LEXUS LBX MORIZO RR OUR POCKET ROCKET
The most amazing sports-luxury compact SUV ever to join the Lexus range is about to arrive in our showrooms.
The Lexus LBX Morizo RR is a superb, limited-edition high-performance machine that combines the best of Lexus’ premium design with exceptional ride, handling and acceleration.
It has been commissioned by our master driver Akio Toyoda to capture the spirit of his LFA – the world leading 4.8 litre V10 supercar he built a decade ago. The LBX Morizo RR achieves that, but in a contemporary fashion.
It employs a thermally efficient turbocharged 1.6litre threecylinder engine delivering 206Kw through a perfectly matched direct shift eight speed automatic transmission, or six speed manual, to all four wheels.
And it puts a smile on your face every time you drive it.
We launched the stunning LBX in three grades in March, proudly presenting it as the smallest premium SUV on
the market. Its dimensions suited many of our guests, a well-proportioned five-seater with emphasis on luxurious front seat comfort for two.
It’s been a very successful addition to our line-up. The LBX Morizo RR goes the next step.
Morizo is the pseudonym Akio Toyoda used to go motor racing, and he’s now developed it into a performance brand signature.
Our new SUV benefits from that experience. It ushers in a world first Response Enhancing Damper System (REDS), which boosts steering response and feel across all speeds and driving conditions. It is 10mm lower and sits on larger 19” alloy wheels wrapped in wider 235mm performance tyres.
Power application can be modulated between the front and rear wheels depending on the driver’s preference.
We expect the LBX Morizo in the first half of 2025 and we are already fielding enthusiastic enquiry. SYDNEY CITY
OUR CORAL ANNIVERSARY
LEXUS IS CELEBRATING ITS CORAL ANNIVERSARY –35 YEARS AS AN INNOVATOR AND GLOBAL MANUFACTURER OF HIGH-QUALITY LUXURY MOTOR VEHICLES.
In Australia we launched the first Lexus in April 1990, so our celebrations are a little premature. But I’ve sent my two classic Lexus – an LS400 and an ES 300 – to Lexus’ headquarters in Melbourne to aid in the festivities.
I was one of Lexus’ first salespersons based in Sydney in 1991 and the LS400 and ES300 were the first to come to Australia. That’s why I’ve collected them to remind me of my roots.
Modestly, I was Lexus’ Number One salesman. It wasn’t hard. The cars sold themselves.
The DNA of Lexus, though, is more than about the quality of the cars; it’s about the respect that exists between our guests and ourselves.
I’m proud to say that Chris Anderson, Rugby League Kangaroo player and coach, when asked what car he’s buying next said : “Whatever John Roca is selling.” Naturally it’s a Lexus.
And if that sounds like self-aggrandisement, I’d rather it didn’t. The secret to Lexus’ success is a philosophy of guest-first. We park our own ego to ensure our customer gets an all-of-life experience.
That’s why our repeat sales – call it guest retention –are the best in the business.
There’s going to be a lot of confusion and a degree of anxiety in the new vehicle market in the New Year as the government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) comes into effect.
Already we’re having guests ask us about likely outcomes as legislators accelerate energy controls which many of our guests would prefer to happen at their own pace.
Regrettably my best advice is that if you’re looking for a new vehicle, buy now before the new regulations hit.
The NVES imposes substantial fines on car makers that fall outside prescribed fleet averages for energy use. If certain brands want to stay in business they’re going to pass those anticipated fines onto their customers in the form of higher purchase costs.
The good news is that at Lexus, we’re currently OK. We began planning for energy efficiency long before the government thought about it.
We’ve progressively introduced a range of highly efficient, premium, economical vehicles based on hybrid-petrol-electric platforms that make our fleet averages look pretty good.
That philosophy requires a lot of strategising. We’re looking several years out to ensure we balance our fleet averages in line with what will be increasingly stringent government requirements.
We’re fortunate we have such a diverse range, even within the luxury sector. Some don’t and they’re the ones that will struggle to compete and even survive.
Heritage and longevity are an increasingly important equation in the purchase decision. It’s good to be 35 with a long future ahead.
With the holiday season approaching, on behalf of all of us at Sydney City Lexus I offer our best wishes to all our valued guests.
