The vehicle itself looks set to take Europe’s luxury hatchback market by storm in early 2011, with the luxury arm of Toyota expecting its launch to double their business in Europe. Lexus have promised not to compromise performance for economy with the new CT200h, which will feature a 1.8L Atkinson cycle four-cylinder gas engine. The four driving modes; EV, ECO, normal and sport, look set to ensure that there is a mode to suit any driving style and all conditions.

You can check out the darker side of green campaign online and see how the CT200h proposes to make hybrid cars a stylish option for the future.

The improvements that Lexus are likely to make are not incredibly substantial, but nonetheless will make a difference to the exterior aesthetics of the vehicles in the IS model range. The major change that will set the 2011 IS range apart from your used Lexus IS is the inclusion of LED daytime running lights incorporated into the headlights. The lights are in fact receiving something of an overhaul, with redesigned fog lights, bumper insets and new tail lights all looking set to feature.

There will be interior changes too, with Lexus adding a new steering wheel with new accents, a chrome strip above the glove box, a USB connector, and an aluminium trim. Perhaps the main reason for the tweaks is the decision to include engines that are 15% more fuel-efficient than current models, which will please all Lexus fans.

Lexus have no previous history of manufacturing supercars, so the near immediate presale of 500 LFA’s is a big victory for the company, particularly given the fairly hefty launch price of around £330,000. It is not just Americans buyers that have swooped to reserve the supercars, with around a third of the models set to be sold to European drivers, with approximately ten thought to be headed to the roads of Britain.

The vehicle itself is set to cause quite a stir, being slowly introduced to the world with just 20 being produced and sold each month. Buyers have been able to individually configure their own LFA using a configurator online, which allowed owners to choose from a staggering total of 30 billion different combinations of customisable options. Each vehicle will also receive a plaque to mark its number within the production process, to add a further stamp of individuality to every LFA.

The award is another coup for Lexus, who possess a superb reputation for customer satisfaction. They finished top in three out of the four categories – quality and reliability, appeal and service satisfaction.

Lexus’s mark was up 12 points on their total from the previous year, with an overall total of 846 out of 1,000. The survey is based on results provided by over 17,000 car owners, and acts as an excellent indicator of the continued performance of used Lexus cars.

In terms of individual models, Lexus’s RX model bagged the award for best sports utility vehicle, while the IS was voted best compact executive car. Overall, their vehicles beat Honda, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz into second, third and fourth respectively in the manufacturers list.

Cosmetically, the car is more or less the same as what has gone before, with a revised grille and tail lights the only real noticeable differences, alongside a new alloy wheel design. No changes have been announced to the 3.5 litre petrol engine, although the luxury model’s in-car entertainment has received a minor overhaul.

In contrast to the models swelling the used Lexus market, the new GS450h offers DAB radio as an option and also features new audio and sat-nav alternatives. It is in the safety department that this new Lexus has seen the most changes though, with Volvo-style pre-crash braking systems, alongside ‘active’ anti-whiplash head restraints being added to the existing pre-crash seatbelt and brake assist systems to create an even safer driving experience.

We recommend that the best way to purchase a used car is through a dealership-this way you can have complete peace of mind that the Lexus you are interested in will be in good working order and have added extras that you wouldn’t find purchasing privately.

If you do choose to buy yourself a used Lexus from a private seller then make sure that you have done a lot of research on the model you want and invest in and run a Vehicle History Report. This will include all you need to know about the car and if there is any history about it you need to be aware of. But again, we cannot emphasise how much we recommend seeking out a professional dealer as all the horror stories you hear about used cars are usually through private sales.

Details, at the moment, are sketchy, but early indications suggest it’s likely to be much along the same lines as the concept hybrid which went on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year.

Great things are expected of this new Lexus. It is an up and coming market. Customers are increasingly look for smaller, more fuel efficient, cars and Lexus wants a piece of the action. As it continues to probe new sectors of the market 2010 looks set to be the year when this normally ever so sensible manufacturer goes on the offensive.

Offering a design and build quality which will remind owners of the higher end of the Lexus brand, but at a price more fitting an entry level car, the HS 250h is a high quality machine, blending economy on the price and economy on the fuel usage with the quality and prestige that drivers have come to expect from the Lexus brand.

With a 2.4 litre petrol section combined with the electrical propulsion unit and a purported fuel rating of 5.6L/100km city; 5.9L/100km hwy, this new model is the affordable, compact way to get the Lexus name and quality while being kinder to the planet. Due to the size of the car, there are obviously some compromises which have had to be made on the inside; it doesn’t quite offer the luxurious space of the higher-end Lexus models, but for a small car with hybrid economy, it’s certainly a compromise worth making.

Lexus Dealerships

It is quite possibly one of the ugliest looking SUV’s I’ve seen and that is bearing in mind that there are a number of appalling SUV’s out there at present. The Lexus GX460 seems very square and boxy and appears to lack any sense of sporty qualifications, with the Porsche Cayenne leaving it for dust in the looks stakes.

However, we are forgetting that this is a Sports Utility Vehicle and not a sports car, so looks aren’t necessarily everything. What you really want is a robust, strong and aggressive vehicle that can stand up to the challenges of the many off-road terrains that it may see, which at present will probably be Chelsea High Street as these cars have become affectionately known as Chelsea tractors.
The car is likely to feature Toyota’s new 4.6 litre V8, which should rattle around the busy streets of London nicely, whilst having enough left if you feel like heading for the country.

The car will no doubt come with Lexus’ usual good build quality and the company has a renowned reputation for good customer service at their Lexus dealerships, maybe this will be what will save this Lexus from falling on to the pile with the rest of the SUV’s.

Owners of approved used Lexus vehicles rarely find problems, as is evident in customer satisfaction surveys, with Lexus at the head of the list for cars between 3-5 years old.

The Government Scrappage Scheme has proved to be a success in terms of incentivising the sale of new cars, yet real value lies in the second hand market, particularly luxury vehicles and especially reliable ones such as a used Lexus.

During a time when the car market is still somewhat distorted due to less used cars on the market, it is often best to source a used vehicle from an approved dealership as this will safeguard your purchase thanks to the warranty.

Extensive checks are made to the vehicles also from mechanics that deal solely with a particular car manufacturer. Although with most used cars you will pay more from an approved dealer than a used car lot, your purchase will be made with peace of mind.