Lexus IS 350 Earns a Ticket to Paradise in Atari Inc.’s Online Video Game: Test Drive Unlimited
December 5, 2006 – Torrance, CA – The popular Lexus IS 350 sport sedan
has entered the world of video games as part of Atari Inc.’s all-new Test Drive
Unlimited video game for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system
from Microsoft. The ultimate automotive and lifestyle gaming experience, Test
Drive Unlimited provides gamers with M.O.O.R.™: Massively Open Online Racing
and the pure freedom to drive their Lexus IS 350 wherever they choose, whenever
they choose and race whomever they choose all in a spectacular wide-open Hawaiian
setting.
The IS 350’s participation in Test Drive Unlimited marks the debut of a Lexus
branding initiative in the world of video games. The IS 350 is the first of
five Lexus vehicles that will be available for Test Drive Unlimited. Additional
Lexus vehicles coming soon to Test Drive Unlimited include the LS 460 premium
luxury sedan, the GS 450h hybrid-powered luxury sport sedan, the SC 430 hard-top
convertible, and the LS 600h L, which will go on sale in the Spring of 2007
as the worlds first full-hybrid V8 luxury sedan.
With its remarkable vehicle details, Test Drive Unlimited enables players to
experience the intelligence of technical design and design quality that went
into the
IS 350 and all Lexus vehicles.
Thus far, the IS 350 has proven very popular since it became available on Test
Drive Unlimited on November 21, 2006. In its first five days online, the IS
350 received over 30,000 downloads!
"The Lexus IS 350 is a perfect fit with video games, particularly with
the array of exciting features offered to gamers in Test Drive Unlimited",
said Deborah Wahl Meyer, Lexus vice president of marketing. "Our foray
into online gaming will help Lexus reach the IS model’s younger target audience,
educate gamers to the many styling and performance aspects of the IS, and also
further expose Lexus as a brand with high-performance attributes."
Test Drive Unlimited allows gamers to visit the most sophisticated car and
motorcycle dealers (with more than 90 vehicles to choose from) to purchase new
vehicles or simply take them for a test drive. Players choose from real-world
manufacturer interior and exterior options to make their vehicles one-of-a-kind.
Test Drive Unlimited challenges players online and offline to experience the
most exotic and fastest vehicles on more than 1,000 miles of diverse and challenging
Hawaiian roads and terrains on the island of Oahu. Every foot of road, buildings
and landmarks are mapped out using authentic GPS data.
Gamers can choose from an astounding 350+ multi-player and solo challenges,
including a combined online and offline total of 125 race challenges, 44 time
challenges, 51 speed challenges, 40 club challenges and many more. Players also
have the option of designing their own challenge. Gamers around the world compete
against each other in up to eight-player races and can also meet with thousands
of others in a 24/7 online community to chat, trade, and race.
Each competitor can purchase their IS 350 in an online Lexus dealership that
is completely furnished to precisely replicate a real-life Lexus showroom, from
the walls, to the carpet and floor plan. The IS 350 is rendered with incredible
fidelity and boasts unrivalled interior details including full vehicle functions
such as radio, electric windows, horn, and more.
Gamers can personalize their Lexus IS with options from an actual Lexus catalogue,
allowing one to boost vehicle power with performance upgrades.
Each player can form and customize the driver of their IS 350 with a choice
of popular branded clothes and create their own unique look with a vast range
of hair styles, colorings and the ability to fine tune all facial features.
Competitors stack up cash by winning races and completing challenges, missions
and tournaments to earn credits and purchase new cars, bikes, apparel, homes,
and garages.
The Lexus IS models, which debuted in 2006, combine striking styling with one
of the most compelling packages of performance, luxury, and safety in the highly
competitive luxury sport sedan segment.
The 2007 IS is offered in three models, each powered by a new-generation, high-output
V6 engine. The rear-wheel-drive IS 350 leads its segment with a 306-horsepower,
3.5-liter V6 and can accelerate from zero-to-60 mph in just 5.6 seconds. The
IS 250 is powered by a 204 horsepower, 2.5-liter version of the new V6 and is
available as a rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive model.
About Atari
New York-based Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR) develops interactive games for all
platforms and is one of the largest third-party publishers of interactive entertainment
software in the U.S. The Company’s 1,000+ titles include hard-core, genre-defining
franchises such as The Matrix™ (Enter The Matrix and The Matrix: Path of
Neo) and Test Drive®; and mass-market and children’s franchises such as
Dora the Explorer™, and Dragon Ball Z®. Atari, Inc. is a majority-owned
subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Entertainment SA (Euronext – ISIN:
FR-0000052573), the largest interactive games publisher in Europe. For more
information, visit www.atari.com.
About Lexus
Lexus has become synonymous with luxury since its introduction in 1989. By offering
some of the finest quality luxury vehicles and providing benchmark customer
service, Lexus has remained the top-selling luxury nameplate in the United States
for six years in a row. Lexus and its 222 dealers have repeatedly achieved high
honors for both the products they sell and the customer service they provide.
Credit: Lexus USA
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