Posts made in October 2018
2019 Lexus LC500, LC500h
By Shin Takei
For those of us lucky enough to experience driving the Lexus LFA we lamented the fact that it was a limited production (500) high dollar super car (MSRP $375K USD) produced from 2011 to 2012. Needless to say, it remains an icon and a collector car. For most driving enthusiasts, the word exciting, sexy, exhilarating, thrilling was never associated with Lexus. In fact, after the LFA, nothing from Lexus could be labelled exciting, until now. Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation and Chief Branding Officer of Lexus heard the automotive journalist’s call and vowed that Lexus will never be associated with those words. Being an avid car enthusiast and master driver who honed his skills at Nurburgring, Mr. Toyoda wanted Lexus to be emotional and exciting vehicles to drive.
As part of the Lexus Flagship lineup which consists of the LS500 and LX570, the LC500 and LC500h, the Flagship Sports Coupe is part of the Global Architecture-Luxury platform that features a low center of gravity, aerodynamics and high- speed stability which is shared by the LS sedan. The styling of the LC Flagship coupe is aggressive starting with the prominent spindle grille and wide flared out hip and low frontal area due to a multi-link front suspension system. The ultra-compact LED 3-projector headlamps are flanked by the L-shaped daytime running lights. An optional carbon fiber roof panel is available and at the rear the spindle profile is carried out. A set of optional 21” black wheels enhance the sporting look. The coupe looks purposeful and its aggressive looks generated a few stares wherever we drove it. Liberal use of light weight high strength steel, aluminum and CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) contribute to the stiffest unibody ever built by Lexus and with much of the drivetrain behind the front axle a 52:48 weight distribution was achieved resulting in the driver’s hip and heel points to be lowered in the cockpit.
The LC500 is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.0 liters V8 with 471 HP @7,100rpm and 398 lb-ft of torque @4,800rpm. The DOHC 32 valve Dual VVT-iE (Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence) engine is hooked up to a 10-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic with paddle shift and manual mode. 0-60mph arrives in less than 4.5 seconds. To increase the exhaust sound, Active Exhaust channels the sound to the firewall through a special resonance tube. The engine switches to the Atkinson cycle for efficiency and to he Otto cycle for performance. The LC500h features Lexus Hybrid Synergy Drive and is mated to an Atkinson cycle 3.5 Liter gasoline engine and allows for operating the vehicle up to 87 mph without the gas engine. To enhance the sports driving experience, the owner can opt for the Lexus Dynamic Handling system (LDH) which coordinates EPS (electric power steering with Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) and Active Rear Steering (ARS).
The interior of the coupe was designed to maximize the driving experience by positioning the driver low and close to the center of gravity to transmit road feel more directly. The seats feature bolsters in the shoulder area and the optional sports seats provide more grip around the driver during hard cornering. The Alcantara door panels with drape-surfaces are similar to the flowing exterior lines. The TFT display and the Lexus Multi-Media display integrates the Remote Touch Interface touchpad control for Navigation, Audio and Connectivity. As if the standard 12 speaker Pioneer surround sound system isn’t enough, there’s the optional Mark Levinson 13 speaker sound system to blow your ears away.
So how does this all work out? Quite well, thank you. The coupe is easy to drive, and in true GT car fashion, comfortable and relaxing but turning the Drive Mode Selector switch to Sport+ brings out the true character of this coupe. Faster shifting, enhanced engine performance and increased engine sound contribute to an exciting driving experience. There’s a lot of Japanese culture incorporated in the car. The chrome strip next to the rear glass panel is not unlike a samurai sword and words like Kizashi (a sign of great things to come) and Omotenashi (hospitality) are integrated throughout the car.
There is a limited edition of 100 Lexus LC500 Inspiration Series that are painted in Flair Yellow, which does draw your attention and a new pigment called Structural Blue was formulated taking characteristics from butterfly wings tropical fish and precious stones. Both are brilliant and intense and unique in enhancing the profile of the car but you better hurry to get one.
The Lexus LC500 is a true GT (Grand Touring) car. It is quick, handles well and finally has feeling and excitement. Yet it is comfortable enough to drive it for an evening out. However, we feel they’ve left a little wiggle room for more performance and believe a LC500 F-Sport is coming soon that would satisfy the hardcore sports car enthusiasts. Until then, the Lexus LC500 and LC500h will be more than adequate for most of us who won’t be driving it to the limit.
The Last Race
THE LAST RACE is an intimate portrait of a small-town stock car racetrack and the tribe of passionate blue-collar drivers that call it home, struggling to hold on to an American racing tradition as real estate development threatens its survival.
Award winning filmmaker Michael Dweck’s stirring imagery takes you inside the world of grassroots racing and eye to eye with the cars’ snarling grills and white roll bars that protrude like bones out of scarred metal. Yet a patient camera lets us know the drivers as everyday people and learn that the racetrack is tied to a deep sense of identity. The track is on the only piece of undeveloped land in the area—it’s worth millions—and the only thing keeping the bulldozers at bay is track owners Barbara and Jim Cromarty’s love of the track and its community.
Alfred Coffee And Tea Room
Where’s the best place to spot celebrities in LA?
With 9 locations around Los Angeles, it’s a good chance you’ll spot your favorite A-lister when you pop by Alfred Coffee or Alfred Tea Room for your daily caffeine fix.
