Review: 2019 Lexus UX
Short for urban crossover, the Lexus UX subcompact SUV has become a reality with the arrival of both a naturally aspirated and hybrid model.
New 2019 Lexus UX 'Urban X-over' goes from concept to reality
First teased at the Paris Auto Show in 2016, this subcompact crossover is built on an all-new Lexus global platform.
AJAC EcoRun 2018 showcases latest green vehicles
This year’s EcoRun featured 19 green vehicles and several hundred kilometres of driving through New Brunswick. Photos by Benjamin Yong.
The wave of pure electric, hybrid and other fuel efficient vehicles continues to get bigger, as evidenced by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada seventh annual EcoRun event held in June.
Taking place for the first time in Atlantic Canada, the intention of EcoRun is to showcase the newest green wheels on sale in dealerships, as well as comparing real-world fuel consumption to statistics published by manufacturers and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).
“It’s a true joy to be in Moncton today, as this event wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago. New Brunswick has obviously embraced eco-friendly vehicles with a lot of charging infrastructure throughout — it’s been the fastest growing electric vehicle market in the country, and one that’s fully connected,” says co-chair David Miller, referencing the availability of not only Level 2 but also Level 3 fast chargers capable of bringing battery energy level from zero to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.
“But this event isn’t just about pure electrics and plug in hybrids. Automakers are doing an admirable job in lowering fuel economy throughout their product lineups, and that’s despite a lot more SUVs and trucks.”
Indeed, the segments represented ran the gamut and included a total of 19 entries comprised of subcompacts, full-size sedans, crossovers and even a minivan. Journalists were assigned six models each, one for every leg of the 570-kilometre journey taking participants from the starting point in Moncton, through several cities, and eventually to Fredericton. Below are three standout examples I had a chance to drive over two days.
2018 Lexus LS 500h
Lexus’ flagship entered its fifth generation this year, more luxurious than any iteration previous. The hybrid version is especially cutting edge, using a powertrain derived from the LC 500h coupe combining a 3.5-litre V6 gasoline mill and two electric motors to produce a net 354 horsepower.
NRCan rates the LS 500h at 9.1 L/100 km in mixed city and highway conditions, and drivers cumulatively managed 8.0 L/100 km.
2018 Hyundai Ioniq Electric Plus
The plug-in was the third and final piece to arrive in Hyundai’s trio of Ioniq cars that also feature standard hybrid and pure electric offerings. The 1.6-litre internal combustion engine and electric motor are mated to a sporty six-speed double-clutch transmission with optional paddle shifters, giving a bit of an extra kick to the combined 104 horsepower and 109 lb-ft of torque output. In zero emissions mode, this Ioniq can travel nearly 50 kilometres on a full charge.
NRCan rates the plug-in at 3.35 Le/100 km in mixed city and highway conditions, and drivers cumulatively managed 3.0 Le/100 km.
2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid
Transformed from sensibly styled to sexy new four-door for 2018, the Camry is lower and wider than before and highlighted by a fresh lower grille dominating most of the front fascia. The next-gen Toyota Hybrid System and 2.5-litre four-cylinder Dynamic Force Engine work together to generate 208 total horsepower, and a continuously variable transmission boasts a sport setting that can use battery reserves to boost performance.
NRCan rates the Camry Hybrid at 5.1 L/100 km in mixed city and highway conditions, and drivers cumulatively managed 4.8 L/100 km.
Overall, among all the vehicles journalists managed to achieve an average of 1.59 L/100 km better than NRCan’s official numbers.
Lexus to usher in new era of ES this fall
The 2019 Lexus ES is bigger, lower and improved in almost every way compared to the outgoing model.
The Lexus ES, short for Executive Sedan, has long been admired for its comfort, elegant looks and luxury. Performance and cutting edge style, however, aren’t usually in the conversation when talking about the vehicle. Lexus aims to change this when the sixth iteration of the model is ushered in during the fall, complete with the addition of, for the first time, an F SPORT variant in the lineup.
Built on an all-new global GA-K platform, the mid-size four door sizes up growing 65 millimetres longer and 45 millimetres wider, while dropping five millimetres in height and gaining a wider track front and rear. The hood is lower and the roofline significantly raked, altogether resulting is a silhouette that is much more vibrant and youthful than the one it replaces.
The front end is characterized by thin, sharply designed headlamps and a choice of two different spindle grilles depending on the trim level. The 350 and 300h hybrid models receive a vertical-slatted unit, the F SPORTs a blacked out mesh grille made up of a repeating pattern of “L” shapes instead. The latter also adds a rear spoiler, lower diffuser, 19-inch wheels and an exclusive Ultra Sonic Blue Mica paint colour.
The cabin of the 2019 ES is purposefully driver focused, the central display, instrument panel and head-up display all placed in a way to promote easy viewing without having to shift attention away from the road. F SPORT interiors feature special “Hadori” metallic trim, influenced by traditional Japanese sword making. The alloy has a wavy, 3-D appearance to it highlighting the premium level of detail applied to the car.
Compared to the outgoing chassis, the GA-K is stiffer and lighter yielding a better feel of the road and a quieter ride as well. An Adaptive Variable Suspension, like the one on the LC coupe, is offered as optional equipment.
“We knew that this ES had to feel responsive and easy to drive, no matter what kind of road it was on and that can only be achieved with a solid foundation,” said chief engineer Yashuhiro Sakakibara.
