The HS 250h. On the outside, it’s unique aerodynamic design contributes to an impressive 35 mpg combined EPA rating. On the inside, it features an unmatched blend of forward-thinking technology and sustainable materials unrivaled in any other production vehicle.
It all adds up to the most advanced luxury hybrid we’ve ever built
The new Lexus GS450h is good on fuel efficiency and wallets.
For many people, we live in a world gone “green” and an economy gone bad. And finding the right car to drive in those conditions is difficult. However, Lexus’s new GS450h at Lexus Champaign dealerships could be just the right fit for all of these crazy conditions.
The new GS450 has a 9.0 rating on the EPA Air Pollution scoring scale (which is a pretty good score when the Prius ranks a 9.5.) It gets 22 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, and when you put together the money you’ll be spending on gas with how much the car actually costs, the new Lexus GS450h isn’t only good for the environment, but good to your wallet as well. Starting at $57,425 at Champaign Lexus dealers, the Lexus GS540h is reasonably priced, and it is also one of the only hybrid-powered luxury sport sedans on the market. So not only does it save money on fuel, but it features more luxury and comfort as well. Perfect.
The new GS540h comes standard with amenities any hybrid owner would expect, such as hybrid graphics announcing your electric/gas engine to other motorists. But the new Lexus also offers leather seats, wood trim, a back up camera, headlamp washers, power assisted everything and 10-way power adjustable heated and ventilated seats to accommodate any driver with the utmost comfort.
Lexus has not stopped their green efforts here. The HS250h, which we described in an earlier post, will be one of the most fuel-efficient luxury hybrids when it is released. These two sedans will make a duel effort to better the environment, as well as your bank accounts, and offer so much more to the market as far as luxury hybrids go.
So whether you plan to wait for the HS250h, or go for it with the GS450h, visit your local Lexus dealership in Champaign to check out all of your options and find the luxury hybrid vehicle perfect for you.
The HS 250h is the first hybrid-only luxury sedan
When one thinks of a hybrid, a few things automatically come to mind. Fuel efficiency, less money spent on gas, trees, tree-huggers maybe. But luxury has never really been one of those top-of-mind items when the word “hybrid” hits the brain. Lexus is looking to change that. Champaign Lexus dealers have announced that the new HS 250h will have an estimated EPA of 34 mpg. It is the first hybrid-only luxury sedan, and this mileage rating means it is seriously fuel-efficient.
The HS 250h, which will hit Champaign Lexus dealers soon, is out to prove that people don’t need to sacrifice comfort for fuel efficiency.
The new model boasts all the same luxury consumers have come to expect from a Lexus. With a 0-60 speed of 8.4 seconds, it does not lack much of the power and speed that Lexus is known for. Power seats and LED taillights come standard, and for even more luxury, optional satellite navigation is available with up-to-the-minute updates on traffic, weather, sports and more. The interior is spacious, with the capability of seating three in the back. An array of safety features are available, including a pre-collision system, lane-keep assist, and a wide-view front monitor.
However, with 35 percent of the materials of the car being plant-based, and 85 percent being fully recyclable (including the batteries) the HS 250h boasts many features that the luxury crowd has not come to expect, explains my Bloomington Illinois Lexus car dealer. But cynics will be pleasantly surprised to find out just how fuel-efficient these cars really are. With a 35 mpg average in the city, and 33 mpg average on highways, the HS 250h gets more bang for its buck than any other luxury car in its class, keeping emissions low at the same time.
If hybrids have never been up your alley for lack of luxury, look no further than the Lexus HS 250h. While this is currently the only dedicated luxury hybrid avaliable, it will continue leading the pack when more arrive on the market. Earth-lovers and luxury-lovers alike will be thrilled with not only the lower impact on the environment and its great fuel efficiency, but also with the posh comfort of the new hybrid’s look. Lexus is giving Peoria luxury car shoppers the best of both worlds, and making it look good.
The relaxing sound of rushing water overhead. A no electronics policy. The cleanest air you can possibly breathe. Trained staff dressed in all white.
