2019 Lexus Is 300 on 2040-cars

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New Toyota Supra may get a twin-turbo Lexus V6

We've heard endless rumors that a successor to the much loved and much missed Toyota Supra is in the works. Toyota hasn't done much to deny these conversations. On the contrary, the FT-1 concept from two years ago and the partnership with BMW have only fueled the fire. Now, talk of a new Lexus engine has led to speculation about the supposed Supra's powertrain. To be clear, this is mostly heresay. Few things have actually been confirmed, but based on what we know a few conclusions can be drawn. We know that BMW and Toyota are working on a joint product. We've seen mules testing out in the wild. In BMW guise, the possibly Austrian-built car will more than likely powered by turbocharged inline four and six-cylinder engines. Unless Toyota wants to use Bimmer power, they'll need to shoehorn one of their own under the hood. That leads us to this rumor of a twin-turbocharged V6 that will presumably power the new Lexus GS and LS. Japanese automotive publication Mag-X first reported on this engine. It was then picked up by YouWheel and Car Keys. Mag-X cites Toyota insiders and even gives an engine code, 943F. This engine allegedly will make more than 400 horsepower and more than 300 lb-ft of torque. While unconfirmed, this makes sense for Lexus. Nearly every luxury competitor has a six-cylinder engine with forced induction. While Toyota has previously had turbocharged inline-sixes, they've never produced a factory turbo V6. Every automaker is downsizing engines in an effort to meet fuel economy and emissions regulations. Toyota and Lexus will follow suit. Taking that V6 and tuning it for a performance application is a solid, if unverified, possibility. Related Video:

The Lexus sprinkles bronze on the 2020 NX 300 Black Line Special Edition

It hasn't even been a full year since Lexus showed the 2019 NX F Sport Black Line, but with the onset of the 2020 model year, another special is already on the way. Lexus is launching a second Black Line Edition on the NX, this time for the 300 model, and this time with bronze accents inside and out. The NX 300 Black Line starts with the $3,720 Premium Package, which has blind spot monitor, autodimming heated side mirrors with reverse tilt, heated and ventilated front seats, the Lexus memory system, a power moonroof, LED daytime running lights and 18-inch five-spoke wheels. On this new special edition, the wheels are differentiated with bronze finishing. Additionally, Lexus paints the normally plastic fender trim to match one of three exterior colors: Eminent White Pearl, Nebula Gray Pearl or Matador Red Mica. Because it's still a Black Line, it has a black grille, a black grille surround, black fog lamp housing and black side mirrors. Inside, the black leather, black dashboard and black headliner are less of the story than is the new decorative bronze pageantry. Lexus used bronze stitching on the door trim, floor mats, center console, seats, and the key fobs.  The Black Line Special Edition is equipped with several modern tech features, including heated steering wheel, and a 10.3-inch infotainment display with Android Auto compatibility and Google Maps navigation. It also has parking assist and a power rear door with kick action. The Black Line treatment can be ordered on front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive variants of the 2020 NX 300. It comes with a 235-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that's paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Including destination costs, the FWD version starts at $45,735, and the AWD version starts at $47,135. They will be available starting November 2019. Design/Style Lexus Crossover Special and Limited Editions crossover AWD

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.