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BMW reclaims US luxury sales crown from Mercedes

The numbers, they are in: BMW has reclaimed the luxury-sales crown from Mercedes by a margin of 9,347 cars. Mercedes donned the king's headgear in 2013 after a strong final quarter of 2013 when the new CLA and S-Class poured out of dealerships. This year, led by the 3 Series/4 Series and X5, BMW sold 339,738 units – a 9.8-percent increase year-on-year. Mercedes, led by the C-Class and M-Class, saw its sales go up by 5.7 percent to 330,391 units. We'll have to wait a bit to see if there's another registrations-vs-sales challenge as in 2012, when BMW was anointed US luxury ruler. Behind them, a dark horse named Lexus nudged closer to the leading Teutons, selling 311,389 cars. The Japanese luxury automaker also had the biggest gain among the top three, its sales rising by 13.7 percent compared to 2013. Audi had the biggest sales of anyone among the top five, though, with a 15.2-percent gain to 182,011, which moved it a spot ahead of Cadillac; the Wreath-and-Crest brand dropped 6.5 percent to 170,750. Acura (167,843), Infiniti (117,300), and Lincoln (94,474) took the final positions. Speaking of Lincoln, sales at the once-mighty luxury marque stand as the mightiest jump of any on this list, up 15.6 percent. That's the power of Matthew McConaughey... and better cars and a new crossover, sure. So now that we're back to Round One of 2015, in case no one else has said it yet: "Ok, fight!"

Lexus puts the 2.0T into the Euro-market RC Coupe

The Lexus IS got the brand's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder to become the IS 200t. So it is with the Lexus RC in Europe, which gets the engine swap in Europe and as the RC 200t becomes the entry level model in the range. It goes on sale over there at the end of this year, and is predicted to make its way here eventually. The engine is rated the same in this application as in the IS: 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, working through an eight-speed transmission for a 0-62 mile-per-hour time of 7.5 seconds. It can be picked out by its smaller wheels and the lack of aggressive bodywork. Lexus will offer an F-Sport package that restores some muscularity. Better still is the available Torsen limited-slip differential and the adaptive variable suspension for improved handling. We don't have the entry-level coupes here like the Euro-market BMW 420i, which would be a good competitor for the RC 200t. In our market base competitors like the BMW 428i, Audi A5, and Cadillac ATS, all fitted with 2.0-liter engines, are faster, and will most likely be lighter and might be less expensive than the RC 200t. That looks like it will make the Lexus offering best for buyers who already want to get into the line but at a friendlier price. The press release below has more info. Related Video: RC JOINING THE LEXUS 2.0L TURBO PETROL LINE-UP - 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder, twin-scroll turbo unit developing 180 kW/245 DIN hp and 350 Nm of torque - 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and 230 km/h maximum speed - 8-Speed Sport Direct Shift (SPDS) transmission with G-force linked gear shifting Brussels, Belgium Lexus: 31 Jul 2015 - The new Lexus RC 200t is the fourth Lexus model to feature the refined driving performance of the company's 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine. Mated to an 8-speed Sport Direct Shift (SPDS) transmission, the turbo unit adopts numerous sophisticated engine technologies to offer drivers an engaging combination of smoothness, turbo-lag-free throttle responsiveness and fuel-efficiency. The superior driving dynamics of the new RC 200t may be further enhanced through the availability of an F SPORT version, which is equipped with a Torsen Limited Slip Differential. Together with the already announced RC 300h, the new RC 200t go on sale throughout Europe at the end of the year.

The 2018 Lexus LC starts under $100k, but stay away from the options list

The scintillating and characterful 2018 Lexus LC coupe now has a price tag. The flagship Lexus two-door starts at $92,975 for the V8 LC 500 model with a 10-speed automatic. The hybrid V6 LC 500h will start a bit higher at $97,485. So for under $100,000, you can have one of the best-looking Lexus coupes of all time. However, that gets dangerously close to, and even exceeds, the six-figure range when adding options. Choosing the Touring Package will add $4,000 to an LC 500 and $2,400 to an LC 500h, keeping both models under a hundred grand. The Sport Package with Glass Roof will push the hybrid over the six-figure mark with a cost of $2,750. Both packages add blind spot monitoring, parking assist, heated and cooled seats, and a glass roof. The Sport Package provides Alcantara seats and a limited slip differential, while the Touring Package includes leather seats and a Mark Levinson sound system. Opt for a Sport Package with a Carbon Fiber Roof, and the price jumps significantly. It adds $7,000 to the V8 model for a price of $99,975, and $5,400 to the hybrid for a total of $102,885. For big spenders, there's the Performance Package. The big draws here are the rear steering, active rear spoiler, and variable steering ratio system. It adds $10,000 to the LC 500, and $8,790 to the LC 500h for totals of $102,975 and $106,275 respectively. Related Video: