1998 Lexus Es300 Base Sedan 4-door 3.0l on 2040-cars

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Lexus teases F version of LC luxury coupe

We at Autoblog adore the Lexus LC. It's a truly spectacular grand tourer with concept car looks and your choice of either one of the best modern V8s or a sophisticated hybrid. But it seems Lexus thinks it can do even more with the LC, as indicated by this Instagram teaser of what seems to be an LC in front of the F logo of the Lexus performance brand. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. We're pretty confident it's the LC. It's definitely a coupe, and the only other Lexus coupe, the RC, already has a full-blown F variant. And while there's not much that we can make out, there do appear to be some styling tweaks, such as a big center bulge in the hood like on the RC F and IS 500. The question of course is whether this will be another maximum-performance F model, or if it will be something more focused on some style and mild upgrades such as an F-Sport trim. If it's a full LC F, expect significant suspension and brake upgrades, as well as some kind of power improvement. The thing is, the LC 500 already features effectively the most powerful V8 Lexus has on offer, the 471-horsepower 5.0-liter V8. Rumors have said Lexus may have a high-output version of the twin-turbo V6 from the LS in development, with potentially more than 600 horsepower, which would also be used for an LS F. Certainly the caption, "Highest expression of performance," suggests it could be something pretty serious. If it's an LC F-Sport, it will likely be a suspension and styling package, leaving the 5.0-liter V8 unchanged. Expect front and rear spoilers, stiffer springs and such. It might even be offered with the hybrid. Whether any of this is ideal for the LC is of course up for debate. Many of us on staff feel that the LC 500 is about perfect as a grand tourer, and something unique in a market full of ever-more extreme luxury sports cars. But we're also not the ones buying LCs, and luxury buyers like to be able to say they got the version of a car with the most or the best, whether or not that necessarily suits the car. But hey, we've loved other F models in the past, like the RC F and GS F, so an LC F could be pretty awesome, too. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible Walkaround

Lexus reveals spindly CT 200h facelift ahead of Chinese debut

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. So goes the saying, and Lexus seems to be taking it to heart. In addition to the hybrid versions of the Japanese luxury marque's conventional cars, Lexus is intent on offering a dedicated luxury hybrid. The original HS 250h failed to gain traction, so to speak, in the marketplace, and was quickly withdrawn from just about every market but Japan's. Lexus followed up with the CT 200h, exclusively packaging a hybrid powertrain into a premium hatchback form, but while it's been more successful than its predecessor, there's still room for improvement.
That's what Toyota and its premium division are going for with a slightly refreshed take on the CT. Spied completely undisguised (and in F-Sport guise) less than a month ago, the facelifted CT 200h is now confirmed for debut not at the LA Auto Show or the Tokyo Motor Show but at the Guangzhou Motor Show that's set to take place at the same time in China.
Although Lexus hasn't revealed much in the way of details and only two images, it's plain to see that what we're looking at is a mildly refreshed version of the existing CT 200h. The front end is now dominated by the spindle grille that adorns the rest of the Lexus range, flanked by reshaped headlamps. The rear end has been updated as well, but whether the cosmetic changes are joined by any mechanical ones - or, for that matter, if the changes made will be enough to put the hybrid hatchback ahead in the sales curve - remains to be seen.

Your guide to vehicle subscription services

They might be extremely limited in scope because of location availability, but vehicle subscription services are a growing trend that most luxury manufacturers are jumping on. Plans are expensive, but you're paying for much more than just the car typically. We highlighted four of the larger plans with a few more listed at the end. Care by Volvo Volvo launched its subscription service last year with its brand-new XC40. It was the only vehicle available for a time, but subscribers can now get an S60 sedan as well. Subscriptions are for two years, with the monthly price including insurance, a concierge service, wear-and-tear item replacements and all maintenance. You'll be able to drive 15,000 miles per year with whichever Volvo you choose, and although there are no options to extend that mileage, you can swap cars after a year. Pricing for the XC40 is $650 per month in base trim, while an S60 can be as expensive as $850 for the R-Design. Volvo's plan is to offer more cars soon through the service, but it's relatively limited compared to others right now. Porsche Passport Porsche has two levels in its subscription service: Launch and Accelerate. Launch will cost $2,000 per month and give you access to the Cayman, Boxster, Macan and Cayenne. All of those but the Cayenne can be had in "S" trim as well. Accelerate is where the fun really starts. For $3,000 per month you can choose from a fleet of 911s, including the S, 4S, Cabriolet and Cabriolet S. If those aren't enough, you can also get the Panamera 4S, Macan GTS and Cayenne S. There are no mileage limits and you can change vehicles as often as you'd like. Also included in the price is insurance, repairs, detailing and any maintenance. It might be extremely expensive and limited to Atlanta only, but this subscription service is second-to-none for what you get. Audi Select Audi just launched its subscription car service, and it's offered in one version for a flat fee of $1,395 per month. For that you'll have access to five different cars including the A4, S5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, Q5, and Q7. Not a bad range of vehicles, but it would've been neat to see the recently updated A7 in there too. Maybe in time. Like the others, insurance and maintenance are wrapped up in the price. Audi is allowing for unlimited miles and two car swaps per month here. In addition to that, you'll get two days of free rentals through Audi's Silvercar rental agency should you go on a trip.