Whether its Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin making out in line in Studio City, Kourtney Kardashian stopping in for her daily matcha on Melrose Place, or J.Lo grabbing a coffee for the road when she comes to town, celebs are swarming this caffeine powerhouse.
Manchester United And True Religion Launch Denim Range
Manchester United and luxury denim brand, True Religion have collaborated to launch a range of premium club branded denim wear.
A first for the club, the new global partnership with the iconic American denim brand will see a range of men’s & women’s co-branded styles go on sale beginning 26th October in the club’s Megastore as well as online via United Direct and truereligion.com & eu.truereligion.com.
The exclusive collection features jeans, shirts and jackets, including a highly desirable limited edition denim jacket embroidered with the club’s crest. Fans will have the opportunity to win a selection of clothing from the new range by visiting www.manutd.com/truereligion.
Lizza Monet Morales
Lizza Monet Morales, aka @xoxolizza, is an actor, TV host, best-selling author and content creator in both English and Spanish. She has leveraged her love of tech, fashion, and inspirational messages to create a global social media fan-base (LoveBug Nation) while becoming one of the top Latinas in entertainment media.
You’ll often find this multi-passionate entrepreneur, who is committed to “seeing the world through love-filled eyes,” rocking her signature heart-shaped sunglasses in an airport or on one of her globetrotting #LizzaOnTheGo adventures on and off set. She was nicknamed the “Carmen San Diego of Livestream” after traveling close to 300,000 miles around the world in 2015.
Lizza is also the founder of Classy Chingonas, an online and in-person women’s community that holds supper clubs and interactive events around the world for Latina entrepreneurs, executives and thought leaders.
As an actor, she was recently seen in David Mamet’s “Phil Spector” biopic for HBO starring Al Pacino and Helen Mirren. She was also a series regular on VH1’s” New York Goes to Hollywood.
In 2016 and 2017, she won Best Live Broadcaster at the TECLA Awards. In 2017, Alegria magazine featured her on their cover as one of the top Latina Influencers in the U.S. and Twitter named her one of their nine global #SheInspires women for Women’s Day 2016.
In the spring of 2016, Ms. Morales was invited by FLOTUS Michelle Obama to attend The United States of Women Summit as one of the country’s “agents of change.” And that fall she was invited by President Barrack Obama to attend the invite only South by South Lawn (SWXSL) at The White House. During the 2016 election cycle, she served as a judge for VotoLatino and FUSE Media’s Crash the Parties competition, alongside Emmy award winning host Rachel Maddow and NPR’s Marina Hinojosa.
On the fashion front, IMG, which produces the most impactful Fashion Week events around the globe, named Lizza one of their “Global Committee Experts” for their 2015-2016 DHL Exported fashion designer competition. She was one of six experts picked, which included acclaimed designer Nicole Miller and Vogue Italy’s Sara Maino.
Ford Automotive named her one of the “Mujer Legandarias” (Lengendary Women) in the United States. Additionally, the Lincoln Motor Company selected her as of their ten “Damas de Lincoln” for a campaign profiling exceptional Latina leaders in 2015. That same year, Lizza was selected as one of the “Top Eight Latino Influencers in the US” by the American Latino Heritage Fund.
In 2014, she was named Top Latino Vlogger of the year by LATISM 2014 and selected as one of their 100 Top Blogueras in the US in 2014, 2015 and again in 2016.
She’s been on-air talent for Access Hollywood, Telemundo, EXTRA, Univision, Celebrity Justice, The Insider and The TV-Guide Channel amongst others and has reported for US Weekly and People Magazine.
On the client side, she’s worked with a variety of brands, including but not limited to the GRAMMYs, United Airlines, Nike, Microsoft, Ford, Marriott, Formula E Racing, Red Bull, Best Western, Sears, NASCAR, AT&T, and CoverGirl.
Lizza has also been featured in Cosmo for Latinas, Alegria magazine and Vanity Fair and on The Conan O’Brien Show, CNN, CNN en Español and NPR.
You can connect with her online by looking up @xoxolizza on any social media platform you’re on. Drop a line and say “hi”.
KANYE WEST
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ++ KANYE WEST ++ PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Valee and Ellen Degeneres “Splitting Up Together”
You won’t want to miss Valee‘s TV acting debut on Ellen Degeneres‘ ABC sitcom “Splitting Up Together” Tonight 9:30 PM EST.
Justine Skye Releases Visual For “Build”
Today singer, songwriter, and actress Justine Skye shares the powerful visual for her latest single, “Build”, featuring buzz-worthy R&B newcomer Arin Ray. Through the visual, directed by Savanah Leaf, Justine commemorates October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month by sharing her own personal struggles with domestic abuse through the artistic lens of the visual. It’s a compelling depiction of the raw emotional and physical pain that women endure everyday in toxic relationships. It walks us through different scenarios of women, including herself, next to “Grownish” actor Da’Vinchi, that emote various tumultuous relational experiences, which are sometimes mistaken for “passion”. Each scene conveys a sense of vulnerability, in which viewers with similar experiences can relate to. Nonetheless, Justine’s message of self-love and courage is clear. As the song and video become one, “Build” is a story of overcoming and growth –Justine Skye’s shares a piece of her personal journey of building.
In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Justine Skye is dedicating the video to all victims of domestic violence. In addition to the video release, Justine Skye is readying the release of her forthcoming EP set to drop top of the year. Stay tuned for more to come from the R&B songstress this side of the year.