lexus

Car Tech Live 220: The Volt gets cheaper, the Altima Hybrid scarcer, your government hates your car tech, and we drive the Lexus CT200h (podcast)

• CNET drives the Lexus CT200h

• A CNET user's analysis of the real cost of a Chevy Volt

• Fed dude at DOT not a big fan of your car tech, smartphone

• What's next for the Nissan Altima Hybrid?

• Hyundai Blue Link priced and detailed

• CNET's LOLcars gallery!

Think you're safer in that Chevy Suburban than in a Honda Civic? Think again. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released its latest round of Top Safety Picks, and in the small car category, six newly tested cars achieved top marks in all the tests.

The six new winners in the small car category are the 2012 Honda Civic and Ford Focus and the 2011 models of the Hyundai Elantra, Lexus CT 200h, Nissan Juke, and Toyota Prius. They join a group of 14 previously tested Top Safety Pick winners in the small car category, including the Nissan Leaf … Read more

Hybrids face the stigma of being more about fuel economy than sport, but the Lexus CT 200h intends to prove it can be a hot hatchback by lapping the Nurburgring. A CT 200h tuned up by Gazoo Racing will compete in the Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy, a six hour endurance race.

Along with suspension tuning, the CT 200h's standard 1.8-liter engine has been swapped out for a 2.4-liter. But the car retains its Lexus hybrid system, letting it use the electric motor from a stop and for added boost under acceleration. This hybrid system will give the CT … Read more

This is the 11th episode of CNET Roadside Assistance for Thursday, the 5th of May 2011. In this episode we take about trading a Z to a Quest, adjusting the glare on the dash, and finding the perfect car to travel 500 miles a week in.

• LOLcars (photos)

Lexus gave us a peak at the headlights and taillamps of its upcoming LF-Gh concept last week. The automaker must not have been satisfied with the underwhelmed response from the public and automotive press, because this week it has released more photos showing off the rest of the concept hybrid sedan.

Between the A and C pillars, the LF-Gh isn't packing any surprises for anyone who's familiar with Lexus' current LS and GS offerings. However, at the front and rear ends things start to get interesting.

Out back, we can see how the wrap-around taillamps work out on … Read more

Ahead of the New York auto show, automakers are showing a little skin, just a tease before the complete unveiling. Such is the case with Lexus and the LF-Gh, an already rumored concept for which Lexus released taillight and headlight shots.

Not to be confused with the Lexus LF-A supercar, the LF-Gh will be a hybrid grand touring sedan, Lexus says. The letters stand for Lexus Future Grand Touring Hybrid.

Lexus says this concept will show the evolution of its L-finesse styling, especially with a new look for the grille. The taillight shot shows a somewhat conventional sedan trunk lip, but a lens that trails across the rear of the car.

The front shot reveals an angular design and an aggressive-looking intake in the air dam. The grille seems to extend down the front of the car, across the bumper. LEDs make up the headlight array, with an LED parking-light strip across the lower edge.

The Lexus LF-Gh will be unveiled at the 2011 New York auto show on April 20. … Read more

The Toyota Prius, the Lexus CT 200h, and the Lexus HS 250h will be back in production in Japan on Monday, according to Toyota.

The Japanese automaker halted production after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the country on March 11.

Toyota has been issuing statements of daily updates regarding not only vehicle production in Japan, but also the shipping of parts to its North America plants.

The company today said in a statement that Prius production will be restarted at the company's Tsutsumi plant, while the Lexus CT 200h and HS 250h will resume production at Toyota … Read more

Yesterday, we saw Nissan promoting its Juke by pitting the cute 'ute against a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model in a series of challenges. Today, we have Lexus promoting its LFA supercar by doing donuts around--you guessed it--a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model.

The video below features champion drifter Rhys Millen discussing the power and control that the LFA enables and photographer Yu Tsai explaining how it was used to create the perfect shot for the 2011 SI Swimsuit Issue. But let's be honest, it's really just a thinly veiled excuse to power slide a bright yellow supercar around supermodel … Read more

The electric ForTwo and the Lexus LF-A debut for very different audiences. Verizon tries but can anybody beat Google maps on Android? The car key that doubles as a wallet. And we drive the BMW 740i, the thinking person's 7 Series.

• Lexus LF-A being delivered

• And the first electric Smart ForTwo being delivered!

• Can Verizon VZ Navigator ever top Google Maps on Android?

• Solar road melts the snow that falls on it

• CNET's picks for must-have car tech features… Read more