It sounds like the perfect Swedish spa, but the facility I’ve just described has another agenda — making the Lexus RX hybrid, a vehicle being manufactured with the most serious attention to achieving perfection.
This waterfall at the Lexus Kokura plant helps clean the air of dust so the RX 450h's hybrid technology comes out pure and long-lasting.
That sound of rushing water overhead — you would actually hear that at the Lexus Kokura plant. The three-meter-high mesh waterfall is said to reduce airborne dust by 90 percent. Apparently, tiny dust particles have been found by Lexus to reduce long-term stability of the hybrid drive technology. So what they’ve done is created this magnificent environment. Rather than force consumers to return to them with problems later in the lives of hybrid vehicles, Lexus is backing up its claim at pursuing perfection.
And the no electronics policy? Employees are not allowed to have anything with them while inside the facility. Not that it would be possible for them to even try. Their anti-static uniforms do not have any pockets.
Every aspect of the manufacturing process for the RX 450h has been meticulously laid out to ensure perfect construction in a perfect environment. What Lexus calls their “Clean and Silent” focus, keeps the facility totally clean and reduces noise in an effort to make it easier for its workers to concentrate and avoid mistakes.
Here, an enclosed loading dock is sealed from the factory floor by airlock doors to prevent any outside contaminants from entering the facility.
For all the details, read this. It’s the most interesting press release from a car company I’ve ever seen:
LEXUS RX 450h: TOP QUALITY FROM CLEAN MANUFACTURING
Second in a series introducing key features of the new luxury SUV: advanced manufacturing23 April 2009
KEY POINTS
* Advanced production technologies and factory environmental controls deliver supreme product quality
* Extensive measures, including air pressure management, combat dust contamination
* New “slim” robots increase welding quality and precision
* Computerised technology employed together with traditional hand and eye skills of Lexus takumi master craftsmen
* “Clean and Silent” approach to assembly line design
* Set Part System (SPS) developed to eliminate risk of errors and increase production efficiency
* Every vehicle tested in higher than typhoon-level rain conditionsThe supreme quality that defines the new Lexus RX 450h begins with the factory where it is built. The design, equipment, manufacturing procedures and the skills of master craftsmen working at the Kokura plant are all fine-tuned to achieve the best possible results on every car that comes off the production line.
The attention to detail is distinctively Lexus, ranging from strict environmental controls to staff being required to wear pocketless, anti-static clothing. “Clean and Silent” initiatives contribute to a quieter assembly line which helps workers concentrate, improves efficiency and helps cut down the number of faults.
Much of the manufacturing process is carried out by programmed robots, ensuring consistency, but the hand and eye skills of the takumi – the skilled master craftsmen – remain a crucial element in achieving Lexus quality standards.
Stamping
A dust particle measuring just 20 microns – about the size of a grain of pollen – can have an adverse affect on the quality of body panel stamping, leaving scratches that are difficult to rectify later in the production process. Lexus has waged war on dust, subjecting its stamping dies to rigorous sanding and washing twice a week. As this process itself creates a lot of dust, the maintenance area is surrounded by a three-metre high net screen – nicknamed Niagara – across which there is a constant flow of water. Thanks to Niagara, the level of airborne particles in the stamping shop has been cut by more than 90 per cent.
Bodyshell
A rigid body shell plays a major part in the quality of the RX 450h’s driving performance, ride comfort and quietness. In turn, this high rigidity is achieved by using advanced, high-precision welding technologies.
The bodyshell is made by the spot welding of around 300 stamped parts at up to 5,000 different points, work done by robots that move in and around the vehicle body as it is held on a jig. Lexus has developed a new slim robot that can work between the units, enabling many more welds to be made. For example, in the floor and side panel tack welding process, 14 robots were previously able to make spot welds at 70 to 80 different points; adding slim robots into the task has more than doubled this number.
Gaps between the body panels and panel alignment are measured on the production line with precision digital calipers. The measurements are displayed on a monitor alongside the line and the vehicle body cannot proceed to the next stage until all the measurements are within the required parameters.
Painting
Lexus has invested in lengthy research in order to achieve the superb surface quality from its multi-coating paint process.
