The new UX 250h petrol-electric hybrid urban SUV is described by Lexus as their ‘gateway’ model to their range of SUVs which already includes the well respected NX mid-sized models, the larger RX versions and the 7-seat RX L variants, writes David Miles. Lexus says UX stands for ‘urban explorer’ and they expect it to become their best selling SUV range attracting new customers to the … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Lexus ES 300h ES Takumi
The new seventh generation front wheel drive ES 300h self-charging petrol-electric hybrid D-segment executive class saloon is the first ES range ever to be sold in the UK and Western and Central Europe, writes David Miles. Although we are only just getting the ES, the original ES launched the Lexus brand in 1989 alongside the LS flagship saloon. The ES has become the brand’s most popular saloon … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Lexus RX450h
There are no shortage of SUVs, small, medium, large and very large, petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all electric are all available depending on the model and from ‘budget’ buys to ‘upper-class’ premium brands, all cashing in on the seemingly unstoppable public demand, writes David Miles. Sales of SUVs of all sizes now account for over 35% of the European new car market, a figure more … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Lexus CT200h Premium
The Lexus CT200h set the bar for the hybrid revolution in the compact premium sector when it arrived in 2011, and its raised its game still further with the latest version, writes Robin Roberts. Using the well-engineered powertrain from its sister company’s Toyota Prius introduced in 1997, the Lexus CT200h has been further retuned and it is and impressive combination of petrol and … [Read more...]
Contrasting SUVs compared
On a regular basis the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders get together the latest new models at one of their test days for accredited motoring journalists to briefly sample the latest new car offerings. At the most recent event, due to the fact that sales of SUVs of all sizes and prices are booming and accounting for one of every three new cars sold, I took the opportunity to … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Lexus CT200h Luxury
The Lexus CT200h is in its sixth year of production and for a final throw of the dice before its replaced it has some useful styling and equipment updates for the 2018 model year. The CT200h is the steppingstone model into the premium Lexus brand which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year of being introduced by Toyota. The CT200 range was a big move to providing a range of premium … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Lexus IS300h
The market for compact sports saloons is arguably one of the toughest and was dominated by the German brands, until the arrival of the ‘baby’ Lexus. That all changed in 1999 when the first petrol Lexus IS200 hit the road and we are now into the third generation offering the pure petrol IS200t, or as here, a hybrid petrol & electric powertrain in the IS300h. Using the parent Toyota company’s … [Read more...]
Visually stunning new Lexus LC500
The UK debut of the Lexus’s new sporting flagship, the LC500 2+2 Grand Tourer two-door Coupe at the Goodwood Festival of Speed a few months ago wetted the appetites of well-healed petrol-heads and the subsequent television advertising oiled the wheels of demand even further. However the arrival of the LC500 in the UK has only just started to happen and demand to sample the … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Lexus GS300h
Toyota and Lexus have long been the stalwart pioneers of using hybrid technology for some of their passenger car ranges to reduce CO2 emissions, improve fuel economy and boost performance, and where they led others now follow. The growth in Alternatively Fuelled Vehicles (AFVs) as the industry calls them covering hybrids, petrol/diesel hybrids, plug-ins, pure electric, hydrogen and … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Lexus RX450h F Sport 4WD
While some manufacturers are now running to catch up in the hybrid race, Lexus is still comfortably ahead and showing them how things should be done, writes Robin Roberts Lexus and parent Toyota Group were among the first to apply hybrid technology to their ranges over two decades ago and the models which can potentially benefit most are the big SUV type RX series. The latest and current … [Read more...]
