The new 2009 Lexus IS facelift has certainly started picking up some steam this week, and now we have a commercial from Japan that shows the updated model carting around Cinderella:

Nice to see the integrated turn signals in action, however brief.

No question now, this is the upcoming 2009 Lexus IS facelift:

These photos, posted on the same site that leaked the 2009 IS brochure, reveal the new IS in some sort of Japanese Korean Lexus showroom, presumably where unreleased models are displayed for anyone to see.

Enough talk, here's the full gallery:

[Source: Dajapa Via: My.IS]

It may be an elaborate hoax, but My.IS member nyjinwoo has uncovered what looks to be a brochure for the 2009 Lexus IS 250/350. First thing, here's an overview of the exterior changes:

The front grille has been given the same extended chrome border and integrated turn signals that were included in last year's refreshed GS. The revised rear lights have also been changed, though the differences are subtle unless compared with the current design:

The most obvious change is the L-Shaped clear accents in the lower corners, though it also looks as though the rear lights are protruding somewhat. This was something I noticed when looking at the convertible spy shots seen some months back.

Interior shots were also included, and the only change I can see is the wood steering wheel:

If accurate, these changes certainly increase the edginess of the IS (I'm particularly impressed with the chunky rear light treatment), but will it be enough to carry the model through its final three years of production?

[Source: dajapa via My.IS] (Thanks Joaquín!)

800 temporary workers at a Toyota plant in Japan were laid off yesterday:

Japanese automaker Toyota has laid off 800 people at a plant in southwestern Japan, or about 10 percent of the plant's work force, in response to declining sales in North America, a company official said Tuesday.

All the job cuts — carried out in June and August at Toyota Motor Corp.'s wholly owned subsidiary Toyota Motor Kyushu — applied to workers sent by job-referral agencies. Japanese companies are increasingly relying on such agencies for temporary workers called "haken" to be flexible to market demand.

Prior to the layoffs, Toyota Motor Kyushu, which makes Lexus luxury models, had employed 8,200 workers — 1,950 of them haken — an official said on condition of anonymity, citing company policy.

The official said the job cuts were temporary and 500 haken workers will be brought back later this year. He declined to comment on why they would be needed back, saying product plans can't be released.

Just looking at the first six months of Lexus sales, it's not surprising that a workforce adjustment was necessary. (The article also talks about the concept of Haken workers in Japan, which I found very interesting.)

[Source: Manufacturing.net]

During his visit to Toyota's Mega Web complex in Tokyo, Flickr user mujitra took some photos of a matte black Lexus LF-Xh concept (click for larger versions):

The matte black paint, especially when combined with that great set of gunmetal wheels, makes this LF-Xh looks very menacing. It's certainly an interesting way to display its next version of the people-mover RX, and one that I wholeheartedly approve of.

(I'm a huge fan of matte black, and judging from this, the 5Axis Project IS-F, and the LF-A racing prototype, I'd say Lexus is as well.)

For whatever reason, Wald International decided that the IS-F was in need of a body kit, and the above photo is a digital mockup of the potential design. Here it is from the rear:

Hopefully this goes through the same process as the IS body released last year, which started off as an over-the-top photochop. The front end might be almost passable, but I see the rear and think of a 2000 Hyundai Tiburon.

[Via: Club Lexus]