Lexus has announced the addition of all-wheel drive (AWD) versions of its flagship luxury sedan, the LS 460 and long-wheelbase LS 460 L. The 2009 model year expands Lexus’ AWD lineup, making the LS 460 the fourth luxury sedan to offer AWD performance following the IS 250, GS 350 and LS 600h L.

The AWD versions of the LS 460 and LS 460 L will utilize a drivetrain almost identical to their hybrid counterpart, the LS 600h L. The AWD system features a highly compact center TORSEN® Limited-Slip Differential (LSD) that distributes drive torque between the front and rear wheels. In normal driving conditions, the front and rear torque distribution ratio is set at a rear-bias 40:60, but it can instantly and optimally vary between 30:70 and 50:50 depending on driving conditions, thus helping to ensure excellent traction performance and driving stability.

The AWD LS 460 and LS 460 L are powered by a 4.6-liter V8 mated to the world’s first eight-speed automatic transmission, identical to their rear-wheel drive equivalent. The AWD versions will produce 357 horsepower and 344 lb.-ft of torque and can accelerate from zero-to-60 mph in about 5.9 seconds.

In addition to the features found on the current LS 460, both AWD versions will come standard with air suspension, Variable Gear-Ratio Steering (VGRS), and Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS). The computer-controlled AVS system continuously adjusts shock-absorber damping rates to help provide comfort and handling precision. The VGRS system selects the steering gear ratio according to vehicle speed, enhancing responsiveness and driver control. VGRS also partners with the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system, making minor steering adjustments to help improve control during challenging road conditions.

The AWD models will also come standard with 18-inch wheels with all-season tires, a wood and leather-trimmed heated steering wheel and power rear sunshade.

The 2009 LS AWD models will be available in dealerships in October 2008.

This breakthrough NASCAR season for Toyota has been marred by scandal as Joe Gibbs Racing has been caught cheating. Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the teams that has been very successful using Toyota Camrys in competition. Toyota has dominated in the Nationwide Racing Series (the “minor league” of NASCAR), winning 15 of 25 races. Fourteen of those wins were made by Joe Gibbs Racing teams.

Toyota was so overpowering in the Nationwide Series that NASCAR officials last month ordered all Toyota teams to use a smaller spacer, which would cut about 15 horsepower from the motors. In a post race inspection, the Joe Gibbs team was caught trying to alter test results. Someone had placed magnets about a quarter-inch thick on the bottom of the gas pedals. These shims would prevent the pedal from being fully depressed, giving a false horesepower reading.

“Let me just say that, first and foremost, that that was a really poor, foolish decision on the part of our key guys there at JGR,” Gibbs said. “I want to apologize to NASCAR, to our partners, to Toyota guys. A couple guys chose to make a decision there that really impacts all of us.” He said no matter what action NASCAR takes, the team will address the situation in-house.

Lee White, president of Toyota Racing Development, said the company is grateful that the team stepped up and took responsibility and made it clear Toyota was not involved. Others in NASCAR are already pointing fingers, however, and it remains to be seen what the eventual consequences will be.

NASCAR officials will meet Monday and Tuesday to make a decision regarding penalties against Joe Gibbs Racing- which are likely to be severe. Joe Gibbs, Sr. stated, “We will take full responsibility and accept any penalties NASCAR levies against us.”

Toyota Motor Sales announced today that the 2009 Highlander mid-size SUV will offer a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. The new Highlander will arrive at dealerships in mid-to-late January.

The new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine will generate an impressive 187 horsepower at 5,800 RPM and 186 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,100 RPM on regular 87 octane fuel. A dual exhaust manifold will help achieve exceptional low-end torque and maximize its power output. In addition to its performance output, the Highlander equipped with the new four-cylinder will be EPA-rated as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEVII) and is expected to be among the leaders in fuel efficiency in the gas mid-size SUV segment. Official EPA fuel efficiency ratings will be announced closer to launch.

The new four-cylinder engine will be mated to an all-new six-speed electronically-controlled automatic overdrive transmission with intelligence (ECT-i). The new transmission will help deliver quiet and smooth performance on par with a V6 and acceleration that is surprisingly quick for a four-cylinder. When equipped with a tow package, the new powerplant will achieve a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

The new engine will come standard on the Highlander grade two-wheel-drive model equipped with two rows of seats. A third row seat package will also be available for families requiring additional seating capacity. Other key optional equipment will include an eight-way power driver’s seat, manual rear air conditioning, and an AM/FM/six-disc CD Changer with satellite radio capability, MP3/WMA capability and six speakers.

