2001 Lexus Ls430 (114k Miles) on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Toyota may return to F1 under Lexus banner

A new report in from the website Club Lexus claims to have insider knowledge about a return to Formula One racing by Toyota, this time under the auspices of the Lexus brand. Toyota competed in F1 from 2002 through the 2009 season. That final year saw the team return competitive, if inconsistent results, but the larger economic woes in the automotive market made a decision to pull the plug relatively easy at the time.
Now, citing recent interviews with Toyota executives and insider sources, Club Lexus says that the move to re-enter F1 for the 2014 season is "all but finalized." The choice to go with the Lexus nameplate over Toyota makes some sense, too, considering the success that rival Infiniti has had in recent years through its partnership with Red Bull Racing. Further, the emerging Lexus identity as a performance car builder, with a strong background in hybrid vehicles, could help the F1 move resonate with buyers.
A few technological factors and formula changes within F1 offer some credence to the Lexus rumor, too. F1 will increase the available capacity of KERS from 60kW to 120kW, a change that theoretically benefits the hybrid-savvy Toyota. What's more, 2014 will see a switch from the current 2.4-liter V8 engines to 1.6-liter turbocharged V6s. A Lexus team that goes racing in 2014 will be on a level playing field with the rest of the grid then, with all teams adjusting to and continuing to develop the new engines.

2021 Lexus GX 460 Interior Review | A competent cabin ... a decade ago

The Lexus GX 460 is really old. How old is it? It’s so old, I was still in high school when it launched. This generation of the GX launched for the 2010 model year, and it's mostly received cosmetic updates in the decade since. And few areas reveal that age more than this luxury SUV's interior. It's not all bad, but there's no question that it isn't exactly on par with the latest and greatest SUVs from other automakers. Or even its own. Let's dive in, shall we? Climbing aboard the GX welcomes the driver and front passenger with broad, thickly cushioned chairs wrapped in soft leather. They're very much the kind of seats you sit on and not in, and with a decent amount of adjustment, they're quite comfortable on a commute or on a cross-country trip. Also immediately noticeable is the high seating position and huge amount of glass offering superb visibility in all directions. Between this and the GX's modest exterior dimensions, it's quite easy to maneuver. Then we get to the dashboard, and this is where the GX becomes more of a letdown. Aside from the steering wheel, a slightly larger instrument screen with an updated infotainment operating system, nothing has changed in a decade. The prominence of the silver painted plastic is the most disappointing element, as it feels like it would barely be acceptable in a Toyota, let alone a current Lexus. The same goes for the blurry, easily washed-out center screen and pale blue digital clock and climate temperature readout. Wood trim and upholstered panels certainly help, but overall this doesn't look like the command center of a new SUV costing more than $50,000. Things get a little better when actually interacting with things. The volume and tuning knobs are weighty and smooth like on a nice hi-fi system. Having physical controls for the audio as well as most climate functions are welcome features. The touchscreen system is much more intuitive than the Remote Touch mouse and touchpad systems Lexus rolled out in later years. It's fairly responsive, and the shortcut buttons on the sides are useful. Another sign of age is the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But hey, you get a CD player, remember those?  Buyers do still get a lot of nice features on the GX. Standard equipment includes heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity locking and starting, a sunroof, and new for 2021, acoustic front side glass that makes the GX astoundingly quiet inside.

Lexus made an LX ride-on for a child with cerebral palsy

Ride-on vehicles, or Power Wheels as many know them, are a perfect way for young children to experience driving and cars for the first time. Unfortunately, certain congenital disorders can prevent some children from having that from experience. Lexus, in collaboration with Givewith and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF), wanted to help reduce the barrier of access to fun mobility, and has created an LX ride-on specifically customized for a girl with cerebral palsy.  Six-year-old Finley Smallwood has the most common motor disorder that affects children, cerebral palsy. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cerebral palsy is "a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture." Because of this, she is unable to use ride-on vehicles the way they are currently built. Lexus was inspired by Finley to design and develop solutions that could get here into a car. The ride-on, which has the looks of a topless LX SUV, has several custom features. Finley has a tough time sitting for a long time, so Lexus added waist-high side padding and modified the seat. The LX ride-on also has an adjustable headrest, and a five-point harness to keep the driver safe, stable, and secure. Ingress and egress on current ride-ons can also be difficult, so Lexus lowered the vehicle and increased the size of the doors.  The largest change is the method of control. Because some children with cerebral palsy might not be able to use a foot pedal or have the strength to use a steering wheel, this ride-on doesn't have either. Instead, Lexus configured an armrest joystick to control the vehicle's direction and acceleration.   Lexus delivered the LX to Finley in March, which is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. For a video profile of Finley and a behind-the-scenes look at the vehicle's development, visit Givewith.com. Related Video:     Featured Gallery Lexus CPF Power Wheels Auto News Toys/Games Lexus