UK SALES - LEXUS - Highest sales since 2007 shows the luxury brand is gaining momentum in the UK.

• Lexus UK new car sales rise by more than 28 per cent in 2014
• Year-end figure is highest UK total since 2007
• Sales of the IS saloon almost double in a year
• Fantastic launch performance for new NX 300h hybrid crossover

Lexus signed off 2014 with its highest UK sales total since 2007. The 11,572 vehicles sold represented an increase of 28.4 per cent on the previous year’s total.Central to this success is the phenomenal performance of the new IS sports saloon, which almost doubled its 2013 sales figure. 

Notably more than 90 per cent of IS leaving Britain’s showrooms have been the hybrid IS 300h, confirming the great customer appeal of its efficient, refined and reliable performance, with significant added tax benefits for business car drivers.

The momentum generated during the past 12 months has the potential to increase further during 2015, not least with the arrival of the new NX, Lexus’s first crossover model. Around 1,000 NX 300h hybrids have already reached the UK’s roads and early next year the range will grow to include the NX 200t, the first model to use Lexus’s new 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

The high-performance V8-powered RC F has enjoyed enthusiastic critical response, providing an excellent platform for the launch of the RC coupe, one of a number of new Lexus model introductions that will take place in the coming year.

Richard Balshaw, Lexus Director, said: “The great results achieved in 2014 reflect how Lexus is becoming a more exciting and distinctive luxury brand, giving customers real choice when it comes to innovative styling, advanced technology and the established benefits of Lexus quality and reliability.

“The immediate success of the NX is one example of how we are taking the brand into important new market areas and giving even more customers the chance to enjoy the special benefits of Lexus ownership.”

Lexus expands GS range with new performance saloon, premiering the new GS F.

Lexus is reinforcing its sporting character with the world premiere of a new GS F high-performance saloon at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on 13 January.

The GS F will be the next addition to Lexus’s ‘F’ line, joining the recently launched RC F coupe. The new model combines a refined, four-door design with the speed and agility of a premium sports car.

The GS F shares the same platform as the Lexus GS, but benefits from extensive enhancements throughout, including the powertrain. This features a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine that produces 467bhp (348kW) at 7,100rpm and peak torque of 527Nm between 4,800 and 5,600rpm*. This sophisticated unit can operate in both the Otto and Atkinson combustion cycles to optimise power or efficiency according to driving conditions. It will be matched to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with a manual shift function.

Lexus’s Torque Vectoring Differential, which debuted in the RC F, will be part of the GS F’s standard specification, helping define its handling quality. It will operate in three different modes: -

• Standard (default), for a balance of agility and firmness
• Slalom, emphasising nimble steering response and agility
• Track, delivering stability in high-speed circuit driving

The GS F’s monocoque chassis will feature structural reinforcements and an exclusive suspension package designed to optimise the car’s handling capabilities and ride quality. Drivers can anticipate stable, smooth performance on the open road and rewarding handling when tackling challenging routes or circuit driving.

With a 1,830kg kerb weight*, the GS F is set to be the lightest model in its class.

In sum, the Lexus GS F promises to be a very balanced saloon with a genuine dual personality, equally adept at trimming lap times as it is making the commute back home.

Preliminary specifications (US market)

Overall length (mm)	4,915
Overall width (mm)	1,845
Overall height (mm)	1,440
Wheelbase (mm)	2,850
Track – front (mm)	1,555
Track – rear (mm)	1,560
Kerb weight (kg)	1,830
Wheels	Front 19in x 9J Rear 19in x 10J
Tyres	Front 255/35R19 Rear 275/35R19

* Performance data is preliminary, for US market models.

The Lexus RC F has been designed to be enjoyed by all driving enthusiasts.

• High-performance coupe equipped with advanced drive and handling systems
• Eight-speed Sports Direct Shift transmission with five selectable drive modes
• New Sport and Expert modes added to Lexus’s Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management
• Torque Vectoring Differential

The Lexus RC F has been designed to be enjoyed by all driving enthusiasts, no matter what their level of expertise.

To this end, it is equipped with sophisticated, switchable technologies which allow instant modification of the powertrain steering and chassis to suit individual drivers’ abilities and any driving environment, from the everyday commute to a high-performance track day.

