Lexus Teases New Concept For Detroit Auto Show

We’ve all heard the joke that Lexus, translated into Japanese, actually means “Buick.” While cars like the IS-F are surprisingly quick and agile, the brand is still associated more with luxury and comfort than with performance. Even the unattainable LFA has done little to give Lexus credibility among enthusiasts, probably due to the car’s limited availability and stratospheric price. Sure it’s fast, luxurious and high-tech, but is it really worth over four times the price of a Nissan GT-R? Read more

Aston Martin, Toyota CEOs Swap Rides On The ‘Ring

If you ask us, a good CEO should have more than a passing knowledge of his company’s products, and should be able to demonstrate them competently. In the early 1990’s, a television series called “TV Nation” put this to the test, and challenged CEOs of major corporations to demonstrate their products on live TV. The only one who agreed was Ford’s CEO, Alex Trotman, who changed the oil in a Ford Explorer on camera. Read more

2012 Lexus CT 200h F Sport: A Sheep In A Wolf Suit

As hybrids go, Lexus’ CT 200h is a mixed bag. Lexus wants to sell it as a “sporty” hybrid, but at the end of the day it’s a Toyota Prius with a nicer interior and a stiffer suspension. Even the “Sport” driving mode doesn’t add much in the way of excitement, and aside from the occasional moped or scooter, you won’t be showing tail lights to too many vehicles during a roll on. We like the CT 200h well enough (for a hybrid), but it’s got as much in common with sports cars as Justin Bieber has in common with Marilyn Manson. Read more

Lexus To Show LFA Nürburgring Edition In Geneva

After announcing the car in May of 2010, Lexus will finally take the wraps off the LFA Nürburgring Edition at next months Geneva Motor Show. A more aggressive, track-centric version of Lexus’ supercar, the Nürburgring Edition brings you even more of a good thing. The 4.8 liter V10 gets ten more horsepower, which raises output to 562 horsepower. Shift times are reduced by 50 milliseconds, the suspension is tightened up even further and an enhanced aerodynamic package (with a less-than-subtle rear wing) is added to improve downforce and high speed stability. Only ten percent of the LFA’s production will be Nürburgring Edition variants, which means that only fifty will be built. Ever. Read more

Cars With Launch Control: Houston, We Have Lift Off!

[original post date: 02/10/2009] I honestly believe that the new Nissan GT-R has sparked quite an interest and crave for launch control. Many cars way before the Nissan GT-R have had their own system for a launch control either in a SMG transmission in the E46 BMW M3 or the Volkswagen’s early DSG found in the GTI.

The ultimate crave for launch control baffles me but you have to understand that I would take a full manual transmission any day over a, what Jeremy Clarkson calls them, floppy paddle gear box. Even with Nissans woes with grenaded transmissions in the GT-R, launch control is still a big hit. Even Hitler “had to launch it”.

Ever since the introduction of drive-by-wire, auto manufacturers have been toying with new electronics that improve upon the over-all safety of a vehicle. New systems come standard in many vehicles now such as dynamic skid control or also known as vehicle dynamic control or electronic stability control (name varies from each manufacturer). Many of these new systems utilize a combination of computer operated units from the ABS braking, traction control and accelerator control. I am sure if manufacturers thought they could play with these systems and make a car safer then why not develop a precise method for accelerating a vehicle with a computer to make it faster.

It is all a numbers game if you think about it. I am sure many car enthusiasts, including yourself, may have experimented with dropping your clutch at a certain RPM to get the full potential out of a launch from a dead-stop. Even you guys with automatics have almost perfected holding the brake pedal while stomping on the accelerator in preparation for a ‘launch’. What if your car could do this for you? Well, many new exotic and sports cars can but it does take the use of a special transmission or a manual transmission that is controlled by a computer, except in Porsches’ case with their newest launch control system on a full manual transmission.

Where did this idea and technology come from?

If you think about it, F1 cars among other racing cars were already using a type of the technology that we see in today’s cars fitted with dual clutch transmissions and SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox) units. Racing is where it begins… most times. From the F1 cars now shifting well under 60 milliseconds to the Nissan GT-R’s dual clutch shifting time of around 200 milliseconds, computers have taken cars to a new level of performance where a human just simply cannot match yielding a much higher level of performance.

Cars with Launch Control

Many of the baby boomers know ‘launch control’ to be something only NASA quotes in the control room during a space shuttle launch. Now we can all experience a ‘horizontal’ launch in many of today’s technologically advanced performance vehicles.

So which cars have launch control? Below is a short list that we have compiled of all vehicles with an available launch control. If we missed any please post a comment below and let us know.

Please note: Some of the vehicles included on the list may only have a staging RPM setting which some may call “launch control” but it is not as involved as a fully automated launch control or uses a sequential shifting transmission (paddle shifter) such as in the Nissan GT-R.

• Audi R8
• Audi TT
• BMW M3
• BMW M5
• BMW M6
• Bugatti Veyron
• Chevrolet Corvette/ZR1
• Ferrari 360cs
• Ferrari 599 GTB/GTO
• Ferrari F430/Scuderia
• Ferrari 458 Italia
• Lamborghini Gallardo/LP560
• Lamborghini Murcielago/LP640
• Lexus LFA
• Mercedes Benz McLaren SLR
• Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG
• Mercedes Benz SLS AMG
• Mitsubishi Evo Lancer Evolution/MR
• Nissan GT-R
• Porsche 911/Carrera/S/GT2
• Volkswagen GTI/Golf/Rabbit/R32

Various videos demonstrating launch control below after the jump…

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2010 Lexus IS F Review & Test Drive

‘LEXUS DOES HIGH PERFORMANCE’

The Lexus IS F high-performance sedan is the first production model to bear the brand’s ‘F’ marque.  First launched in 2008, the new 2010 model features several technology options and new standard equipment as well as last year’s updated instrument cluster.

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2010 Lexus HS250h Review & Test Drive

The all-new 2010 Lexus HS250h hybrid will keep more of your money in your pockets as you pass gas stations, and will also have you seated in a Lexus with all of the luxury, convenience and safety that you expect from a Lexus.  The Lexus HS250h is the first luxury hybrid to achieve an EPA Estimated Rating of 35mpg combined and is the first luxury car to come standard with a supplemental restraint system with 10 airbags.

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Toyota to Recall 3.8 Million Vehicles for Accelerator Pedals

Today Toyota announced that they will replace the accelerator pedals on upwards of 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles that have been recalled in the U.S. This new move is to prevent and put to rest the problem where floor mats affected vehicles in several “unintentional” acceleration events and unfortunate accidents. For additional information please view the full press release below.

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