LS600h exceeds 1st year sales targets by 300%
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
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LS600h exceeds 1st year sales targets by 300%
Remember when the Lexus LS 600h was on the way, and there was head-scratching aplenty about the $100K+ price and the delay? At the time, Lexus said it only planned to sell 2,000 of the hybrid cruisers per year, and that they already had orders for 1,650 of them. Then the car came out, and in spite of being treated rather unkindly by the motoring press and boasting a less-than-stellar MPG improvement, it has sold 6,093 worldwide through October. The car only went on sale in July.
Lexus calls the car the "progressive person's alternative." The New York Times called the car the "new standard for automotive hyperbole." After only a few months of sales, it is far too early to call -- but it would be interesting to see if Lexus has done the same thing with the LS that Toyota did with the Prius: no matter what you might think of it, it allows people to make a statement.
While Mercedes and Audi are busy working on... something, and hydrogen BMW's shuttle celebs hither, Lexus has a car on lots that lets luxury buyers make the claim, "I care." (Remember, this isn't about what you think of the statement, so keep the comments civil.) Whichever one the buyers are going for -- progressive, hyperbole, statement, or something else -- it appears to be working.
Lexus calls the car the "progressive person's alternative." The New York Times called the car the "new standard for automotive hyperbole." After only a few months of sales, it is far too early to call -- but it would be interesting to see if Lexus has done the same thing with the LS that Toyota did with the Prius: no matter what you might think of it, it allows people to make a statement.
While Mercedes and Audi are busy working on... something, and hydrogen BMW's shuttle celebs hither, Lexus has a car on lots that lets luxury buyers make the claim, "I care." (Remember, this isn't about what you think of the statement, so keep the comments civil.) Whichever one the buyers are going for -- progressive, hyperbole, statement, or something else -- it appears to be working.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/04/l...ndred-percent/
- exceeds 1st year sales targets by 300% in only 3 months.
woa, uhh.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,534
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From: MD
Interesting.
Here's my hybrid question of the day.
Take a car like the Camry hybrid. 2.4L 4 cylinder. Could this car be more efficient with a turbocharged version of the 1.5L? If you think about it turbo lag isnt as much of a problem since the car has an electric motor with instand torque to get the car in motion. And possibly, with the assistance of an electric motor, the ICE could tach low enough during highway driving that it would stay outta boost. And that would be a recipe for good hwy fuel economy. Just a thought.
Here's my hybrid question of the day.
Take a car like the Camry hybrid. 2.4L 4 cylinder. Could this car be more efficient with a turbocharged version of the 1.5L? If you think about it turbo lag isnt as much of a problem since the car has an electric motor with instand torque to get the car in motion. And possibly, with the assistance of an electric motor, the ICE could tach low enough during highway driving that it would stay outta boost. And that would be a recipe for good hwy fuel economy. Just a thought.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,695
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From: CA
http://thepassionatepursuit.com/2007...-start-strong/
People who can afford this car, and as supported by our member owners, did not buy it for mpg; rather they bought the LS 600h L for its combination of technology, ultra-luxe comfort, extra power, improved emissions, and general efficiency, which the LSh delivers on many fronts.
6,093 cars x $90,000 (LS 600h) - $120,000 (LS 600h L) =
between $550 million and $730 million in LS hybrid sales.
Japan is especially enamored, scooping up 4,533 of the total, though this is likely due to its earlier release. Both North American and European sales are decent, with 818 and 569 sales respectively.
6,093 cars x $90,000 (LS 600h) - $120,000 (LS 600h L) =
between $550 million and $730 million in LS hybrid sales.
Guest
Posts: n/a
1. Shows Lexus is at the forefront of automobile technology and people accept it.
2. Shows people are willing to spend over $100,000 for a Lexus, UNHEARD of for a Japanese brand.
3. Shows forecasters did indeed know what people wanted.
This car was a HUGE risk for Lexus. It could have been a flying albatross and stunk the brand up. Even with so so reviews and some downright nasty to the car, people love it.
Progressive person's car, I love it!
2. Shows people are willing to spend over $100,000 for a Lexus, UNHEARD of for a Japanese brand.
3. Shows forecasters did indeed know what people wanted.
This car was a HUGE risk for Lexus. It could have been a flying albatross and stunk the brand up. Even with so so reviews and some downright nasty to the car, people love it.
Progressive person's car, I love it!
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Guest
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You do realize the competition MPG is in the teens right, especially City with the big V-12s....This car is NOT about saving MPG. Anyone that can afford this car can clearly afford gas. Its about owning a technological marvel.
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: IL
You forget it has emissions no car in its class, hell no car other than a HYBRID can match. You do realize the competition MPG is in the teens right, especially City with the big V-12s....
This car is NOT about saving MPG. Anyone that can afford this car can clearly afford gas. Its about owning a technological marvel.
You do realize the competition MPG is in the teens right, especially City with the big V-12s....This car is NOT about saving MPG. Anyone that can afford this car can clearly afford gas. Its about owning a technological marvel.
So really it is about showing off - and the LS600h does this well. But let's not kid ourselves, it is not about "caring for" the environment.
Guest
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Exactly, the car is not about MPG - because if it was, people would be buying the LS460 which trumps this car in combined EPA - which in effect makes the pollution argument null and void.
So really it is about showing off - and the LS600h does this well. But let's not kid ourselves, it is not about "caring for" the environment.
So really it is about showing off - and the LS600h does this well. But let's not kid ourselves, it is not about "caring for" the environment.
I don't recall Lexus ever saying anywhere it is the solution to global warming or anything. Instead I see people throwing jabs at it b/c its a hybrid that does not get 40mpg....
Lexus hybrids are an odd bunch but not bad for the first generation.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,854
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From: IL
Again, its runs clean, looking at Euro taxes, it will save you a couple thousand or more/less depending on the country.
I don't recall Lexus ever saying anywhere it is the solution to global warming or anything. Instead I see people throwing jabs at it b/c its a hybrid that does not get 40mpg....
Lexus hybrids are an odd bunch but not bad for the first generation.
I don't recall Lexus ever saying anywhere it is the solution to global warming or anything. Instead I see people throwing jabs at it b/c its a hybrid that does not get 40mpg....
Lexus hybrids are an odd bunch but not bad for the first generation.
The fact is the car has 430+ hp - doesn't matter how they got it, it has it, and people want that in their lux car - especially when it runs six figures.
True this car is not about mpg, but atleast there will be that much less pollution, when otherwise, like SICK mentioned, the mpg would be much lower like the non-hybrid competition's is. This also shows that people are willing to spend extra money on a luxury car just because it is a hybrid. It is a step forward, because lets face it, everyone is not going to all of sudden switch to a 40 mpg hybrid to leave behind their big, luxurious, gas guzzling car. This is a good path towards having a lot more cars on alternative fuel and energy all across the board from cheaper cars to luxury high end cars. Cheers to Lexus.