Drive Mode Select

The eight-speed Sports Direct Shift transmission offers a choice of five selectable operating modes: Eco, Normal, Sport S, Sport S+ and Snow.

Eco mode promotes environmentally responsible driving by controlling engine output, throttle opening and air conditioning settings to minimise fuel consumption. Engine response to accelerator inputs is automatically modulated and the air conditioning system’s compressor operation, airflow volume and recirculation function are adjusted for fuel efficiency.

Normal mode is the default Drive Mode Select setting, automatically engaged on vehicle start-up.

Sport S mode includes a new G-sensor AI-shift control, which uses information from the vehicle’s G-sensors to select the best gear ratio for high-performance sports driving. The transmission will automatically downshift during hard braking for a corner, hold a lower gear through the corner for greater control, and then select a suitable low gear on corner exit to give the driver greater throttle response.

Sport S+ mode builds on these sports driving benefits by performing quicker downshifts than Sport S and by consistently holding the engine at higher speeds. In addition, Sport S+ automatically adjusts the weighting of the electric power steering to better suit circuit driving conditions and activates the VDIM system’s new Sport mode.

The driver can also take manual control, moving the shift lever into M mode and using the paddle shifts or the lever to make sequential gearshifts. Up-changes are accomplished in just a tenth of a second, with throttle blipping control matching the engine speed to the gear selected.

VDIM with new Sport and Expert modes

The RC F is the first Lexus to feature a new Sport mode in its Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, and a new Expert mode, in which the system will only intervene to help prevent the vehicle going into a spin.

VDIM integrates the ABS, Vehicle Stability Control and traction control to provide proactive, seamless operation of the vehicle’s safety and stability systems. It anticipates any loss of traction and provides smooth control, from normal driving right up to the limits of performance.

In the RC F, VDIM has four modes: -

• Normal, for smooth driving and a high degree of active safety under normal driving conditions.
• Sport, to give priority to driver control. This mode offers greater safety and enjoyment when on a race track, applying optimum VSC/TRC mapping for circuit driving.
• Off
• Expert mode, which is designed to allow the driver to make full use of their driving skills in a similar fashion to VDIM Off mode, but with an extra layer of protection to prevent a spin.

Torque-Vectoring Differential

The RC F is available with a Torque Vectoring Differential (a standard feature on the RC F Carbon), a world-first application of torque-transfer type system in a front engine/rear-wheel drive vehicle.

The TVD has three switchable operating modes, independent of the transmission’s Drive Mode Select: -

• Standard (default) for an ideal balance of agility and stability
• Slalom, for an emphasis on nimble steering response and the agility of a smaller vehicle
• Track, for an emphasis on stability during high-speed circuit driving

The Lexus TVD is unique in its use of precisely controlled multi-plate clutches to vector torque, rather than the vehicle’s ABS.

Electronic control and precision actuator motors, adjusted in units of one-thousandth of a second, ensure the appropriate amount of torque is distributed to each rear wheel.

The system has been designed to make best use of the vehicle’s yaw moment when turning, giving the feeling that the direction of travel and the direction of the vehicle are perfectly aligned. It enables the best possible torque transfer to be generated regardless of how great or small the engine torque is, creating a yaw moment around the car’s centre of gravity.

Vehicles fitted with the TVD have an exclusive final drive unit and TVD ECU, which calculates the amount of torque to be transferred and provides co-operative control with other systems, including the VDIM.

The RC F is available to order now, priced from £59,995. First customer deliveries will be in February.

Lexus's most powerful V8 engine debuts in new RC F.

If any single element defines the new Lexus RC F as a thoroughbred performance machine, it is its new V8 engine. The most powerful V8 Lexus has ever produced for a road-going car, it benefits from detailed design and engineering to deliver an exhilarating experience, from the moment the driver presses the throttle.

It isn’t just about power, however. This is an engine that is smooth, responsive and, thanks to its ability to switch between different operating cycles according to conditions, highly efficient. Its qualities are perfectly matched by the latest development of Lexus’s eight-speed Sports Direct Shift transmission. 

The 4,969cc 32-valve unit has evolved from the engine featured in the previous IS F model, but comprehensive changes have taken performance and driveability to a higher level.