John Roca, Dealer Principal
MELBOURNE CUP A LANDMARK
Lexus is the naming rights sponsor of the ‘race that stops the nation’ for all the right reasons.
This year our support of the Victorian Racing Club’s Pin and Win competition raised a record $660,000 for worthy charities – the largest of which was Ronald McDonald House. Incredibly that covers 4,125 nights of free home away from home accommodation for families of seriously ill children receiving hospital paediatric care.
The huge sum was enabled by our donation of one of our landmark vehicles – the all-electric RZ450e sports luxury – as the major prize.
This was the seventh year of our naming rights association with the Melbourne Cup and the twenty second year of our involvement in the great race. We’re proud to be one of only four companies ever to have had their name associated with the Cup in its 164 years.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup is a race for everyone. It’s a celebration of what it means to be Australian.
To have the opportunity to showcase the refinement, elegance and style of Lexus to a national audience and beyond is a privilege.
This year’s on track audience at the four events which make up the Cup Carnival was the largest since Lexus came on board – more than eight percent up on last year and knocking on the door of 300,000 patrons.
The free to air television audience exceeded 1.9million, up 12 percent on last year, and our race was beamed to more than 750 million viewers in 228 international markets.
Lexus built a magnificent hospitality area within the exclusive Birdcage enclosure at Flemington, a testament to our concept of omotenashi hospitality in which guests needs are anticipated in advance.
Our Landmark enclosure was this year themed Future Catalyst 35, celebrating our 35 year history and looking to a future where Lexus is able to inspire positive change to make the world better for current and future generations. The LF-ZC concept car on display turned our vision into reality.
And that dovetailed well with the Victorian Racing Club’s successful target of attracting younger race patrons.
This year 45 percent of general admission ticket buyers were under the age of 35 – a new record. Sydney City Lexus’ Dealer Principal John Roca represented us at the Carnival.
John was once the CEO of Lexus Australia and was instrumental in achieving the partnership with the great race. Dressed in his morning suit John presented the first Lexus Melbourne Cup to its winner.
“This year I was a lot more relaxed, but so proud that what started with great ambition is moving in the right direction,” John said.
Sydney City Lexus’ star ambassador, James McDonald dominated the Cup Carnival with eleven wins.
By any measure he was the star of the show. But J-Mac sat out the Lexus Melbourne Cup.
He won the Cox Plate on the wonder seven-year-old mare Via Sistina at Moonee Valley to claim his 100th GP1 victory.
On the back of that victory, Via Sistina officially became the world’s Number One race horse and she and James firmed to favouritism for the Lexus Melbourne Cup. But with days to go the horse’s owners Yulong Investments decided not to run.
It was a disappointment, but Via Sistina is a finely tuned athlete. Not even the Lexus Melbourne Cup could tempt them to take a risk.
Instead they rested her for the GP1 Championship stakes four days later. J-Mac and Via Sistina won easily: “It was just like driving a race car, moving up through the gears,” James grinned.
“I thought, just let her go, she’ll do the rest.”
CATALYST FOR FUTURE MODELS
We’ve seen the future.
The Lexus LF-ZC (Lexus Future Zero Emission Catalyst) concept points to a new generation of vehicles which could be in production as early as 2026.
Lexus made that bold forecast when it launched the striking LF-ZC at the Japan Mobility Show just one year ago. It’s simply stunning.
It’s a vehicle without an engine bay. There’s no need.
A new generation of slim-line (prismatic) batteries provide power straight to the wheels. With improved energy efficiency, Lexus is aiming to double the driving range of current electric vehicles.
The streamlined body with a breakthrough target coefficient of drag of less than 0.2Cd, employs bamboo as its signature construction material, in line with Lexus’ SDG (sustainable development goals). Bamboo has been used as a material for Japanese construction and crafts for centuries. Now it’s potentially part of our automotive future.
Lexus is developing a cutting-edge software program dubbed Arene OS. It provides a driving experience
personalised to each individual in conjunction with progressive AI learning. It takes the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) concept to a new level, concentrating always on “eyes on the road” to maximise driver awareness.
Occupants benefit from a completely flat floor which provides incredible flexibility in cabin design.