With the new four-cylinder engine, Highlander will be the only mid-size SUV in the current market to offer three powerplant choices. The 3.5-liter Highlander V6, available in two- and full-time four-wheel drive, is among the leaders in fuel efficiency among V6 gas engines in its segment. The full-time 4WD-i Highlander Hybrid, equipped with a V6 powerplant with front and rear electric motors, stands above all others for fuel efficiency among all mid-size SUVs.

Lexus introduced the first-ever LS 600h L Pebble Beach Edition and the sixth SC 430 Pebble Beach Edition at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Lexus Fashion Preview. Production of these 2009 Pebble Beach Edition vehicles are limited to 50 LS 600h L flagship hybrid luxury sedans and 300 SC 430 hardtop convertibles. Pebble Beach Edition owners have the opportunity to customize their vehicles by selecting from one of three distinctive merchandise packages: Callaway Golf Experience, Travel Package or Epicurean Encounter.

The LS 600h L’s styling is complemented by a unique exterior/interior color combination exclusive to the Pebble Beach Edition with a Truffle Mica exterior paint combined with an exclusive two-tone Alabaster and Black leather trim interior with Dark Grey Bird’s-eye maple wood trim. Additional styling includes 19-inch, five-spoke wheels with a unique finish, Pebble Beach interior badging, premium black floor mats with stainless steel badging, and blue illuminated scuff plates. The Pebble Beach LS hybrid comes standard with the Advanced Pre-Collision System (APCS) which incorporates the world’s first system designed to help detect pedestrians in the vehicle’s path, as well as world’s first Driver Monitor System that helps warn drivers if it senses an obstacle ahead of the car and that the driver’s head is not facing forward. The APCS system helps prepare the car for evasive action or collision by triggering appropriate sensors in the car and retracting the front seatbelts. Furthermore, the Pebble Beach Edition LS 600h L is equipped with the Advanced Parking Guidance System, Rear-Seat Entertainment System (RSES), power rear-door sunshades and rear-seat side airbags.

Celebrating its sixth year, the 2009 Pebble Beach Edition SC 430 receives an exterior/interior color combination with a Mercury Metallic exterior paint and an exclusive two-tone Ecru and Black leather trim interior with Black Bird’s-eye maple wood trim. The retractable hardtop convertible includes special-edition brushed chrome badging on the front fenders and center console, and an Ecru The Lone Cypress™ logo embroidered on black carpeted floor mats. It also features a color-keyed rear spoiler, 18-inch Machined Tourmaline alloy wheels, and white illuminated scuff plates. All-season run-flat or summer run-flat tires are available.

In February 2008, the Pebble Beach Edition RX 350 and ES 350 models were introduced into the collection. The LS 600h L is the fourth vehicle model to receive a Pebble Beach Edition package.

The 2009 SC 430 and LS 600h L Pebble Beach Edition vehicles go on sale in September and October 2008, respectively.

Lexus Personalization Program
Owners of an RX or ES Pebble Beach Edition can enjoy the Lexus Personalization Program. Three distinct categories of packages are available: The Callaway Golf Experience, Travel Sets, and Epicurean Encounter.
The Callaway Golf® Experience
Four exclusive packages are available to choose from. One dozen personalized Callaway Golf Tour ix Golf Balls can be combined with a Callaway Golf Ft-I driver or Callaway Golf Hyper X driver and one X Hybrid. Three Callaway Golf X-Forged wedges and one Odyssey White Hot XG 2-Ball putter are matched to one dozen personalized Callaway Golf Tour ix Golf Balls. One case (12 dozen) of personalized Callaway Golf Tour ix Golf Balls is also available.
Travel Package
Pebble Beach Edition owners can choose from three luxury luggage packages. A café-colored three-piece leather luggage set includes two cabin duffels, one carriage duffel, and personalized embossed luggage tags. Two pairs of Callaway Golf Eyewear complement the café-colored leather briefcase or the café-colored leather tote bag.
Epicurean Encounter
Those owners interested in improving their culinary skills can select a six-piece Viking® Santoku Cutlery Set including 10-slot maple knife block or a four-piece Viking Cookware set. Both come with a Viking Cooking School $200 gift card redeemable for cooking classes or merchandise online at vikingrange.com. The package also offers the option of a café-colored leather wine tote and a diverse selection of wines from member wineries of the highly regarded Napa Valley Vintners.

