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Lexus IS (2013) more details of new 3-series rival

Lexus has pulled the cloth back on the all-new Lexus IS at the 2013 Detroit motor show, and announced more details of its new hybrid 3-series rival. This will be the first hybrid Lexus IS, and UK sales will start in summer 2013.  What do we know about the new hybrid Lexus IS?  The IS300h combines an electric motor with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The torque output is yet to be confirmed, but there's 217bhp and Lexus is aiming for a sub-100g/km CO2 output and fuel consumption of at least 65mpg. Figures like that are likely to grab the attention of fleet managers, as Lexus hopes to close the gap on rivals like the BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-class and Audi A4.  There's a non-hybrid model too, but this IS250 will be powered by a 204bhp 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine. It won't be a fleet favourite.  The IS250h has a six-speed automatic transmission, the IS300h has a CVT gearbox, and both cars are rear-wheel drive.

Men & Motors goes Classic

Cars, that is. It seems unlikely we’ll get the BBC Philharmonic in Concert on the Men & Motors Channel. No, this is M&M announcing their first original commission for a programme for over three years.

T-Mobile offers service to block cell calls, text messages while driving

The next step in the effort to keep people from using cell phones for calls and text messages while driving has arrived--a service that senses when the phone is moving at carlike speeds and automatically handles calls and messages. T-Mobile is providing the service, called DriveSmart, for its customers who use the LG Optimus T, a mobile phone that runs the Android operating system. T-Mobile says it will make the service available on other handsets soon.