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Lexus of Wesley Chapel

ALL-NEW LEXUS UX PURPOSE-BUILT FOR THE URBAN BUYER

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Looking to buy a small but affordable crossover designed for the modern urban explorer? The all-new 2019 Lexus UX could be just the vehicle for you.

This urban-centric ride in the fastest-growing compact SUV segment is available in two trims: the front-wheel drive UX200 with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine putting out 169 horsepower; or the all-wheel drive UX250h gas/electric hybrid with a 2.0-liter developing a total of 181 hp. The former is mated to a 10-speed direct-shift auto gear box, and the latter gets a continuous variable transmission. A 34.2-foot turning circle means maneuvering sharp curves or making a U-turn is a breeze.

The UX250h employs a four-cylinder gas engine, two electric motors and a 216-volt nickel-metal hydride battery. At higher speeds, power comes primarily from the gasoline engine. During deceleration and braking, the vehicle uses regenerative braking to apply much of the wasted energy toward recharging the hybrid battery.

Standard bi-LED headlights and daytime running lights flank a massive three-dimensional mesh spindle grille to give the UX a muscular stance. Attention to detail is apparent in the cabin with its robust three-spoke steering wheel, which turns effortlessly. The driver and front-row passenger get eight-way power seats, while the rear 60/40 seat folds for storage if needed. As summer approaches, the dual auto a/c will keep the front-row occupants cool.

Tech-driven aficionados will appreciate the six speakers, four USB ports, wireless phone charger, and Amazon Alexa and Apple CarPlay integration. A mouse-like Remote Touch enables the driver to toggle navigation, climate, audio and phone controls, which are displayed on a 7-inch or the optional 10.3-inch screen, next to the familiar analog clock. Passenger volume is at 90.4 and trunk space at 21.7 cubic feet, which is laudable for a compact SUV.

Add $2,000 if you would like the sporty F Sport trim, which includes a sport-tuned suspension, perforated leather shifter and heated steering wheel, F Sport grille, front/rear bumpers, 8-inch display screen, and more.

Apart from the standard airbag/stability control features, the Lexus Safety Sense + 2.0 fetches you a pre-collision system that detects pedestrians, lane departure alert and lane tracing assist, dynamic cruise control and intelligent high beams at no cost.

Starting at $32,000 for the UX200 and $34,000 for the UX250h, this Urban + X-over (crossover) is a purposeful vehicle with no compromises. Taking into consideration its Lexus label, it truly is great value for the money. This immensely pleasant and rewarding UX is a welcome addition to the lineup of the luxury division.

UX200
Tires: 225/50RF18
Wheelbase: 103.9 inches
Length: 177 inches
Weight: 3,307 pounds
Suspension: MacPherson strut front, trailing arm multilink rear
Steering: electric power
Fuel capacity: 12.4 gallons
City: 29 mpg
Highway: 37 mpg
Web site: LexusOfWesleyChapel.com

Test drive the Lexus UX models at Lexus of Wesley Chapel, 5350 Eagleston Blvd., Wesley Chapel. For more information, call the dealership at (813) 907-5350.

Published February 20, 2019

Community Service Is Top Priority For Williams Automotive Group

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The Williams Automotive Group does much more than just sell and service vehicles from its Wesley Chapel and north Tampa dealerships.

It literally touches the lives of hundreds of people in Pasco and Hillsborough counties by providing meaningful careers for its associates, and by helping people in need through its volunteer and financial support of several local charities.

“It all begins with the commitment of our owners, John and David Williams, who have shown exceptional loyalty to their employees and community since they bought Wesley Chapel Toyota in 2008,” said Therese Bottino, who heads up marketing for the business.

“Active community involvement is so important that it is the most important core value on our mission statement,” she continues. “This commitment comes from the very top of our organization, and we live it every day.”

Williams Automotive Group employs 460 people between its four dealerships — Wesley Chapel Toyota, Wesley Chapel Honda, Lexus of Wesley Chapel and Tampa Honda. Most of its associates live close to their work and are active members of the community.

“We are much, much more than just a car dealership,” said Eric Johnson, director of community partnerships for Williams Automotive Group. “Our first commitment is to make a difference in our community by giving our associates an opportunity to get out and serve.”

Johnson joined the company eight years ago in his outreach role, and was the first full-time community liaison in Pasco’s vibrant automotive market along the State Road 54/56 corridor.

Johnson’s primary responsibility is to identify area nonprofits deserving of help, and then develop programs to help by setting up volunteer events that make it easy for employees to become involved.

“We believe everyone has a desire to serve,” said Johnson. “My job is to create the opportunity by coordinating what support is needed at the charity, so all our associates need to do is sign up and show up.”

In 2018, Johnson set up volunteer programs with 10 different local charities, and had a recording-setting year for employee participation.

“Last year, we had 175 team members volunteering their time to serve at 41 different events,” said Johnson. “That works out to almost one event a week!”

An example is the volunteer work employees do to support Everyday Blessings, a foster home in Thonotosassa whose primary mission is to keep sibling groups together.

“Our associates get to know these kids personally by taking them shopping, signing up for Bingo nights and helping at fundraising events,” said Johnson. “Most of our volunteer events are three to five hours, and employees are given the flexibility to volunteer by adjusting their work schedule.”

Williams Automotive Group works with a variety of charities, so employees can choose to support those that interest them most.

“We have groups that focus on children, others that work with veterans, and those that serve the homeless and hungry,” said Johnson.

“Managers and hourly workers work side-by-side, and it’s a great way for our associates to get to know each other on a more personal level,” add Bottino. “We also encourage associates to invite their favorite customers to volunteer alongside them.”

Ronald McDonald House was the first charity that the company worked with. It added Habitat for Humanity the following year, and continues to welcome new charities every year.

In 2018, charities supported by Williams Automotive Group included:
Everyday Blessings Foster Home
Feeding Tampa Bay
Habitat for Humanity
Hillsborough Education Foundation
Metropolitan Ministries
Pasco Education Foundation
Ronald McDonald House
One Blood
Support The Troops
Trinity Café

In addition, the company has pledged $500,000 to the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation, which supports cancer research, patient care and education initiatives.

“We set aside for Moffitt a percentage of the sale for every vehicle sold, which our company matches 100 percent,” said Bottino. “I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been touched by cancer, and we are blessed to have Moffitt in our community helping cancer victims and their families.”

Williams Automotive Group believes that people who volunteer their time to help others make for outstanding employees.

“We truly believe that people feel better about themselves when they give back and serve,” said Johnson. “We encourage people to serve by making it easy for them to volunteer.”

Every year the company recognizes its top employee volunteer with its prestigious Volunteer of the Year Trophy. The 2018 winner was Patrick Welsh, a detailer at Wesley Chapel Honda, who has worked at the dealership for less than two years.

“Seeing Patrick receive the volunteer trophy was exciting because it shows that even newer employees can jump on board to volunteer their time and make a difference,” said Johnson.

Because Williams Automotive Group is family owned, it has the ability to make decisions quickly in all aspects of its business, including charitable giving, without the corporate layers often found at other dealerships.

“We see ourselves as your friends and neighbors, and show it every day by our very real commitment to the community,” said Bottino. “Many customers tell us they buy from us because of our charity work, and that makes us very proud.”

Published January 16, 2019

REVAMPED 2019 LEXUS ES350 IS A NEAR PICTURE-PERFECT RIDE!

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Launched 30 years ago, the Lexus ES350 has been the standard bearer for midsize luxury sedans. Delivering an entertaining and energetic ride since its launch, Lexus has once again totally overhauled the front-wheel-drive car for 2019. The seventh-gen ES is longer (2.6 inches), wider (1.8 inches), and lower (0.2 inches) from its predecessor. And, Lexus has added the more lively F Sport trim to the ES badge for the first time. The ES300h hybrid is available, too, with an all-new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine putting out 215 horsepower and boasting fuel economy figures of 44 city, 45 highway and 44 combined.

The 3.5-liter V-6 engine in the ES350 blasts off 302 horsepower (up by 34 hp for 2019) @ 6600 rpm and 267 pounds-feet (up 19) of torque @ 4700 rpm. Out goes the six-speed auto gear box to be replaced by a more capable, smoother and fuel-efficient eight-speed. Suspension handled via independent front MacPherson strut-type and rear trailing-arm multilink does a worthy job of soaking up potholes and other road bumps. Returning a weighted response to the driver’s input is an improved power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering. And, 0 to 60 mph is achieved in 6.6 seconds instead of the former 7.1 seconds, which is fittingly quick for a 3,649-pound vehicle.

Ensconced on a unitized steel body is the signature spindle grille with a centered Lexus insignia, flanked by slim L-shaped LED projector-beam headlights and daytime running lights. A low, sleek roofline leads to wraparound LED tail lamps. Project chief designer Yasuo Kajino says the car has a “provocative elegance … The ES has always been an elegant luxury ride. For this generation, we have added daring design elements that challenge the traditional expectations of buyers.” And that certainly shows in its graceful stance. The cabin is typical Lexus with welcoming wood and piano black trim and leather as occupants are pampered in spacious seats. The rounded large tachometer housing a digital speedometer and multi-information display is easy to read. Passenger and trunk volume is commendable at 99.9 and 16.7 cubic feet space respectively. Other standard amenities include dual auto a/c, power moon roof and 14.6-inch, three-spoke tilt/telescopic steering column with paddle shifters, keyless entry/engine start, 10-way power front seats, 8-inch touch screen, analog clock, three USB ports, 10-speaker Pioneer audio system with a CD player and satellite radio, and rain-sensing wipers.

Standard safety features include dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag, front knee airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution and Brake Assist, vehicle stability assist with traction control system, front/rear crumple zones, smart stop technology, three-point safety belts for all, daytime running lights and tire pressure monitoring system. Also, the Lexus Safety Sense + 2.0 fetches a pre-collision system that detects pedestrians, lane departure alert and lane tracing assist, dynamic cruise control and intelligent high beams at no cost.

Available in base, Luxury and Ultra Luxury trims, the ES350 starts at $39,600, the 300h at $41,410 and the F Sport at $44,135. Placed between the entry-level IS and the larger GS, the ES350 is the near-perfect ride. Tweaks to the mouse-like Remote Touch for toggling navigation, climate, audio and phone controls are welcome. This delightful Lexus is a well-balanced blend of luxury and performance.

LEXUS ES350

Tires: P215/55R17
Wheelbase: 113 inches
Length: 195.9 inches
Width: 73.4 inches
Height: 56.9 inches
Fuel capacity: 15.9 gallons
City: 22 mpg
Highway: 33 mpg
Web site: LexusOfWesleyChapel.com

Test drive all the Lexus ES models at Lexus of Wesley Chapel, 5350 Eagleston Blvd., Wesley Chapel. For more information, call the dealership at (813) 907-5350.

Published December 12, 2018

Political Agenda 10/10/2018

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Wesley Chapel Republicans
The Wesley Chapel Republican Club will meet Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m., at Lexus of Wesley Chapel, 5350 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. Numerous candidates will be featured. Admission is free, all are welcome, and coffee and homemade desserts will be served. For more information, contact Peter Cracchiolo at (813) 360-9813 or at .  

Candidate forums
There are three upcoming candidate forums, according to the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections’ website.

They are:

  • The American Association of University Women on Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the New Port Richey Library, 5939 Main St., New Port Richey. The forum will feature all candidates running for U.S. Congress, the Florida Legislature and Pasco County School Board.
  • The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce and The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 15, at the East Pasco Adventist Academy, 38434 Centennial Road in Dade City. A meet and greet begins at 6 p.m., with the forum starting at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend the event and will have the opportunity to submit questions to the moderators for consideration.
  • The League of Women Voters-Pasco on Oct. 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The forum will feature all candidates running.

East Pasco Democrats
The East Pasco Democratic Club will meet Oct. 15 at 4:30 p.m., at Omari’s Grill at Scotland Yard Golf Club, 9424 U.S. 301, in Dade City. The meeting will end at 6 p.m., and will reconvene at 6:30 p.m., at the Dade/Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum at East Pasco Adventist Academy, 38434 Centennial Road in Dade City. For more information, visit EastPascoDems.com, or call (813) 383-8315.

Club meetings planned, endorsements announced

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Upcoming club meetings

Land O’ Lakes Democrats
The Land O’ Lakes Democratic Club will host Stephen Perenich, who is running for U.S. Congress in Florida District 12, at the club’s April 4 meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. The club meets at Brick City Eatery, 16540 Pointe Village Drive in Lutz.

Wesley Chapel Republican Club
The Wesley Chapel Republican Club meets April 12 at 6:30 pm at Lexus of Wesley Chapel, 5350 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. The guest speaker will be State Sen. Wilton Simpson. There will be coffee and desserts. There is no admission charge. For more information, contact Peter Cracchiolo at (813) 360-9813 or .

Republican Club of Central Pasco
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley will speak at Republican Club of Pasco County’s meeting on April 23. The club encourages anyone that seeks to be involved in the political process to attend. It meets at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. A social begins at 6:30 p.m., and the business meeting starts at 7 p.m. For more information, call (813) 996-3011.

Trinity Democratic Club
The Trinity Democratic Club welcomes Melissa Erickson, co-founder and executive director of the Alliance for Public Schools (All4Schools.org), as guest speaker at its April 25 meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. The group meets at Fox Hollow Golf Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity. Doors open at 5 p.m., for those wish to purchase dinner and/or drinks. For more information, call (415) 609-3633 or email .

Endorsements

  • #VOTEPROCHOICE has endorsed Kelly Smith, who is running in the District 2 race of the Pasco County Commission. Smith supports reproductive rights in Florida, according to an announcement from her campaign.
  • The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 29 Labor Unit has endorsed Mike Moore, who is running for re-election in the District 2 race of the Pasco County Commission, according to an announcement from his campaign.

Published April 4, 2018