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Carbon Copy? Lexus To Spawn Prius Clone!

Agent009 submitted on 02/25/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 12:31 PM
from: www.motortrend.com

[125] user comments | category: Spy Shots

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Carbon Copy? Lexus To Spawn Prius Clone!

Toyota will present two dedicated hybrid models at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit; one a Toyota and the other a Lexus.

It's no surprise the Toyota will be the Mark III Prius. It's the Lexus that will be the shocker: a lifestyle wagonlike vehicle based on the Prius platform and drivetrain.

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Carbon Copy? Lexus To Spawn Prius Clone!

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enthusiastx11 - 2/25/2008 12:41:14 PM

+15 Boost

"based on the Prius platform and drivetrain"

enough said.

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w209w114 - 2/25/2008 12:52:01 PMView My AgentSpace

+14 Boost

Yep, yet another REBADGE.

mitchatlexusofmarin - 2/25/2008 12:59:25 PM

-8 Boost

Where do you get anywhere from this article that the Lexus will be a Prius clone? The Lexus will be entirely different other than being based on the same platform. Trying to stir up **** again.

LexusKindaGuy12 - 2/25/2008 1:32:39 PM

-10 Boost

oh and mitch...you dont happen to work at lexus of marin, the marin like across from the GG bridge do you? i bought my IS300 there in 2002 from a sales lady named Patricia? actually not sure if that was her name. lol

Agent009 - 2/25/2008 2:14:41 PMView My AgentSpace

+12 Boost

The source is from Motor Trend, so the speculation centered from there.

enthusiastx11 - 2/25/2008 3:18:42 PM

+11 Boost

"The Lexus will be entirely different other than being based on the same platform."

same platform, same drivetrain...new sheetmetal and leather do not make it entirely different. it's no different than ES/camry.

answer - 2/25/2008 4:10:20 PMView My AgentSpace

-10 Boost

What part of the original article states "carbon copy"?

mitchatlexusofmarin - 2/25/2008 4:20:20 PM

-6 Boost

Yes Lexus kind of guy- Patricia did work here in 2002. Small world!

LexusKindaGuy12 - 2/25/2008 5:42:34 PM

-5 Boost

im assuming she doesnt work there anymore? she was a good saleswomen, very pushy. she kidna guilted me into buying the damn car. lol i guess thats her job though

1970toyotamarc - 2/26/2008 12:11:25 PM

-1 Boost

platform sharing is not rebadging. It is done by practically every mfr, and is smart business.

answer - 2/26/2008 2:15:07 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

Seriously though. The original arcticle contains three small paragraphs. Not one of which contains the words "carbon copy".

autopro - 2/26/2008 3:59:08 PMView My AgentSpace

-5 Boost

Its not based on any toyota,or Lexus model.

Agent63 - 2/26/2008 8:14:40 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

and i thought Lexus was a separate company now lol.. obviously not. i know someone who is part of the marketing team here in Canada for Lexus. You would be surprised on how many parts they still share.

rebadged or not, lexus has come a long way and used the Germans to do it. I'm a German fan till the end although I still own my LS460. But I also have an S class the benchmark of luxury in this segment IMO.

Obliv - 2/25/2008 12:48:37 PM

+7 Boost

Whereas current Toyotas and Lexus dont sell on looks, I dont know why theyd make this car luxury. Isnt the Pruis suppsoed to sell on cost effciency? Tacking on luxury items to make it sell for over 35K-40k+ doesnt make much sense...

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M35MT - 2/25/2008 12:55:36 PMView My AgentSpace

+14 Boost

But I garuantee you there are people who want to buy a Prius to feel good about themselves, but they dont want to part with their luxury cars.

It will sell.

autopro - 2/26/2008 5:59:21 PMView My AgentSpace

-3 Boost

I'm sure you know what makes sense,but then you would be running a multi-billion dollar company instead of playing with yourself.

LexusKindaGuy12 - 2/25/2008 1:29:21 PM

-3 Boost

I happen to know that lexus is very hush hush about future products. thats why there arent many spy shots of anything of the lexus brand.

so i dont really trust the article that the prius and the lexus will share the same platform. that would make the car smaller than the IS....

i think if anything, it will use the camry platform which already has been used successfully with the camry hybrid

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Agent009 - 2/25/2008 2:15:34 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

The hush hush works for them and against them as well...IMHO

LexusKindaGuy12 - 2/25/2008 10:59:48 PM

-2 Boost

Lexus of UK released this statement to back up my point

"The car would be aimed at well-to-do individuals who are after a roomy sedan but not prepared to step up to a car the size of the GS. Mid-sized D-segment models are ideal for families and when combined with Lexus’ luxury and quality standards, could be a real winner for fans of hybrids and non-hybrids alike.

“We’ll add a specific hybrid model and leave the IS as a sports petrol and diesel. There will be more focus on interior space than on sports styling and it will have more boot space,” Settle revealed.
"

BigShow50 - 2/25/2008 1:29:52 PM

+3 Boost

The same reasons why people by a "Mecedes B-Class!!!" have fuel efficiency with style or just brand badging for that matter. Bottom line it will sell!!!

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g2ok - 2/25/2008 1:36:31 PM

+4 Boost

Just what I need ! Awesome

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EL34 - 2/25/2008 1:36:49 PM

-1 Boost

Lexus should call it the Peeus :-D

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autopro - 2/26/2008 6:02:59 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

Right! The best made,best selling cars and trucks on the planet.Also the most profitable,and richest.Your point?

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lexusis350 - 2/25/2008 1:52:30 PM

-8 Boost

NOOOOOOOO! Big mistake in Lexus' part.

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1970toyotamarc - 2/25/2008 4:14:18 PM

-8 Boost

How is it a mistake to have an entry luxury as the entry models have become so out of reach? For Lexus, of course their entry should be a hybrid, and of course it should share a platform with an existing vehicle, otherwise it would be prohibitively expensive, as the BMW 1 is.

lexusis350 - 2/25/2008 8:53:26 PM

-7 Boost

Because a Prius based Lexus?! The Prius is arguably the ugliest Toyota so a Lexus version will tarnish their badge.

1970toyotamarc - 2/26/2008 12:00:46 PM

-4 Boost

The Prius is gorgeous, it is unique, artfully styled, futuristic and Lexus could do a lot worse than to bas a model off its platform. Besides sharing a platform says nothing about what it will look like. Toyota is not GM or Ford.

lexusis350 - 2/26/2008 2:15:02 PM

-4 Boost

XYZZ,
look at my username. I'm definitely not a hater. I just think that the Prius is very grotesque.

pushrod27 - 2/26/2008 3:48:20 PM

-1 Boost

'the Prius is gorgeous...' LOL!
You're either stupid, high, or a liar.

1970toyotamarc - 2/26/2008 3:58:21 PM

-4 Boost

resorting to ad hominem attacks again.....
Is that really the best you can come up with?

LexusLion - 3/10/2008 5:33:32 AM

+1 Boost

No, Lexus will make it look good, don't worry.

damikco - 2/25/2008 2:26:36 PMView My AgentSpace

-3 Boost

Just like whith GM it only makes for toyota since to rebadge the prius as a lex it opens up the market to somone who wants alittle more then what the prius offers and wants a better looking car that has the same savings in fuel as the prius.... a lexus is rebaadge toyota anyway but toyota never catches the flak as gm does regardless its a good ideal and it would cost them less to do this becuse they can build it inthe same plant as wich they make the prius and with a lot of the same parts just like GM dose with its cars.

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autopro - 2/26/2008 6:06:26 PMView My AgentSpace

-3 Boost

Wrong Again!!!!! All Lexus are made in Japan,except 30% of RX 350's are made in cambridge.None are made along side of Toyotas.

MichaelTaylor - 2/25/2008 2:28:48 PM

-9 Boost

WTF is Lexus thinking? Now they're also cheapening their brand image like the Germans if they do this! F*ck!

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Whelan - 2/25/2008 2:46:21 PM

-6 Boost

Oh boy, more Lexus vs. the Germans talk. ugh (attempts to hang self)

Not to mention people screaming Re-Badge, why? Of course they are, so what's the issue. Infiniti's are re-badged Nissan's, Acura's are re-badged Honda's, Audi's are re-badged VW's.

Even Volvo's, Land Rovers, Jaguar's, Saab's, etc. all share components with other like vehicles from GM or Ford. I think what is failed to note here is that BMW and Mercedes only produce BMW and Mercede's cars. Yes I know Mini is owned by BMW, but that's a different story, you wouldn't re-badge a mini to be a BMW cause the Mini is such a niche car.

That said, the BMW and Mercedes again have their own lineup, no other cheaper brands. If BMW came out with a more Toyota, Honda, Nissan competitor and called it say AB (Almost Bavarian). What makes you think they would not give you a toned down 3 and 5 series among others to sell you at cheaper cost. Call them different names, hey! it's the all new AB 1.5 (half of a 3 series). Gives you less power, still some sort of leather option, etc, etc. But it's basically a dumbed down 3.

Then you would have no argument. But BMW and MB do not make a cheaper market car, strictly luxo. So the argument of the other makers doing re-badging is pretty much a worthless argument at that.

What sense would it make for a company economically to make a completely different car. Take the Lexus ES vs. Camry. Sure they share similarities and can be linked by looks, i.e. the Lexus has Toyota DNA. That is the point! If they made a totally different car with it's own frame and all the extras, it would not make any sense financially to do so, when they can add a few tweaks here and there to make a decent luxury vehicle out of the Camry.