Cleanliness is vital to achieving this quality and, once again, extensive measures are in place to keep the painting process free from dust and other airborne particles. Conventional methods focused on preventing contamination at the paint shop’s entry and exit points, but Lexus has introduced a system like those used in semi-conductor factories, installing a number of small, one-way air outlets that pressurize the area prior to the topcoat paint booth, so forcing air away from it. This has brought about a significant reduction in the amount of airborne particles getting into the booth.
To maintain an outstanding surface quality throughout the finishing process, the production line uses both the latest robotised technology and traditional hand polishing. All vertical surfaces are water polished with a plane sander after the intermediate coat is applied, then checked both by eye and with digital tools.
Hybrid Unit
Kokura is the world’s only dedicated hybrid manufacturing facility, designed to provide the perfect environment for making hybrid components.
Again, preventing contamination from airborne particles is of paramount importance and to help achieve this, the assembly line has a low ceiling and a positive air pressure system.
Air is constantly being forced outside the building, which helps prevent dust and other matter from entering. Inside, air pressure is modulated between different areas to create a flow of air that moves in the opposite direction to the manufacturing sequence. Components move downstream on shuttered conveyor routes; the further along they move, the higher the air pressure rises, with maximum pressure reached in the assembly process itself.
Temperature and humidity are rigorously monitored to maintain the stability of the factory environment all year round. Double measures are in place at the shipping exit to prevent any foreign matter entering, with a completely enclosed loading dock from where a conveyor moves parts to the receiving door via an airlock.
The attention to detail extends to workers being required to wear pocketless, anti-static clothing and to wash their shoes. They are also prohibited from bringing any metal items with them into the production areas.
Assembly
“Clean and Silent” are the watchwords for the Lexus assembly line. Replacing the chain-driven conveyor with one that uses urethane rollers creates a quieter working environment, making it easier for the technicians to concentrate and hear the noise their tools are making, thereby improving precision and work efficiency. As well as being quieter, the new system also uses less energy and is easier to maintain.
Air tools that are typically used for engine and underbody mounting have been replaced with electric nut runners that automatically adjust to a preset torque for a consistently high level of precision. The electric tools are also quieter and vibrate less.
The RX 450h assembly process involves fitting several thousand parts to the bodyshell. Traditionally technicians would collect components for fitting from racks alongside the line, but by adopting the Set Part System (SPS), Lexus has eliminated the risk of problems caused by picking the wrong parts and has cut down the amount of walking the technician has to do, so increasing work efficiency.
With SPS all parts required for assembly move along the line with the vehicle. This has evolved further with the RX 450h with a new gondola system for door assembly parts. A technician fills the gondola with the required parts on a sub line, which then merges with the main assembly line to travel along with the door to which the parts will be fitted.
Vehicle Inspection
Cutting-edge measuring technology is combined with the human skills of the takumi craftsmen in the detailed inspection process. Automated in-line measurements and quality gate checks are made throughout the body welding and assembly process, with a final fitting inspection in which panel gaps and alignment are checked by hand and eye. The inspectors who do this have daily training and testing to maintain their skill levels.
For example, the door closing speed inspection involves all doors being closed by the inspector at a maximum, laser-monitored 1.2m per second – equivalent to a gentle push with the fingertips. Lexus build precision ensures the doors can be closed securely, even with such light pressure.
After comprehensive road testing, every RX 450h is transferred to a shower test booth to be checked for leaks. The booth simulates a rainstorm at a rate of 200mm per hour, which is more severe than even a typhoon, which will generate no more than 150mm of rainfall an hour.
This is Total Quality Management at its best. To test drive an RX 450h, visit your Peoria luxury car dealer, Lexus of Peoria, where car buyers in Peoria find new vehicle shopping luxurious. The Lexus RX 450h should arrive to Lexus of Peoria new car dealers this summer.
The Lexus IS 250 has been rated as the mid-size car with the best resale value by Kelly Blue Book, which is significant given its affordability as a new car.