Two powerplants are available. The ES 350 utilizes a 3.5-litre V6 producing 302 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, and the ES 300h takes advantage of a fourth-generation Lexus Hybrid Drive system delivering 215 net horsepower and a combined city/highway fuel economy rating of approximately 5.3 L/100 km.
Be on the lookout for the 2019 Lexus ES in dealerships come September.
Best car tech from CES 2018
CES is the biggest trade show of its kind in the world, with the spotlight on automotive innovation growing larger each year.
The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is on right now in Las Vegas, highlighting the latest and greatest innovations in consumer gadgetry. In recent years, cars have taken up greater exhibition space as the lines between auto and tech become increasingly blurred — CES itself describes the event as “a turbocharged Detroit,” taking a small jab at the Motor City’s big show taking place immediately after. Have a peek at some of the top reveals from 2018.
Toyota e-Palette Concept
This self-driving battery electric concept vehicle is designed as a customizable, and scalable, mobile solution for businesses. Indeed, Toyota has already announced partnerships with the likes of Amazon, Mazda, Uber and Pizza Hut (think autonomous pizza baking and delivery). The e-Palette will be open source so partner companies can implement their own driving systems tailored to specific needs. Real world testing is planned for 2020.
Honda 3E-D18
Focusing on robotics and artificial intelligence at this year’s CES, Honda showed off the 3E-D18, an autonomous AI-enabled off-road device designed to support people in a broad range of work activities. The product of Honda R&D Americas, the 3E-D18 is powered by an electric drivetrain and is modular, meaning it can be outfitted with a variety of attachments to make tasks like search and rescue, fire fighting and agriculture safer and more efficient.
Lexus LS 600hL Platform 3.0
Although the above long wheelbase hybrid LS doesn’t necessarily look like the newest automated driving research vehicle produced by the Toyota Research Institute, dubbed Platform 3.0, that’s kind of the point. One of the goals of the project was to engage “intelligent minimalism,” eliminating the unattractive bolt-on equipment commonly seen on such test cars. The sensors and cameras have all been hidden as much as possible, for example some being relocated into available space in the sunroof compartment.
Despite the streamlined appearance, the advanced sedan features long-range 200-metre perception in 360 degrees.
Lexus breaks mould yet again with fifth-generation 2018 LS
Like the original flagship, this all-new new sedan does things just a little bit differently.
Highlights from 2017 Vancouver International Auto Show
Western Canada’s best-attended consumer automotive event gets some impressive North American debuts this year.
Three big redesigns unveiled at North American International Auto Show 2017
This year at the Motor City’s premier automotive event, the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), aside from the usual assortment of concepts and future tech teasers, the big news was focused around the next generation of a group of well-established models from Honda, Toyota and Lexus. Let’s take a look.
2018 Honda Odyssey
Making its world debut in Detroit, Honda’s best-selling minivan gets a complete redesign. Besides its obviously sleeker profile and addition of the “flying wing” front grille also found on siblings like the Civic and Ridgeline, there are a ton of new features. The Magic Slide second row seats can be configured in countless a ways to allow for different seating positions, easy access to the third row and increased storage capacity.
Drivers no longer have to wonder what’s going on behind them — utilizing a camera, CabinWatch shows rear passenger activity on the eight-inch Display Audio screen, and CabinTalk allows two-way communication via the on-board speaker system and rear entertainment system headphones. And parents of messy children and/or pets can breathe easy, because the HondaVac built-in vacuum returns for 2018.
2018 Toyota Camry
Including the latest version that was just revealed in Detroit, there have now been eight generations of the Toyota Camry. And it shows no signs of slowing down. Based upon the Toyota New Global Architecture platform, the family sedan — offered in gasoline or hybrid form — takes on a, dare I say, sporty appearance, expressed through a two-piece grille, stylized front and rear bumpers and lower hood and roofline.
At the top of the five-grade lineup are the SE and XSE, both wearing even more aggressive front and rear fascias, larger wheels, lip spoilers and black accents. Inside, all Camrys are available with “futuristic” equipment such as three interlinked displays consisting of a 10-inch HUD, seven-inch multi-information instrument cluster display and an eight-inch screen responsible for audio, navigation and climate control readouts.
2018 Lexus LS 500
When the Japanese luxury nameplate launched in North America nearly 28 years ago, everything was riding on one vehicle: the LS 400. It set all kinds of benchmarks in terms of comfort, value, quality, etc., and Lexus is hoping to do it all again with the 2018 LS 500. Like the original, this flagship is rear-wheel drive and embodies the latest signature Lexus design language.
Resting under the hood is a powerplant developed using the company’s ties with F1 racing. Perfectly balancing performance and efficiency, a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 produces 415 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, tuned to deliver quick acceleration and a throaty yet refined exhaust note. As a first for a premium passenger car, the engine is mated to an advanced electronically controlled 10-speed automatic transmission capable of anticipating driver input.
2017 Lexus IS refresh includes standard Lexus Safety System +
The sporty luxury sedan receives a long list of mid-model updates including new lighting, front and rear bumpers and safety equipment.
OpenRoad Lexus Port Moody receives the Lexus Service Management Certificate!
The OpenRoad Lexus Port Moody team is honored to be certified as a Platinum dealer under the “Lexus Service Management” standard.
This achievement of excellence is something our team has been striving for in all aspects of service and parts operations.
This also represents OpenRoad Lexus Port Moody’s ongoing commitment to providing the best car buying and ownership experience for Lexus owners.
To learn more about the OpenRoad Lexus Port Moody Service & Parts Department, please click here.