LS and GS sedans and the RX crossover, as well as the HS, which stands as the world's first dedicated luxury hybrid. That range is set to expand in a couple of weeks, however, when Lexus takes the wraps off the new CT.

Previewed in Frankfurt last year by the LF-Ch concept, the CT 200h isn't just "another hybrid" from Lexus. It marks a foray into new territory, taking aim at the likes of the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3. Power comes from the pairing of a 1.8-liter variable-valve four-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission and a bank of nickel-metal hydride batteries driving electric motors. The images you see above are the first we've seen so far, coming from a leaked brochure, but we'll have more for you once the doors open at the Geneva Motor Show.

Gallery: Lexus CT 200h brochure

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Luxist Drives the Lexus GS 450h and Demands More Batteries in Every Car

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The love affair with batteries begins as a little kid. By the time your fifth Christmas rolls around, the moment you spot an electronic gadget your mind is already processing the command, "Santa better have brought batteries..." Not only does that affair continue as an adult, but what was once a simple tryst – "Mom, I need batteries for my Coleco Football" – has turned into a full-on romance with every associated frustration due to the profusion of battery-powered gizmos.

Like, for instance, the Lexus GS450h. One of the sleepiest of the sleeper sedans, its batteries aren't responsible for keeping it running, only for supplementing the power of the 3.5-liter V6. Hybrids have generally left us tepid, but after a week with the Lexus we're almost ready to ask carmakers for another Christmas gift: put batteries in everything, and do it just like this.

Gallery: Lexus GS 450h

Tags: lexus, lexus gs, Lexus GS 450h, Lexus GS 460, LexusGs, LexusGs450h, LexusGs460

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Lexus LFA Already Sold Out in Japan

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

You'd figure it might take a while to sell a quantity of $400,000 sports cars, but then you'd be underestimating how much Japan's wealthy elite has been anticipating a supercar to call their own. The Acura NSX was the first and last genuine supercar to hail from the Land of the Rising Sun, but even that pales in comparison to the Lexus LFA.

Only 500 examples of the exotic Toyota will be made, with 165 earmarked for the Japanese domestic market, 150 for North America and the remaining 185 heading to Europe and other markets. And already Japan has pre-sold its allotment, with all 165 examples having been spoken for only three months since its unveiling. We knew the LFA was fast, but we didn't expect it to sell out quite that fast.

Gallery: Lexus LFA

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Lexus LFA For Sale in Europe, Lease in North America

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Speculating on the value of exclusive supercars has become big business, and some automakers are intent on keeping their prices at where they've set them. Ferrari, for example, was known to lease some of their most high-end exotica to their clients for the first couple of years before offering to sell them for the remainder of their value. Now Lexus – which has entered the top-tier supercar arena for the first time – is following suite. According to reports, North American customers will have to lease their Lexus LFA from the automaker rather than buy them.

European customers, on the other hand, will be able to buy theirs outright, but they'll have to do it through only one dealership for the entire continent. And it's not even located on the continent. London's Lexus Park Lane has been given the exclusive contract for all of Europe. So prospective buyers will have to go through the London dealership, which has appointed a dedicated liaison for the $375,000 supercar and is now accepting "expressions of interest" together with initial deposits in advance of official orders, which will be taken beginning in March before deliveries begin in 2011.

Gallery: Lexus LFA at Lexus Park Lane

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Tags: lexus, lexus lease, lexus lfa, lexus lfa lease, lexus park lane, LexusLease, LexusLfa, LexusLfaLease, LexusParkLane, lfa

$375,000 Lexus LFA Supercar Debuts at Tokyo Motor Show

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

If you're in the market for a top-of-the-line exotic sportscar, it used to be that the European automakers (like Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin) were the only place to go. The Acura NSX held down the fort for the Japanese automakers for a long while, but since its departure it's been back to business as usual.

Japan's carmakers, however, are in the midst of a renaissance in the supercar arena. The Nissan GT-R, once kept exclusively in the Japanese Domestic Market, has been taking on all challengers, and now Lexus has stepped up with the highly-anticipated new LFA. With a 550-horsepower V10 engine, a 3.7-second sprint to 60, a top speed in excess of 200 miles per hour and a $375,000 price tag, the Lexus LFA is capable of dicing it with the best Europe has to offer and holding its own.

Despite the extraordinary price tag, sources suggest that parent company Toyota will actually take a loss on each one sold. Which could help explain why they'll only be making 500 examples, making this one very attractive and – for everyone involved – very expensive piece of window dressing.

