2011 hasn’t been the best year for Lexus on the North American market. The world crisis combined with the massive earthquake that shook Japan to its core in March 2011 hurt the company’s sales and made it surrender its 11-year reign as the best-selling luxury brand in the United States. However, Lexus has plans to make a major comeback, announcing plans to offer nine new or updated products to hopefully increase their sales by about 21%. This translates to 240,000 units compared to 2011’s 198,552 units.
"We will grow more than any other luxury brand this year. Our base plan is 240,000. But we think we can exceed that by a pretty good margin," said Mark Templin, Lexus General Manager.
The list of new models includes the GS 350 and GS 450h sport sedans arriving in February, followed by reworked versions of the ES 350, the IS 250 and 350, the LS 460, and the 600h. The LX SUV will also be refreshed in 2012.
But the biggest news for 2012 is the LF-LC Hybrid Concept shown at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. This concept will be immediately followed by a production version priced somewhere between $100,000 and $130,000.
That seemingly souped up Lexus LS that has been spotted lapping the Nurburgring these past few weeks now has a name, as well as some juicy details, thanks to a spied spec sheet. The Lexus LS-F has now been christened the TMG Edition, giving props to the company’s motorsports division, Toyota Motorsport GmbH. It’s hyped up engine and scorching numbers will come to fruition when the vehicle debuts at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show in December.
According to the spied spec sheet, the Lexus LS-F TMG Edition will be powered by 5.0 L engine - quite possibly a higher displacement version of the LF-A’s V10 or a turbocharged version of the IS-F’s 5.0L V8. Whatever the engine, the LS-F will be pumping out 478 kW (650 PS, 641 HP) and 710 Nm of torque (523 lb-ft). Performance numbers are also listed as a 0-62 mph sprint of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph).
So why an F version for the Lexus LS? Well, Lexus has been making some aggressive moves towards targeting the sportier models of its main competitors, competitors that have long mastered the combination of luxury and extreme performance - AKA BMW. This new Lexus LS-F TMG Edition looks like it could be a welcome player in the game.
UPDATE 09/22/2011: We were able to catch the new LS-F TMG Edition taking a few test laps! Check out the video by clicking on the image above.
Hit the jump to check out the full spied spec sheet.
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What started off as an F-Sport package for a few of Lexus’ models may just be taking off into a full line of sporty offerings from the luxury automaker. At first it was the Lexus IS-F getting all of the attention and then it was announced that the recently launched GS350 would also be getting its own F-version. Now, a new prototype caught testing at the Nurburgring is raising some eyebrows, particularly ours.
This sporty looking ride taking some test laps looks a bit like the luxury LS sedan, possibly in an F version. It was seen with Toyota Cologne plates and was stationed at the Toyota/Lexus garage at the Nürburgring which points to a true model variation and not the work of an aftermarket tuner.
So why an F version for the Lexus LS? Well, Lexus has been making some aggressive moves towards targeting the sportier models of its main competitors, competitors that have long mastered the combination of luxury and extreme performance - AKA BMW.
If our guess is on par, then we’re looking at an F-variant offering much more than the 380 HP and 367 lb-ft of torque coming out of the standard LS’ 4.6 liter V8. Following along with the theme of the IS-F and possibly the GS-F, the LS-F could be carrying the same 5.0 liter V8 engine developing around 450 HP.
This year has been a little lackluster for Lexus in terms of beating our their competition, but the luxury end of Toyota is getting back on track for what it says will be a couple of exciting years. With all its latest innovations, Lexus is planning a few big things to battle it out against the likes of BMW and Mercedes. This includes a full refresh of its luxury sedans, as well as a kick-the-competition-in-the-ass LF-A Roadster.
The passenger-car lineup will be made over by the spring of 2013, as the GS, ES, IS, and LS sedans will all be either redesigned or re-engineered. However, the biggest gun in the arsenal will be the LF-A supercar. The 500 units for the current LF-A coupe will be finished by 2013, then a roadster version will be unveiled in 2014. This model was actually previewed by the LF-A Roadster concept unveiled in 2008, but the production version will feature the company’s latest design language. Lexus hasn’t said anything about the more powerful version of their LF-A supercar rumored a while ago, but we hope that will be their secret weapon somewhere down the line.
In addition to the sedan redo and the drop top LF-A, Lexus also has plans for the future GS-F performance edition and the LS. The company has said that the high-performance version will not feature a conventional V8 engine, but a hybrid drivetrain. The LS will also be redesigned in 2013 - it will get weight-saving technology using premium materials and a new, more economical engine.
Lexus struck it big with the Royal Wedding when it was announced that Prince Albert of Monaco would be riding in an LS 600H for the royal affair. The experience must have been exquisite for the Prince because Lexus has created a Landaulet version of the hybrid for him to ride in with his future wife, Miss Charlene Wittstock, during their very own wedding.
The Lexus LS 600h Landaulet will be a one-off coach built limousine equipped with a one-piece transparent polycarbonate roof. This roof took about 2,000 hours to be completed with the help of a French company that specializes in supplying similar components to the aerospace industry, such as helicopter windscreens and fighter jet canopies. The building process was extensive because a honeycomb structure and carbon fiber template was created first to validate the roof’s shape and structural integrity and to ensure a perfect fit with tolerances of less than 1mm. Once the design was complete, robotic tools were used to produce the canopy and fit it to the Landaulet in a completely automated process. The final stage of the conversion, re-assembly, and finishing took a team of 10 specialists working with Lexus engineers more than two weeks to complete, to ensure the highest quality levels were achieved. The final product is a roof that is just 57 lbs and is fixed to the body through two intermediary parts which allow for a perfect view in and out of the car.
Check out the Lexus Landaulet and the second royal wedding this year on July 2nd!