Maximum power is up by 12 per cent – 54bhp (40kW) – to 471bhp (351kW) and the rev limit has been increased from 6,800 to 7,300rpm. The influence of the V10 deployed in the LFA is evident in the instantaneous, palpable torque delivery as the driver increases pressure on the throttle pedal. The higher, 12.3:1 compression ratio boosts torque across the entire rev range, with maximum output rising to 530Nm, available from 4,800 to 5,600rpm.

Specific measures were taken in the engine’s design to raise engine rpm, including the use of titanium inlet and exhaust valves, new high-strength forged connecting rods and new main-bearing materials.

Most of the engine’s components are new, including intake, throttle body, cylinder heard, the D-4S injection system, pistons, connecting rod, crankshaft and VVT-i valve timing.

Maximum speed is electronically governed at 168mph; nought to 62mph can be dispatched in 4.5 seconds; and a 400m sprint from standstill takes 12.5 seconds. The raw performance data tells only part of the story, however. The RC F has been designed to deliver exception driver rewards in terms of grip, handling and involvement.

Uniquely for a Lexus performance engine, the V8 switches to the more fuel-efficient Atkinson cycle when operating at cruising speeds, reverting to the Otto cycle for higher performance driving.

It uses Lexus’s VVT-iE electric motor-driven intelligent variable valve timing, with a new intake camshaft profile to increase valve lift. The valve-timing technology has been redesigned to extend the range of inlet camshaft timing adjustment for the Atkinson cycle: the inlet valves are held open longer than usual to allow a reverse flow of intake air into the intake manifold. This reduces pumping losses and increases the engine’s thermal efficiency, thus improving fuel efficiency and helping the engine meet Euro6 emissions standards.

Performance also benefits from higher pressure D-4S dual-injection, a wider throttle diameter and better breathing, thanks to new cylinder heads with improved porting and a high-flow, high-tumble ratio.

The exhaust system features large-diameter front pipes, which minimise back pressure and ensure high power output. Making the merged areas of the pipes larger produces a clearer engine sound, while the design of the main silencer keeps noise down at low engine speed, with a dynamic increase at mid-to-high revs.

ACTIVE SOUND CONTROL

Creating excitement through sound is one of the cornerstones of Lexus’s F philosophy. To that end, the RC F has an Active Sound Control system which delivers enhanced exhaust, intake and mechanical sounds into the cabin.

The designers’ intention was to approach the kind of aural experience delivered by the LFA, which is renowned for its stirring intake and exhaust notes.

The system uses an ECU to monitor engine speed, throttle position and vehicle speed. It calculates the optimum sound for any given set of driving conditions and creates auxiliary sound to match through a speaker located beneath the instrument panel. This speaker is completely independent from the car’s audio system.

The auxiliary sound pitch changes in a linear progression in response to engine speed and the degree of throttle opening. Up to 3,000rpm, it produces a steady, low and deep tone; as revs increase, this transforms into a higher-pitched note that blends with the engine’s mechanical sounds to create a rising sensation that culminates in a free-soaring sound beyond 6,000rpm.

The RC F is available to order now, priced from £59,995. First customer deliveries will be in February.

SEPTEMBER SALES - LEXUS - New NX SUV to boost already excellent 2014 sales.

New luxury crossover ready to boost strong Lexus sales performance

Keen customers are wasting no time making sure they secure the keys to the NX 300h, Lexus’s hyper-stylish new luxury hybrid crossover. With more than 800 advance orders already taken, the model promises to add further momentum to Lexus’s excellent sales growth, revealed in the figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Latest data shows Lexus’s showroom performance ahead by more than 22 per cent so far this year compared to 2013.

The results up to the end of September provide a strong platform for NX 300h, Lexus’s first compact crossover, which arrives here in November.

Meanwhile, the IS sports saloon is proving the powerhouse of the range. The first nine months of the year have seen total IS sales (the hybrid IS 300h and V6 petrol-powered IS 250) increase by 155 per cent, with fleet sales almost trebling and the number of retail customers more than doubling.

September and the new 64 registration plate produced 2,134 new vehicle sales for Lexus, taking its total so far this year to 7,049. Half this total – 3,549 cars – has been to the business/fleet market, demonstrating how more customers are appreciating the genuine savings Lexus hybrids can offer, combined with the premium quality, advanced design and technology, and ultra-refined performance that are hallmarks of the brand.

