Lexus LS 460, 600h L and 460 F Sport

To better compete with the finest that Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar have to offer in the full-size luxury sedan segment, Lexus put its fourth generation LS under the knife. But you probably already know that since the 2013 model year version of the Japanese brand's flagship was officially revealed at the end of July.
What's new is a fresh assortment of photos of all three models including the LS460, the LS460 F Sport and the LS600h L that Lexus released this week and which show us the cars in different shades and more importantly, out of the studio and into the open.
In the U.S., Lexus has said that the 2013 LS460 will be the first to arrive in the market in October followed by its more dynamic sibling, the LS 460 F Sport in November and the hybrid LS600h L in December.
Pricing has not yet been announced; though don't expect any significant changes over the current version's MSRPs.
If you want to refresh your memory, or if you just haven't had a chance to read it yet, click here for our full story on the 2013 Lexus LS.

2013 LEXUS LS 460 F SPORT

Lexus RX in RX 350, RX 450h and RX 450h F Sport Trims Hit the Web

Only moments after Lexus confirmed the presence of its updated 2013 RX range at the Geneva Motor Show next week by teasing us with a cropped image of the crossover's new spindle grille (despite the leaked JDM brochure), three dozen photos of the facelifted model hit the interwebs. The pictures include the refreshed gasoline-only RX 350, the hybrid-powered RX 450h and the new addition to the range, the RX 450h F-Sport.
The latter adds a raft of unique styling cues to the RX including a different front fascia with a honeycomb-style insert, an aero package, tinted lights and larger alloy wheels, plus sports steering wheel, seats and alloy pedals.
We still don't know if and what kind of upgrades the F Sport model brings to the crossover's suspension, steering and braking systems.

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NHTSA Probes Chevrolet Volt after Battery Catches Fire

 

Federal safety regulators are looking into the safety of lithium-ion batteries after a Chevrolet Volt went up in flames at a parking lot at the National Highway Traffic Administration testing center in Wisconsin. An agency official said that the incident took place three weeks after the Chevrolet Volt went through a side-impact crash test on May 12.
The Volt incident has forced authorities to ask automakers that sell cars equipped with lithium-ion batteries in the U.S., including GM, Nissan and Ford, about the potential fire risks, according to agency officials familiar with the matter.
Lithium-ion batteries, such as the ones powering the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, are considered more efficient than nickel-metal units used in other vehicles like Toyota’s Prius hybrid.
Even Toyota is making the move to lithium-ion technology for its Prius plug-in hybrid model and RAV-4 EV that will soon launch in the U.S.
GM and NHTSA tried but failed to replicate the May event by crashing a Volt in June. GM spokesperson Greg Martin told Blooomberg in a phone interview that the company has safety procedures for handling the Volt and its battery after an accident, adding, "had those been followed, there wouldn’t have been a fire."
Today, Jim Federico, General Motors chief engineer for electric vehicles, made the following statement:
“First and foremost, I want to make this very clear: the Volt is a safe car. We are working cooperatively with NHTSA as it completes its investigation. However, NHTSA has stated that based on available data, there’s no greater risk of fire with a Volt than a traditional gasoline-powered car.

Safety protocols for electric vehicles are clearly an industry concern. At GM, we have safety protocols to depower the battery of an electric vehicle after a significant crash.

We are working with other vehicle manufacturers, first responders, tow truck operators, and salvage associations with the goal of implementing industry-wide protocols.”

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