Lexus today announced MSRP for the 2010 LS 460 and LS 460 L sedan, the midsize 2010 GS 350 and 460 sport sedans, and the midsize 2010 GS 450h hybrid. The GS line's price remains unchanged; the LS 460 rises slightly and the 460L drops more than $3,500. Vehicles should arrive at dealerships in the next two weeks. Pricing specifics are after the jump.
Prompted by recent events in the news and a warning from NHTSA, Toyota has launched a safety advisory, urging vehicle owners to immediately remove their driver's side floor mats.
According to the advisory from Toyota and NHTSA, unsecured floor mats can get caught on the accelerator pedal, and potentially cause an accident. Toyota estimates that 3.8 million models may be affected. This advisory is not yet a recall. Once they have a solution in place, this safety advisory will become the largest recall that Toyota has ever issued in the U.S.
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
IL News: Priced 2010 Lexus ES 350 The Lexus ES350 has received some significant changes for 2010. But these changes in sheet metal also come with a $330 increase in price. This now makes the ES 350 $1200 more than a Mercedes-Benz C300 and $3400 more than an Audi A4 2.0T.
Auto Observer: Consumers Wary of GM Money-Back Guarantee The internet is buzzing with talk over General Motor's new money-back guarantee. But is it really that easy to return a vehicle as advertised? Will you get all of your money back? Not quite. There are a number of scenarios in the fine print that can potentially reduce the amount you get back.
Green Car Advisor: BMW Learning Lessons from Mini E Test The Mini E was designed as a trial run for future BMW electric vehicles. Green Car Advisor has chronicled a few of the setbacks along the way, and what lessons BMW has learned from them. Chief among them is realization that the electric vehicle infrastructure isn't quite where it needs to be to sustain a fleet of EV vehicles.
On August 28, a California Highway Patrol officer and three family members were killed when their 2008 Lexus ES 350 careered off the road at 120 mph in Santee, California. According to a backseat passenger's 911 call, the throttle was stuck open and the brakes were unresponsive.
The Lexus was a loaner, and a post-crash inspection determined that it may have been equipped with floor mats that were a couple inches too long, meaning they could have slid forward and interefered with pedal operation. In response, Toyota/Lexus has ordered its dealers to inspect the floor mats in all of its vehicles.
We'll likely never know exactly what happened in that Lexus, but the incident serves as a sobering reminder that floor mats can be hazardous if not installed properly. Moreover, many drivers of older cars use aftermarket floormats that are not secured by clips -- these are inherently prone to sliding around. So be mindful of your floor mats and whether they have the potential to interfere with your footwork. With everything else you have to worry about on the road, the last thing you need is a floor mat getting in the way.
Auto Observer: Less is More? Smaller Pickups Benefit from C4C Auto Observer reports sales of more fuel-efficient midsize pickups have fared much better than their larger, thirstier stablemates - thank in no small part to the Cash for Clunkers program. In August, the Toyota Tacoma outsold the massive Tundra, the Ford Ranger saw a dramatic increase compared to the F-Series and the Chevy Colorado made modest gains while sales of the full-size Silverado plummeted. With the end of the Cash for Clunkers program, sales are expected to return to previous levels, but it remains to be seen if the shift to smaller trucks will continue.
Green Car Advisor: Dodge Caliber Heads to Frankfurt with Much-Needed Improvements Chrysler will be unveiling an improved Dodge Caliber at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month, according to Green Car Advisor. The big news is the addition of a 2.2-liter turbo diesel, but there are no plans to bring that engine stateside. What we will get, however, are an all-new interior plus improvements to the gasoline-powered engines, in the way of increased power, better fuel economy along with smoother and quieter operation.
IL News: Lexus Rolls-Out Refreshed LS and GS Models in Frankfurt Inside Line reports that Lexus will be unveiling the 2010 LS and GS models at the Frankfurt Motor Show. These are not complete redesigns, however, just a few styling tweaks and improvements like new seats, updated hardware and better driving dynamics.
Nowadays, most car makers would be happy to have one hybrid sedan in their lineup; with the new HS 250h, Lexus now has three. Billed as a luxury sport sedan hybrid, the HS 250h shares its powertrain (but nothing else) with the Toyota Camry hybrid. Our test drive finds out whether or not Lexus' first four-cylinder, fuel economy-minded car is worthy of the L on its grille.
Telematics has been dominated by OnStar since the service first launched over a decade ago. And while other automakers, including BMW and Mercedes, offer their own telematics systems, OnStar has become the Kleenex or Xerox of the field and synonymous with telematics service.
Even if most car buyers have no idea what the term "telematics" means, when they think of features such as automatic crash notification, remote door unlocking and other off-board safety and convenience services, they think of OnStar, thanks to the GM-owned company's massive marketing efforts.
But OnStar is facing increasing competition. Ford launched its 911 Assist service in December 2008 by including it on all new Sync-equipped vehicles, and owners of most '08 and '09 Sync-equipped vehicles can get the service by having a dealer upgrade the system's software for a nominal fee.
