Lexus LFA Special Edition Officially Revealed - As if this NEEDED to Happen... [High-Res Photos]

Lexus feels the need to release a sub-model of its LFA. As if the car needs any more attention drummed up; enough people are drooling over this piece of engineering arrogance as it is.

Officially referenced as the SPECIAL EDITION (and not Nurburgring Edition) in the press release , it'll be available in Black, Matte Black, "Whitest White", or Orange.

The LFA SE will come with canards and a fixed wing in CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer); you know, to make it more unique than the other $375,000 Lexus down the street. Also, they'll apparently help at the track aerodynamically.

Power is said to get a boost from 560 to 570 horsepower (ECU work, most likely), and the suspension is "high-power-only", whatever that means. The Special Edition's SWs (special wheels) will be shod in grippy rubber (Haiguripputaiya), which should help get the power to the ground through the re-calibrated transmission.

Whereas a regular LFA's shift speed on a track day would be around 0.2 seconds, an SE owner's rack day will get done just a hair quicker at 0.15 seconds.

There's no word yet on pricing...this is the point where clever people would usually put "If you have to ask...", but I'm not clever, I'm realistic. You just can't afford it. That, or you don't live in the right area with the right roads.

- By Phil Alex

Lexus Heading Back to 24h of Nürburgring with LFA Supercar - First Photos

A year after one of its LF-A prototype supercars got burnt up (literally...) in the 24 hours of Nürburgring, Lexus is heading back to the famous endurance race, this time with the standard production version of its V10-powered supercar that will be seen for the first time in full-blooded competition.

The LFA features a 553HP mid-mounted 4.8-liter V10 engine which propels the Japanese automaker's flagships model to 100km/h (62mph) in just 3.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 325km/h (202mph).

The two racing LFAs that will take part in the event from 13 to 16 May will once again be prepared by Gazoo Racing.

Led by Toyota master test driver Hiromu Naruse, Gazoo Racing's LFA team will comprise of four Japanese and three German drivers including six-time winner of the Super Taikyu Endurance Series Takayuki Kinoshita; Akira Ida overall winner of the Tokachi 24 Hours in 1995 and 2007; Armin Hahne, winner of the Spa 24 Hours in 1982 and 1983, and Jochen Krumbach, who finished second overall in the 2008 Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Improved 2010 Lexus IS with New F-Sport Grade Goes on Sale in the UK

Lexus has announced the UK market launch of the 2010 model year IS sedan that brings some equipment upgrades, improvements in fuel consumption and emissions as well as the introduction of a new F-Sport grade.

Available for both IS 250 and 220d models, the new F-Sport grade takes its cue from the IS F and is positioned in the line-up between the SE-I and SE-L models. Special features include a lowered sport suspension (IS 250 only), unique 18-inch wheels and an IS F-style front grille and rear bootlid spoiler.

In the cabin there are aluminium sports pedals, IS F-style sports seats, steering wheel and (on the IS 250 automatic) gear lever.

The seats are finished in a combination of Alcantara upholstery with leather side bolsters while the black-on-black interior colour scheme is complimented by a black headlining and grey stitching detail on the front seats and steering wheel.

All 2010 model year IS sedans benefit from an optionally available new HDD navigation system.

For 2010, the IS250 petrol model gains some subtle tweaks under the hood improving fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In particular, with manual transmission, the combined cycle economy for the IS250 is now 29.1mpg UK, compared to 28.8mpg UK for the '09 model; the new figure for the automatic is 31.7mpg up from 31 mpg UK.

MODEL	OTR PRICE	INSURANCE 50 group	VED BAND
IS 220d SE	£24,350	27	F
IS 250 SE manual	£24,625	29	L
IS 250 SE automatic	£25,285	29	K
IS 220d SE-I	£26,610	28	F
IS 250 SE-I manual	£26,885	29	L
IS 250 SE-I automatic	£27,545	29	K
IS 220d F-Sport	£28.290	TBA	F
IS 250 F-Sport automatic	£29,365	TBA	K
IS 220d SE-L	£29,075	29	F
IS 250 SE-L automatic	£30.150	30	K

Geneva Show: Lexus CT 200h to be Sold in the USA, Premieres in New York

The all-new Lexus CT 200h premium hybrid hatchback, which had its world premiere at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show today, will be sold in the U.S.A. after all as the news was officially confirmed today by the Japanese automaker.

Lexus' second dedicated hybrid model after the recently launched HS 250h and fifth hybrid vehicle in its U.S. line-up will be on display for the first time in North America at the 2010 New York Auto Show that runs from March 31 through April 11. European as well as North American sales will start early next year.

"When the all-new Lexus CT 200h enters the market it will be the only hybrid vehicle in the emerging premium compact segment," said Mark Templin, Lexus Division group vice president and general manager.

"The CT 200h combines luxury features, eye-catching styling, and driving excitement that we know will attract a whole new buyer to the Lexus brand," Templin added.

In brief, the CT 200h is a C-Segment five-door hatchback (think Ford Foucs and VW Golf), and it uses a 1.8-liter gasoline engine that works with an electric motor, a high performance battery and a generator.

In Toyota's lingo, the front-wheel drive CT 200h is a 'full hybrid' meaning it can run on the combustion engine or on the electric motor alone or a combination of both.