Following its debut at the Detroit Motor Show last month, the new sedan will be presented in full-hybrid trim as the IS 300h.
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Most of the affected cars are located in the U.S. where the recall concerns 752,000 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles from the 2003 and 2004MY, and 270,000 Lexus IS vehicles from the 2006-2012MY.
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After GM and the new Cadillac ATS, it's the Toyota group's turn to take another swipe at BMW's best-seller with the completely redesigned 2014 Lexus IS.
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It may have lost money on every one it made, despite its US$375,000 price tag that made it the most expensive Japanese production car in history, but the 562HP V10 exotic did for Lexus’ image more than probably any other car since the original LS that launched the brand in 1989.
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Lexus says it put the emphasis on the car's sportier styling and handling, while also improving cabin space for rear passengers and luggage capacity.
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Case in point, a Lexus posting on the brand's official Facebook page where the Japanese carmaker states:
"Do you remember the ‘02 IS 300 Sport Cross with its style, utility and performance? Will we bring it back? Watch the 2014 IS premiere on Facebook in 6 days to find out!"
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We've already established that the new 2014 IS's exterior lines are very close to those of the LF-CC coupe concept, which was only to be expected since the latter will form the base for a two-door version of the series.
The same can be said about the interior design that brings more character to the new IS with inspiration from the LFA supercar, with Lexus adding that it has used higher quality cabin materials, trims and finishes throughout.
New tech features include a Lexus-first electrostatic switches that are said to need "just a finger touch" to adjust the air conditioning temperature. We're also told that the driving position is sportier thanks to the lower seat hip point and the angle of the new steering wheel, with the latter offering an increased reach adjustment.
These images [now in higher-resolution] afford us our first unobstructed view of the Japanese carmaker's third attempt to rival the BMW 3-Series, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Audi A4.
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The announcement was made today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, that runs through January 11.
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Among those who received an invitation was U.S. comedian and television host Jay Leno who traveled all the way to Japan and the Fuji Motor Speedway to try out a pre-production prototype of the 2014 IS that was covered on the outside, but not on the inside, thus affording us our first view of the dashboard.
Leno hints at a longer wheelbase and a sportier chassis setup aimed to compete primarily against the BMW 3-Series and from the looks of things, GM's newcomer in the segment, the Cadillac ATS.
As you may have expected, Lexus isn't ready to share pictures and details about the new IS just yet, but it did have this to say about its BMW 3-Series rival:
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From the land that has brought us so much fun in the form of entertaining video footag comes yet another one of those incidents that just makes you want to slap your palm on your forehead.
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If you take a close look at the prototype's body, you will find many common styling cues with the Lexus LF-CC Concept displayed at the Paris Motor Show this past September, including the slanted "spindle" front grille that extends to the bottom of the bumper, the strong belt line, the creased side skirts and the design of the rear end.
This is no coincidence as the LF-CC was penned as a thinly disguised concept for an IS Coupe, which will join the range shortly after the sedan model pictured here, offering Lexus a product to compete against the BMW 3 / 4 Series and Audi A5 coupes.
So, after the horse-masked jogger in shorts and the numerous people dancing behind news crew reporting on Hurricane Sandy today (if you missed them, we've added the respective videos after the break), we now have footage of a power-happy driver getting his two seconds of fame when he passed by a live shot.
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Consumer Reports has a reputation for discovering malfunctions that others have failed to spot. Unlike what some manufacturers who were slammed by CR may believe, its editors are normal human beings, with families and all.
Director of testing Jake Fisher, for example, has two sons aged four and eight. Fisher says that they “already want to be car testers” and they “love exploring every new car I bring home and enjoy trying to fit into every small opening possible”.
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Now this space will be filled with the production version of the LF-CC concept that premiered at the Paris Auto Show.
Building on the very positive reaction that the LF-LC received at January’s Detroit Motor Show, the LF-CC is a more down-to-earth, almost production-ready model, that will inspire a coupe version of the next IS series to compete against the BMW 3/4 Series Coupe.
The front-engined, rear-wheel drive concept also features a hybrid powertrain, which according to the company, will eventually power other models, too.
It consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with direct injection that operates on the more efficient Atkinson cycle, a compact electric motor, a generator, a battery, a power split device and a central control unit that manages the internal combustion engine-electric motor-battery operation modes.
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The Lexus LF-CC is more compact than the LF-LC concept and also looks more production-ready. It features a less steeply raked interpretation of the trademark Lexus “spindle” grille and its headlamps, while not as futuristic as those of the LF-LC, feature 3 LED projectors each and are set quite back compared to the grille creating what Lexus says is a “3D form”.
The proportions of the LF-CC are those of a typical front-engined, rear-wheel drive coupe, with a long front bonnet, a passenger cabin set rearwards and a stubby tail. In fact, its side profile sort of reminds us of the Toyota GT86/Scion FR-S coupes – or it could just be our blurry eyesight…
The prototype convertible model seen here adopts all the styling cues of the V8-powered IS-F such as the swollen wheel arches, front fender vents, the modified front and rear bumpers, the quad tailpipes and then some more in the guise of the massive rear wing and special alloy wheels.
But wait, isn't the current IS series nearing the end of its line with a replacement due to make an appearance within the next year?
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Either this guy is one of the most patient dads we have ever laid eyes on or someone is pulling our leg with this video that shows a man trying to fix his first generation Lexus IS, supposedly with the help of his son.
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Straight after its arrival in the States, the Lexus motorsports team took the IS F CCS-R to the Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, California, for its very first test on U.S. soil.
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