Since we last evaluated the Lexus IS350 (see the video below), the car has received some updates. In driving the recent Lexuses, especially noting the excellent road holding characteristics of the IS350 Convertible, we were interested in seeing how a current IS250 would behave so we requested one and received the IS250 AWD.
Taking it over my favorite Highway 74 here in Southern California allows me to try the car out on all fronts, quality of the ride, road handling, ease of control, acceleration and braking, and I must admit, it passed with flying colors. The IS250 is vastly different from the much newer HS250 h we tested recently, in that this is clearly aimed at performance driving, even in the 250 version. At no point did I ever feel that the car could not handle what was put in front of it. Of course, some people push the boundaries of reason, but on the 74 in both directions, uphill and downhill, slow twisty parts as well as longer curved sections, it was all perfect.
If you want to draw hot rods and learn the basics of drawing cars, then you’ll want to check out the Hot Rod Art Book for the iPad. A combination of the text-only book and the videos you’ll find at the book’s site and Vimeo, it contains 100 pages of guidance and tips from 13 professional hot rod artists and 1.5 hours of videos. It’s not going to instantly turn you into Hot Wheels designer Dwayne Vance, one of the contributors, but you’ll know how to pen the Powell Motors Homer just like you’ve always wanted.
Nissan likes to point out that their Pathfinder has independent front suspension, and since Nissan is so adamant in wanting to point that out, who are we to withhold this information from you?
After gawking at this video for a few times.., or more…, I am sure you are dying to know how we experienced this independent suspension ourselves, and if it is as good as Nissan is suggesting in its ad. Well.., our answer to this is very simple: We have no clue. We have searched the vehicle inside out, but have not come across the type of suspension featured in the ad anywhere on, on or under the car. We did find some pretty straightforward looking suspension arms, uprights, springs and the like, but the ad suggested we would find some sort of air or hydraulic like suspension units, on both sides, and we just could not detect these.. sadly..
The 2011 Toyota Sienna is a big car. It seems to use all available width but does so in less of a box design as recent new minivan designs. This is enhanced by the current Toyota surfacing design language, which places sculpture throughout the vehicle, making the appearance of the car look much less bulky than it really is.
The minivan category has long since been negatively associated with soccer moms, and Toyota is doing its best to try and redirect this by introducing the Swagger Wagon theme for this 2011 Sienna:
Design Director Clay Dean and Interior Designer Christine Park share design details of the Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept vehicle from on stage at the 2010 North American International Auto Show.
Lexus has had a good range of hybrid vehicles for quite some time now, most impressive of which to us at the time was the GS 450h. The range has recently been extended with a small car, a new size in the Lexus range, the HS 250h. Based on its Toyota Prius platform, the HS 250h has a difficult task to be both more conservative in comparison to the Prius, which it aims to achieve with a decidedly 3 box sedan shape, yet be more up-scale and high tech than the same Prius, which is clear from the interior design and its fit and finish.