Gallery: Lexus LFA

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Tags: exotic, lexus, lexus lfa, lexus sports car, LexusLfa, LexusSportsCar, lfa, sports car, sports cars, SportsCar, SportsCars

X Marks the Spot: Toyota Unveils New Premium Sedan in Tokyo

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Names like Infiniti, Acura and Lexus have come to occupy central roles in the luxury automobile market. But for decades, these brands were only sold in North America. Lexus came home to roost just a few years ago, while Infiniti and Acura are still dedicated exclusively to the foreign market. So while it may seem counter-intuitive to see luxury sedans marketed under labels we'd consider decidedly ordinary here, in their domestic markets the practice is commonplace. Take for example the new Toyota Mark X.

This slick premium sedan is now in its second iteration, recently revealed under the bright lights of the semi-annual Tokyo Motor Show. Sold exclusively in Japan, it shares its platform with the Lexus GS, but comes wrapped in a sportier shell, with a choice of V6 engines in 2.5-liter/203hp and 3.5-liter/315hp guises driving through a six-speed automatic transmission and either rear- or all-wheel-drive. Not unlike the Hyundai Genesis sedan which comes to market conspicuously void of Hyundai badges, the Mark X bares its own grille ornament, giving the premium sedan an air of sophistication to slot somewhere in between Toyota's image and that of its upscale counterpart Lexus.

Gallery: Toyota Mark X

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Tags: lexus, mark x, MarkX, toyota, toyota mark x, ToyotaMarkX

Bargain Bin: High-Priced Hybrids Get Hefty Incentives

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

Surprise! Lexus and its parent company, Toyota, are apparently finding that it's not as easy selling $106,000 hybrids as it is for $25,000. The Lexus LS 600h L is certainly an excellent piece of automotive engineering, delivering gobs of horsepower and torque with at least a modicum of efficiency thrown in for good measure.

Still, sales of the LS range are down over 50 percent, leading the the Japanese auto giant to place a whopping $10,000 cash incentive on its range-topping hybrid model. Moving down the Lexus lineup a notch will net you a $3,000 incentive on the GS 450h. What's more, the company is throwing another $1,000 at any sales associate that manages to sell one of its pricey hybrids.

Not into expensive hybrid sedans? How 'bout we move to the exact opposite end of the fuel-saving market and into the driver's seat of a 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. Signing on the dotted line for GM's top-of-the-line hybrid 'ute will cost you from about $73,000 to over $87,000... minus a five-digit discount, of course. Such a deal!

[Source: Auto Observer]

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2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: Lexus LF-Ch Hybrid Concept

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

The heat is on among the world's automakers to produce hybrid vehicles. And since they're all the rage among the trendy crowd, it should come as no surprise that luxury brands are getting in on the action in a big way. Foremost among them is Lexus, which has made hybrid drivetrains its cause-du-jour, offering gasoline-electric versions of many of its luxury sedans, in addition to the world's first dedicated luxury hybrid, the HS250h. As promised, Lexus rolled in to Frankfurt with a new concept called the LF-Ch.

Hinting both at a competitor for the likes of the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30 while previewing its design direction for upcoming models, the LF-Ch drew mixed reviews at the show. Viewed from some angles, the concept car had some interesting lines, but it looked bloated from others. We'll let you make up your own mind: just click on the thumbnail images below to enlarge in our high-resolution photo gallery.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Lexus LF-Ch concept

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Lexus Teases new LF-Ch Concept Hybrid Premium Hatchback for Franfurt Show

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

Lexus is leading right out of the gate in the luxury hybrid market, but it's not about to rest on its green laurels. The Japanese luxury brand is set to unveil the new LF-Ch concept at the Frankfurt show next month, and has given us a couple of glimpses at the form it will take.

Unlike most of its line-up, which appears rather staid and conservative by comparisson, the LF-Ch has an aggressive look that could find its way into future Lexus models across the range. The show car is targeted at the likes of the BMW 1 Series, Volvo C30 and Audi A3 in the premium hatchback segment, but packs a hybrid drivetrain. We hear that a production version is destined for the European market, but we can only hope Lexus decides to bring it over to this side of the ocean, as well.

Gallery: Lexus LF-Ch concept preview

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BMW Catching up to Lexus in Luxury Car Sales

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Only a decade or so ago, it would have been unfathomable for a Japanese automaker to come even close to outselling the established German marques in the luxury automobile market. But it's a new millennium, and today Lexus sits at the top of the hill. However Toyota's premium division shouldn't get too comfortable in that position, as BMW's sales trends indicate that the Bavarian automaker could surpass its Japanese rival and take the top spot yet again.