Not only does the Lexus IS 250 pay off for owners who sell their cars after a few years, it pays off in a big way for buyers who purchase those pre-owned IS models. The IS 250 is hands down the best Peoria used car value. New or used, the IS 250 is a tremendous deal. The IS 250 starts around $31,500 brand new, and does not lose much value as it passes even tens of thousands of miles. Wrapped in pure luxury and refined comfort, drivers of the IS bask in its attainable sumptuousness.
New IS 250s are projected to hold more than 50% of their value after three years of ownership.
Two big reasons for the excellent resale value are the car’s dependability and initial affordability. At Lexus of Peoria, a Bloomington used Lexus dealer, they know the story. Sales managers there know how quickly the IS 250 flies out of the showroom at its low price for a luxury sedan.
As one of a few used Lexus Bloomington dealers, Lexus of Peoria still sees incredible demand for these marvels of affordable luxury. I can’t argue with buyers looking at used Lexus Bloomington dealers for their next vehicle. A Lexus IS 250 is a great investment, and a pleasurable one. Lexus offers wonderful service, and getting so much luxury for just over $30K is rare. I would rate this car as the greatest luxury value I’ve ever come across.
The IS is actually getting even more variety in its model offering. As I blogged about recently the Lexus IS 250C, a convertible IS, is coming to new and used Lexus Bloomington dealer Lexus of Peoria later this month. The IS lineup has a number of attractive options that, combined with its affordability, make it a popular choice for a wide range of car buyers.
If you’re searching for the best Peoria used car value, visit Bloomington used Lexus dealer, Lexus of Peoria, to view a large pre-owned IS 250 inventory.
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Coming to a Champaign Lexus dealer near you, a luxurious summer breeze. That’s how I would describe the new Lexus IS 250C. Yeah, I took a creative writing class back in college. That’s why I can tell you how your eyes will dance with the vivacious tempo of a cha-cha as you take your first gaze from the driver’s cradle, and how as you make your first top-down plunge onto the unsuspecting roadway, your heart will thump with the intensity of a lumberjack’s axe as it strikes loudly, frenziedly, repeatedly at the base of an evergreen’s trunk.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that the Lexus IS 250C is way awesome.
This is the first IS convertible Lexus has offered and I know it’s going to be a winner. As a sleeker, more design-forward coupe, the IS convertible will be replacing the SC version. The new IS 250C shares a little in common with its roof-enclosed brother, the IS sedan, but mostly it has been updated to reflect the emerging Lexus design language and to appropriately house the fun a convertible provides.
About the only things in common with the sedan are seen from the front, where you find the same headlamps, mirrors and hood design. Other than that, the Lexus IS convertible design incorporates flowing lines that give the car a longer, smoother feel. It is especially a different look than the SC convertible, which seems shorter and less road-devouring by comparison. Below is a comprehensive video preview of the Is 250C’s beautiful shell:
The IS convertible will have a retractable hard top that can open or close in 21 seconds. The hard top, of course, is a feature that makes this car all the more attractive to any Peoria or Champaign Lexus car buyers, given the harsh winters we experience.
The IS 250C will be powered by the same engines present in the IS sedans, meaning the IS 250c will get a 2.5-liter, 204-horsepower V-6 with six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The 350C will offer a 3.5-liter, 306- horsepower V-6 with only six-speed automatic transmission.
The inside of this car should be just as clean and luxurious as the exterior if the IS sedan is any indication. I’ve never felt anything but pampered on the inside of any Lexus, and I’m sure the IS convertible won’t disappoint. An interior feature will also help drivers adapt to their choice of environment by regulating the climate control system and audio system to correspond with the roof’s position.
This will be one Peoria luxury auto on my test-drive short list. I’ve always been a fan of the IS sedans, and convertibles are such a thrill for me I can’t wait to hop in the topless IS.
In May, the IS 250C will arrive at Champaign Lexus dealers with a base price of around $38,000. You will want to visit your Champaign Lexus dealer, Lexus of Peoria, to get an up-close look at this fun ride. Take it for a spin and I’m positive the pure pulchritude of the Lexus IS 250c’s driving expereince will convince you to purchase five of them.
