dutchie01

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20190313STO31218/co2-emissions-from-cars-facts-and-figures-infographics for those with time to spare...

Not even that Linas. worldwide some 1 million full EV last year. It depends on the region however and the trend is clearly visible. Regional differences also explain why some companies show more urgency than others. Toyota Global shifts almost 10 million cars per year but not even 10% in Europe. and the vast majority of those are hybrids. VAG does almost 10 million but sells over 50% in Europe. The European Union as we know imposes strict rules on Co2 unattainable without also producing full EV. Therefore the push from the VAG group to go full EV whilst Toyota simply has more time. Having said that the largest car-market China with over 25 million sales each year, and growing, is quickly moving towards full EV aggressively pushed by legislation. The number of home producers is big and most of them are quite successful. Finance is available and it will be a matter of time before some of those will try to get a share of the global market. Geely and BYD have already announced plans. Coming back to Toyota i am 100% sure the technology is there the various models have already been developed but they simply decide where and when they will introduce them. No more no less.

Maybe " delayed development" is the wrong wording. Toyota has built their empire on top notch product quality over decades and they will definitely not throw this away by releasing cars that are " underdeveloped". If a Toyota BEV will be released you can be sure everything works and will keep working. This is called product development and testing testing testing before the product is released for sales. Some companies have a different strategy like Tesla ( sell it and worry about the rest later) or others feel they have no choice then to start selling cars that are not fully developed yet like the VAG group with the software issues in the Etrons and ID range. An article about why car companies are releasing " under developed " cars in the market would be more interesting.

Now that is a surprise to me as i thought the new IS did not have a hybrid version??

https://www.motor1.com/news/401788/cupra-formentor-debuts-306-hp-plug-in/ https://lexusenthusiast.com/2021/03/08/lexus-nx-350h-a-more-powerful-nx-hybrid/

Linas, isnt this a community for people interested in Lexus motorcars in particular and all other automotive topics in general? A place with a lot of automotive knowledge and enthusiasm for cars in general? A place where people enthusiastically present their new car or the way they restore it or a place where maintenance is discussed? A place for everybody to speak the Lexus car language with alike minds, you mostly feel connected with each other because of the interests you share. I am not disputing your knowledge about Lexus in general or your enthusiasm about the marque but the way you enter and follow through discussions sometimes seems more you are taking part in a debating club where debates are there for the sake of and are there to win regardless off. just saying.. Great Stinger by the way.

Well Renato cars are dangerous animals. I managed to hit myself on the head with the trunk of my IS300H.. The trunk is light and the spring does not slow the movement enough so on first occasion i opened the trunk, bend forward looking into the opening and got a nasty surprise as the trunk after opening moved the other direction hitting me on the back of my head. If this would happen in the states i could propably earn 20 million dollars as compensation!

Isn't the RAV4 considerably bigger than the current NX? would that mean the new NX will grow in size?

Just a thought but it looks very close to the current model. Could it be a big facelift alike the new IS?

From the initial pics i am somewhat disappointed. Generic, Corean, Predictable, Conservative, Yesterday. Could be me but it feels out of touch with todays automotive market. The current wave of EV's is setting the tone ( also design wise ) and this just seems a bit 2020 to me. Could be me though and i havent seen it in the flesh...

also check your health insurance as your card will propably not be recognized check beforehand if a european card/form is needed. And ofcourse safety vests/triangle. Alco tester no longer needed to go through france. In the current covid climate it is advisable to double check rules before driving off. I hope to go again before September! ( covid permitting of course...)

Isnt it ironic that Lexus introduces an "old school" IS with a V8 engine that has been around the block for some time in thesame week that Mercedes is introducing a brandnew C-class where AMG 4 cylinder units replace the worldfamous V8? I guess it shows the non priority of Lexus for the IS range. No further development thatś it. They had the engine, the parts and with relatively little investment they could do that so lets go. In the states it will still sell i guess, it will be relatively cheap and with petrol for 65 cents the litre who cares. In most European countries this car will be unsellable. Co2 tax will kill it upfront, for instance in Holland pricing is likely to be around 150k where an M3401 goes for 85k and an M3 for 125k. No businesscase.

As it is not positioned as F it is not meant to go head on with M 3/4? I dont know the USA pricing but if this is able to compete with Audi S4, BMW M340, mercedes AMG C43 it starts to make more sense?

https://www.greenpeace.de/sites/www.greenpeace.de/files/publications/s03461_studie_vw_eigenzulassung_v3.pdf And here we have the smoking gun, the reason why the VAG group has been pushing underdeveloped EVcars into the market. ID3 and Audi Etron with the now well documented software issues. The link is a Greenpeace study ( in german, sorry) about the push to the 95 grams limit. Over the limit means big fine. VAG succeeded in getting down to 95.5 grams average ( all sold cars from the group together) which is a fine of 100 million euro. However. Greenpeace is now saying that 16750 cars have been " technically " sold to leasingcompanies owned by VAG, employees that can sell on after 1 year and especially dealers that had to register the car so it is technically sold. These 16750 cars did bring the Co2 limit down by 0.5 grams saving a 140 million Euro fine. So, this is the accounting side of things but without pushing the EV into the market, letting customers buy it and then worry about the rest later the Co2 fine would be massively higher. In other words, every ID3 or 4 or Etron sold before 31/12 has saved the company some 10k per car in fines. So here you have it, they sell you a car get the money and then also save 10k without anyone knowing. How's that for morale. Dieselgate anyone?