Lexus RC Coupe and RC F to make European debut at Geneva

• Geneva motor show marks first European appearance of the RC F, the most powerful V8 performance car Lexus has yet developed
• European debut for new RC coupe, presented for the first time in F Sport trim with exclusive design features and dynamic upgrades
• World premiere of the Lexus RC F GT3 concept, signalling Lexus’s intention to enter GT3 sports car racing

Lexus’s presentation at the 2014 Geneva motor show will be led by European debuts for the new RC coupe and high-performance RC F and world-first reveals of the RC F Sport and RC F GT3 racing concept.

RC F European premiere
The Lexus RC F will be seen for the first time in Europe at the Geneva motor show (from 4 March), ahead of going on sale this autumn. It’s powered by a new 5.0-litre engine that’s expected to deliver well in excess of 450bhp and more than 520Nm of torque, making this the most powerful V8 performance car Lexus has yet developed.

To harness this power efficiently, the RC F combines a newly calibrated eight-speed transmission with a world-first installation of a Torque Vectoring Differential in a front engine/rear-wheel drive sports coupe. This enhancees traction and control to secure exceptional handling and performance.

For the first time in a Lexus, the RC F’s engine runs on the Atkinson cycle at cruising speed, for better fuel economy, switching to the Otto cycle at higher revs to deliver outstanding performance.

RC in F Sport trim
The F Sport version of the Lexus RC coupe displays even stronger, more sporting exterior and interior design features and benefits from revised driving dynamics.

The new RC range also features new developments in Lexus’s advanced technologies, including a new, touch-operated Remote Touch Interface control.

RC F GT3
The unveiling of the new RC F GT3 concept signals Lexus’s intention to engineer a car for teams racing in GT3 competition.

Other display vehicles
Lexus will display a number of its current vehicles at Geneva, in the RX 450h F Sport, CT 200h F Sport and IS 300h F Sport. These will appear alongside luxury versions of the CT 200h and GS 300h.

NAIAS - Lexus launches Most powerful V8 ever in the new RC F

• RC F equipped with Lexus’s most powerful V8 engine to date, generating in excess of 450bhp
• World-first use of a Torque Vectoring Differential in a front engine/rear-wheel drive sports car
• Powerful exterior styling, incorporating advanced, race-bred aerodynamics
• Bespoke interior with RC F-dedicated instrumentation, seats and finishes
• Debut at the North American International Auto Show on the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Lexus brand

Lexus today revealed the RC F, a high-performance version of its new RC coupe, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The unveiling coincided with the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Lexus brand at same event.

The great visual impact of the RC F is matched by the impressive power of its new 5.0-litre engine. Generating well in excess of 450bhp, it makes the RC F the most powerful V8 performance model Lexus has yet produced.

To harness the engine’s potential with the best possible efficiency, the RC F uses a newly calibrated eight-speed transmission and, in a world first for a front engine/rear-wheel drive car, a Torque Vectoring Differential to secure higher levels of traction and vehicle control.

Yukihiko Yaguchi, RC F Chief Engineer, said: “I’ve built the RC F to be enjoyed by all enthusiasts, no matter what their level of expertise. There’s a false perception that racing cars are hard o drive. In fact, they’re easy in the right hands because they’ve been purpose-built for the skill level of their drivers. It’s the same with the RC F. Electronics can be modified instantly on board to provide appropriate levels of performance and protection. But even at its basic setting, it’s a blast!”

ALL-NEW HIGH PERFORMANCE ENGINE

At the heart of the new RC F is a 5.0-litre 32-valve engine developing more than 450bhp and 520Nm of torque. Its cylinder heads and all moving parts have been newly designed to deliver more power at higher engine revs than has previously been possible.

It is also the first Lexus performance engine to use the Atkinson cycle at cruising speeds, to secure better fuel economy, switching to the Otto cycle at higher revs to achieve impressive levels of performance.

The engine has been developed exclusively for the RC F and every aspect of the powertrain has been design to deliver the highest possible driver engagement, including the transmission and exhaust system.

