It was a very busy year for Lexus—there were new product launches and
fresh new concepts nearly every month from January to December. In
celebration of the year that was, here are my top moments from 2012, in
chronological order.
1. The Lexus LF-LC concept: Perhaps the biggest
story of the year happened in January when the stunning Lexus LF-LC
sports coupe debuted at the Detroit Auto Show to near-universal acclaim.
Designed by Calty Design Research in California, the LF-LC was created
to showcase the new design direction of Lexus, and the strong public
reaction has increased the possibility that a production model may be
built in the future.
2. Lexus LX 570 Gets a Redesign:
Also debuting at the Detroit Auto Show was the refreshed 2013 Lexus LX
570. Updated with Lexus’ new signature spindle grille design, the 2013
LX also received some interior updates and a new Multi-terrain Anti-lock
Braking System (ABS).
3. Fourth Generation Lexus GS Arrives at Dealerships:
Introduced at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August of 2011,
the all-new fourth generation Lexus GS started arriving in dealerships
at the beginning of February. The new sports sedan went on to have a
very successful year—as of November, the GS has sold 19,364 units in the
U.S., a 443.2-percent increase over 2011.
4. A Redesigned Lexus ES:
At the New York Auto Show in April, the all-new sixth generation Lexus
ES 350 and ES 300h were introduced. The completely redesigned sedan
boasts improved driving dynamics, extended rear seat room, and for the
first time ever, is available with a hybrid powertrain.
5. A New Lexus RX:
Alongside the all-new ES, the revised 2013 RX also made its debut at
the New York Auto Show. Both the RX 350 and RX 450h were updated with
the Lexus spindle grille, and the RX 350 is now offered in F SPORT trim
for the first time. This performance SUV is equipped with an eight-speed
transmission, sportier suspension and an exclusive interior color
scheme.
6. The 2013 Lexus LS Debuts:
The next Lexus model to be remade with the spindle grille was the 2013
LS, which debuted in August at an exclusive party in San Francisco. The
LS received a significant upgrade with more than 2,000 new parts, and
is now available as the LS 460 F SPORT, a performance-oriented version
of the flagship sedan.
7. The Lexus LF-CC—Another Concept!:
In September, Lexus surprised everyone with the LF-CC concept at the
Paris Auto Show. The stunning coupe concept hinted at what the
next-generation IS sedan may look like when it’s introduced in January.
8. LF-LC, the Sequel:
The introduction of the LF-LC in January proved so successful that a
second edition of the coupe concept was created and then revealed at the
Australian International Motor Show in October—the LF-LC Blue. (Here’s
an interesting fact about the Opal Blue exterior color choice: it was
based on the opal stone, which is found in the Australian outback.
9. Big Love for the Lexus LFA:
In the latter half of 2012, one of the automotive world’s most famous
journalists expressed his affections for the Lexus LFA. In a review for
the Sunday Times, Jeremy Clarkson described the Lexus supercar as “an
intelligent car built by intelligent people”, and in
Top Gear Magazine
he reflected that the LFA was “so highbrow, so magnificent, so
detailed, so perfect.” (By the way, the LFA will also make an appearance
in a
Top Gear special in February.)
10. The 500th Lexus LFA:
The year ended with a milestone. On December 14, the final Lexus LFA
was built at the Motomachi Plant in Japan, ending the supercar’s
500-unit run. The Whitest White LFA #500 was configured with the
Nürburgring performance package, and it marks the completion of the most
ambitious Lexus project since the original LS 400.
Personally, I can’t wait to see what comes next.
- Kevin Watts
Courtesy of Lexus Magazine
