Lexus Division’s Mark Templin unveils their all-new LF-Gh Hybrid concept, followed by a video presentation that gives a brief design analysis (featured below). Templin promises the LF-GH previews a design “we will see in the future” – possibly as a next generation 2012 Lexus GS.

Source: WCF

Here’s what AutoWeek has to say about the Lexus sportscar, along with some Toyota Camry news:

“Enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting the $375,000 LFA supercar, which packs 552 hp and will be sold in ultralow volumes–just 500 around the world. Five were sold in February, and nine have been sold in the United States this year. A driver-development program is being held at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., this week to educate buyers on harnessing the capabilities of the performance car.”

“Meanwhile, Toyota’s bread-and-butter Camry sedan will see development increasingly focused in North America for that market and exports. Toyota also expects to add 10 more hybrids, including an expanded Prius family revealed in January at the Detroit Auto Show, by 2015.”

Mz. Minogue will appear in a variety of advertising campaigns along side the CT200h, she’ll even take delivery of one herself! Minogue described the car as ‘both stylish and elegant.’

Lexus director Belinda Poole added: “Kylie is the perfect ambassador for Lexus and the new CT200h. Kylie has the energy, style and exceptionally popular public profile that will reach directly to customers new to the brand.”

Source: Whatcar?

Lexus once again topped German competition to become the best-selling premium brand in the US for 2010.

The Toyota luxury brand sold 229,329 units in the US for 2010. BMW came in second, with 220,113 units for the year. Mercedes-Benz crept up in third, with premium brand sales reaching 216,448 in 2010.

“Lexus has been the leader in premium sales in the United States for over a decade,” said World Car Fans. “But it’s grip on the title is slipping. The Japanese brand’s lead over BMW shrunk in 2010 to just 9,216 units, compared to 19,473 in 2009. Mercedes-Benz also saw its sales rise by 14 percent in 2010, compared to Lexus’ 6.2 percent jump.”

“They [Lexus] certainly got impacted negatively by the lingering recall news for Toyota, and we’ve also seen BMW and Benz being more aggressive when it came to incentive spending and marketing,” said U.S. auto sales analyst Jesse Toprak of TrueCar.com.

Source – WCF

According to WorldCarFans – When Lexus announced the LFA last year, the Japanese automaker said it would only be available to customers in the United States by lease. The rationale behind the decision was that Lexus didn’t want customers to turn around and sell the limited series model for a profit to another buyer. Only after the two-year lease was up could they buy the car outright. And that two-year lease’s monthly payments? Zero. You just have to pay $300,000 up front.

Customers in the U.S. can indeed purchase the car but, for the next 2 years, can only sell it back to the dealer for the original sticker price or its fair market value, whichever is lower. If the owner sells the LFA privately without first giving the buyback option to the dealer, then the dealer is owed whatever profit is made on the sale plus legal fees.

We think it is safe to say that Lexus really loves their LFA roadster – that or they foreign auto maker has completely lost its mind. Full asking price for a US-Spec Lexus LFA is $375,000.

See more at The Dark Side of Green – which features special effect and acting we haven’t seen since the days of Sega CD.

LEXUS HYBRID TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN INNOVATION ADVANCE ON TWO WHEELS

Introducing the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle Concept

Lexus has established itself as an industry leader in bringing advanced technologies to the premium car market. Now it has applied the same thinking on a smaller scale to create the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle, a design concept the captures the fundamental engineering and design values of the brand, but with two wheels rather than four.

In every aspect this is Lexus, from the L-finesse design language of the engaging and elegant frame, to the application of hybrid power, an electric eight-speed transmission and lightweight carbon fibre construction.

Lexus has brought what is one of the only two examples in existence to the UK for the first time, following the bicycle’s debut at the 2009 Tokyo motor show. Its arrival coincides with the announcement of Lexus’s title sponsorship of the Great British Bike Ride, a four-day charity fun ride that will see hundreds of cyclists following a course from Land’s End to the home of English rugby at Twickenham.

Lexus has pioneered high performance, low emissions and optimum fuel efficiency with its full hybrid Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain technology. The Hybrid Bicycle adopts similar principles, with the pedal power of the rider boosted by assistance to the front wheel from a 240W electric motor, via a 25.9V Lithium-ion battery, with a choice of Eco or Power modes. And, as with Lexus Hybrid Drive, there is an energy regeneration function that helps recharge the battery by capturing kinetic energy generated under braking.

The Lexus Hybrid Bicycle has all-wheel drive, by means of a belt system. It is equipped with an electric eight-speed Shimano internal gear system, which references the sophisticated eight-speed shift-by-wire automatic transmission of Lexus’s LS 600h limousine. The carbon fibre construction shares the same light-but-strong composite materials technology that was used on Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP-winning motorcycle.

There are no current plans for the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle to become a production model.

WORLD DEBUT FOR LEXUS CT 200h AT GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

KEY POINTS

* World-first appearance of the Lexus CT 200h
* First and only full hybrid model in the premium compact segment
* New gateway model to progressive luxury and the Lexus brand

Six months after revealing the LF-Ch concept, Lexus is set to unveil its new CT 200h model at the Geneva motor show.

Created for motorists who want to lower their emissions, but not their standards, the CT 200h will be the first full hybrid vehicle in the premium compact segment. It will offer new levels of refinement, sophistication and attention to detail, without compromising style or driving pleasure.

Equipped with second-generation Lexus Hybrid Drive technology, the CT 200h reinforces Lexus’s hybrid power leadership in the premium market, joining the established RX 450h, GS 450h and LS 600h models to create an unprecedented range of full hybrid vehicles.

The critically acclaimed Lexus LFA supercar will also be on show at Geneva, just ahead of the initial order period for the model coming to a close.

Andy Pfeiffenberger, Vice President Lexus Europe, will host a press conference on Stand 4211 in Hall 4 at 4.45pm on 2 March.

Outside, the vehicle’s curves are sexier than most foreign sportscars. Inside, stained wood and tight grips mesh well with a futuristic instrument panel and a wheel people can’t keep their hands off of.

The Lexus SC430 takes power from a 4.3 liter V8, with 288 horse power at 5600 rpm, and 317 lb-ft of torque at 3400 rpm. Your typical model is mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic with sequential shift rear wheel drive. SC430 hits 0-60 in 5.8 secs. EPA estimates the SC430 receives about 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Oh, and the hard-top convertible can be retracted in just under 25 seconds.

This Lexus may be one of the safest luxury autos on the road today. According to specs via LeftLaneNews: Standard safety features on the SC include six airbags, including knee bags, traction and stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and anti-lock brakes, brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution. HID headlights, LED taillights and a Mark Levinson sound system with 9 speakers and a six disc CD changer are also included.

Pics via automobiles de luxe