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Lexus NX rolls on wheels made of ice

To create this rolling ice sculpture, Lexus teamed up with London-based Hamilton Ice Sculptors, which fitted the compact luxury crossover with wheels and tires crafted from ice. The sub-zero craftsmen then deep-froze the entire vehicle, stored it at -22 degrees Fahrenheit, and drove it around London – pleasantly surprised to find that it started on the first try. As far as publicity stunts go, the finished product looks even cooler than the cardboard IS that Lexus had crafted a few months ago or the biometric glow-in-the-dark RC F from this past summer. The project took three months of research, design, and testing to carry out. The wheels replicate the alloys on the NX with millimetric precision, right down to the tread pattern, and each one took a team of four craftsmen 36 hours of work to complete. Of course, blocks of ice would have a hard time supporting the weight of the vehicle – especially while in motion – so the frozen wheels were reinforced with clear acrylic discs. And to make it all glow, they were also fitted with in-wheel LED lighting. This isn't the first time we've seen ice sculptors apply their skills to automobiles, following the frozen Canadian Tire pickup, Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Cube, and Saab Aero-X we've seen in recently years. But this one is at least as cool, in one sense or another. Scope out the results in the video above, and the process that went into their creation in the making-of video below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. LEXUS NX RIDES ON THE WORLD'S COOLEST WHEELS – CRAFTED IN SOLID ICE The concept of driving on ice has taken on a whole new meaning for Lexus, which has crafted the world's first set of working wheels and tyres made from frozen water. Brussels, Belgium - True to its mission of "creating amazing" and inspired by the craftsmanship that goes into every vehicle it makes, Lexus commissioned a team of ice sculpture specialists to explore how ice could be used in place of conventional alloy metal and rubber. After three months' research, design and testing, the finished wheels were fitted to a Lexus NX for the ultimate ice drive. The car itself was deep-frozen, stored for five days at -30°C (it started first time) before being driven off down a London road. The addition of in-wheel LED lighting added an extra dramatic dimension to the cutting-edge contemporary styling of the NX.

2022 Lexus NX First Drive Review | Believe us, it really is all new

The 2022 Lexus NX is at once a safe evolution of the product it replaces and a significant redesign with long-lasting implications. Its dimensions and styling are so similar to the outgoing NX that you'd be forgiven for thinking it's merely a mid-cycle refresh, but indeed, it's a ground-up re-do based on new underpinnings. Sure, they're shared with every front-wheel-drive Toyota group product introduced in the past four years, but then, that's part of the "safe evolution" bit.  Now, there's nothing inherently wrong with such an approach to a new model. Although the NX has never been considered a class leader since it was introduced for 2015, it nevertheless enjoyed strong sales – you know, just like the Lexus ES, RX and name-a-Toyota – vehicles that car enthusiasts might scoff at but everyone else appreciates for their build quality, dependability, resale value and general competence.  Although, if we're talking competence, it's at least worth pointing out one element of the Lexus formula that all those loyal buyers have somehow been putting up with: the Remote Touch tech interface and the infernal touchpad that's been in use, with a few exceptions, in every Lexus since it debuted in Â… that's right, the original NX. And here's where the long-lasting implications of the all-new 2022 NX come in: Remote Touch is gone and in its place the new "Human Machine Interface" touchscreen infotainment system will be making its way through the brand. This is a very big deal, because it means a very real and annoying reason for not buying a Lexus is about to go away Â… and isn't present at all in the new NX.  That said, the new touchscreen not only represents the most important change and improvement to the NX, but the most significant missed opportunity. WeÂ’ll cover that in-depth in a followup infotainment review, but in short, the system thinks too highly of voice commands and could really use the ability to show multiple sources of information at once. Otherwise, the two available touchscreens (a base 9.6-inch unit and a 14-inch widescreen upgrade) feature a UI that's quicker, prettier and easier to use. I was able to jump into the new NX and quickly figure it all out, which definitely can't be said of other luxury systems that continue to perplex after multiple uses, including MercedesÂ’ MBUX and Remote Touch. Those trims with the 14-inch screen also pair with a unique set of steering wheel buttons.

2020 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series is a green goddess

This year's Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series walked in fields of gold with Flare Yellow paint outside, a splash of matching Alcantara inside, and white, semi-aniline leather seats. The 2020 version of the LC 500 Inspiration Series takes to emerald seas with exclusive Nori Green Pearl paint — nori being the edible seaweed that tries to make an honest living wrapping sushi or onigiri. This time the two-tone interior doesn't take its cue from the outside, opting for tan and amber contrasts. Lexus says the aesthetic game of dress-up "aims to evoke a more refined, mature coupe," even though we're certain two of the LC 500's most profound attributes are refinement and maturity. Semi-aniline 10-way adjustable seats are stitched up in Saddle Tan leather exclusive to this model, paired with slightly darker Alcantara trim on the door panels. The instrument panel, center console, steering wheel, and the rest of the doors are fitted with Black Amber leather. Brown cross-stitching not only cues the color of the seats, its visibility should earn appreciation for "highlighting the fanatical precision of each stitch." As with the 2019 model, the special 2020 LC 500 will be limited to 100 units in the U.S. A custom, laser-cut sill plate that evokes the geometric shapes found in the taillights will inform everyone crossing the threshold of the coupe's rarity. The package sits on two-tone, 21-inch wheels. The powertrain hasn't been touched, motivation provided by the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 with 471 horsepower shifting through a 10-speed automatic. Lexus says it will release price information closer to the on-sale date later this year. A standard LC 500 costs $92,950 before destination; the 2019 LC 500 Inspiration Series asked $106,210 before destination, so don't expect much change from $110,000 if you're interested.