The 2010 Lexus RX is new, and it’s impressive. The exterior design does not change enough to make you ask what the vehicle is, but the RX has evolved into a smoother, swankier stance. I decided I better get out and drive one of these now that the weather was getting warmer. Of course, the RX is a pretty ideal luxury vehicle for winter conditions, but I am not an ideal person for winter conditions. In fact, in the winter I take several minutes to warm up and frequently refuse to start in the mornings.
My Peoria luxury car ride started off great thanks to temperatures in the 50s, however. I couldn’t notice much difference in the engine performance after leaving the Champaign Lexus dealer. Basically, Lexus gave the engine a bit more power on the RX 350 I was driving, but it also gained a little weight since last year (I can relate.), so performance is just about identical. And that’s not a bad thing. I’m still impressed by the acceleration and engine noise.
I didn’t notice this myself, but as the video below informed me, the rear window wiper is now hidden out of view. I love that, because I’ve always hated the way rear wipers look. The video is a great, comprehensive overview of the RX 350, accompanied by the echelon of musical genius my brother produced with his synthesizer in high school.
I love how high-tech and comfy this vehicle is on the inside. What Lexus calls its “heads-up display” lets you focus more on the road because every gauge you need shows up at eye level. The seats are pure luxury, nicer than my living room furniture. I told the car it was too hot and it lowered the temperature for me. I was the king at that moment in the driver’s seat. It felt good because I knew when I went home I would be giving out fewer commands and taking out more trash.
The 2010 RX has a hybrid offering again, but this year it is improved for greater fuel economy, with different driving modes to help that. The hybrid combines for 27 mpg overall. New for the hybrid is EV mode, which keeps the vehicle running on electric only for certain situations.
The 2010 RX350’s base price is $3,000 less than the 2009 even with new standard equipment, making it a very attractive Peoria luxury auto.
While previous Lexus hybrids have largely valued performance over achieving the best possible fuel economy, the first dedicated hybrid in the Lexus line, the HS 250h, promises to take mpgs to a new level.
Managers at the Champaign Lexus dealer said the HS 250h’s fuel efficiency will be more than 30-percent better than Lexus’ current most fuel-efficient model. The HS 250h’s best-in-class .27 drag coefficient and serious use of spoilers and diffusers seem to support that claim, and most industry speculations place the new hybrid at more than 40 mpg.
Lexus still is not revealing official mileage figures, only promising that the HS250h will be more fuel efficient than any other luxury autos sold in America. However, Lexus did say that the HS250h’s city mpg should be more efficient than that of the Smart ForTwo, which came in at 33 mpg. So if Lexus can get the Hs250h in the 40 mpg range, it’s good news for the environment. That luxury sedans can be eco-friendly is something other car manufacturers will have to acknowledge. Interestingly, it’s something car buyers already want. According to research, more than 60 percent of luxury-car buyers would consider a hybrid if one were available. Lexus seems to be at the front of the pack meeting the desires of luxury auto consumers.
That research backs up what the folks at Lexus of Peoria already knew from speaking with car buyers. As the Champaign Lexus dealer and Bloomington Lexus dealer, sales managers at Lexus of Peoria have noticed the demand from all around Central Illinois for a luxury hybrid. Now, they will have one to offer Peoria luxury car buyers within the year.
Now, with this new hybrid sedan, Lexus didn’t stop at fuel efficiency for green solutions. Lexus said the HS 250h uses the “very latest in sustainable materials,” as 30 percent of the materials in the HS come from plant-based resources, with 85 percent of the car being fully recyclable. The HS 250h becomes the first Lexus model to use ecological plastic in its design. This bio-material has a much smaller CO2 footprint than its petroleum-based equivalent.
But don’t let all my talk about fuel economy take away from this car’s dedication to luxury. Buyers who feel like they shouldn’t have to sacrifice luxury to get a hybrid will be happy to know that Lexus feels the same way.
