August 15, 2013

Toyota Motor Sales Earns Three 2013 AutoPacific 'Ideal Vehicle Awards'

• Toyota Avalon Hybrid Named Top Hybrid/EV
• Lexus Recognized for Luxury Mid-size Car and Hybrid Crossover – ES 350 and RX 450h

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TORRANCE, Calif., August 15, 2013 - - Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) demonstrated its ability to listen to its customers yet again. Three TMS vehicles were named in the annual AutoPacific Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA). The Toyota Avalon Hybrid flagship sedan was named the 2013 top Hybrid/EV while the Lexus ES was named ideal luxury mid-size car and the Lexus RX 450h was honored with ideal hybrid crossover.

The AutoPacific IVA “recognizes the cars that best meet their owner’s expectations and desires about their automotive purchases.”        

The first Avalon to offer Toyota’s legendary Hybrid Synergy Drive, the Avalon Hybrid generates 200 horsepower while delivering a city/highway combined 40 miles-per-gallon.  Avalon hybrid combines elegant and athletic styling with interior comfort and refinement.

Launched in early 2013, the fourth-generation Avalon is the most American Avalon yet as it was designed and developed in the U.S. and assembled exclusively at Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Georgetown, Ky.

The 2013 model year marks the sixth generation of the Lexus ES and the introduction of the first-ever ES 300h with Lexus Hybrid Drive. The 2013 ES luxury sedan has a progressive new design and enhanced handling. The 2013 RX 450h features the signature Lexus spindle grille, an upgraded interior and EPA fuel economy estimates of 30 mpg combined for front-wheel drive models.

The IVA are based on a model-year survey of more than 52,000 vehicle owners across all manufacturers to reveal the vehicles that best meet the owners’ demands.  The award survey covers 15 key vehicle attributes including: exterior styling, exterior size, passenger roominess, cargo space, driver’s seat comfort, driver’s seat visibility, info/entertainment technology, interior lighting, power and acceleration, ease of getting in and out, interior storage compartments, ride, handling, safety features and tires and wheels.

Arctic Blast: Amazingly Cool!

Arctic Blast is an air conditioning supplement, made in the USA that combines cutting edge technology with environmental responsibility, simply put, if you add Arctic Blast to an air conditioning system you will greatly improve the performance and efficiency of that system, permanently. A more efficient system will cost less to use and save you money.

Arctic Blast is not a refrigerant or an oil, and will not replace either in your A/C system. As a concentrated formula, Arctic Blast is only available through your local service center. The service technician will inspect the operation of he A/C system to make sure it is working correctly before installation. Once Arctic Blast is installed, no further treatment is required unless the system is damaged and needs to be repaired.

ECO-Cool Technology: For the environmentally conscious, Arctic Blast is an Eco-Friendly formulation that will produce an immediate and affordable way to reduce your carbon footprint.

• PROVEN TO LOWER TEMPERATURE: Arctic Blast is proven to lower vent temperatures in most vehicles by more than 5° F.
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HENDRICK AUTOMOTIVE GROUP OPENS NEW 

HENDRICK LEXUS KANSAS CITY FACILITY

Completes Transition of all Kansas City Dealerships to Hendrick Name

MERRIAM, Kan., June 3, 2013 – Hendrick Automotive Group opened the new Hendrick Lexus Kansas City located at 6935 West Frontage Road in Merriam today. Formerly Superior Lexus, Hendrick Lexus Kansas City, and its sister store, Hendrick Lexus Kansas City North, formerly Superior Lexus North, are the final two Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships to transition to the Hendrick name in the Kansas City market.

“We are so proud of this new facility, with its modern two-story showroom, and what it offers our Kansas City customers,” said Rick Hendrick, Chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group and Owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “I’ve always enjoyed the Kansas City area. Hendrick Automotive Group opened its first dealership here in 1992, and Hendrick Motorsports won the first NASCAR race here in 2001. The city has always been very good to us. We’re committed to the people here and are optimistic about the future.”

Hendrick Lexus Kansas City will offer more than 400 new and pre-owned cars on site, plus access to the entire Hendrickcars.com inventory of more than 6,000 pre-owned vehicles. The 68,500-square-foot dealership has 38 service bays on its more than eight-acre lot. The state-of-the-art dealership is the newest facility for Hendrick Automotive Group, which currently operates 87 dealerships and 121 franchises across 12 states.

General Manager Phil Humbert will continue to oversee Hendrick Lexus Kansas City. Humbert has been with Hendrick Automotive Group since 1999 and was promoted to general manager of Hendrick Lexus Kansas City in 2000.

“Our new Lexus facility has more than doubled the capacity of vehicle selection and service bays than our previous location,” said Humbert. “The new store has a welcoming, larger waiting area and more than 65 current-model loaner vehicles to exceed customers’ expectations. The location, next to our Toyota dealership on I-35 and 67^th Street, is convenient, as well.”

Hendrick Automotive Group entered the Kansas City market in 1992 and currently operates eight dealerships there: Hendrick Acura Overland Park, Hendrick Chevrolet Shawnee Mission, Hendrick Nissan Kansas City, Hendrick Toyota Scion Merriam, Hendrick Buick GMC Cadillac, Hendrick Volvo of Kansas City, Hendrick Lexus Kansas City and Hendrick Lexus Kansas City North. In 2012, these eight dealerships sold more than 11,000 new and pre-owned vehicles with combined sales revenue of more than $500 million.

