VIDEO: C&D Pits Lexus LFA Against Ferrari 599 HGTE

In 1971, one of the greatest one-on-one boxing matches took place in New York's Madison Square Garden: the bout between Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier. So big was this event, advertisers dubbed it, 'The Fight of the Century'. Now, two different contenders take to the ring (uh...tarmac). The reigning champion: the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE. The challenger: the Lexus LFA. Video after the jump.

One is a purebred, Italian racehorse with decades of motor racing heritage under its belt. The other is the new kid on the block: the young hood with its 'doof doof' music and unshakable will to win.

So maybe I went a bit too far with the boxing analogy...

The real scoop here is U.S. magazine Car and Driver putting the V12-powered 599 GTB HGTE and V10-powered LFA through their paces on the narrow, sodden backroads of Wales. Technical editor Michael Austin is behind the wheel of the Ferrari while executive editor Mark Gillies is in the Lexus. Their goal: to find out which of these two, similarly priced front engined, rear-wheel-drive GTs is the best?

Watch the video and decide for yourselves.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: C&D

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Lexus Debuts Interactive Film for CT 200h Compact Hybrid

Lexus wants to give people a chance to call the shots in a new video campaign focusing on its upcoming 2011 CT 200h five-door hatchback. It's called "Dark Ride".

The luxury marque is making a short action film with a recognizable star racing around it a new model. Now you're thinking, "Wait, didn't BMW do this a while back? And Audi (kind of), more recently?"

Ah, but those films weren't interactive...

Here's how Lexus marketing VP Dave Nordstrom spins it: "With 'Dark Ride' we are creating a unique virtual test drive opportunity so consumers can experience this hybrid, that is like no other, months before it is available at dealerships in early 2011. In it, consumers play a co-starring role as the fun-to-drive Lexus CT 200h is put through its paces. By guiding the driver and the CT through a series of adventures, customers will be exposed to 'The Darker Side of Green,' which is completely different than the way hybrids are usually portrayed."

I would have cut that down for you, but you have to see for yourself how hard Lexus is selling it.

If you want to see the short film, head on over to the official site. Lexus says you can put yourself in the movie and even record your own lines, so...someone do that and send it in.

By Phil Alex

Link: Lexusdarkride

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Japanese Grudge Match: Nissan GT-R vs. Lexus LFA

There's only so much that can be said about a drag race between a Nissan GT-R and the Lexus LFA. It's a traditional competition pitting Japan's two Euro-fighting high-tech supercars against each other in an attempt to figure out which one is faster in the quarter mile.

No matter who's faster, the better buy should be clear. At a $300,000+ price gap, it won't be hard to figure it out; on the other hand, exclusivity has no price.

Thankfully, Motor Trend showed us how the duel would play out. While informative, it ain't Top Gear with the Jezza. To watch it through Motor Trend's eyes, check it out after the break.

By Phil Alex

Via: Autoblog.com / MT

Lexus' LX570 gets Invaded by ASI [with Video]

Japan's tuning specialist, ASI, thinks the Lexus LX570 full-size SUV needs a good ol' bump in styling and performance.

The tuner's Invader package takes care of the looks, although there has been no news yet of what engine upgrades are supplied. With the basic 5.7 liter churning out 381 horsepower, any intake/exhaust/ECU tuning would likely bring that number above 400.

ASI has bigger plans than just the standard tune-job, though, with a nigh-600 horsepower package on the way. It should run to 60 in under 5 seconds.

Unfortunately there's only one image to go from, so all that can be said is this: the body kit's nose looks decent, if a tad over the top (e.g. that front bumper is about 6 inches too tall). Lose the lower lip / fog light area and move everything higher.

Actually, forget that. It's not like owners would have to worry about off-roading, anyway. Honestly, who takes their Lexus LX to the trails?

By Phil Alex

Lexus LFA: Early Customer Interest Exceeds Production Numbers (You don't Say...)

To no one's surprise, in the three months that have passed since the official introduction of the LFA at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009, the number of formal expressions of interest in purchasing the $375,000 V10 supercar is already far greater than the limited production run of only 500 examples, Toyota's subsidiary announced today.

Lexus said that it will continue to accept "formal expressions of interest" up to mid-March. At that point though, the 500 LFAs will be allocated across the 56 countries where they are on sale, with confirmed orders with deposits to be invited from the end of May.

