2011 Lexus CT 200h front view

2011 Lexus CT 200h front view 2

2011 Lexus CT 200h side view

2011 Lexus CT 200h rear view

2011 Lexus CT 200h interior

2011 Lexus CT 200h interior 2

2011 Lexus CT 200h engine

2011 Lexus GX 460 front view

2011 Lexus GX 460 side view

2011 Lexus GX 460 interior 2

2011 Lexus GX 460 interior

2011 Lexus GX 460 engine

2011 Lexus GX 460 rear view

2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD

The Lexus IS 250 is instantly familiar, yet ever-so-slightly different for 2011. The reason is that little has changed on the exterior, with a few minor exceptions.

2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD front 2 view

Some updates are hard to find, while others are immediately clear. The front bumper and grille have received slight tweaks, while subtle changes have been made to the foglight area and lower fascia opening, which benefit from sharper cutouts. In back, the IS 250 wears new taillamp lenses and redone exhaust tips.

2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD side view

The perforated semi-aniline leather front thrones of our tester offered both heating and cooling features, thanks to the $2,195 Luxury Package Value Edition.The engine produces 204 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 185 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm.

2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD rear 2 view

Those numbers sound low in a world filled with 400-horsepower daily drivers (including the brand’s own high-performance IS F model) yet the IS 250 AWD simply rears back and moves at a pace capable of holding our interest. The 2.5-liter is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, which features steering-wheel mounted paddles for manual shifting.

2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD interior 2

2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD engine

This may be Lexus’ entry-level car, but the shifts could be a few degrees smoother – even if the IS represents the brand’s sportier side.The entry-level luxury sedan category is chock full of viable options and the 2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD is a perfectly acceptable (if run-of-the-mill) choice.

2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD front seats

The styling is conservative, the driving dynamics are a mixed bag of sport and luxury, but the engine is better than we anticipated.

The 2011 Lexus CT200h Hybrid on the MC platform, the TC also the basis of the Lexus Hybrid HS250h, the Scion, Toyota Corolla and the base. If the GS, this car has a trailing arm multilink rear suspension instead of torsion of the Corolla better package of the nickel-metal hydride batteries, and allows a lower floor. Struts are used in the run. Lexus uses so-called performance damper braces that have a setback between them stiffen the strut towers and spans the rear edge of the body structure and reduce vibration.

Like the Prius has an electric only mode 2011 Lexus CT200h Hybrid, EV, but it is pure gimmick. EV mode is theoretically possible, one mile at speeds up to 28 km / h, but slightly more than the lightest Refire the gas pedal. In the real world, 2011 Lexus CT200h Hybrid three driving modes: Eco has a very lazy accelerator card, usually a little less lethargic, and sports is good, but slowly. The steering effort is higher in sport mode, which is good because it is light and inert in the other institutions. We believe that CT a beautifully balanced chassis, but it’s hard to tell because the stability control kills the fun in front of a serene peace a chance, failed, and there is little force to the modulation of the vehicle cornering attitude.

The 2009 Lexus LS 600h L is equipped with a full-hybrid system with two electric motor / generators and a 389-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine. All engines operate at peak capacity, they produce 438 hp. As with other Toyota hybrid built systems, the LS 600h L’s can only be used as part of the electric drive at low speeds and only for limited distances. The air conditioner runs off electricity so the gas engine at stops to close. And as other related hybrid systems, this creates an additional capacity of regenerative braking on the overrun. Power transmission to all four wheels through a specialized variable transmission (CVT), characteristics of the gearbox forwarded. The gearbox also has three driver-selectable drive modes – normal, power and snow – for changing road conditions.

The LS 600h L is powered by the ultra-quiet Lexus Hybrid Drive system, which is the world’s first V8 petrol engine combined with a four-wheel-drive (AWD) hybrid-powered. The LS 600h L has a combined EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 21 mpg, which is good or better than the combined fuel consumption ratings of different sized V6 AWD luxury sedans like.

The LS 600h L hybrid powertrain combines a unique way, a 5.0-liter V8 gasoline engine with two powerful electric motors and a large capacity battery in the trunk. The hybrid drive system generates a peak combined output of 438 hp and accelerates from zero-to-60 km / h in just 5.5 seconds.

For all that marketing happy-talk, the 2012 LFA is a serious outlier in the Lexus lineup and has had a convoluted gestation. The program started in 2000, and Lexus showed the first concept car at the Detroit auto show in 2005. Next, a convertible version appeared at Detroit in 2008, though it has since been canceled. In the interim, LFA prototypes were spotted testing at the Nordschleife, and further, two race-prepared cars entered the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 2008 and 2009.

The engine is a 4.8-liter V-10 codeveloped with Yamaha. It’s a compact unit that makes 553 horsepower at 8700 rpm and revs to a giddy 9000 rpm. Maximum torque of 354 pound-feet peaks at 6800 rpm, with 90 percent available between 3700 and 9000 revs.

The interior is restrained but tasteful. The car we drove had a mixture of supple leather, carbon fiber, Alcantara, and “satin metal” adorning the cockpit. Lexus will offer seat coverings in 12 shades of leather or 10 alternate hues of Alcantara, with three color choices for the Alcantara headliner. “Roomy” describes the cabin, although luggage space is minimal. The supportive bucket seats have eight-way power adjustments, and the driving position is superb. The minor controls are as easy to find and use as in a standard Lexus sedan, and the LFA even has the same mouse-style operation for its multi­function center-console screen as in an RX350 sport-ute.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe

ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $350,000

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 40-valve V-10, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Displacement: 293 cu in, 4805cc
Power (SAE net): 553 bhp @ 8700 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 354 lb-ft @ 6800 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automated manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 102.6 in Length: 177.4 in
Width: 74.6 in Height: 48.0 in
Curb weight (C/D est): 3500 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 3.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 11.8 sec
Top speed (drag limited, mfr’s claim): 202 mph

FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST):
EPA city/highway driving:14/20 mpg