Sales have been down across the market, so the real winner here will be the one that has lost the least, not gained the most. While Lexus has seen its sales decline by a whopping 40% recently, BMW's have dropped a comparably low 28%. The trend has placed BMW within spitting distance of Lexus, with less than 2300 units separating the two. So while it may not be a done deal yet, it could be in the very near future.

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Tags: bmw, bmw lexus, BmwLexus, lexus, lexus bmw, LexusBmw, luxury car sales, luxury cars, LuxuryCars, LuxuryCarSales

Lexus Celebrates Twenty Years of Luxury Automobiles

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

With apologies to the Beatles, it was 20 years ago today Toyota taught the luxury auto establishment how to play. According to a message posted to Twitter from @Toyota, today is the day we all wish Lexus a Happy 20th Anniversary. Make a wish and blow out the candles – let's all party like its 1989!

It's hard to believe that 20 years have gone by since Toyota shocked the automotive world by unleashing the Lexus LS 400. That machine was born out of a project that began in 1983 to create a flagship automobile that could challenge the best the rest of the world had to offer. Needless to say, Toyota did just that when it launched the Lexus brand six years later, establishing itself as one of the "big three" luxury automakers in the U.S. Congrats Lexus! And here's to the next twenty.

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Lexus Scrambles to Meet Demand for New Luxury Hybrids

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

Luxury hybrids are quickly emerging to be the biggest thing since sliced bread (with caviar), but the company forging the trail can barely keep up. After launching the world's first dedicated luxury hybrid – that is, a vehicle designed specifically as a hybrid and offering more amenities than the average Prius – Lexus has found that demand is not just exceeding supply, it's towering over it like a midget at a basketball game. The HS250h just recently launched in its home market of Japan, and while Toyota expected to sell just 500 examples each month, in its first month on the market some 10,000 orders were placed. That's 20 times as many as they expected to sell. Aside from the usual difficulties of increasing production so drastically, Toyota can't get the batteries for the gasoline-electric motors built fast enough, all of which could mean that we'll have to wait a little longer before we can place our orders on this side of the Pacific.

Against the backdrop of such unprecedented success, Lexus is also preparing another luxury hybrid, pictured in the rendering above. Expected to be called the CT series, the new Lexus will be much smaller, around the size and price level of the Volvo C30, Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series, only with hybrid powertrain. The new compact luxury hybrid is expected to be launched at the Frankfurt motor show next month in Germany.

Gallery: Lexus HS250h

Tags: hybrid, lexus, lexus ct, lexus hs250h, lexus hybrid, LexusCt, LexusHs250h, LexusHybrid, luxury hybrid, LuxuryHybrid

Lexus Announces Pricing for the World's First Dedicated Luxury Hybrid

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

Hybrids are all the rage among the Hollywood crowd. But while cars like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight look the part, the more desirable luxury hybrids from Mercedes and Lexus look like any other luxury sedan. That is, until Lexus launched the HS250h, the world's first dedicated luxury hybrid, for which the Japanese automaker just released pricing.

Although the new HS250h starts at an ostensibly reasonable $34,200, that doesn't include mandatory destination charges. Nor does it cover the Premium trim level, or encompass the many desirable options like satellite navigation, premium sound system or any of the items in the Touring or Technology options packages. Start ticking all the boxes on the order form and the price is bound to skyrocket, but considering that the HS250h is in a new segment almost all its own, that shouldn't deter many image-conscious buyers.

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Lexus Increases Production of IS Convertible to Meet Growing Demand

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Looking to get your hands on the hot new Lexus IS convertible? You may have to wait a while, as early sales figures indicate a high demand for the luxury cabrio without enough supply to meet it. Demand is so high, in fact, that parent company Toyota had to increase production at its assembly plant in Japan to 1200 units per month. Of those, nearly a quarter go to the Northeastern United States alone, and you can be sure that California and Florida boost those number significantly as well.

The model is available as both the IS250C and IS350C, the former of which –with a 204hp 2.5-liter V6 and $38k sticker price – accounts for some 85% of sales, while the latter – the more powerful $44k 306hp 3.5-liter IS350C – makes up only 15% of sales for the luxurious hard-top convertible. But as demand increase, buyers may be looking at dealer premiums to get ahead on the waiting list.

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