2008 Lexus Models

It took an awfully long time, but Lexus has finally thrown its noodle into the alphabet soup of automotive performance variants. Where Audi's A4 comes as a souped-up (oh, the irony) RS4, the BMW 3 Series comes as an M3, and the Acura TL comes as a TL Type-S, the Lexus IS compact sport sedan now comes as an IS-F, the first but definitely not the last in Lexus' high-performance line. 

The 2008 Lexus LS 600h L is the first car to combine a V-8 gasoline engine with an electric motor for improved gas mileage and robust acceleration. 

Replacing the Lexus LX 470 full-size SUV is the eight-seat 2008 LX 570. It's the most refined and feature-packed model yet, as you might expect, but holds no big surprises. Lexus markets the truck as the ultimate combination of comfort and utility, but it's possible that's just a ploy to justify having a luxury SUV that's still truck-based.  

Lexus revamped its midsize ES sedan for 2007 with a larger engine and a new look. In keeping with Lexus' naming conventions, the numeric portion of the ES name reflects the size of the engine: 350 designates a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. The ES 350, which competes with the Acura TL and Lincoln MKZ, receives a few minor changes for 2008, including new side mirrors and reading lights for rear passengers. 

For 2008, Lexus has given its GS sport sedan a modest makeover, with slight changes to the sheet metal and interior. The GS 350 competes with midsize sport sedans like the BMW 535i, Mercedes-Benz E350, Cadillac STS V-6 and Acura RL. 

Just one year after its introduction, the hybrid Lexus GS 450h sees the same revisions that affect the rest of the GS lineup, including light styling changes and a new instrument panel. The GS 450h has no hybrid competitors just yet, though fuel misers might also consider the diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec. 

Formerly known as the GS 430, for 2008 Lexus' midsize sport sedan adopts a larger engine, mildly revised styling and a new name: the GS 460. The upsized V-8 comes from the brand's flagship LS 460; in the GS, it makes 342 horsepower. Both models use an eight-speed automatic. Competitors include the BMW 550i, Mercedes-Benz E550, Cadillac STS V-8 and the forthcoming Jaguar XF. 

In Lexus' lexicon of premium SUVs, the GX 470 is positioned between the car-based RX 350 and the redesigned LX 570. A few more metallic finishes outside and inside differentiate the 2008 model from its former self. The GX 470 loosely competes with anything between a Volvo XC90 and a Lincoln Navigator. 

The IS sedan is Lexus' latest attempt to field a sporty four-door that rivals BMW's well-regarded 3 Series. Changes for 2008 include a handful of interior tweaks. Competitors include the BMW 328i, Audi A4 2.0T and Mercedes-Benz C300; the more powerful IS 350 plays against beefier versions of those same cars. 

The IS sedan is Lexus' latest attempt to field a sporty four-door that rivals BMW's well-regarded 3 Series. Changes for 2008 include a handful of interior tweaks. Competitors include the BMW 335i, Infiniti G35 and Mercedes-Benz C350; the entry-level IS 250 plays against some of those cars' less-powerful siblings. 

Lexus' flagship LS 460 full-size sedan is available in standard form and as a limousine-like long-wheelbase model that stretches nearly 203 inches from bumper to bumper, 5 inches more than the standard model. Competitors include the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The LS was redesigned for the 2007 model year, and changes are minor for 2008. The optional Advanced Parking Guidance System lets the car park itself and is undoubtedly the car's most intriguing feature. 

The RX 350 got a bigger engine last year — bumping up to a 3.5-liter V-6 — and for 2008 that engine sits behind what Lexus calls a "freshened" front grille, though it's not a huge departure from the 2007 model. Overall, changes are fairly minor for 2008. 

Like its non-hybrid RX 350 sibling, the RX 400h luxury SUV gets few changes for 2008. A hybrid-electric drivetrain yields EPA-estimated gas mileage in the mid-20s, a respectable gain over the RX 350's 20-mpg combined rating. Competitors to the RX include the Mercedes-Benz M-Class and Lincoln MKX. 

Like other grand-touring roadsters, the Lexus SC 430 hardtop convertible comes stocked with a V-8 engine and plenty of top-shelf accoutrements. A limited Pebble Beach edition has exclusive colors and wheels. Competitors include the Jaguar XK, Mercedes-Benz SL and Cadillac XLR.