09 Lexus Gx470 Loaded Mark Levinson System ,dvd Player ,navigation ,viper Remote on 2040-cars

Auto blog

10 automakers sued over keyless ignitions

Keyless ignition has rapidly proliferated throughout the auto industry to become a fairly normal feature on new cars. It's supposed to offer the convenience of keeping the fob in your pocket and just pressing a button to drive away. However, ten major automakers are now being sued in US District Court over claims that the system is dangerous, Reuters reports. The suit alleges that people are forgetting to shut off the engine, and the lack of an idle timer is the cause for 13 deaths by carbon monoxide poisoning and multiple injuries. The suit currently includes 28 plaintiffs, according to Reuters, but the lawyers are asking for class-action status to potentially add many more. The case goes after a major swath of the industry, including BMW, Daimler, FCA, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen, plus their related brands like Acura, Infiniti, Mini, and Lexus. In all, over five million vehicles are affected. The assertion here is that people walk away from their vehicle without shutting it off because they believe the engine shuts off automatically. If parked in a garage, carbon monoxide can build up, leading to poisoning. The lawyers claim automakers know this is a problem and also cite 27 complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the issue, according to Reuters. The plaintiffs are asking for an automatic shut-off and damages from the companies. These concerns have come up before, though. Toyota previously faced a lawsuit over a carbon monoxide death after a woman accidentally left her Lexus running. Also earlier this year, GM recalled 64,186 examples of the 2011-2013 Chevrolet Volt because owners weren't shutting them off. The problem resulted in two injuries, and the company released a software update to limit the idling time.

Lexus nixes RC convertible in favor of LS-based 3-row crossover [w/poll]

When Lexus unveiled the LF-C2 concept at the LA Auto Show last week, it did two things: it previewed the direction in which the Japanese luxury automaker's design department was looking for the immediate future, and it previewed a cabrio version of the RC coupe (to replace the IS Convertible) on the other. But the latter, according to new reports, was ruled out before the concept ever took the stage. Although the prospect of a convertible version was engineered right into the RC coupe's chassis, Motor Trend reports that plans to put such a vehicle into production were met with hostility by Lexus dealers, who were offered a two-door convertible instead of the three-row crossover they've been lobbying for. As a result – and with a finite amount of development bucks on hand – Lexus is reportedly listening to its dealers, axing the RC Convertible program and proceeding instead with a seven-seat crossover. Plans to stretch the RX were reportedly ruled out, so Toyota is reportedly proceeding instead with a new model to be based on the LS sedan. The new model would take aim at the likes of the Mercedes GL, Audi Q7 and Infiniti QX60 when it arrives in three years as a 2018 model. It's not the first time we've seen Toyota listen to dealers asking for a high-end people-mover: Earlier this year, dealers in Japan asked the automaker for a luxed-out minivan, prompting it to build the Esquire van just for the Japanese Domestic Market.

Lexus ROV concept is a hydrogen-powered luxury side-by-side

Side-by-sides come in all shapes and sizes, but we've never seen one like the Lexus ROV concept. For one, it's a Lexus; the firm is not a big player in the side-by-side segment. It's as luxurious as the badge on its nose suggests, and it's powered by a hydrogen-burning engine. Lexus explained that the ROV (an acronym that stands for Recreational Off-highway Vehicle) is its "response to the growing passion for the outdoors and adventurous spirit of luxury consumers." It also illustrates the brand's wish to design lifestyle-oriented products, and it showcases the engineering department's research into new technologies. The ROV stretches 322 inches long, 68 inches wide and 71 inches wide. And, while it doesn't wear a giant spindle grille, it falls in line with the Lexus design language thanks to angular body panels. Inside, the ROV offers a pair of seats with harnesses and suspension elements to filter out bumps, carbon fiber accents and a relatively simple instrument cluster with an analog tachometer and a digital display. Lexus notes that the "Tazuna" approach to interior design that has shaped most of its recent concept cars permeated the ROV, meaning the cabin is human-centric. Interestingly, it also points out that the ROV meets the same quietness, durability, and reliability standards as the regular-production cars it sells, which is no small feat. Power comes from a direct-injected 1.0-liter engine that burns compressed hydrogen stored in a tank. Lexus didn't publish technical details so we don't know how much horsepower or torque the engine makes. Its cylinder count wasn't even published, though zooming in on the exhaust manifold confirms that it's a three-cylinder. It's likely not a coincidence that parent company Toyota tested a hydrogen-powered Corolla race car powered by a 1.0-liter hydrogen-burning triple earlier in 2021. That engine was turbocharged, however; this one is not. Looking at the center console reveals the ROV is equipped with a two-speed transfer case and locking differentials, so it should be capable off the beaten path. Lexus also tells us its first side-by-side offers users a large amount of suspension travel. Is this purely theoretical, or is Lexus serious about taking on Polaris? We've asked, and we'll update this story if we learn more. Related Video: