Bluesman2

Probably little flower trinkets.....

Did you see the one guy in the video? He's like "WTF is this?"

Really makes me want to buy a car..........

GS3rdwow

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...07/209825.html

Chicago's in Bloom with Lexus' Launch of the All-New 2007 ES 350

CHICAGO, Feb. 7, 2006 -- Spring comes early to Chicago as Lexus plants an eighty-foot-tall blossom on the city's Magnificent Mile. The mechanical flower is part of the public launch of the all-new, fifth- generation Lexus ES 350 luxury sedan, which debuts at this year's Chicago Auto Show on February 8th, will be on display from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7th.

Located on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Superior, the bloom's face spans 25 feet and its petals are enhanced by multicolored lights that open and close as its street-side audience is asked the question: Can you engineer desire? Coinciding with the display, individual paper blooms will be distributed throughout the city, unfolding to ask the same question. Both the giant and the palm-sized flowers lead spectators to the ES 350's pre-launch Web site, www.2007ES.com, where they can further explore the vehicle's attributes and design as well as link to the core Lexus Web site.

"We believe that the all-new ES 350 epitomizes Lexus' new design direction," says Bob Carter, Lexus group vice president and general manager. "Every element of this vehicle invites participation -- both visual and tactile. Its design is something drivers will need to experience and not just observe."

Lexus' Chicago Auto Show press conference introducing the 2007 ES 350 will be held at 9:15 a.m., Wednesday February 8th. The luxury sedan, which goes on sale in late April, will be on display to the public throughout the auto show from February 10th until February 19th.

XeroK00L

Flower power... so Lexus is focusing on targeting female buyers with the New ES?
Or more likely, the marketing people at Lexus have run out of good ideas.

GS3rdwow

Very interesting - he says the new ES is the epitome of the L-Finesse design language. I woul dhave thought the epitome of it woul dhave been the LS or GS.

Now I really cant eait any longer t see the actual car photos at the launch!!!!

aaahhh

Bluesman2

Eh, it's marketing.....what else are they gonna say abou it? They're done with the sedans after tomorrow, so it's the final chapter in that book before they move on to the SUVs.

GS3rdwow

I wouldnt say that..they still have the SC coupe to redo which will be done in 2008 badged as a 2009 model, i believe

XeroK00L

Yup.......

GS3rdwow

And believe me it will not be on sale late april as he claims... it will probably arrive ( a demo) in dealerships by either end of this month - beginning week of march for sale mid march.

Bluesman2

How do you know?

Bluesman2

Yea if they turn the ES into a big Maxi Pad commercial I'll be pissed. Toyota did that with the Solara....total chick car now.

GS3rdwow

I really doubt april...most dealers have all concurred a march sale date. My contact told me the same too

TRDFantasy

The Camry V6 is estimated at 22/31, so expect the ES to be about the same. That would make the ES near the top of the class in power and fuel economy, if not THE top in terms of fuel economy.

encore888

Cool find...although I'm by the 'flower power' campaign, I do think that it's the final L-Finessed sedan entry, and so far all the reveals have been very serious and performance-focused, so now it's time for something fun and why not the ES to do it?

I have to say though that I'm glad Lexus now has a more serious, or at least cutting-edge sharp and professional feel to their presentations...GS/IS/LS...

On thecarconnection.com recently I viewed the SC 430 and LS 430 launches...SC's rock music and LS's 'sci-fi' theme were interesting, but a little out of character for a luxury brand leader.

This 'giant flower' concept sounds a bit like the IS concept for Times Square, but done differently. The ES is not the performance car, it's the luxury-focused car. Time for something fun!

TRDFantasy

Huh? The Camry has the Dual VVT-I 3.5L V6 rated at 268HP. The ES will get the same engine, possibly with minor tuning differences, but it will be rated at 275HP on premium fuel. The Camry is rated at 268HP on regular, so the Camry should be able to achieve 275HP on premium as well.

encore888

And this is the one "L-Finessed" sedan from Lexus to debut without a concept car presentation beforehand, right?