Tag Archives: lexus

Annals of Marketing – Universal Pictures’ Wicked and Lexus

Posted on 21 October 2024 by Ken Zino

“As a proud partner of Universal’s ‘Wicked,’ Lexus is helping drive audiences to experience the film’s powerful and transformative magic this holiday season,” said Cynthia Tenhouse, vice president, Lexus marketing. “Offering three-row luxury, innovative technology, and plenty of cargo space for extra broomsticks, the Lexus TX is the perfect vehicle for travelers, wherever the road may take them.” Continue reading →

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Loyalty Keeps Vehicle Buyers Out of Market Amidst Shortages

Posted on 30 September 2024 by Ken Zino

Perennial brand loyalty leaders including Toyota, Honda and Lexus have each been able to grow their respective shares of loyal customers amid stagnation experienced by other brands, according to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Automotive Brand Loyalty StudySM.

“Amid ongoing inventory shortages, the most loyal customers actually stayed out of the market if they were unable to get their desired vehicle,” said Tyson Jominy, vice president of data & analytics at J.D. Power. “Now that inventory levels are recovering, customers are coming back. In particular, Toyota and Honda are benefiting from increased availability of hybrid vehicles, with Honda owners swapping out their gas-powered vehicles for hybrids at nearly triple the rate of the industry average. Lexus is also benefitting from strengthened residual values, which are helping drive loyalty for the brand despite premium brands as a whole experiencing a plateau this year.” Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Lexus and the LA Clippers

Posted on 16 February 2024 by Ken Zino

The LA Clippers said this week that Lexus will be named “the official luxury vehicle of the LA Clippers and Intuit Dome,” with a Lexus Courtside Lounge at the new arena. Lexus joins naming rights partner Intuit and AT&T, Pechanga, and Ticketmaster as Intuit Dome Founding Partners. Ex-Microsoft pooh-bah Steve Balmer now owns and runs the Clippers. The monetarily peripatetic team was formerly of Buffalo and San Diego.

The Clippers history with arenas is troubled. They fled the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in 1999 for Staples Center (nowadays Crypto.com Arena; that’s com not con), which they shared as an unloved stepchild with the Los Angeles Lakers and the National Hockey League’s LA Kings. The rental deal with the Lakers required the removing and then re-installation of Laker memorabilia and sponsorship logos and other stuff  before and after their games. Hardly five easy pieces – so to Jack Nicholson speak  – with our fond memories of his courtside Lakers seats where he held court at the Forum and Staples Center. Continue reading →

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Toyota Ending Production at Saint Petersburg Plant

Posted on 23 September 2022 by Ken Zino

“We must now act in a way that allows us to protect the values and principles that our predecessors built up and be confident that we can pass them on to the next generation,” TMC said in a statement. It’s the latest example of global automakers realizing how perilous it is to do business with a mercurial, tyrannical regime. Is China next? Continue reading →

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J.D. Power – Most Owners Love Their Three-Year-Old Wheels

Posted on 14 February 2019 by Ken Zino

“Vehicle dependability continues to improve, but I wouldn’t say that everything is rosy,” noted Dave Sargent, Vice President of Global Automotive at J.D. Power. “Vehicles are more reliable than ever, but automakers are wrestling with problems such as voice recognition, transmission shifts and battery failures. Continue reading →

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2019 Lexus ES 350 in Production at Georgetown Kentucky

Posted on 7 August 2018 by Ken Zino

Workers at the company’s U.S. facility spent more than 150,000 hours training to build the ES model that delivers Lexus claims of a “fundamentally higher level of performance than its predecessors.” That includes sensory training that teaches assemblers, for instance, to feel for an abnormality as minute as a thread of hair. Continue reading →

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Lexus GS 300h debuts at Shanghai Motor Show

Posted on 23 April 2013 by Ken Zino

While this latest Lexus hybrid has fuel economy and tax advantages in global markets, particularly against German luxury cars with diesel engines, it is not clear whether Lexus needs the smaller engine GS hybrid in North America where GS sales have been softening. Lexus already sells a GS 450h here with 338 total system horsepower. Continue reading →