Hendrick also operates three collision centers in the area: Hendrick Collision Center, a stand-alone facility, as well as Hendrick Collision Center at Hendrick Lexus Kansas City North, and another at Hendrick Chevrolet Shawnee Mission. More than 140,000 vehicles were serviced by Hendrick Automotive Group technicians.

More than 750 people are employed by Hendrick Automotive Group in the Kansas City area. Currently, 29 positions are available in the eight Kansas City dealerships and are listed at www.hendrickcareers.com.  

For more information on the new Hendrick Lexus Kansas City facility, please visit www.hendricklexuskansascity.com, follow them on Twitter or like them on Facebook.

SUPERIOR LEXUS IS NOW IN A NEW LOCATION & HAS TAKEN A NEW NAME: HENDRICK LEXUS KANSAS CITY

HENDRICK LEXUS KANSAS CITY

Formally Superior Lexus South

6935 W Frontage Rd, Merriam, KS 66203

888-236-1738 HendrickLexusKansasCity.com

SUPERIOR LEXUS HAS MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION!

Driving directions from Superior Lexus South to our new location,

Hendrick Lexus:  6935 W Frontage Rd, Merriam, KS 66203

Approx. drive time and distance: 15 minutes / 11.89 miles

  

Starting from Superior Lexus South

1. Head East on W 104 St/Indian Creek Rd           0.2 mi

2. Turn left onto W 103rd St Entering Kansas          0.2 mi

3. Turn left onto State Line Rd                                 0.3 mi

4. Take the ramp onto I-435 W/US-50 W                  4.4 mi 

Continue to follow I-435 W                                                  

5. Merge onto US-69 N via Exit 81                            6.1 mi

Continue on US-69 as it merges into I-35 N             

6. Take exit 228A for 67th St                                     0.1 mi

7. Turn left onto W 67th St                                        0.2 mi

8. Turn left onto W Frontage Rd                              0.1 mi 

Arrive at: Hendrick Lexus 6935 W Frontage Rd, Merriam

  

  Alternate rush our route best used when I-35 N is backed up:

  Follow previous directions 1-4, this should put you on US-69 N

     5.  Take the 75^th St exit                                                               1.7 mi

     7.  Turn left onto 75^th St                                                             0.3 mi

     8.  Turn right onto Kings Cove Dr.                                           0.04 mi

     9.  Take the first right onto W Frontage Rd                             1.1 mi

       Arrive at: Hendrick Lexus 6935 W Frontage Rd, Merriam, KS

NEW LOCATION… NEW NAME… SAME SUPERIOR PEOPLE!

SALES: 913-781-5100    *   SERVICE: 913-789-5173   *   PARTS & ACCESSORIES: 913-789-5166

Understanding Top Tier Detergent Gasoline

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Lexus Autonomous Driving Technology Teaser: 2013 CES

HighGearMedia.com, Friday, January 4, 2:01 PM 

By Nelson Ireson

The Consumer Electronics Show has, over the past several years, become more and more about automotive technology. This year, Lexus will be flaunting its latest, including its take on autonomous driving tech.

While the company is touting the system as if it were about to reach production, one look at the monstrosity in the video here shows it's still very much a matter of research and development--much like Google's similarly-outfitted autonomous cars.

That's not to say that the sensors and equipment, once adapted to the intended use, couldn't be made smaller and integrated into production cars. In fact, that's exactly what we expect to happen--we just don't expect it for several more years, at the least.

The whole idea of autonomous cars is a bit of a mixed bag for enthusiasts like ourselves. While we can appreciate the potential for safety advances, easier--and more productive--commutes, and even a possible reduction in traffic slow-downs, the idea of handing over all control of a high-speed vehicle to a computer that's, at best, only partially aware of its surroundings, well...that's another matter.   http://www.washingtonpost.com/cars/lexus-autonomous-driving-technology-teaser-2013-ces/2013/01/04/761f7a34-56a9-11e2-89de-76c1c54b1418_story.html

At The LA Auto Show, Lexus Debuts A 500-Horsepower Hybrid

At The LA Auto Show, Lexus Debuts A 500-Horsepower Hybrid




Lexus unveiled its LF-LC Concept last month in Sydney, since its blue opal color is inspired by the blue opal found in the Australian Outback, but this week in Los Angeles is the first time Americans will have a chance to see the 500-horsepower hybrid up close.

The car is special, a crucial step for Lexus as the company fights to stay abreast of the alternative-drivetrain wars currently being waged at Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz. It’s going to have to be very good in order to gain traction against Lexus’s currently-stronger rivals, and Lexus has endowed the coupe with a 5.0 liter V8 engine backed up by two electric motors and a Ni-MH battery pack, all of which produce nearly 500hp and which will push the car to 60mph in 5.5 seconds. Top speed is 130 mph.


Along with sister-vehicle the LF-CC, the coupe will serve as design inspriation for the 2014 IS. Look for the rear bumper, front grille and wheel arches in production vehicles over the next few years.   Article from Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2012/11/29/at-the-la-auto-show-lexus-debuts-a-500-horsepower-hybrid/