2008 Lexus Ls600h L, Black/white, Only 21k Miles, 1-owner, $115k Msrp, Loaded! on 2040-cars

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Lexus LFA successor with PHEV drivetrain in the works?

Reports out of Japan say that a successor to the Lexus LFA is in the works. While this news should come with a planet-sized grain of salt, there is a non-zero chance. And since the LFA is one of the best sports cars we've driven, it bears at least considering, so let's look at the mere possibility of a successor. Best Car magazine claims to have in their upcoming Dec. 10 issue a scoop about the new "super sports" car. They say that the successor is a plug-in hybrid with a front-midship layout (the heavy motor behind the front axle) under a carbon fiber body. The gas side of the equation is said to be a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 generating approximately 937 horsepower. It's supposedly scheduled for a 2025 debut. This seems to be a different car than the rumored Gazoo Racing Super Sport, which is based on the Toyota's entrant in the WEC's new Le Mans Hypercar class. That car would have to resemble the race car somewhat, and as such would have a twin-turbo hybrid V6. We find it highly unlikely that Toyota would build two super-expensive cars at the same time. Also, note the rumored engine is a 4.0-liter V8, a displacement that doesn't exist in any modern Lexus. Perhaps that could mean a replacement for the current 5.0-liter V8? Or maybe just a sign that this is all much ado about nothing.  However, we have seen an LFA prototype with modified bodywork lapping the Nurburgring in late 2018, some six years after the original ended production. The same car was spotted in summer of 2019 as well, the same year Lexus' then vice-president, now president Koji Sato told Autocar, "We need strong requests for a new LFA from the media. This can help us proceed.” Well, if that's what it takes then consider this another vote in the yes column, even though we've described its 4.8-liter V10's 552-horsepower output as not very impressive on paper by the time it came out and covered how it wasn't a hot seller, with new examples still being offered for sale as new in 2018. In the years since, though, it seems the collector market seems to have taken a liking to the LFA. At Monterey Car Week this year, a regular LFA sold for $819,000, more than doubling its original $375,000 sticker, while a 1 of 50 Nurburgring Edition sold for $1.6 million. If the GR Super Sport really is canceled as some rumors suggest, perhaps there is room in the Toyota family for another LFA. We still wouldn't hold our breaths, though.

Lexus exploring PHEV, full EV and fuel cell versions of LS flagship

After four years of rumors about a Lexus LS powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, the chief engineer of the flagship sedan says the carmaker's working on even more options. Toshio Asahi told Australia's GoAuto that three alternative powertrains — plug-in hybrid, full electric, and hydrogen — are "all on the table" for consideration. Asahi wouldn't give any timeframes, but whenever they arrive, additional drive options would fill out the LS range to better contend with the Germans. Years of reports predicted this fifth-generation LS would get hydrogen power. A Motoring article at the end of 2014 forecast a fuel cell LS to arrive by 2017. In 2015 Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported that Lexus was considering a fuel cell option to arrive in 2020, around the time of the Tokyo Olympics. Later that year, at the Tokyo Motor Show, Lexus showed off the LF-FC concept, powered by a cell and stack arranged for "optimum front-rear weight distribution for a sporty saloon." GoAuto said that during that show, a Lexus executive said an FCEV powertrain would end up in production "sooner than you think." The following year, Autocar reported we'd see a production version of the LF-FC "on sale before 2020" as a replacement for the LS, and last year, Lexus trademarked the name "LF-FC Concept." The intel gets murkier regarding plug-in hybrid and full electric versions. We now know Lexus is working on a more powerful hybrid system. The current hybrid produces a total system 354 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque using the same 3.5-liter V6 in the standard car as a base, though the standard car adds two turbos for 415 hp and 442 lb-ft. The coming hybrid will likely use the twin-turbo setup and could achieve two important ends: Smoothing out noted issues of powertrain refinement, and at least matching the power specs of Mercedes-Benz and BMW flagship plug-in hybrids. That hybrid LS would still miss out on the all-electric driving of its rivals. If there really is an LF-FC coming in the next two years, it would seem a perfect time to retire the conventional hybrid and introduce a plug-in version embodying the velvet sophistication Lexus is known for. The battery electric LS is a big question mark outside of Lexus HQ. Last year Toyota announced a breakthrough in solid state battery technology, the carmaker announcing it wanted such batteries on the market by 2022.

2020 Lexus RX350 and RX450h debut with refreshed styling and updated tech

The 2020 Lexus RX350 and 450h made their debuts late last night, refreshing the fourth-gen model that made its debut back in 2015. The luxury crossover gets a number of updates, with the changes mostly focused on styling, tech and safety. The new three-row model carries over, too, with the second row sporting a set of captain's chairs rather than a full bench. The 2020 RX is set to go on sale in the U.S. in late August 2019. The updated model doesn't look all that different than the 2019 model, especially from the profile. That said, the front and rear fascias have both been smoothed out, taking cues from the handsome LC coupe and LS sedan. All the lines look a bit more sleek, with thinner headlights and L-shaped blades in the taillights, again similar to the LC and LS. There's a sharp crease toward the bottom of the RX that carries across the grille, rocker panel and rear bumper. The grille itself gets a new mesh pattern. The interior is mostly unchanged, with changes mostly focused on comfort rather than design. Three-row models now have more adjustment in the back row, and the second row gets the aforementioned captain's chairs. The infotainment system gets a much-needed update. While the frustrating-at-best touchpad interface is still present, the RX now gets a touchscreen, hopefully improving one of our major complaints with the system. The RX also gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, something long missing from Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Voice control can be used through Lexus' own system or using Apple Siri or Google Assistant. There's also a new USB port and a phone holder to keep things in place. Underneath the skin, the 2020 RX gets a revised suspension setup and extra chassis stiffness, the latter thanks in part to new welds, high-strength adhesives and stiffer stabilizer bars. The RX has what Lexus calls Active Cornering Assist and a re-tuned stability control system to mitigate understeer mid-corner. The shocks, too, are revised to improve ride comfort and handling. Lexus says the suspension updates should improve steering feel, too. Finally, there's a few updates to the RX's safety systems. The crossover comes with the latest version Lexus Safety System +, a safety suite that includes features like pre-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and traffic-sign recognition. The new headlights have Lexus' BladeScan Type Adaptive Headlight System, or AHS.