Best Donuts in El Monte, CA
There’s nothing better than biting into a freshly made donut topped or filled with your favorite ingredients. Whether you prefer it with some fruit, a little chocolate, or even adorned with crispy cereal pieces, these donut shops in El Monte, California, have you covered. Bring your family and friends and grab some of the most delicious pastries El Monte has to offer for your snacking enjoyment.
Read the rest of this entry »2023 Lexus Line-Up Preview
Longo Lexus continues to set the standard for luxury car sales in the Los Angeles area as we approach the end of 2022. We expect nothing but the finest lineup Lexus has to offer as we look forward to the incoming 2023 lineup. The upcoming 2023 Lexus cars and SUVs have the cutting-edge technology you need in today’s fast-paced world. You can rely on the new lineup to possess the luxurious features associated with our brand and the latest driver-assist systems that elevate Lexus above the others.
Read the rest of this entry »Budget-Friendly Weekend Activities Near El Monte, CA
After a long week of work, you have a limited amount of time to unwind and relax. Naturally, you want to get the most out of your weekend, though you may wish to avoid spending too much to do so. Luckily, there are plenty of low-cost and no-cost activities available to those who look for them. Here are our recommendations for budget-friendly weekend activities near El Monte, California.
Read the rest of this entry »Family Fun Halloween Activities in El Monte, CA
Halloween is an exciting time of the year for both the young and the young at heart. They get to exercise their imagination through dress and play while getting rewarded for it with candy. If you have kids, you’re probably looking for ideas to celebrate the holiday — something fun but accessible, scary but not too terrifying. To that end, we’ve compiled this list of the top spooky activities to do with the kids this Halloween around El Monte, California.
Read the rest of this entry »Meet The all-New 2023 Lexus RZ450e
A few names stand out above the rest in the world of luxury electric vehicles. Two of the most popular options on the market are the 2023 Lexus RZ 450e and the 2023 Toyota bZ4X. Both cars offer impressive performance, great features, and excellent benefits, but which one is the better car? Read on for a comparison of the two vehicles to help you decide which one is right for you.
Read the rest of this entry »The All-New 2023 Lexus RX
For almost a decade, the Lexus RX has remained a big seller on the market by carrying over similar specs and features from past models. As surprising as it may sound, this familiarization strategy has worked well for the brand. However, the company stated not long ago that the new 2023 Lexus RX would be an all-new, redesigned model. In other words, this new model will bring a redesigned Lexus RX with new features, trim levels, safety options, and colors.
Read the rest of this entry »Best Tamales in El Monte, CA
A dish with rich history and ties to holiday feasts, the humble tamale combines the best in satisfying flavors. Made with fresh masa steamed or boiled, these savory pockets trace their history back to the Incas. When you’re ready to enjoy a culinary delight wrapped in cultural traditions, check out our list of the best tamales in El Monte, Calif., and our surrounding areas.
Read the rest of this entry »2023 Lexus Line-Up Preview
As the leading Lexus dealer in the greater-Los Angeles area, Longo Lexus eagerly awaits the arrival of the 2023 lineup. Lexus has a great lineup slated for 2023, with the latest technology, most in-demand safety features, and the luxurious amenities that define the brand. In addition, we know you’ll have more hybrid and plug-in hybrid options than ever. To help make sense of it all, we had our vehicle experts provide a sneak peek into each new Lexus for 2023. After reading, you’ll have a favorite or two you’ll want to come to see.
Lexus IS Sedans
Lexus-ls1 by Brandon Baunach is licensed with CC BY 2.0
A strong performer for Lexus, the IS sedan offers luxury car enthusiasts a stylish exterior with all the interior comfort and convenience features you expect from Lexus. An aggressive nose, sleek body, and sharply sloping rear fascia give the IS a real athleticism. The vehicle is available in seven models: the IS 300, IS 300 AWD, IS 350 F Sport, IS 350 F Sport AWD, IS 500 F Sport Performance, IS 500 F Sport Performance Premium, and IS 500 F Sport Performance Launch Edition. As you move up the trims, you enjoy different levels of refined performance.
Lexus uses a rear-wheel-drive system on the IS that provides classic sports sedan driving dynamics. Engines vary from the base 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder, which produces 241 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, to the 3.5-liter V-6, which rates at 260 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The middle-tier IS models come with a turbocharged version of the 3.5-liter V-6 that puts out 311 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Finally, IS 500 trims use a 5.0-liter V-8 engine, capable of a monster 472 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque.
