All Wheel Drive, Black, Leather, Automotic. on 2040-cars

Auto blog

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

Pontiac Aztek enjoys rebirth thanks to Millennials

Apparently, Millennials – those between 18 and 34 – aren't afraid to look different on the road, and they like performance, too. A new study by Edmunds is discovering some surprising vehicle choices by this group. Among them, the long-derided Pontiac Aztek is getting a new day in the sun with 25.5 percent its buyers coming from this generation in the first half of 2015. For comparison, Millennials represent an average of 16.8 percent of used car purchases. The Aztek is slowly shaking its reputation as a styling abomination, which seems tied to its appearance on Breaking Bad. The show premiered in 2008, and the Pontiac has been on this list for four of the past five years, according to Edmunds. It even led the pack in 2010. A recent Retro Review from MotorWeek also showed that the crossover wasn't always so hated. While it's still a shock to see the Aztek on any popularity list, the awkward-looking crossover only ranks sixth among Millennials. The vehicle with the biggest portion of buyers from the generation is the Dodge Magnum with 27.6 percent. According to Edmunds, the bluntly styled wagon is especially popular in Detroit and Chicago. The Chrysler Pacifica comes in a close second at 27.3 percent. When it comes to used cars, value and utility appear to trump just about anything else for many Millennial buyers," Edmunds analyst Jeremy Acevedo said in the report. Young buyers aren't afraid of sporty rides, either. The Subaru WRX has 26.4 percent Millennial buyers to rank third place on the list, and the Volkswagen R32 takes fifth at 25.7 percent. Just a few points lower in seventh place is the Nissan GT-R at 25.4 percent, and the final performance machine in 10th place is the Lexus IS-F with 24.7 percent. Related Video:

Lexus LF-CC gets green light, Evoque rival under consideration

While wandering the floor at this week's LA Auto Show, we had a bit of an epiphany at the Lexus stand. The traditionally stodgy Toyota premium outlet is really starting to come into its own in terms of exciting design. And not just with production models like the excellent new GS sedan. At the front of the display, a triangular formation of plinths was a feast for the eyes - the head was formed by the LFA Nurburgring Package supercar, flanked on either side by the company's outré LF-LC and LF-CC concept cars.
So consider it welcome news on our end that the LF-CC concept shown above has apparently been given the production green light, with a projected arrival by 2015. So says Autocar, which quotes an unnamed source at Lexus willing to confirm that a senior engineer has been tasked with the project. The British publication suggests that the production version of the 2012 Paris Motor Show star will probably be built in both coupe and convertible formats and ride atop the automaker's new modular rear-wheel drive architecture. Power is expected to be an evolution of the GS 350h's hybrid drivetrain.
In other news, that same shadowy source at Lexus has reportedly confirmed that the Japanese luxury brand is "seriously studying" offering a small SUV in the mold of the stylish Range Rover Evoque from Land Rover, though no further details are given. Lexus' own RX crossover range has long been a massive hit for the brand, leaving many industry analysts scratching their heads as to why the automaker hasn't already expanded its crossover offerings to include both larger and smaller formats.