Barack Obama inadvertantly stirred up a national debate about tire inflation when he said, “There are things that you can do individually though to save energy; making sure your tires are properly inflated, simple thing, but we could save all the oil that they’re talking about getting off drilling (under Bush Administration plans to allow offshore drilling), if everybody was just inflating their tires and getting regular tune-ups. You could actually save just as much.”

The McCain campaign and the Republican national Committee struck back immediately, ridiculing the comments by issuing “Obama Energy Plan” tire gauges to the media and to donors. “Will simply inflating your tires reduce the financial burden of high gas prices on your wallet?” McCain campaign manager Rick Davis asked.

The Obama campaign responded, “the fact is that the idea they’re attacking is supported by, among others, top McCain surrogate Joe Lieberman, conference call host Mike Rogers, Governors Charlie Crist and Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Department of Energy, and NASCAR— all of whom have urged Americans to help save energy by minding tire pressure.”

Ultimately, it is Obama who may once again get in the last word on the subject. Simply put, he is right and Republican attempts to mock him are only serving to point that out. Regardless of your political beliefs, this debate reflects a growing trend toward fuel-efficiency through driving patterns- a technique known as hypermiling.

Many hypermiling techniques can be used simply, safely and effectively by the average driver to boost fuel efficiency. Properly inflated tires can boost fuel efficiency by 3%; regular maintenance can add an additional 4%. There are other ways to increase fuel efficiency- reducing idling time can save 5% and avoiding speeding or unnecessary acceleration can save upwards of 20%.

The question is- are we motivated enough to do what it takes to make these fuel savings? How expensive must a gallon of gas become before we are motivated enough to follow these simple steps rather than ridicule them?

Toyota Motor Sales reported July sales of 197,424 vehicles, a decrease of 18.7 percent from last July, on a daily selling rate basis.

The Toyota Division posted July sales of 175,242 units, a decrease of 17.9 percent from last July. The Lexus Division reported July sales of 22,182 units, a decrease of 24.6 percent from the year-ago month.

Toyota Division
Toyota Division passenger cars recorded July sales of 114,880 units, down 5.4 percent from the same period last year. Passenger-car sales were led by Camry and Camry Hybrid, which posted combined sales of 42,131 units. Camry Hybrid reported July sales of 2,645 units. Corolla recorded sales of 34,438 units for the month, up seven percent over July 2007. With limited availability, the Prius mid-size gas-electric hybrid posted July sales of 14,785 units. Yaris reported July sales of 8,620 units.

“Having the industry’s most fuel-efficient lineup is of value to us so long as we have the right product mix in our showrooms,” said TMS President Jim Lentz. “That’s why we’re accelerating production of 4-cylinder models and quickly responding to market conditions with repurposed U.S. plants and plans for a U.S.-built Prius.”

Toyota Division light trucks recorded July sales of 60,362 units, down 34.3 percent from July 2007. Light truck sales were led by the Tundra full-size pickup with July sales of 13,413 units. The Tacoma mid-size pickup reported sales of 11,662 units for the month. Highlander and Highlander Hybrid posted combined sales of 6,763 units in July. The Highlander Hybrid gas-electric mid-size SUV reported July sales of 1,371 units, up five percent over last July. Sequoia posted sales of 2,823 units for the month, up 50.4 percent over the same period last year.

Scion posted July sales of 11,906 units. The xB urban utility vehicle led the way with July sales of 5,081 units. The tC sports coupe posted July sales of 4,787 units. The xD reported sales of 2,038 units for the month.

Lexus Division
Lexus passenger cars reported July sales of 13,219 units, a decrease of 27.2 percent from July 2007. Passenger-car sales were led by the ES entry luxury sedan with July sales of 5,563 units. The IS entry luxury sport sedan reported combined sales of 4,750 units. The LS flagship luxury sedan reported combined sales of 1,466 units. The GS luxury sport sedan reported combined July sales of 1,297 units.

Lexus Division light trucks recorded July sales of 8,963 units, down 20.3 percent from the year-ago month. Lexus sales were led by the RX luxury utility vehicle, which posted combined July sales of 7,101 units. The RX 400h hybrid luxury utility vehicle reported July sales of 1,439 units. The LX 570 reported sales of 843 units, an increase of 277.7 percent versus the same period last year.

TMS Hybrids
TMS calendar-year-to-date hybrid sales totaled 165,522 units. TMS posted July sales of 20,363 hybrid vehicles. Toyota Division recorded sales of 18,801 hybrids for the month. Lexus Division reported July sales of 1,562 hybrids.

There were 26 selling days this month, as compared to 24 selling days last July.