Lexus to launch IS 350C F Sport Special Edition in the States

Lexus announced the launch of the 2011 IS 350C F Sport Special Edition, which will arrive at the dealerships in the US later this month. Only 175 will be built and as you can easily understand, those special IS 350Cs will feature F Sport equipment, as well as interior badging and red stitching. The retail price is $55,120 and the special equipment includes the following:

• 19-inch forged alloy wheels with dark graphite finish and Michelin Pilot Sport 225/35ZR19 tires in the front and 255/35ZR19 tires in the rear;
• Shock set developed in cooperation with Bilstein;
• Lowering springs that reduce the ride height approximately one-inch in the front and rear resulting in a more aggressive appearance and lower center of gravity;
• Sway bar set that helps reduce body roll and provide flatter cornering;
• Bi-Xenon High Intensity Headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lights

Best Car Super Scoop Special issue arrived!!!

The BC Super Scoop Special issue has just arrived from Japan, so stay tuned for a lot of news!!!

New Honda Civic (USDM) officially revealed

The 9th-gen USDM Honda Civic has been revealed and I am afraid there are no pleasant surprises... Honda claims that the new-gen Civic shares practically nothing with the previous model!

The petrol version will be powered by a 1.8L i-VTEC engine, with a power output of 140 hp, while the hybrid version will be powered by a 1.5L engine coupled to a CVT gearbox. An Li-Ion battery will be used for the first time in a Honda vehicle and the total power output is 110 hp. The sporty Si model will get a new 2.4L engine with 200 hp.
 

More photos after the jump!

First live photos of Nissan ESFLOW

Nissan will unveil the ESFLOW Concept (earlier post) at the Geneva Motor Show and those are the first live photos of it.

Another impression of next-gen Lexus GS...

OK, we have seen Mag-X's and BC's impressions and now it's time for Japanese Motor Magazine! Hmm, this impression looks much better to me...

... and BC's impression of next-gen Lexus GS-F!

Last report regarding the hot GS-F suggested that power will come from a 3.5L V6 engine coupled to an electric motor (earlier post) and it should hit the market in August this year. This is earlier than expected, but considering than a new GS is underway, it makes sense. To be honest though, I am not convinced about the electric motor bit at all...

Anyway, following BC's impression of the next-gen GS (earlier post), here is an impression of the next-gen GS-F!

BC's impression of next-gen Lexus GS

It wasn't a long time since the last report regarding the next-gen Lexus GS (earlier post), and now there is another one in the latest BC issue. This time, the scanner didn't do a good job and thus the OCR didn't work, but from what I could make out of the text, BC claims that power will come from a 2.5L V6 petrol engine (4GR-FSE) and the model will be badged as GS 250. This engine will deliver 215 PS and 26.5 kgm of torque, while the fuel efficiency should be 12.5 km/L. A hybrid version will also be available, probably badged as GS 450h.

Well, although there is nothing new compared to the previous report, what really surprised me is BC's impression in terms of styling, since the rendering looks like a grown up CT (something like Audi's practice...). Also, BC seems to believe that Lexus will abandon the four-lamp design.

Revised Toyota Alphard coming in August

Toyota is planning to launch the revised Alphard, a model competing with Nissan's Elgrand, later this year in order to refresh it and improve its fuel efficiency. The hybrid version will be powered by a 2.4L petrol engine (2AZ-FXE) delivering 150 PS plus an electric motor. The total power output will be 190 PS and maximum torque 19.4 kgm. The fuel efficiency will be improved, and it is estimated to be, under the 10.15 mode, 21.0 km/L. The next-gen Alphard is expected to be launched in 2013.