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Lexus LC convertible possibly spied in production form

Following a concept reveal at the beginning of the year and confirmation of production a few months ago, we've finally got a glimpse of what may be the production Lexus LC convertible. The droptop was spied during a photo shoot in Los Angeles. It appears to be wearing the "Structural Blue" hue that made its debut at SEMA a couple years ago. While the concept shown at Detroit looked nearly production-ready, there are small differences between it and this photo car. Close examination shows that this version has a small wind blocker and differently shaped rear seat backs. These pieces match up with the prototype that appeared at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The main difference between this car and the Goodwood example is that this photo car has more finished trim around the tonneau cover. Another difference from the Detroit concept is the fact the rear tonneau has a section finished in the same color upholstery as the interior. Though Lexus confirmed the LC convertible for production, it hasn't given any indication as to when it will go on sale. The fact that Lexus is doing photo shoots of the car has us thinking it will be revealed and put on sale in time for the next model year, making November's LA Auto Show a prime choice. It will undoubtedly be fitted with a choice of the 471-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 or the 354-horsepower V6 hybrid powertrain.

Lexus launches supercharged LX 570 in Middle East

The Lexus LX SUV is a very muscular, old-school vehicle. Based on the Toyota Land Cruiser, it's still a big, body-on-frame SUV, but inside it offers acres of leather and luxury tech. The brand's Kuwaiti distributor is taking it machismo even further for the local market with the new LX 570 Supercharger.
As the name suggests, the upgraded SUV grafts a supercharger onto the LX 570's 5.7-liter V8 to boost it to 450 horsepower, from 383 hp in the naturally aspirated version in the US (or 362 hp in the standard Kuwaiti version), and it uses the same six-speed automatic as the standard model. To signal the improved strength, much of exterior chrome is replaced with black trim. It also wears special 20-inch wheels and a rear spoiler. The interior is fitted with crimson leather seats and red-accented carpet. It also gets an aluminum sill plate that says "Supercharger." Like the standard Kuwait-spec LX 570, it has two fuel tanks with a total combined capacity of 36.46 gallons, which should help satiate the likely thirsty, forced-induction V8.
The LX 570 Supercharger won't be rumbling down streets outside of the Middle East, though. According to Lexus spokesperson Bill Kwong, this is a project by the distributor in the region. The supercharged engine also has "issues with emissions" in the US, especially in California, he told Autoblog. Too bad, it would be an interesting Range Rover alternative.

Krafcik says US Gov. shutdown is slowing Oct. auto sales

The government shutdown is eroding consumer confidence in the auto market, says John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai's US sales unit, and could lower October sales by as much as 10 percent, Automotive News reports. "It's that anxiety that keeps customers, potential buyers, on the sidelines when making a big purchase like an automobile," Krafcik says, adding that industry sales could be off by five to 10 percent in October compared to September.
The fourth quarter, which started October 1, usually consists of increased auto sales as dealerships clear their lots to make room for the next year's models. Leading up to the fourth quarter this year, the auto industry was doing well in the fragile, recovering US economy, although September deliveries decreased by 4.2 percent, due in part to this year's Labor Day sales being recorded for August.
To help its customers, Hyundai announced it is deferring new-car loan and lease payments for furloughed federal workers until they're called back to work and also offering them a three-month payment deferral if they buy a new Hyundai in October. "We have already had requests from over a thousand people to have their payments deferred," Krafcik says.