Peoria luxury auto buyers will not be disappointed when they see the 2009 Lexus HS 250h. It will feature plenty of luxury to go along with all the green, including LED taillights, a heads up display, power seats and Lexus’ new Enform telematics. Optional equipment on the HS includes satellite navigation with traffic, stocks, sports and weather updates and LED headlights. The HS also includes a moon roof and insulation aimed at reducing noise and vibration. Adding to the luxurious ambiance is a sound-deadening inner layer in the windshield, exhaust flow optimized to cut noise, and even slower, softer-closing power window switches.
The HS 250h’s interior is what a car buyer would expect from a Lexus, sporting standard leather-trim seating, premium sound and a new multi-media package. The interior style is centered around a wide center console, which features a newly available Hard Disk Drive navigation system operating on a retractable screen that displays high and forward in the dash, closer to optimal driving eye level.
The HS250h will arrive at your Peoria, Bloomignton and Champaign Lexus dealership this fall. Illinois luxury car shoppers will be able to visit their Bloomington Illinois Lexus car dealer and Champaign Lexus provider, Lexus of Peoria, to test drive the exciting new fuel efficient Lexus then. And because the HS 250h is expected to be priced starting near $35,000, this luxury hybrid will keep the green in the environment and your pockets.
The 2009 Lexus LS 460
I had been hearing a lot about how great the 2009 Lexus LS 460 was, so I felt I had to get over to the Lexus of Peoria dealer to give it the old Curtis try.
I find the car immediately and indulgently delightful – the way I’ve always imagined it would be to eat a plate of Avanti’s lasagna while sitting in one of those massaging chairs at Brookstone. Mmmmm. The people at Consumer Reports must feel the same because they ranked the LS 460 the “Best Overall Vehicle” in 2009. Consumer Reports scored this car a 99 out of 100, saying the 2009 LS 460 “provides a luxurious, uncompromising driving environment.” Out of more than 300 vehicles the publication tested, the 2009 Lexus LS 460 led the way after examining each vehicle’s road-test score, reliability and safety.
All-wheel drive is available in the 2009 LS 460, the most notable upgrade from 2008. That was about the only thing lacking in a vehicle that already offered an automatic electric parking brake system which eliminates the need to press a foot-operated pedal. So with the addition of AWD, I’ll say this car has everything.
Once inside the inviting leather and wood-trimmed interior, the first thing I play with is the 16-way power driver’s seat, part of that no-compromises driving ambiance that makes this vehicle the best one around. It isn’t long until I get nice and comfortable, so it is time to get on the road.
The 4.6-liter V8 gets me out onto Allen Road in a manner surprisingly quick, as my sales representative passenger pretends with exaggerated dramatics to be nervous. Despite the presence of frequent potholes, the ride is incredibly smooth. I’m told the bump-free ride is because of the LS 460’s air-suspension system. I am also told how it works, but my grasp of science barely got me to the point of understanding how water boils. So the best I can tell you is that it does work, and it is the smoothest ride I’ve ever experienced.
I test the provided 380 horsepower once more as the light turns green, a pleasing, effortless acceleration that makes me smile widely and makes the sales rep pretend to be afraid again. The car we took out was a Lexus LS 460 L, which adds almost 5 inches of interior space to the regular LS 460. As we drive along, I’m informed this particular car is equipped with the Executive Class Seating Package, which, among many other features, includes: four-zone independent front and rear air conditioning, rear-door power sunshades with a fixed rear console and foldout table and a right-rear seat that comes with an ottoman leg rest and an enhanced massage mode. Massage mode!!! I pull over to the side of the road. The revelation makes me contemplate the aforementioned delight offered by Brookstone chairs I love so much, and as the sales representative drives back toward the Lexus of Peoria dealer, I ask from the rear-right seat if he would mind making a quick stop by Avanti’s.
The Pearl Automotive Family: Heritage Buick GMC, Heritage Mazda, Peoria Toyota, and Lexus of Peoria, is proud to announce that for every new and certified pre-owned vehicle sold during the Peoria Auto Show and the month of April, a $25 donation will be made to the following charities:
Children’s Hospital of Illinois
Thomas E. Whitten Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
For more information, contact us right now or call: 800-309-5138!