The LF-ZC we saw was striking in it’s styling. Lexus calls it ‘provocative simplicity’ and we’d agree. It has sedan car proportions – not SUV – and it would find a ready place in many garages of our Sydney City Lexus guests.
GARY’S SPECIAL DRIVER
Three times NSW PGA High Performance Coach of the Year, Gary Barter, is known to his clients at Kensington’s The Australian Golf Club for his patient, smooth and consistent technique. He’s the most settled person you’ll meet. Yet when it comes to his choice of transport he’s spent most of his life chasing an ace.
“I owned 23 cars over 30 years – all of them high performance, all of them for their time state of the art,” he said. V8 Brock Commodores, rally based WRX and Evo-Mitsubishis came and went – none of them keepers.
Then in 2011 Gary bought a Lexus IS300F and he held it, and loved it, for a decade, a course record for him, until an unfortunate flood swept through his garage and the insurance company declared it a write off.
Devastated, Gary went back to his old ways and bought a Toyota GR Yaris Rallye, the limited-edition homologation special for Toyota’s world rally program – at least it was from our sibling company.
But he had his heart set on a V8, not just anyone, but the one he considered to be the best example of five litre engineering in the world.
“By then I had a relationship with Zac (Zac Acevski
– our senior service advisor),” Gary said.
“We play golf together and I asked him to keep an eye out for an RCF – the highperformance coupe now no longer available in Australia.”
Last month Zac rang, and Gary now has taken delivery of an immaculate Lexus Certified Pre-Owned RCF with just 21,000 careful kilometres on the clock, all of them fettled by Sydney City Lexus.
“I’ve driven the few new V8s still available from other brands, but they were all a bit twitchy with loose body control,” he said in very much the same way he’d critique your golf style.
“The RCF is the best car I’ve ever owned.” But is it the ace?
“A little while ago I drove the Lexus LC500 (our top of the range sports grand tourer). The quality and the sound were unbelievable.
“It drives like Adam Scott plays golf – so effortless. Maybe I could stretch to that.”
NX TAKES THE LEAD
Fifty thousand Lexus hybrids delivered in Australiademand from our guests for the efficiency of Lexus’ petrolelectric drivetrains has created a whole new record.
We passed the milestone this Spring and we’re proud to say Sydney City Lexus and its guests have been at the forefront of this evolution in motoring.
Our much in demand NX SUV heads the list of hero vehicles which have created the new norm for energy efficient, seamless power delivery.
It seems only yesterday, 2006 in fact, when Lexus took a definitive stand by introducing the first luxury hybrids in Australia – the GS450h luxury sedan and the RX400h luxury SUV.
We’ve claimed accelerating leadership ever since: delivering our 10,000th hybrid in 2013, our 20,000th in 2017 and doubling that number by 2023. It’s taken just a year to leap from 40,000 to 50,000.
It’s a sensational record. We can now claim to be the undisputed leader in the premium and luxury segments for having the highest mix of models – offering a line-up of hybrid, all-electric and internal combustion engines.
Hybrid technology has progressed to become the platform most likely to define the future of the motorcar.
It provides our guests with the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint while enjoying the unrivalled benefits and luxury experience of owning a Lexus.
There’s a whole new nomenclature: HEV stands for Hybrid Electric Vehicle (we have eight Lexus lines); PHEV is a plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (currently we offer that with our NX450h+), and BEV is a full Battery Electric Vehicle (we have two, the UX300e and RZ450e).
All up, Lexus offers 32 electrified grades across 11 models.
Last year HEVs in total made up 60 percent of all deliveries to our guests. In 2024 we’re tracking at better than 75 percent.
It will be interesting to see how the year ends up.
DRIVING EXCELLENCE: CRAIG COOK AND HIS LEXUS LX
At Sydney City Lexus, we're proud to have loyal customers who live and breathe the Lexus experience. One such advocate is Craig Cook, who has been turning heads with his luxurious and reliable Lexus LX.
For Craig, the Lexus LX is more than just a vehicle; it's a lifestyle choice that seamlessly blends opulence with practicality. He finds it to be the ultimate luxury vehicle that enhances his urban escapades while providing the utmost dependability for those longer journeys to his farm. “Whether navigating the bustling streets of Sydney or cruising along country roads, my LX stands as a testament to the Lexus commitment to quality and innovation,” said Craig.