The specially calibrated eight-speed Sports Direct Shift transmission improves linear response to accelerator pedal inputs, giving the driver more precise control of power and torque delivery.

The RC F driving experience is further heightened by a new system that regulates induction and exhaust sound, creating a deep tone up to 3,000rpm, and a higher-pitched note at as revs rise beyond 6,000rpm under hard acceleration.

Torque Vectoring Differential

The RC F marks a world-first for a front engine/rear-wheel drive car with its use of a Torque Vectoring Differential. Designed to raise driving enjoyment by increasing traction and control, the system has three operating modes: -

• Standard, for a balance of agile performance and high-speed stability
• Slalom, for an emphasis on nimble response to steering inputs
• Track, for consistent, stable cornering in circuit driving, with optimum driver control. The RC F also has a recalibrated Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system with an additional vertical G-force sensor to secure even greater vehicle stability

Driving Dynamics

The foundation of the new RC F’s outstanding mechanical grip is its highly rigid body, featuring large cross-section rocker panels and front lower brace. Lexus has deployed numerous specialist manufacturing techniques to further enhance rigidity, including the use of body adhesives, laser-screw welding and multi-spot welding. A wider tyre and wheel assembly help to raise grip performance.

Independent, coil-sprung suspension is used front and rear, incorporating monotube gas dampers and ball-jointed anti-roll bars. The car’s unsprung weight has been kept down by using 19-inch forged aluminium alloy wheels, which minimise wheel assembly mass while at the same time improving rigidity.

As in the Lexus LFA supercar, the RC F is fitted with an active rear wing, Incorporated in the bootlid, this provides additional downforce at speeds above 50mph. The rear wings is a highlight of the RC F’s comprehensive aerodynamic grip and stability package, which also includes tuning of the flat underbody, race-bred air management ducts behind the front bumpers and wings, and strategic placement of aero stabilising fins.

F performance styling

The RC F is immediately distinguishable from the RC coupe thanks to its more powerful visual impact.

It features its own interpretation of the Lexus signature spindle grille, which dominates the front of the vehicle and has a subtle ‘F’ motif embedded in the mesh below the Lexus badge.

The front of the bonnet is set higher than on the RC, creating a powerful, flared profile that’s in keeping with its status as a Lexus F model. The profile view is rendered more striking by the 10-spoke 19-inch forged aluminium wheels, three versions of which will be available, including one that’s hand-polished by craftsmen.

The design takes some cues from the LFA, most notably in the use of essential air cooling and aerodynamic features. Air outlets on the bonnet, like those on the LFA, work together with front cooling ducts to support both engine cooling and overall vehicle stability.

To the side there are air outlets behind the front wings that add to the engine and brake cooling performance, and which merge neatly with side sill extensions to create a powerful ‘L’ shape.

The powerful look continues at the rear of the car, with stacked, quad trapezoidal exhaust outlets.

Lightweight carbon fibre package

Lexus drew on the experience it gained with the LFA and the IS F CCS-R race car to develop a package of carbon fibre parts that help keep the RC F’s weight to a minimum. The carbon fibre elements include the roof, bonnet and active rear wing.

Interior design

The RC F’s interior is driver focused and equipped with numerous components specific to the model, including the instrument meters, steering wheel, seats, pedals and trim, all designed to deliver the kind of comfort, support and ergonomics expected of a high-performance Lexus F model.

The instrument meters mark a further development of the switchable, diving mode-dependent central dial featured in the LFA. The design is inspired by aircraft cockpit instrumentation, providing a wide range of information in a clear, concise form that can be read at a glance.

The instrumentation includes a large, centrally mounted tachometer changes according to driving mode; digital and analogue speed read-outs; a differential torque vectoring monitor; a G-force meter; oil and water temperature gauges; mileage information; and a stopwatch.

Lexus has also worked to provide an ergonomically ideal driver-machine interface. The RC F marks Lexus’s first use of a thick-grip steering wheel with an elliptical cross-section, design to provide greater control during performance driving. The location, shape and action of the addle shifts have also been carefully determined to enable fast, accurate gear changes at all times.

The seat designs, with styling influenced by modern close-fitting sportswear, feature high backs that use Lexus’s integrated foaming technique to provide excellent support, eliminating any movement between the seat padding and trim.