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The History of Lexus

Posted on 19 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Lexus launched in 1989 with two luxury sedans, one small and the other large aimed directly at the Mercedes-Benz S-class. The full size Lexus LS 400 was priced more than $10,000 under top of the line German offerings in the US. At the time, Lexus made bold claims of superior quality and durability, as well as several years without a marked decrease in the quietness, smooth ride, and exterior and interior finishes of the new luxury car line. Continue reading →

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2014 Q50 Infiniti Sedan Appears in Detroit at NAIAS

Posted on 14 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Infiniti unveiled an all-new 2014 Infiniti Q50 sedan at a press conference at the 2013 North American International Auto Show – NAIAS – today. Q50 takes many of its exaggerated styling cues from the Infiniti Essence concept, with swooping curves and angular accent lines, in an attempt to separate itself from more traditional German designs, which is not necessarily a good thing. Inside, the Q50 interior offers a driver- oriented cockpit with communications system that has large dual touch-screens. Continue reading →

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Toyota Recalls 780,000 RAV4 and Lexus HS 250h Models

Posted on 2 August 2012 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Sales is recalling 2006 to early 2011 model year RAV4 and 2010 model year Lexus HS 250h vehicles sold in the U.S. because the rear suspension can fail, leading to loss of control. In a statement notable for its lack of detail about accidents, injuries and fatalities, TMS said that about 760,000 Toyota RAV4 and 18,000 Lexus HS 250h models are involved in this latest quality problem Continue reading →

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Lexus Debuts New LS Flagship Sedan Tonight in San Francisco

Posted on 30 July 2012 by Ken Zino

The original Lexus full-size sedan – the 1990 model LS 400 – caught the Germans by surprise with its combination of high quality, silky smooth ride, and a price that undercut competing Mercedes-Benz and BMW sedans by $10,000 or more.

Initially dismissed by the Europeans, the success of Lexus ultimately forced improvements in quality and a lowering of prices by Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. The Japanese brand’s success has also prompted an expanding list of joint ventures with BMW. Continue reading →

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2013 Lexus ES 350 Starts at $36,995, Hybrid at $2,750 Premium

Posted on 16 July 2012 by Ken Zino

Both of the new ES models are based on – and use the same gas and hybrid powertrains – as the 2013 Toyota Avalon, which seems an unusually strong car from both technical and design viewpoints. Avalon will not only give Ford Taurus, Buick La Crosse and Chevrolet Impala strong competition next year in a full-size car segment once dominated by the Detroit Three, but it will challenge the new Lexus ES as well. Continue reading →

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First Drive – 2013 Lexus ES 350 and ES 300h Hybrid Sedans

Posted on 25 June 2012 by Ken Zino

A day of test-driving both of the front-drive mid-size cars shows that once again, these are well-equipped, quiet luxury models. However, Lexus engineers have abandoned the plush ride that made its name, for a distinctly German chassis setup that verges on the harsh and intrusive. Lexus executives claim that this is what customers want, which could come as news to the one million ES owners. This theory will be tested after the cars are priced – and the strong Yen will be a factor here – and final EPA numbers are attached to their window stickers. Continue reading →

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First Drive – 2013 Lexus GS 350 Sport Sedan

Posted on 2 April 2012 by Ken Zino

The GS 350 also, surprisingly, outperforms the BMW in extreme performance driving. The transmission has some features adopted from the Lexus IS F high-performance sedan — including faster shifts, earlier torque converter lockup and downshift throttle blips — to support four driving modes that can be operated by toggling the new Lexus Drive Mode selector. Continue reading →

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Toyota offers Protection from Lease Wear and Use Charges

Posted on 23 March 2012 by Ken Zino

Toyota Financial Services and Lexus Financial Services are introducing what is called an Excess Wear & Use (EWU) Protection Plan. The plan limits financial responsibility for items such as dings, dents, scratches, and missing parts or equipment when the lease … Continue reading →

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