2008 Lexus Is250 Base Sedan 4-door 2.5l on 2040-cars

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Lexus LS sedan will be quieter, more comfortable and smarter

Lexus made numerous updates to the LS in a bid to turn it into an even more comfortable cruiser. Unveiled online, the redesigned model gains a quieter cabin, new driving aids, and a handful of minor styling tweaks. Engineers turned their attention to parts of the fifth-generation LS that a majority of owners never think about in order to achieve a ride that's markedly quieter and smoother. They notably fitted a new solenoid to the adaptive suspension that reduces damping force, redesigned the motor mounts to prevent mechanical vibrations from entering the cabin, and changed the stiffness of the run-flat tires as well as the rigidity of the stabilizer bars. These changes come together to cement the sedan's positioning as the cushiest model in its category. Deeper stitch points and seat pads made with low-resilience urethane further enhance comfort, according to Lexus, but the biggest upgrades found inside are technology-related. The LS receives a digital rear-view mirror as well as a 12.3-inch touchscreen compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Users can also control the display screen and audio functions using their phone once they've paired it to the infotainment system. LS buyers in select markets will be able to order the company's Teammate technology. It's a semi-automated suite of driving aids that bundles lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control while allowing the car to change lanes and pass slower vehicles. It does not turn the LS into an autonomous car; it merely helps motorists when driving becomes tedious. The system can only be used when the right conditions are met, and Lexus hasn't announced plans to offer it in the United States. The latest generation of park assist technology is available, too. The visual changes are relatively subtle. Up front, stylists redesigned the lights and gave the bumper a new look. Out back, eagle-eyed car spotters will notice the lights and the lower bumper have been slightly revised. It's the same story inside, where the most noteworthy change is the addition of the aforementioned touchscreen. Lexus expanded the color palette with a shade of silver named Gin-ei Luster that stands out with a smooth, mirror-like finish.

Autoblog Podcast #318

Toyota back on top, Barrett Jackson, Crowdsourcing your Dodge Dart payments, Nissan and Toyota double down on pickups
Episode #318 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Michael Harley talk about Toyota regaining the No. 1 sales crown, getting your friends and family to buy you a Dodge Dart, Barrett-Jackson, and Toyota and Nissan remaining committed to their pickup trucs. We wrap with your questions, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #318:

Lexus previews its next design language with an electric concept

Identifying a new or a late-model Lexus is child's play: Look for the giant spindle-shaped grille. It's a styling cue that defines all of its recent models, and designing an electric car is evidently not an excuse to get rid of it. Lexus published a dark teaser image that previews an electric concept that will usher in its next design language. Like parent company Toyota, Lexus has long resisted the shift towards electric cars by fervently arguing hybrids make more sense. But, as even its home country mulls a blanket ban on internal combustion technology, it's left with no choice but to go electric. It already sells a battery-powered variant of the UX in Europe, but the concept it previewed on its social channels was designed as an electric car from the get-go. It's still shrouded in secrecy, we don't even know its name yet, but we can already tell the spindle stays. Its outline clearly appears between the sharp LED headlights, though it almost looks full. And, like seemingly every concept car released in the past three or four years, the newest member of the Lexus portfolio wears a backlit emblem. Lexus electric prototype View 4 Photos Interestingly, Lexus also quietly published a separate video highlighting the electric and hybrid technologies it's developing for the 2020s, and the footage reveals a heavily-camouflaged crossover lapping a test track in Japan. Shown in the gallery above, it's fully electric, and it might be at least related to the upcoming concept. Direct4 technology will power the car. Short for Direct 4-Wheel Drive Force Control, it's a system that automatically adjusts the torque sent to each wheel based on the road and driving conditions. In this application, it consists of two electric motors (one per axle), and its total output checks in at 402 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. Lexus noted it can be used for gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid systems, too. We'll need to be patient to find out more about the concept. For example, we don't know if it's related to the electric car that Toyota will release in Europe in 2021, or if it's something else entirely. If the concept and the prototype shown testing in Japan are indeed the same car, it looks like its launch is right around the corner. Related video: