On behalf of the whole team here at Lexus of Orlando, we wish you all a fun and safe holiday! Happy Halloween!

Toyota Donates $1 Million to Support Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

Toyota today announced a $1 million contribution to the American Red Cross and other nonprofit organizations to support relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Sandy in the regions worst-hit by the storm. In addition, Toyota will match employee contributions to the American Red Cross and other non-profits doing relief and recovery work in affected communities.

Commenting on the donation, Shigeki Terashi, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor North America, Inc., said, “On behalf of Toyota, we express our sincere condolences to the families affected by Hurricane Sandy. Since we have operations and many dealerships in the affected regions, we felt a special responsibility to lend a hand. In addition to this contribution, many Toyota employees are already involved in volunteer activities to support those in need. We very much appreciate their support.”

Beginning Nov. 1, Toyota Financial Services (TFS) and Lexus Financial Services (LFS) will launch a “Customer Outreach” calling campaign to lease and retail customers who are delinquent, or become delinquent, due to circumstances related to the storm and who reside in the 13 states directly impacted by the hurricane (CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT and WV) and in the District of Columbia. This campaign will determine if these customers may be eligible to take advantage of payment relief options, some of which include:

• extensions and lease deferred payments;
• redirecting billing statements;
• and arranging phone or on-line payments.

Toyota Financial customers with questions about their account should call (800) 874-8822. Lexus Financial customers with questions about their account should call (800) 874-7050. Qualified residents residing in FEMA-designated areas (of the above-mentioned states and the District) needing to purchase a vehicle may also take advantage of a 90 Day Deferred First Payment Program designed to assist customers with their transportation needs as they work through the recovery process. This program is for a limited time and only available through participating Toyota and Lexus dealers and TFS/LFS.

Toyota Operations
Toyota continues to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to its operations on the East Coast and reports no known injuries to associates, family members and dealer employees. The storm had the biggest impact on company operations and dealerships in the New Jersey area. Some regional/branch offices, as well as Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships, were affected by flooding and power outages. Toyota Logistics Services operations at the Port of Newark (N.J.) sustained water damage to its buildings and a number of vehicles.

Courtesy of Toyota Pressroom

UCF Knights Win Big 54-17 Against Thundering Herd

The Knights improved to 6-2 Saturday night after obliterating the Marshall Thundering Herd (3-5) 54-17, remaining undefeated in Conference USA.

In a game riddled with explosive plays, not one but two kickoffs were returned by Quincy McDuffie for touchdowns, and Latavius Murray played a central role in igniting the offense, finding his way into the end zone four times.

McDuffie accounted for the only points put on the board in the first quarter of the game for UCF, returning a 97 yard kickoff for a touchdown in response to a Marshall 43 yard field goal.

The offense got rolling in the second quarter after a 29 yard bomb to J.J. Worton set up a Latavius Murray rushing touchdown from the 2 yard line. Bortles looked impressive on the offense’s first scoring drive, completing 4 passes for 76 yards, moving down the field in only 3 minutes and 22 seconds.

After that initial second quarter score the proverbial floodgates opened, and UCF was able to head into halftime with a comfortable 27-10 lead.

The momentum kept up in the third quarter, when McDuffie returned the opening half kick for a touchdown to put the Knights up 34-10, seemingly putting the game out of reach for the Thundering Herd. Marshall was silenced in the quarter, gaining only 56 total yards, turning the ball over on downs on their first drive and punting it away with their second.

The offense was relentless in their two possessions during the third quarter, marching down the field for a Latavius Murray rushing and receiving touchdown.

A highly successful rushing game took over in the fourth quarter to eat up the clock and bring the Knights their sixth win of the season on a 15 play, 99 yard drive that ate up over ten minutes of the clock and culminated in a 21 yard Brynn Harvey touchdown.

Bortles ended his day with 277 yards through the air, two touchdowns and two interceptions, continuing his solid first season as starting quarterback. The story of the day however, was the monster day Latavius Murray had in the backfield, racking up 194 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns, once as a receiver and three times on the ground.

UCF heads the Eastern Division of Conference USA after the victory, holding a slight edge over East Carolina, who is 4-1 in division play. The next game for the Knights will be their homecoming game against Southern Methodist University at 7 PM on Saturday, November 3 rd.

Courtesy of Knight News

Come on into Lexus of Orlando and see the beautiful 2013 Lexus LS 460s we have! You won't want to miss these luxurious rides!

Catch a glimpse of of the LFA Nürburgring's big win against the Eclipse 500 jet on October 8, 2012. It will have you on the edge of your seat!

When's the last time you purchased new tires? If you are due for some, then take advantage of this great offer from Lexus of Orlando while it lasts!

Help us raise some money for the Red Cross, especially with Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast! We are still donating $5 for every new "like" we receive on our page! We only need about 300 more "likes" until we reach our goal of 1,000!

Click here to "Like" our page!

Check out latest information on the 2013 LS Enhancements!

Lexus LS Marketing Campaign Lives Loudly

Generations of the Lexus LS have inspired an entire industry through visionary innovation, craftsmanship and design. And now the flagship not only has a new face, but has more than 3,000 new parts. The LS line-up also includes the first-ever LS F SPORT, and a marketing campaign to highlight the thrilling, exclusive lifestyle LS drivers live. The LS campaign caps off a successful year of launches showcasing the brand’s bold new face and attitude for the future.

“We’ve given the Lexus flagship a whole new look inside and out, but its uncompromising commitment to world-class luxury remains the same,” said Brian Smith, Lexus vice president of marketing. “We have created a launch campaign that, like the 2013 LS, demands to be seen.”

Defy Convention
With the all new GS, ES and a refreshed RX that introduced a bold new look and attitude for the future, 2013 has been a year of launches for Lexus. But before the year is over, the LS launch will solidify the brand’s new direction. Airing today, the campaign’s two general market spots target those looking to live life to the fullest with experiences that matter. A third spot, “Everything” is geared to the African-American audience and will also air at launch.

“Flashbulbs” boils life down to a series of moments, loud moments, both literally and figuratively. A day-in-the-life of high-end and exclusive experiences for one couple includes front-row seats at a fashion show, a passport stamp leading to an exotic vacation, a modern home in the hills, a swanky jazz club and a glamorous red carpet arrival. The pop of a camera flash transitions through each scene and captures each photo-worthy experience. The LS, considered to be one of the world’s quietest cars, still comforts its occupants but announces its presence in a confident, bold manner.

The second spot, “Paddle Shifters,” features the all-new LS F SPORT and shows that people who don’t go quietly constantly seek bigger, better experiences. They're not happy with the conventional. They do things faster, louder and more uniquely. Each time the LS F SPORT paddle shifter is hit the scene transitions and the music, sound and scenery gets louder and faster: a speed boat racing across the water, a stylish couple’s night out, friends cheering on their favorite team. By the end the action reaches a frenetic pace with people living life in 8th gear. The LS F SPORT is the car for those who enjoy a life well-lived, and don’t mind being noticed in the process.

Campaign Pillars
To engage the target audience, the campaign’s media extensions will focus around four pillars to highlight an emotionally exciting, upscale lifestyle: fashion, entertainment, epicurean and travel.

A first-ever sponsorship of the GQ “Men of the Year” celebrates the men who define cultural relevance, taking an aspirational approach in talking to our target. The sponsorship includes a three-page spread, digital homepage takeovers and an exclusive automotive presence at the Men of the Year and GQ Nights events.

An exclusive, 360 degree partnership with USA’s “Suits” includes vehicle integration and custom on-air vignettes. Combining broadcast, digital and social channels, an interactive game component will offer digital narrative, custom videos, Facebook and Twitter posts along with a character chatter page that will include a live season finale fan chat.

In the epicurean and travel worlds, Lexus will be the presenting sponsor of a new editorial platform from Travel + Leisure and CNN called “100 Places to Eat Like a Local.” This special series of print, digital and broadcast content will uncover the best authentic, under-the-radar places to eat around the globe. “100 Places to Eat Like a Local” will encourage consumers to submit videos, photos, and reviews of their favorite local spots that may be featured on-air, online or in print. The final list of the top “100 Places to Eat Like a Local” will appear in the April 2013 issue of Travel + Leisure.

Elevating travel experiences to a new level, a partnership with Condé Nast Traveler will allow a reader to win the chance to “travel with Traveler.” The winner will report back via social and digital media for the world to see, creating new, engaging content as the campaign goes on.

The digital initiatives will also have a heavy prominence with standard web executions, including banners and Full Episode Players.

Print executions will feature the LS and include a strong lifestyle focus in publications such as Wired and Architectural Digest, as well as in new luxury publications DuJour and Black Card Mag.

In addition to out-of-home focused billboards, and high-impact units in New York City’s Times Square and Washington D.C., placements in private airports and executive lounges will target exclusive business, corporate and private jet travelers.

Both broadcast spots will have a prominent presence in high-profile sports properties such as the NFL, including NBC Sunday Night Football, ESPN Monday Night Football, the NFL on Fox, and NFL network. They’ll also have heavy coverage on ESPN College Football and NCAA basketball on CBS. These placements will be bolstered with Halftime sponsorships on NFL Network Thursday Night Football and ESPN College Football. In addition, the campaign will align with more than 25 cable networks, including CNN, USA, E!, TNT, Food Network, ESPN, Style and others.

Courtesy of Toyota Pressroom

Don't you just love the Lexus LX 570? Come into Lexus of Orlando today and see them for yourself!

First Drive: 2013 Lexus LS 460 F Sport

With Lexus in the process of revamping its entire lineup of vehicles, you could bet dollars to donuts the company's new 'spindle grille' look would find its way to the flagship Lexus, the LS sedan.

Recently, that grille and a host of other improvements finally did show up in the form of the 2013 LS 460. Unlike the recent GS and ES models, which received wholesale changes from their previous versions, this latest LS is really just an update. Fortunately it's in all the right places.

Clearly the car's face is the biggest difference. It leaves behind the tepid, generic trapezoidal grille and headlamps and finds more aggression in a bolder face. Lexus blackened out the bumper section between the upper and lower grille sections, giving the car an open-mouth look. As with other Lexus products getting this spindle look, the LS also gains a bit of a chin.

The headlamps see an update and the inclusion of LED daytime-running lamps, as seen on other recent Lexus vehicles. The lens shape is now more three-dimensional and extends a bit farther up the front quarter panels. While the look is certainly cleaner and more windswept, it's hard not to see inadvertent traces of the new Nissan Altima in what this 2013 LS has going on up front. Probably best to keep this to yourself if the neighbor or boss invites you over to check out his new ride.

The rear of the car also gets a kick of additional machismo, though less so than the front. The taillamps are now sleeker, with a more contemporary look, while the pair of rectangular chrome exhaust tips appear more integrated into the bumper.

Inside, the updates continue, with the LS's interior getting a thorough makeover. Most notably, the car now has a 12.3-inch LCD screen in the center of the dashboard. It displays the navigation system, climate, phone and stereo, with redundant buttons for the climate arranged below it. The screen's display can be split between functions, using two-thirds of it for navigation and the other third for climate or stereo. This allows a nice degree of multitasking. Unfortunately, the screen uses the same outdated graphics as other Lexus products.

Controlling this screen is the company's 'Remote Touch Interface,' a joystick-like device mounted on the center console. As I've mentioned in previous reviews of other Lexus' (Lexi?) with this device, it's wise in theory, but frustrating in the real world. More traditional controllers like those in rivals including the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series and Audi's A8 work better. Unfortunately, the outdated graphics of the Lexus system remain.

The cabin itself is certainly a nice place to spend some time, but its construction and materials still feel a half-step below a comparable Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Audi. Good thing then, that the price of the LS is also a half-step below those guys. The LS 460 AWD starts at around $75,000 while a similar car from the aforementioned trio would start at $99,000, $90,000 and $82,000 respectively.

Mechanically, the LS is much the same as the 2012 version; a 4.6-liter V-8 makes 386 horsepower (six more than before) and 367 pound-feet of torque and routes it to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. These power figures drop to 360 and 347, respectively, on all-wheel-drive models.

One key change for the 2013 iteration is Lexus' desire to kick up the performance a notch. The company has introduced a thrill-seeking variant called the LS F Sport. Similar in theory to the smaller GS F Sport, this version adds to the LS items like an adjustable air suspension that's 10 millimeters lower, a Torsen limited-slip differential, Brembo front-brake calipers, a mesh grille, 19-inch BBS alloy wheels, unique seats with thicker side bolstering, blind-spot monitoring, a 19-speaker sound system, paddle shifters and an Alcantara headliner. This package is available on the standard rear-wheel-drive models as well as the all-wheel-drive models, and runs you an extra $13,500.

We grabbed an LS F-Sport AWD to test ($89,310 total) and found the package works well to make the car feel smaller on the road than it actually is. This is an impressive feat on a vehicle that weighs some 4,700 pounds and has only 360 horsepower to work with. While the car is never neck-snapping fast in any setting, once it's up to speed it can handle itself with poise.

Drivers can toggle the car's settings from Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport+, with each setting progressively dialing up the car's throttle response, steering, transmission shift points and suspension firmness.

The throttle response on the LS F-Sport could have been more aggressive, especially in Sport+, and this setting also keeps the engine revving higher than you might expect. The paddle shifters are a nice touch, but when you go to use them, they initiate shifts that should be quicker if this is supposed to be a performance-oriented model.

The steering in Sport+ has a nice bit of feel to it (a trait one can't take for granted on all Lexus LS models) and this helps the car feel nimble. Meanwhile, the air suspension imbued the driver with an appreciable degree of confidence, holding the car to the road well, regardless of which setting the suspension was in. Should you get a little too cocky, the Brembo front brakes felt firm and linear throughout the drive.

Overall, buyers looking to gain more control and poise for aggressive driving will be pleased with what the F Sport package has to offer. When paired with the timely and well-chosen design updates inside and out, the 2013 LS F Sport is a well-executed mid-life adjustment.

Courtesy of the LA Times

Big Blue C (Concept)

The evolution of a Lexus vehicle is a wonderful thing. Case in point: Last week, Lexus revealed the next stage of its LF-LC concept (in Australia), which builds on the first LF-LC revealed earlier this year.

First of all, it’s got a striking Opal Blue exterior, which is why this latest concept is officially called the Lexus LF-LC Blue. Also new are materials derived from the Lexus LFA: a combination of carbon fiber and aluminum to achieve a light body mass.

Another innovation: Lexus Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive, which features a powerful Atkinson cycle combustion engine that’s mated to an advanced high-energy battery pack. This high-energy battery pack is designed to deliver greater power from a smaller battery than those currently used in Lexus’ range of hybrid vehicles. Combined, the LF-LC Blue concept’s gas/electric hybrid powertrain generates 500 hp—the most of any Lexus hybrid.

Beyond that, intriguing design innovations abound, from the pop-up touch-screen keyboard to the wrap-around glass roof. Perhaps most interesting, though, is what Lexus Australia’s Tony Cramb had to say about the vehicle: “LF-LC is part concept, part reality: the concept hints at what’s to come from Lexus, while the reality has us actively studying how we can engineer and build a vehicle like this in the future.”

In other words, whenever Lexus mentions “concept” and “reality” in the same sentence, Lexus fans can look forward to some exciting developments on the horizon.

Courtesy of Lexus Magazine

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we donated some pink Lexus items to be raffled off at the Windermere Art Festival. Check out the photos below!

A winner of one of the pink Lexus mugs!

A second winner of another pink Lexus mug!

Our awesome volunteers helping out with the raffle!

A winner of one of the pink Lexus hats!

“That was the most fun I’ve ever had in a car, and probably almost out of a car too.” – Unleash the LFA winner, Mark Clemons. Watch this lucky Lexus fan take the ride of his life.

The Annual Winter Park Concours d’Elegance is fast approaching! Have you purchased your tickets yet?

Click here to purchase your tickets!

Come into Lexus of Orlando and checkout our special offers on the 2012 LS 460! Stop by for details today!

Would you like to win a one-night stay at the Ritz Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes? Then come to our New Owner Welcome this Thursday and you have the opportunity to win our grand prize! We hope to see you there.

Click Here for Details!

Toyota Boosts Home Reconstruction in Joplin Since Devastating Tornado

Like most residents of Joplin, Tara Johnston’s mind is frozen in time when she thinks back to that late Sunday afternoon on May 22, 2011 – the day a catastrophic tornado destroyed thousands of homes, including her house on S. Jackson Ave.

“Losing my home was one thing; the worst part was I thought I lost my daughter,” she said. “It was horrifying.”

While her daughter and the rest of her family survived the tornado, she was faced with the daunting task of rebuilding her home – made even tougher because she had no insurance. Johnston told her story from the front porch of that very home today at a press conference. The house, which is just weeks away from being completely rebuilt, is the result of many helping hands coming together to get one more displaced family back into their home.

As part of the celebration, a partnership between Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA) and Rebuild Joplin, a local non-profit group whose mission it is to get storm survivors back into their homes, was outlined. Toyota has worked with the group the past six months in an effort to reduce the amount of time it takes to rebuild homes and get Joplin residents out of temporary housing. In addition, Toyota donated $100,000 to Rebuild Joplin and its home-building efforts.

“Rebuild Joplin helps people like me who can’t get loans; they help you either rebuild your home, or if damaged, help you fix it up at no cost or little cost to you,” said Johnston, a single mother and full-time student whose two children and grandchild live with her.

The partnership is working.

“This has allowed us to take donated dollars and donated time from volunteers and make it more efficient,” said Jerrod Hogan, co-founder, Rebuild Joplin.

Hogan said that by using lessons from the Toyota Production System (TPS), Rebuild Joplin has reduced construction time by three weeks on average. Bottom line, he said, “These improvements are making an incredible difference in our ability to rebuild homes for families in Joplin quickly and affordably.

“We are so excited to be partnering with Toyota. Now, one of our biggest challenges is securing enough volunteers so we can get people back in their homes. We not only need corporate support, we need the help of volunteers to get the job done. We still have more than 160 families in FEMA trailers and hundreds of families who don’t have funds to rebuild their homes.”

Toyota, through its non-profit arm – the Toyota Production System Support Center (TSSC) – partnered with Rebuild Joplin in May with the intent to help the group make substantial improvements by increasing quality, productivity, safety and reducing customer wait time in the rebuilding of houses.

Rebuild Joplin is just one of 189 companies or not-for-profits that have been aided by Toyota.

“We’ve seen over and over again where our manufacturing techniques can help any kind of organization – whether it’s a manufacturer or a non-profit group,” said Steve St. Angelo, executive vice president, TEMA, and a managing officer for Toyota Motor Corp. “There is a lot of demand for this and we are sharing it free of charge.”

Since Toyota came on board, the time it takes for Rebuild Joplin to reconstruct a home has dropped from an average of 62 days to 41 days – a 34 percent improvement.

This time reduction can be credited to the following:

• Improved processes: the collaboration has consisted of sharing TPS know-how and working closely with Rebuild Joplin’s professional staff, skilled construction supervisors and AmeriCorps volunteer members to improve homebuilding efficiencies;
• Better scheduling of volunteers and construction contractors: while there was no organized system before, today, as you enter Rebuild Joplin’s headquarters, “management boards” track everything from volunteer/worker schedules to inventory to status reports on homes being rebuilt.

TSSC’s Sylvester DuPree, who has worked closely with Rebuild Joplin since the onset, points to another success. “One of our main goals coming into Rebuild Joplin was to reduce the amount of time it took from when a home owner applied to when construction began on their house,” he said. “Couple that with reducing the amount of construction time and we are getting people back into their homes faster.”

New Orleans Connection
Rebuild Joplin is the first affiliate of the St. Bernard Project (SBP), a non-profit organization that was founded in 2006 by Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney, an attorney and teacher, respectively, from Washington D.C., after they saw the tremendous needs in the New Orleans region following Hurricane Katrina. Following a month of service in the area, the pair started the nonprofit, focusing on finding a solution to fulfilling the needs expressed by community members.

SBP believes that by sharing lessons learned and best practices, disaster recovery in America will be more effective in reducing human toll. Through St. Bernard Project’s Disaster Recovery Lab, a community hit by a natural disaster can get a head start by using these lessons learned and utilized in New Orleans, and, now, Joplin.

“We have seen the toll of delay in post-disaster recovery; clients have died waiting, seniors have had their ‘golden years’ irreparably tarnished, and young people have spent their formative years in untenable living situations,” Rosenburg said. “Understanding the urgent need for a new model – recognizing that disaster recovery in America is broken and that families in other parts of the country impacted by disaster yearn for home as strongly as families in New Orleans – St. Bernard Project decided to share its model with other disaster-impacted communities.”

Developed in collaboration with skill-based corporate partners, Disaster Recovery Lab is an answer to reduce recovery time and minimize the devastating impact of delayed recovery on businesses, government and the social and civic fabric of a community.

Communities at-risk will be trained to develop resilience by understanding and mitigating risks, by learning SBP’s model, understanding challenges that they will face and by developing an initial recovery plan.

Disaster-struck communities will learn SBP’s model, receive a playbook/framework for action and will benefit from technical and on-the-ground support.

“We are a one-year-old organization operating with four-plus years of experience,” said Hogan. “It makes an enormous impact on our ability to serve families.”

Courtesy of Toyota Pressroom

Are you looking for a little fright this Halloween? Then look no further than Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights! Tickets are on sale now.

Stunning Lexus Hybrid Looks Worthy of James Bond

Lexus has unveiled a new eco-friendly hybrid concept car that looks like it was just pulled out of a James Bond movie.

With its opal blue exterior inspired by the semi-precious opal stone from outback Australia, the Lexus LF-LC Blue appeared this week at the 2012 Australian International Motor Show. It’s the second version of an LF-LC model that first debuted at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year.

“The concept hints at what’s to come from Lexus, while the reality has us actively studying how we can engineer and build a vehicle like this in the future,” Tony Cramb, chief executive of Lexus Australia, said in a statement.

The sleek car runs on a combination of traditional gasoline and an improved, smaller battery pack. To save on weight, the LF-LC Blue uses more carbon fiber than its previous hybrid models. As the most powerful Lexus hybrid to date, it sports a 500-horsepower Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive.

The concept also features a remote touch-screen device that allows the driver to operate controls and two 12.3-inch LCD screens, which provide information and navigation display.

But don’t get your hopes up too much. This beautiful concept car isn’t coming to market anytime soon — it only teases what we might expect from Lexus in the future.

Courtesy of Mashable.com

Congratulations to Nemours Children's Hospital for their Grand Opening today!

On Friday, November 9, 2012 at the Shingle Creek Golf Course, the Salute to the Armed Forces Golf Tournament will be taking place! This is a great cause to support so mark your calendars. We hope to see you there!

They are here! The newly redesigned 2013 LS460's! Stop in and take a ride today!

What are you waiting for? The Winter Park Concours d'Elegance tickets are on sale now! Don't miss out on this wonderful and fun event!

Click Here for Details!

Lexus has debuted the LF-LC Blue concept at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. Get an inside look at this beautiful blue vehicle by watching the video below!

Lexus introduced the LF-LC Blue hybrid concept at the Australian International Motor Show.

What will you be doing this Halloween? Take your family to do some trick-or-treating around Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom and enjoy all the wonderful costumes! Tickets are on sale now.

Amping Up the Lexus LS

It’s a statement of intent that borders on the aggressive, and it’s a sign of the Lexus times written in big letters. That bold declaration is F SPORT, and it now adorns the 2013 Lexus LS 460.

Who’d have thought it?

After all, the Lexus LS’ trademark qualities since day one—serenity, smoothness, genius tech features designed to anticipate your needs—are what the LS is iconically known for. To infuse the Lexus LS with some F SPORT attitude goes against the LS heritage, right?

Wrong, says Shuichi Ozaki, a Lexus meister who played a decisive role in developing the car.

“When you think of the word ‘sport,’ a macho image comes to mind, but that is not what we wanted,” he says. “Throughout development, we thought about balance. The result is a car with commanding sportiness but also comfort, convenience, and safety levels that befit the flagship profile. Think ‘exhilarating luxury.’”

The exhilaration comes from features that create the look and, more important, driving “feel” of the car. They include paddle-shifters, ride height lowered by almost half an inch, 19-inch wheels, a TORSEN limited slip differential^[1] that distributes torque between the rear wheels to help enhance traction, and high-performance Brembo six-piston caliper brakes.

The ride height is a big deal. Ozaki explains: “We decided to give the LS F SPORT a lower center of gravity to match its personality. It’s not as drastic as a road-hugging 20 or 30 millimeters, but the driving effect is noticeable. The outcome, for me, is a sensual car.”

Thus speaks the meister, man of “feel,” but what about the balance of sporting sensuality and flagship luxury?

“To be honest, it led to some heated discussion. Lexus is changing right now and these are emotional times. Some of the developers were extremist, some cautious. Yes, we can realize the vision of a pure sports car by hardening the suspension or configuring extremely sensitive brakes, but we have always needed to remind ourselves that this is the LS. It has been a repeated process of locking horns, asking questions, finding solutions by stepping out of our comfort zones, and moving forward.”

With guiding hands, Ozaki and his fellow meisters have felt their way through it all, giving shape to a dynamic vision of the Lexus flagship that few would have thought possible when the first model was launched in 1989.

Courtesy of Lexus Magazine

Vanessa Echols charity, Compassionate Hands and Hearts Breast Cancer Outreach, supports those needing help battling breast cancer by improving the quality of life for them and their families.

Click here to check out this amazing charity!

In support of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Australia’s Lexus of Brisbane dealership has wrapped the LFA in matte pink!

Our New Owner Welcome is right around the corner! Don't miss out on this great event!

Click Here for Details!

Take advantage of attractive offers at Lexus of Orlando

Can you imagine yourself in a beautiful new Lexus RX 350, ES 350 or IS 250? Sure you can! Click here to view our new vehicle specials. 

Monday Maintenance Tip: Tire Myths and Facts

Myth: I should inflate my tires according to the pressure indicated on the tire sidewall.
Fact: The handwriting's not on the wall--the tire sidewall, that is. Molded into the sidewall is the tire's maximum inflation pressure, not the manufacturer-recommended pressure. For normal operation, follow inflation pressure recommendations in the owner's manual or on the vehicle placard located in the glovebox or on the door post.

Myth: A tread pattern is needed to provide great traction on dry roads.
Fact: A racing slick--a tire without any tread--provides the ultimate in dry traction due to the maximum amount of rubber touching the road. A tread pattern, with its groove voids, actually compromises this adhesion capability on dry roads. The role of tire tread is to act as a squeegee on wet roads to remove water from under the tire and channel it through the grooves for improved wet traction.

 

Myth: Performance tires wear out faster because of the sticky compounds.
Fact: Performance tires may wear out faster than conventional family-car tires; however, tread rubber polymers aren't the culprits. In fact, new polymers and ultratensile steel constructions make performance tires last longer than ever. Industrywide, performance tires average about 45,000 miles in tread life, similar to the figures for family-car passenger tires. Fast wear usually is due to high-horsepower vehicles fitted with the tires and aggressive driving. Jackrabbit starts and quick stops can shorten the life of any tire.

 

Myth: Wide tires provide better traction under all weather conditions. In fact, putting oversize snow tires on a car delivers better snow traction.
Fact: The opposite is actually true. Wide tires tend to "float" on deep snow, and the tread lugs never have a chance to "dig" through to the road surface to gain traction. Narrow tires are a better option in deep snow. The tire acts similarly to a knife cutting through butter; the blade works best when using the narrow edge to push through the butter rather than the wide flat side of the blade.  

 

Myth: All-season tires are so good that winter tires are never needed.
Fact: In some parts of the country, this may be true, but if you live in the northernmost states or in Canada, the traction provided by winter tires can't be beat. Winter tires reign supreme in rural areas where snow remains on the road for days. They provide 25-percent-improved traction in deep snow over all-season tires. Metal-studded tires deliver up to 40 percent greater traction on hard-packed snow and ice over all-season tires, but many locales have restrictions regarding the use of studs.

 

Myth: Never rotate tires from side to side, only front to back.
Fact: Radial tires can be crossed from side to side in the rotation pattern. The old front-to-back rule applied to bias ply tires. Regular tire rotation--every 6000 to 8000 miles--promotes more uniform wear for all tires on a vehicle. (Goodyear recently designed a light-truck tire system that requires no rotation; the Wrangler RF-A provides a rear tire with a different tread design from the front tire).

Myth: Put your new tires on the drive-wheel position to get the most traction.
Fact: This is only true on a rear-drive vehicle. In all cases, install new tires on the rear axle. Most tire buyers purchase new rubber for the drive-wheel position to get the most traction; however, by doing so they transfer most of their traction capabilities from the rear and make it susceptible to oversteer. The vehicle's rear will fishtail and swing out in fast cornering or emergency maneuvers.  

 

Myth: Sticking your fingernail in the tread can help you pick the tire with the softest compounds, and thus, the best adhesion.
Fact: It's sort of like kicking the tire, but with another part of your anatomy. Tread compounds only tell part of a tire's story. Tread pattern, tire shape, and tire footprint shape on the pavement provide clues to its adhesion capabilities. Don't rely on the fingernail test.  

 

Myth: The government tests tires for traction, temperature resistance, and treadwear and assigns grades molded onto the sidewall.
Fact: Uniform Tire Quality Grading is a federal law that requires tire manufacturers to grade their own tires for treadwear, traction, and temperature resistance. Tire manufacturers, not the government, test tires and assign their own grades. Unfortunately, the government has not prescribed a formula for converting the manufacturer test results into universal grades; therefore, the numbers are not objective. According to the Federal Trade Commission, treadwear grades are for comparison purposes only and are not intended to be converted into anticipated or promised tire mileage.  

 

Myth: An undulation on a tire sidewall is a weak spot that could lead to tire failure.
Fact: An undulation is created where materials overlap each other in the tire carcass, and it actually is the strongest part of the tire. Still, motorists perceive a "wave" on the sidewall as a defect. Goodyear's new ultratensile steel reinforcement eliminates this material splice and overlap. Ultratensile steel should reduce sidewall undulation in polyester-reinforced tires.

 

Myth: Before you buy a car, kick the tires.
Fact: It might not tell you much about the vehicle or tires, but it could tell you whether your shoe padding is adequate.

Courtesy of: http://bit.ly/SYrr61

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The Winter Park Concours d’Elegance has risen in attendance and notoriety to become one of the most highly-regarded, judged exotic car shows in the United States. Staged in a setting of true elegance, Old Winter Park closes six blocks of Park Avenue to welcome over 120 of the world’s most prestigious automobiles. The tents of event patrons line the tree-shaded avenue showcasing products and services to a walk-in audience of potential buyers. Nationally-recognized and ranked automobile judges - many of whom are world-renowned experts in specialty-marquee automobiles, spend the day carefully examining each show car until a final group of handpicked award winners are determined.

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The 2013 Lexus ES is here at Lexus of Orlando

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The 2013 Lexus ES: Feast your eyes on this

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Lexus of Orlando 2013 ES Launch Event

<p>Lexus of Orlando 2013 ES Launch Event from Tier10 Marketing on Vimeo.</p>

A big thank you to the author of this amazing review! Welcome to the team Chris and keep up the great work!

Lexus of Orladno - (5) Star Review on DealerRater

• I just purchased a new Lexus at Lexus of Orlando and was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with sales specialist, Chris Yurocko. Chris personifies the extraordinary customer service when you walk into a quality dealership. His professional approach and product knowledge was extraordinary. Chris took his time in explaining all the quality features of the RX 350 and the benefits of purchasing a vehicle form Lexus of Orlando. Even after the purchase, Chris answered all our questions about the features and assisted in synching our IPhone to the vehicle.
  Thank you chris! -Jrooth
  

The latest 2013 Lexus ES ad in Spots Illustrated, on stands October 15, will definitely make you look twice!

Do you know what car can race an Eclipse 500 jet an win? A LFA Nürburgring of course! The LFA crusied across the finish line two seconds ahead of the Eclipse 500 in today's race!