Inside, every IS is decked out in Nuluxe — a beautiful and durable synthetic upholstery. Interior furnishings vary from real metal to ash for a refined look and feel. The lower Lexus models feature an 8.0-inch touchscreen, while a 10.3-inch high-resolution touchscreen is included with the IS 500 trims. You’ll enjoy the preloaded Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Alexa so you can access your cellphone apps and home assistant without plugging in. You also get the Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 — a full suite of driver-assist technologies designed to elevate your ride.
Lexus ES Sedans
The Lexus ES sedan lineup offers 12 trims in various powertrain configurations. This mid-size sedan has exceptional exterior style and comes in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. In addition are the options of hybrid and plug-in hybrid. Upholstery options vary from NuLuxe to quilted and perforated leather in different colors and styles, while open-pore wood trim options deliver sophisticated appeal.
Engine options include a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder capable of 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Hybrid versions use the same 2.5-liter engine with hybrid technology to enhance your horsepower to 215. The ES 350 models come with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine capable of 302 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque.
Lexus LS Sedans
You immediately notice the athletic profile of the LS series sedan, with its coupe-like styling and low, wide stance. It rolls on 20-inch alloy wheels in various styles. The LS offers the pinnacle of luxury to Lexus sedan enthusiasts with its ultra-premium leather interior, natural wood furnishings, and a bevy of comfort and convenience features to rival any vehicle in its class.
A 3.5-liter twin-scrolling turbocharged engine powers every LS model, and you also have a hybrid powertrain option. This powertrain pumps an impressive 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of thrilling torque. You have your choice between rear- and all-wheel drive.
Lexus RC Coupes
Coupe lovers argue over which model they like best. The RC and RC F have that fastback design for a sleek and sporty look. The LC trims are available in a hard-top, convertible version, and a hybrid powertrain option. The base RC trims are equipped with a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 241 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the RC AWD moves to a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. This powertrain puts out 260 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. In the RC 350 models, you enjoy an optimized 3.5-liter V-6 rated at 311 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque.
A leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob come standard, along with heated seats in NuLuxe upholstery. Ventilated seats are an option. Your in-vehicle tech includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, which runs on the 7.0-inch touchscreen. Wireless charging comes standard, along with multiple USB ports to keep everyone connected.
Lexus SUVs
Lexus has produced SUV five models to represent every class. The UX, NX, and RX SUVs have a hybrid powertrain option, and the NX adds a plug-in hybrid version. The GX and LX SUV models offer full-size power, utility, and space.
Perhaps the biggest news is the new NX 350 series, which replaces the NX 300. With this model, you enjoy exceptional power in an elegant package with all the luxury features you desire. The RX is a close second to the NX, which benefits from a complete redesign inside and out. The RX has long held the top sales spot for the Lexus SUV segment, and the changes should only add to its popularity.
The GX and LX provide three rows of spacious comfort. Premium leather on the top trims refines the look and feel. Cutting-edge infotainment technology and larger-than-life touch screens provide information and entertainment to the whole family. You can’t forget the V-8 and V-6 power these two SUVs draw on. The GX has a 4.6-liter V-8 engine that puts out 301 horsepower, while the LX comes with a 3.5-liter turbo V-6 that rates at 409 horsepower.
Lexus RZ 450e BEV
The all-electric Battery Electric Vehicle from Lexus should be available with a 2023 model. Expect a dual-motor platform and other unique electric applications to elevate Lexus’ first EV to the top of its class. You can also read our RX 450e overview to get a better idea of what to expect.
If you’re ready to enjoy the luxurious features and impressive performance of a new Lexus, we invite you to browse our inventory online. As the leading dealership in the LA area, we offer an extensive inventory of Lexus models. After selecting a few vehicles you’d like a closer look at, visit our El Monte dealership and take your favorites for a test drive.
Fun End-of-Summer Road Trips
Packing some bags and hopping in the car for a road trip can be a fun way to spend time with friends and family as the summer ends. Whether you’re planning a cross-country road trip or simply a long drive to a favorite destination, preparing your vehicle before you hit the road is essential so you don’t run into any trouble. Here are some fun summer road trip ideas, along with tips for how you can get your car road trip ready.
Fun End-of-Summer Road Trip Ideas
Image by configmanager is licensed with CC BY 2.0.
Nothing beats the heat of summer like a good road trip. Getting there is half the fun, regardless of where you plan to go for your trip. If you live in the El Monte, California, area, here are a few fun road trip ideas for you to consider:
Pacific Coast Highway
The Pacific Coast Highway stretches over 650 miles of the rugged California coastline. It remains a marvel of human ingenuity, making it a perfect summer road trip for those wanting to see more of what their state has to offer. You will see many locations that make California unique, from surfing villages to wineries. Check out more of Southern California’s golden beaches, stop by San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, and marvel at the beauty of Northern California’s redwood trees. The highway is especially popular in late summer when the weather is fair.
Route 66
As one of the first long-distance highways in the continental United States, Route 66 quickly rose to fame in the 20th century and remains one of the country’s most famous road trip destinations. The route runs over 2,000 miles, beginning in Chicago and ending in Santa Monica. Regardless of how far you decide to go, you’ll find many iconic stops along the way, from the alluring Blue Hole in New Mexico to the famed Gateway Arch in Missouri.
US Route 395
While not as well-known as the Pacific Coast Highway, US Route 395 remains a popular road trip for those who enjoy nature. The route runs through California, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon, stretching to the Canadian border. It crosses through major national parks and popular tourist destinations, including Death Valley National Park, Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Lakes, and Lake Tahoe.
17-Mile Drive
The 17-Mile Drive is a scenic road that runs through Pebble Beach, California. It makes a perfect road trip for people wanting to experience the beauty of the Pacific Coast in just a few hours. Check out the beautiful mansions that line the drive, look for whales, seabirds, and other wildlife, and stop to play some world-class golf. The route offers exceptional dining and shopping options to fit all budgets. And in late summer, you can also see the unique coastal wildflowers blooming along the road, making for some gorgeous pictures.
Getting Your Car Road Trip Ready
Before setting off on your much-anticipated road trip, there are a few things you’ll need to do to get your car prepared for the long adventure ahead. Making sure that your vehicle is in a good enough condition to tack on some miles can go a long way to ensuring that you don’t have too much car trouble while on your trip. Here are the most important things to do to get your car road trip ready:
Check Your Fluids
You typically need to change the oil in your car every 3,000 miles. Depending on the make or model you drive, it may be necessary to change it more or less often. If you know you’re close to having to get an oil change, it’s helpful to schedule it in advance before you leave for your trip so you don’t have to worry about it while on the road. In addition, check your power steering, windshield wiper, and transmission fluid levels and top them off if you find they’re too low.
Check Your Brakes
If you notice your brakes squealing, it may be time to replace your brake pads. Or if you notice that your brakes feel spongy or loose, it may mean your brake fluid is low. Make sure you schedule an appointment to inspect your brakes before leaving for your road trip. This can also help you ensure they can last a long time.
Inspect Your Tires
Your tires are one of your car’s most essential parts, as they support your vehicle load and help the car navigate different terrains. Tire inflation may also affect your car’s fuel economy, and it’s vital to ensure that they’re adequately inflated, especially if you know you’re going to be driving hundreds of miles. Under-inflated tires may make your car work harder, causing a decline in fuel economy, which can cost you at the pump. In addition, check the tread in your tires. Uneven wear may mean you’re due for a tire rotation.
Inspect Your Battery
In the summer heat, your car’s battery may lose its charge faster. In addition, if you have a battery that’s more than two years old, it may be necessary to get it checked annually, especially if you sometimes struggle with starting your car. Make sure you check your battery by taking it to a professional or disconnecting it and cleaning the connectors with a wire brush. Check for corrosion and make sure that the connection is tight. In addition, observe the brightness of your headlights as dimmer lights may mean your battery needs replacing soon.
The end-of-summer road trip season is here, and our team at Longo Lexus hopes this article was helpful if you’re planning one of your own. Want a new car for your trip? We’ve got you covered with a wide selection of new inventory, in addition to quality pre-owned inventory. We also offer a variety of service specials and complimentary maintenance for every new Lexus you own, so you can get your car in tip-top shape for your trip with money to spare. Contact us today to get started.
The 2022 Lexus NX 350h
If you’re looking to upgrade your Los Angeles commute with a luxury SUV, why not stop by our El Monte dealership and take a look at the 2022 Lexus NX 350h. At last, there’s a compact SUV agile enough to handle LA traffic and provide all the refined comfort you crave. The newly redesigned NX 350h offers many exciting new features. We had our SUV experts break down the NX 350h SUV’s different trim levels and features to help you decide which of the various models best suits your style.
Lexus NX 350h Exterior
2022 Lexus NX 350H
The NX 350h replaces the NX 300h with a completely redesigned exterior and slots between the sub-compact UX and mid-size RX series SUVs. With this model, Lexus brought back the spindle grille and integrated it into a modernized front fascia. This modern design incorporates checkmark turn signal indicators into the LED headlights. Combined with the sharp angles on the front and the carved hood, the NX 350h has an imposing appearance.
Soft curves and flaring lines evoke the taut muscles of an athlete. Riding on 20-inch wheels set wider and longer apart, the NX 350h looks ready to pounce.
Expressive LED lighting on the rear includes L-shaped taillamps and a full-width blade combination lamp that remains lit. A hands-free power liftgate gets you into the rear cargo hold with the key fob on your person.
Performance
Under the hood, you’ll find a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with Lexus Hybrid Electric Drive technology. Lexus pairs this engine with a continuously variable transmission and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. As a result, this powertrain produces a total system of 240 horsepower and has a 0–60 mph time of 7.2 seconds and a top speed of 124 mph.
The vehicle is impressively efficient for all that power, with an EPA-estimated rating of 41 mpg driving around the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 39 mpg combined. Plus, the hybrid technology enables you to drive short distances at low speeds on electric-only power, saving you money.
The Lexus NX 350h comes with an all-wheel-drive platform. This intelligent system continuously monitors your NX 350h’s driving dynamics, such as wheel spin, engine torque, and steering, delivering power to the wheel or wheels that can use it most. In addition, you have selectable drive modes, such as ECO for when you want maximum economy. Or, you can select Sport mode to tune your throttle and shift points for a more thrilling drive. Of course, there’s a Normal mode for everyday driving and an EV mode for all-electric power.
Interior Comfort and Technology
Lexus uses their beautiful synthetic NuLuxe upholstery that looks and feels like leather but offers greater durability. Any driver craving the sophistication of leather can choose to add perforated leather seats in various styles as part of an option package. Heated seats come standard, and you can add ventilated seats with multiple packages. Lexus refined the interior with Stippled Black interior moldings, but you have the option of upgrading to Black Prism or Black Open Pore Wood trim. A leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob are essential features.
All your in-vehicle tech runs through the 9.8-inch Lexus Interface, a powerful multi-media touch-screen display. Lexus offers an option for a 14-inch touchscreen, but in either case, the dashboard design angles your screen to the driver, making it much easier to operate without distraction. Tech such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, Google Assistant, and Hey Lexus Assistant comes pre-installed and ready to use.
Built-in Apple Music and Amazon Music allow you to stream your favorite songs. You can listen to them on the standard 10-speaker Lexus audio system or an upgraded Mark Levinson 17-speaker, 1,800-watt, Premium Surround Sound system.
Your NX 350h turns into a WiFi hotspot that connects multiple devices. Lexus has made charging easy with numerous USB ports and a wireless charging pad. Adding the available head-up display further enhances your driving experience by projecting critical driving data to the windshield before you.
Driver-Assist Technology
Every NX 350h has Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 — a suite of driver-assist systems designed to elevate your commute while keeping you safer on LA’s busy roads. This suite includes All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Curve Speed Management, which keeps your Lexus at a preset speed and distance to the vehicle ahead. When that vehicle slows, the system automatically slows your Lexus down — even to a complete stop. Then, as the traffic moves again, the system returns you to your presets. In addition, the system detects curves in the road and reduces your speed automatically for a smoother, more confident drive.
A Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection and Intersection Support uses radar and cameras to scan the way ahead. The system can detect pedestrians crossing the road or oncoming traffic turning across your path. You receive visual and audio alerts when this occurs, and if you fail to react, the system engages emergency brake support and steering assistance to help mitigate or avoid a potential collision.
Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist uses optical sensors to track your Lexus while traveling within marked lanes. At speeds above 32 mph, if the system detects an unintentional drift from your lane, you’ll receive an alert. Should you react slowly, the system provides gentle steering correction to return you to your lane. A Lane Tracing Assist system uses similar technology to keep you centered in your lane.
Other active safety systems include a Blind-Spot Monitor, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, and Front Cross-Traffic Alert. You also have several passive safety systems such as Road Sign Assist, Intelligent High Beams, and a Panoramic View Monitor.
If you’re ready to upgrade your Los Angeles commute with a stylish and luxurious SUV, we suggest you browse our inventory online. After reviewing the various option packages available, visit one of our SUV specialists to find the perfect NX 350h with all the features you desire. There, you can take your preferred vehicle for an all-important test drive so you can find the car that’s right for you.
Lexus NX: il nuovo SUV medio di Toyota è ancora più aggressivo by Automobile Italia is licensed with CC BY 2.0
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