Watch Craig’s video as he drives his LX down to his farm. https://youtube.com/shorts/ GZWy8b4TT3w?feature=share
Craig's journey with Sydney City Lexus doesn't end with the exceptional performance of his LX. As a valued partner of our Luxe Experience Programme, our customers receive exclusive benefits and offers from his business “Craig Cook, the Natural Butcher”.
The Luxe Experience Programme is available to all new vehicle buyers at Sydney City Lexus.
Members of the Luxe Experience Programme receive a host of advantages, including special offers and perks curated by renowned names like Luke Mangan, Phoenix Restaurants, City Tattersall Club and Craig Cook himself.
Discover more about our vehicles and the Luxe Experience Programme at Sydney City Lexus, where we turn every drive into an extraordinary experience, so when you embrace the Lexus lifestyle — every drive becomes a luxurious journey.
SUMMER WONDERLAND
Culburra Beach, two and a half hours south of Sydney is one of the last traditional hideaways on our coastline. If you want to show your kids, or share with your entire family, the relaxed beach style as it used to be, this is the place.
Culburra (from the Tharawal language meaning sand) is just 20 minutes east of Nowra. We got to it by driving down the scenic Grand Pacific Drive, through the Royal National Park, across the stunning Sea Cliff Bridge and hugging the coast all the way down. It’s important to look for the turn off, about 160kms into your drive, or you’ll travel all the way to Eden on the far south coast.
Culburra Beach is 3.7km of sandy paradise, bordered by the Crookhaven River, Wollumboola Lake and Jarvis Bay National Park. The walk up to the Penguin Head light house is a must. The local hire operation Burra Bike and Board
(0438833512/ hello@culburrabikes.com.au) will rent you anything from a fixie or a fattie (they’re bikes) to any manner of watercraft to go exploring. They’ll even deliver to your door.
Accommodation is limited – that’s the joy of the area – it creates its own holiday population cap. We rented a glorious five bed beach house on the surf side of Marina Lane, complete with swimming pool for when we’d had enough of the surf and a bocce court for evening competition. When we weren’t barbecuing on the deck we visited fresh young local eateries like The Common, home of the Penguin Head Brewery (0494115489) and Loco Lane (0459236990), for the best Mexican and cocktails on the Oyster Coast. And if it's oyster’s you’re after, it’s a short drive to Jim Wild’s Oysters (02 44471498) at nearby Greenwell Point.
Culburra enjoys a slow lifestyle, but you need to get in quick. Its fast being discovered.
LUKE’S HOLIDAY FEAST
This month, celebrity chef and Sydney City Lexus ambassador, Luke Mangan, brings us a delicious summer recipe perfect for your Christmas festivities!
BARBECUED PRAWNS, AVOCADO & MANGO SALSA
SERVES 6
Ingredients
12 large green U8 king prawns
1 avocado, diced
¼ iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced
¼ bunch coriander for garnish
Extra virgin olive oil
Seasoning
For the Mango Salsa
2 ripe mangoes
¼ medium red onion, brunoise
1 red chilli, chopped and de-seeded
½ bunch Vietnamese mint, roughly chopped
½ bunch coriander, picked and roughly chopped
30ml chardonnay vinegar
20ml extra virgin olive oil
Seasoning
Method
For the Mango Salsa
Peel the mangoes, remove cheeks and as much flesh off the seed as possible. Dice the mangoes and place in a mixing bowl. Peel the skin off the onion and brunoise then add to mixing bowl.
Brunoise the de-seeded chilli and place in the mixing bowl and then add the herbs. Add the vinegar, olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, mix lightly.
For the prawns
Peel and devein the prawns and place the prawns on a tray.
Season and add a splash of extra virgin olive oil, just enough to coat the prawns.
Place the prawns on a hot BBQ or pan-fry and cook for 2 minutes on one side, turn the prawns over and cook for a further 2 minutes.
Remove and place on a plate to rest for another 2 minutes.
To Serve
Add the lettuce to the mango salsa and place on a platter, scatter the prawns and avocado on top and garnish with the coriander leaves and drizzle with more extra virgin olive oil.
