2010 Lexus Es 350 on 2040-cars

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600-horsepower IS leads Lexus to SEMA

SEMA appears to be back in full swing for 2022, replete with in-your-face custom builds and engines tuned within inches of their lives. Lexus will be at the show with several builds based on its factory offerings, not the least of which is an IS 350 sedan packing Toyota's new turbocharged six-cylinder, rather than the V8 found in the IS 500 F-Sport Performance. Let's dive right in.  Lexus DSport IS600+ SEMA build View 10 Photos DSport IS 600+ Concept The DSport IS 600+ is far and away the headliner in this crowd. Unlike the IS 500 F-Sport Performance, this build utilizes Toyota's new turbocharged six-cylinder. A fresh set of turbos and custom tune for E85 churn out more than 600 horsepower (hence the name) for this track-focused build. Additional modifications include a 4-point roll cage, sequential transmission, carbon ceramic brakes and a two-way adjustable suspension. Carbon fiber and an Artisan Spirits widebody kit complete the exterior look.  Lexus LX 600 Urban SEMA Concept View 8 Photos LX 600 Urban Concept Dialing things back a bit, the LX 600 Urban Concept leans toward luxury. Artisan Spirits is featured here yet again, with a body kit that is far more subtle than the one found on the IS 600+. You'll still find plenty of carbon fiber (front spoiler, rear bumper, fenders, hood, rear roof spoiler, rear gate spoiler and diffuser) but no carbon ceramics or adjustable dampers.  LX 600 Alpine Lifestyle SEMA Concept View 5 Photos LX 600 Alpine Lifestyle Concept If practical off-roading is more your speed, the Alpine Lifestyle Concept may just be for you. This build leans into the overlanding craze. Yeti is featured heavily in the gear department, while the truck itself was overhauled with endless storage and fitted with enough armor to protect it in most off-road situations.  GX 460 Overland SEMA Concept View 9 Photos GX 460 Overland Concept Sticking with the overlanding theme, this GX 460 Overland concept built by Cruiser Outfitters looks to expand the GX's off-road capabilities. Beneath the extensive exterior modifications, you'll find an Old Man Emu suspension with increased ground clearance and travel, Toyo mud-terrain tires and  self-recovery winch up front from Warn.  RX 500h F-Sport Performance AWD SEMA concept View 7 Photos RX 500h F-Sport Performance AWD Concept Don't let the "500" and "F-Sport Performance" bits fool you; there's no V8 to be found here either.

Future Lexus products to feature heavier focus on performance and handling

There’s a sea change of performance occurring over at Lexus these days. At least, thatÂ’s what the Japanese luxury automaker claims. Lexus has made plenty of excellent performance cars in its past, but the brand has never been known for performance. Instead, Lexus has produced some of the most comfortable, reliable and serene automobiles to ever come out of Japan, and it's found success in doing so. The brand has a clear identity, but itÂ’s looking to massage that identity. “Moving forward, the efforts of the CE (chief engineer) will be focused on elevating the vehicles to a new standard of performance and handling as developed by Lexus International President Koji Sato and Chief Branding Officer Akio Toyoda,” Lexus said in a statement. “The ultimate goal is to deliver a new generation of Lexus vehicles that is more balanced, refined in control, and confident than ever before.” A new “standard of performance and handling” has definitely raised our eyebrows, and weÂ’re curious to know what that looks and feels like. Toyota has already shown clear signs of upping its performance gains with the GR brand and additional TRD models. ItÂ’s only the beginning, and it looks like Lexus is going to follow the parent brand into this performance space. The construction of a new testing facility in Japan was instrumental in this fight for more performance, according to Lexus. We wrote about the mini Nurburgring replica before. ItÂ’s called Shimoyama, and Lexus will be developing its vehicles at this facility for the foreseeable future. “More than merely a new test facility, this asphalt track signals a change in LexusÂ’ product development course and speaks to the brandÂ’s commitment to its human-centered nature,” Lexus says. What does that entail for the cars? Lexus has an answer there, too: “Linear steering, brake responses, and optimized handling with exceptional ride quality is the result of heightened focus on tuning of the chassis and its interactions with the control surfaces through diligent evaluation at a test facility unlike any other.” 2021 Lexus IS View 25 Photos The new 2021 IS is meant to be the first of many vehicles that exemplify LexusÂ’ new performance philosophy. This “cultural shift” is meant to build on what Lexus has already done with F-branded cars, in addition to the wonderful LC.

Toyota fills in details about its future design direction and global platform

"In the future, out of 100 customers, we want to excite ten of them instead of not offending all 100."
Almost all of the details about the Toyota New Group Architecture (TNGA) strategy have come out since the initiative was first reported on in March of this year, but Autoblog did learn a few new things about it on a recent trip to Japan. Probably the second-most important detail is that each new segment platform will be based around a common hip point to create an "optimal driving position architecture."