LUSARAP

It feels like there is a secret law in Germany mandating that every domestic automaker there must offer at least one model with a four-door coupe bodystyle like the BMW Gran Coupes, Mercedes-Benz CLS and Audi A7. Several of the German brands even have the swoopy sedans in multiple sizes. So far, Lexus has stayed out of that fray, but maybe not for long, if a recently spotted test car makes it to market.

The brand is known to be testing a highly styled four-door coupe, roughly the size of the GS, under heavy camouflage. Little is known about the new model at the moment, but its existence makes sense. If it really wants to take the on Germans, Lexus is going to have to fight them toe-to-toe with competing models â€" especially with ones understood to have high margins.

Pictured above is a rendering from artist Theophilus Chin imagining a slightly smaller take on the genre based on the RC coupe, which he calls the RC GT. His design leaves the original shape almost untouched, but shortens the front doors to allow room for a rear doors under the arching roof. His GT would be aimed more against the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe and rumored Mercedes-Benz C-Class four-door coupe, rather than the larger models Lexus actually appears to be targeting with its vehicle under development. His concept certainly nails the look, though, and while it might not have a basis in reality, we thought that its well-resolved enough that youd want to take a look, if only as a "what couldve been" flight of fancy.

The Google Nexus 5 will be based on the specs of the incoming LG Optimus G2, with an expected release date in October running Android 5 Key Lime Pie.


It looks like LG will be making the Google Nexus 5, with the upcoming Google flagship packing similar hardware to the LG Optimus G2.

Said to arrive in early October with Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie in tow, the Nexus 5 is reportedly being manufactured by LG based on the hardware of the LG Optimus G2, tipped to launch on August 7.

Last year, the Nexus 4 and the LG Optimus G shared the same specs, so it would make sense for the next co-developed Google and LG smartphone to follow the same pattern.

The next Google flagship may have been expected a little earlier, as it was tipped the Nexus 5 release date was near as Nexus 4 units were removed from shelves. However, this latest source says we wont be seeing the Nexus 5 for another three months.

The source of the latest tip, a Korean tech site called Daum, also had a pretty full spec sheet for the LG Optimus G2, which could also shed some light on the Nexus 5 as well.

The LG Optimus G2 is strongly rumoured for an August 7 launch, and if the specs sheet from the Korean tech site is correct, it should have a 5.2-inch IPS screen with a 1920 x 1080p resolution and “zero bezel”.

With a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU, the LG Optimus G2 is said to have 2GB of RAM and a 2700mAh battery.

It should also have a 13-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilisation and run Android 4.2.2 out of the box. This last detail seems rather strange, seeing as the majority of the rumours suggest Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is just around the corner.

It won’t have any physical buttons, but should have a rear volume rocker as shown in the clearest LG Optimus G2 images that emerged earlier.

These specs seem to tie in to all the LG Optimus G2 rumours we’ve seen so far, so this may well be a near accurate specs sheet. However, we’ll have to see when LG potentially launches the smartphone at its New York event on August 7.

New iPhone 6 rumours have surfaced, with a newly leaked Apple patent suggesting the upcoming handset could feature a curved touchscreen display.