Meanwhile, Lexus -- a former customer of OnStar with its Lexus Link telematics service, which will continue in "legacy" mode on models still in service -- recently launched its Enform with Safety Connect system on the new 2010 HS 250h hybrid and, like Ford, plans to eventually include it in all of its cars.
While it isn't feasible for us to test the crash-notification aspects of telematics systems -- at least not with the press cars we drive -- we checked out the latest convenience services offered for Ford's Sync system and Lexus Enform that best compete with OnStar. And we found that while Ford takes a radically different approach, Lexus plays it safe but throws in a few unique features.
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere. Straightline: 2010 Audi A5 2.0T Starts at Under $40,000
It is now slightly less expensive to get into an Audi A5
. Buyers, who opt for the four-cylinder engine and a manual transmission, can get the stylish coupe for $36,825 including the destination fee. Follow the link for more details on the available packages.
Auto Observer: 100,000 Plus Car Shoppers Waiting to Buy, Edmunds.com Calculates Edmunds.com analysts have been noticing a surge of people whose research hasn't yet translated into vehicle sales. Their data points to a correlation between the unemployment rate and the average trade in mileage. Will the upcoming cash for clunkers program, be the spark that gets these buyers off the fence?
Green Car Observer: Pricing Announced for the 2010 Lexus HS 250h Lexus' first dedicated hybrid will go on sale this August. Pricing begins at $35,075. This is a $7,055 premium over the top of the line Toyota Prius. Follow the link for more details on the available packages. Auto Observer: Pontiac G8: The World's Best Car Nobody Was Buying The Pontiac G8: a car that was simultaneously the high and low point of Pontiac's tumultuous history. Auto Observer's Bill Visnic best summed up the G8's quandary: "Problem was, all the love from this horde of enthusiasts, supporters, cult appreciators and basement bloggers never extended to hitting the showroom and actually buying one."
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
Inside Line: 2010 Lexus HS 250h First Drive and Video Buyers looking for a more luxurious hybrid now have one more to choose from. Inside Line recently drove the newest addition to Lexus' growing hybrid lineup. The 2010 Lexus HS 250h will be more fuel efficient than its Lexus hybrid siblings, while remaining just as high tech and easy to drive. For those of you that may think this is a rebadged Prius, Lexus engineers are quick to point out that the HS 250h shares no body panels or suspension components with the 2010 Toyota Prius.
Auto Observer: Feds' New MPG Mandate May Collide With Buyer Preferences The Obama administration wants automakers to build more fuel efficient vehicles, but this may be at odds with what the American people want to buy. Auto Observer took a hard look at the sales charts and noticed that of the 100 most-purchased vehicles in the U.S., only 17 could comply with the new fuel-economy standards. They also try to make sense of how the EPA and CAFE mpg numbers vary.
Edmunds Tips & Advice: How Much Car Can You Afford? We all would like to drive around in a brand new, fully loaded, vehicle. But how much can we realistically afford? In this time of economic hardship, we must be extra careful in how we budget our money. By inputting some basic information, this new calculator can help you arrive at an estimated price range in which you should shop. Senior Features Editor Joanne Helperin, breaks down the details on how this tool works.
Older car buyers are a diverse bunch. Still, there are certain themes that reveal themselves when analyzing their needs. These themes tend to be dictated by the physical challenges that many face in their golden years.
The choices listed in our top 10 vehicles for seniors stand out for the skill with which they address these themes.
Our mix of vehicles covers all the bases. There's a minivan for seniors who need extra passenger capacity, and there are compact cars for those who appreciate the parking convenience that smaller vehicles provide. Our list also includes technology-laden luxury cars, a couple of spacious full-size sedans and an innovative SUV.
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere. Auto Observer Good-Bye Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, Hummer General Motors' recent announcements may have dealt a coup de grace to Pontiac, but Saturn and Hummer are also on life support unless a buyer is found before the end of this year. Saab's situation is a bit more complicated, since it has already begun a Chapter 11 type restructuring in Sweden. GM will cut ties with Saab by the end of 2009, but is also willing to negotiate its U.S. distribution system.
Straightline Top 10 Pontiac Muscle Cars of All-Time If the Pontiac GTO was the car that started the muscle-car era, and the G8 was the last- and possibly best Pontiac ever, what other cars highlighted Pontiac's 83-year history? Straightline takes a stroll down memory lane, to a time when cars had huge engines and cool names like Firebird, The Judge and Trans Am. In his Tuesday Karl on Cars post, Editor-in-Chief Karl Brauer takes a look at Pontiac's decline in When did Pontiac Jump the Shark?
Inside Line Tundra and Sequoia price hike, Lexus drop-top stickers set The pricing on the 2010 Toyota Tundra has gone up an average of $557, and the 2010 Sequoia has gone up an average of $3,361 across all models. Toyota attributes these increased to the addition of more standard equipment such as: a redesigned towing hitch, driver and front passenger knee airbags, Bluetooth connectivity, MP3, and height-adjustable headlights.
Pricing for the convertible version of Lexus' IS was announced recently, and is significantly lower than its competitor, BMW's 3 Series. If you compare their base models, the Lexus IS 250C costs approximately $6010 less than a BMW 328i convertible.