Interesting thing is that he said VW informed him the car was not fully developed and the final software would be available in some 3 months time BEFORE buying it. He also got 3 months free driving. Now that seems fair to me? Your choice if you want the purchase or not. That raises the question about how the process went in the UK. Have potential owners been forewarned? was a 3 month free lease offered? Or was it a matter of dont mention the car ( sorry) and pretend all is fine. If that is the case it gets more interesting as the manufacturer clearly knew about the shortcomings and in other countries was open and honest about it. Seems like a shot for open goal for any lawyer here. Talaiprwos? Any updates?

My biggest disappointment was a BMW 318d touring. Brandnew and my first BM then driving an Alfa 75 ( this is 25 yrs ago) I was over the moon my first BMW i had made it in the world! I remember the impressive showroom oozing money ( which i didnt have) and there it was shiny and ready.. Boy what a terrible terrible machine.. slow, rattling, not wanting to rev really like a deliveryvan. It didnt work out. Later in life buying a car for my daughter that just turned 18. Looking for a Suzuki Swift 3 cylinder 850cc 750 kg cheap fifth hand car. Went for a testdrive hit the brakes at a junction and the car just ploughed on. Oil was black and smelled burnt as well clearly never maintained. We drove 150km for that car and i was convinced it was a good buy.. Positive my first Lexus IS250 2nd gen. In the showroom closing the door. The bankvault like sound did it for me, i decided on the spot without driving it. Never regretted it!

Vas, my advice would be to get a lawyer. I do not expect them to take this too serious until a legal warning lands on their doormat. It might cost you a couple of hundred but it could solve the matter overnight.

Maybe the title of this thread could be == is the Lexus brand quality still above Toyota?= i have noticed that the latest Toyotas are definately creeping upwards and could approach Lexus in materials, design, buildquality. The new Camry, Highlander etc. Is Toyota improving or is Lexus cost cutting and getting closer to Toyota?

So, if your expectations are not met it is a shocker? If a Lexus breaks down it is very disappointing as you dont see this coming. If a Range Rover does not break down it gives you thesame feeling as also this you did not see coming? When i grew up it was a regular sight to see men working on a car in the street as something went wrong. Same on cold winter mornings, the sound of cars not wanting to start. All accepted in those days as that was the standard of quality. Fast forward to 2021 and although the overall level of quality has risen considerably there are still differences between marques and even models of one marque. Besides a house a car will the the most expensive buy for most people and in my opinion it is unforgivable if it lets you down in a bad way. Take a look at the JD Powers list bottom 10. These companies deserve bankrupcy. Fully agree with you on the ISmk2/3 interior by the way!

They are called "sleepers". Most people including myself dont change insurances, electricity or gas suppliers, subscriptions etc and exactly that is where companies are making the profit.

Bertha was quite a common name in Germany, there was even one called Fat Bertha but that is a different topic all together..

Germany looked like a happy place in those days..... Astonishing quality of this clip by the way. Everything fits even the casting of the actors, Drama heavy atmosphere. Only not so sure of the message , celebrating the combustion engine when EV s are beeing introduced. Is this maybe an old clip?

Whereabouts you are in Spain John and what you take back? My favorites are Albarino, Verdejo as whites and Rioja and duero. I move about just south of Barcelona.

I doubt that very much Phil, these people seem to have decided Covid is just a bad flu. Good friends of mine behaved like that completely ignoring all rules organising dinnerparties at home and simply not following or taking up general info about covid they were just not interested it seems. As i have become a hermit since March we did not attend and guess what all 6 people attending got the bug and still, when i hear them speak whilst beeing ill it just doesnt add up. they dont seem to realize the seriousness of the situation at all telling me they will leave for spain next friday as it will be over by then. The lack of knowledge with some people is frightening, the ignorance simply bizarre. It will get worse before it gets better.

Since the beginning of this mysery i have been following Dr John Campbell on Youtube. He has been posting daily updates about all developments ref Covid and i find this most helpfull. Very recommendable. Little did we know back in March.. Currently in the Netherlands all closed except supermarkets, chemists, bakers and butchers. Work from home if possible, no schools, unis kindergardens etc. This Tuesday it is expected government will extend and tighten the current situation. Vaccination underway. Most people now have close experience with Covid as it entered the family or circulated amongst friends.