Devshi Varshani, the Personal Liaison Manager who looks after all LFA sales, said: "The level of interest we have witnessed reinforces just what an exceptional car the LFA is. Even though few people have even seen the car in the metal, let alone experienced its breathtaking performance, it has quickly achieved the status of a truly rare and highly sought-after machine."

The Japanese automaker's first-ever supercar is powered by a mid-front mounted 4.8-litre V10 engine that churns out 552bhp for a zero to 62mph (100km/h) sprint time of just 3.7 seconds and a maximum velocity of 325 km/h or 202 mph.

Double Whammy: DUI Driver Smashes Into Another DUI's Crashed Car [Updated with New Video]

Two separate accidents that occurred in downtown Los Angeles today lead to the arrest of two people on suspicion of DUI (driving under the influence). This strange incident started when a female driver in a Lexus IS, who was later arrested for DUI, crashed with another car that allegedly drove off after the accident. A few minutes later, and while a cameraman was filming the incident, a third car with three people inside slammed into the Lexus!

According to the reports, the rear seat passenger in the white car that hit the Lexus was taken to the hospital for minor injuries, while the driver was apprehended by the boys-in-blue for driving under the influence. Luckily, no one was in the Lexus when the second accident occurred.

Hat tip to Andrew! - Via: KTLA

VIDEO: Lexus LFA V10 Supercar Caught in Motion in California

Here's your chance to get a taste of the looks and sounds of the new Lexus LFA in real-life conditions as the Japanese company brought its Ferrari-challenging V10-powered supercar to the Cars and Coffee event last month in Irvine, California. Watch the two films after the jump, and don't forget to say 'ouch' at about 43 seconds into the first video...

Thanks for the tip 3Deuce27 (First video via Motortrend)

Video: Lexus HS 250h Hybrid Presentation from NAIAS

The Prius' success as a standalone hybrid model prompted Lexus to introduce its own dedicated hybrid, the all-new HS 250h luxury sedan. At 184.8-in / 4.693 long, its longer than the IS but shorter than the ES 350. Power comes from the same Atkinson-cycle, 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine used in the Toyota Camry Hybrid for a combined output (gasoline engine and electric motor) of 187HP. Lexus has not released EPA ratings, but it supports that the HS 250h will deliver more than 30-percent better fuel economy than the most efficient model in its current lineup. Hit the jump to watch the live presentation from the Detroit Show.

Video: Lexus IS-F Racing Concept

The Lexus IS-F Racing Concept was unveiled at the 2008 Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this month. Unfortunately, due to our lack of the Japanese language, we still haven’t managed to gather any information on Lexus’ DTM-lookalike racing concept. What we did manage to find however is a video clip of the car, that you can check out right after the jump. -Continued

Via: Autoblog.it

Video: Lexus IS-F vs Audi RS4

On the top left corner we have an all-new contender in the high-performance sedan category, the rear-wheel-drive 2009 Lexus IS-F packed with a 5.0-litre V8 engine pumping out 416 Hp. On the opposite side, we have an old friend who’s just one-step from retirement, the all-wheel-drive Audi RS4 with a 420 Hp 4.2-litre V8. Follow the jump to check out the full comparison test from the folks at Edmunds and see whether the IS-F has that something to throw the RS4 off its throne. -Continued

New Lexus IS-F Video At The Fuji Speedway

This video is from an event that Lexus held at the Fuji Speedway in Japan in the beginning of October. Set to go on sale in Japan on December 25, the JDM version of the IS-F is powered by a 5.0L V8 engine developing 311kW or 417 Hp at 6,600 rpm and a maximum torque of 372 ft-lb or 505 Nm at 5,200 rpm. Power is delivered to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission and according to Lexus, the IS-F sprints from 0 to 100km/h (62 mph) in less than 4.9 seconds and goes all the way to a governed top speed of 270km/h – 168mph. European and US sales are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2008. (Click here for the Lexus IS-F Laguna Seca Video)

Video: Lexus IS-F At The Laguna Seca

What a lovely day for p0rn0licious car videos here at Carscoop. Following our BMW M3 vs Bugatti Veyron and Ferrari F430 Scuderia video clips earlier today, here’s one featuring the all-new 400Hp Lexus IS-F. And it too, will lift you off your feet. The 1:20 minute long film includes awesome scenes from the California Taste of Lexus Event held back in August at the Laguna Seca Raceway.

Via: thepassionatepursuit (Thanks for sharing Kevin!)