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
AutoObserver Is the Excitement Over? For anyone even moderately interested in automobiles or the global financial meltdown, it should come as no surprise that GM is likely going to kill-off the Pontiac brand. In an era when most of the models from Pontiac are rebadged vehicles from GM's stable -- save for a few exciting foreign adaptations like the G8 and GTO -- it appears that this satellite brand is simply unsustainable. This "first domino" is rumored to fall on Monday -- as if Monday's weren't hard enough.
Green Car Advisor 2010 Lexus RX 450h Pricing Revealed: A Greener Car Without Spending More Green Though we don't expect the revamped hybrid crossover in showrooms until this summer, Lexus has revealed pricing for the 2010 RX 450h. Buyers will save about $400 compared to the 2008 base model and about $200 for the AWD model. On top of a couple extra Benjies in their wallets, owners will get more power, better fuel economy, lower emissions and additional features. Who says it isn't easy being green?
Green Car Advisor Bill Ford Steers the Blue Oval Toward Greener Pastures Speaking at a Fortune Magazine conference in California, Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. made it clear that the company is embracing emerging technology to power the next generation of Ford vehicles. Rather than declaring one particular technology the victor, Junior hinted that Ford may pursue several different propulsion options. Also notable is the possibility that FoMoCo may purchase advanced batteries from Asia for use in the domestic market, though Mr. Ford cautioned that the U.S. should not allow foreign countries to dominate this field.
Straightline Audi Changes Its Engine Lineup in a Confusing, Alphabet Soup Mash-Up Audi has made some significant changes to its U.S. engine and model lineup for 2010. If notated via its alphanumeric script, the changes would look something like: [(2009 TT + A3) - VW VR6, 2.0T] + (A4 - 265hp 3.2 V6 = 2.0T); [(S4 + A6 + (A5 + 2.0T)] = 3.0 SC V6; [S8 = (2010 - V10)] + [5.2 V10 = (S6 + R8)]; 2008 A8 (W12) = 0. For translation, head over to the Straightline blog.
This new feature for Edmunds Daily about car repair and maintenance is written by Tom Torbjornsen, the popular host of America's Car Show on satellite radio. Tom has been in the auto industry for over 35 years and receives numerous questions each week about car maintenance from his listeners. This makes him the perfect expert to show you how to save money while keeping your car in top running condition. His column will appear weekly on Edmunds Daily, but following this entry will move to Wednesday afternoon.
Dear Tom, I've owned four vehicles and rented three. The common denominator was the presence of a skunk odor, accompanied by facial numbing within 10-20 minutes of driving the vehicles. I have been told the problem is caused by antifreeze leaks. That is the million-dollar question. Give me your knowledge. I am about as far away from being a mechanic as you can get! -- Lisa from LA
Lisa, Although the information you provided is vague at best, I will try to "give you my knowledge." I will assume you are talking about a pungent odor inside the car when the HVAC system is activated. Odor from the HVAC system comes from a couple of different sources. Either the heater core is leaking engine coolant into the vehicle cabin when the HVAC system is operating, or there is a clogged condensation drain in the HVAC. A leaking heater core tends to leak a small amount in a fine mist. It gets caught up in the air stream created by the blower motor and blows into the car's cabin. This vapor usually smells sweet and condenses on the inside of the windshield, fogging it up.
On the other hand, a plugged condensation drain results when organic matter gets sucked into the air intake of the HVAC system at the base of the windshield. Leaves, pine needles and other debris get into the HVAC box, mix with condensation from the A/C system, and form an unholy, stenching paste that plugs the water drain. The water from condensation then pools inside the dark, warm box and mold and mildew grows. This results in a pungent smell every time the HVAC system is activated. Sometimes the evaporator core springs a leak and refrigerant oil soaks the outside of the core. When air is drawn across the core, dirt is filtered out and it sticks to the oil on the face of the core. This also results in mold and mildew causing the smell.
Check the condensation drain at the bottom of the HVAC box. If it's plugged then remove the debris and empty a full can of Lysol disinfectant into the air intake at the base of the windshield with the heater set on defrost and high blow. Once the can is emptied, let it sit for a half hour so that the disinfectant has time to kill the mold and mildew. However, if a refrigerant leak is found in the evaporator core, then the HVAC box will have to come apart and the core replaced. Finally, to check for a leaking heater core, have the cooling system pressure-tested. If coolant is leaking into the car from the passenger's side HVAC, then the core is leaking and must be replaced. Good luck. -- Tom
Last month I named the Toyota Camry a deal-of-the-week. Now it is the Lexus ES350's
turn. The very attributes that makes the Camry a top-selling vehicle also apply to the ES350: roomy, reliable, smooth and innocuous. But it adds the features that the majority of upscale buyers want: luxury features and materials, longer warranties and a dealer experience designed to cater to the customer's needs. This combination is so successful that the ES350 is routinely Lexus' top-selling car. However, last month, sales were down more than 46% and Lexus dealers still need to move 2008 models. Learn what Lexus is doing to try to get you to put an ES350 in your driveway.
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