Part of their whole image perception and quality is that you are buying a luxury Toyota. People who owned a Camry and want to move upscale stick with what they know, just like a 3 series owner would rather get another 3 than an Audi.

Again, not taking sides, but please keep arguments relevant other than just yelling out re-badge, cause your are just pointing out the obvious, something that people actually enjoy about owning a Lexus or Infiniti.

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enthusiastx11 - 2/25/2008 3:21:36 PM

+2 Boost

"Infiniti's are re-badged Nissan's, Acura's are re-badged Honda's, Audi's are re-badged VW's."

totally accurate. and a BMW is a BMW. and a mercedes is a mercedes.

Willis - 2/26/2008 7:22:50 AM

+1 Boost

GoObama and XYZZ are full of it. I can best describe you two as complete IDIOTS who have no idea about the European luxury market. Or perhaps, "trolls".

Maybe you two morons need to stop watching MTV and actually leave the US for a change and visit Europe. There are a number of factors in Europe that create a demand for small premium cars / small and efficient engines. These are mainly a lack of parking spaces, small and narrow streets, expensive fuel prices, engine capacity taxes and God knows what else. If these same forces were at work in the US, trust me, there would be a shifting demand towards smaller and more efficient luxury cars. The fact that Lexus doesn't adapt to the European market is baffling to me. Now I already know what your reply will be. "Oh in 20 years Lexus will own the European market so they don't have to adapt.....bla bla bla..."

I love how you two morons think that the fact that Lexus doesn't have a 4-cylinder means they have more "prestige". Prestige is established through history, and well all know Lexus can't compete with Mercedes and BMW in that department. And for your information, the Lexus IS220d uses a 4-cylinder engine from the Toyota Avensis. Should I repeat that?

THE LEXUS IS220d USES A 4-CYLINDER DIESEL ENGINE FROM THE TOYOTA AVENSIS.

There you go. Whoops, I just lowered myself you your level of stupidity. I'm sure the IS220d is a good car, and I am sure that the 1 series, A class or whatever and their respective engines are great cars too. I rented an A180 CDI in Europe last year and I was very impressed with the car. Despite my abusive driving style I still managed nearly 41 mpg during long highway cruises with some city driving included. And the car was also far from slow. Maybe you two idiots need to drive them first, then comment.

Willis - 2/26/2008 7:27:51 AM

+3 Boost

"at least EVERY LEXUS, to say nothing of many TOYOTA models, comes with at least a v6. (sole exception being the is200, just for econominded europeans.)"

Every Lexus? You just proved how stupid you are. The IS220d is a 4-cylinder and the IS200 had a 2.0 6-cylinder engine. Can you say MORON?

"a v6 incidentally, that is more powerful, even in the TOYOTAs, than any like sized, non-boosted euro engine."

Incredible (your stupidity).

Which Toyota V6 are you comparing to which Euro "non-boosted engines" please? You know what: Who cares?

Comparing a Toyota V6 from say the Camry to a base Euro car is pretty stupid. Furthermore I don't see what is so special about a V6? There are modern 4-cylinders that have the refinement of a 6-cylinder engine and yet deliver better fuel economy. Also, you think bragging about a Toyota V6 is "cool"? Using your stupid comparison (Toyota V6 to non-boosted base Euro engine), the Toyota V6 will release more emissions and burn more fuel. Are you really proud of that?

Oh wait, I forgot I am talking to a stupid Lexus/Toyota fanboy.

Willis - 2/27/2008 5:33:49 AM

+7 Boost

"the 3.5 toyota v6, which puts of 268 hp. all the euro v6s have hp in just the 230 - 260 range, and have to resort to turbos or TWIN turbos to surpass this NATURALLY ASPIRATED high output toy v6."

You have got to be kidding me. You're highlighting the Toyota Camry V6 as "special" because it makes 268-horsepower and no European V6 can match it? That's some funny sh*t right there. Seriously how old are you?

Tell me something, is the Camry V6 even sold in Japan? Europe? No. It's sold in North America, the Middle East and Australia. These are places where there is a demand for powerful engines. Big deal. Toyota created this engine for those markets. The European V6 engines are primarily created for Europe and a global market which means they have to be balanced in terms of power output, emissions etc.

Bottom line, I couldn't care less about your Camry V6. If the Camry was really supposed to be a "normal family sedan" it wouldn't need an overpowered, gas-guzzling V6 engine anyway. Incredible how full of crap Toyota marketing is with their claims of being a "green company".

"yes and many are made by toyota and honda too. why did Lotus choose to install a TOYOTA 1.8 Four in the Elise. dumping the euro made 4 used previously?"

Maybe you should drive a BMW 1.8 4-cylinder? Or the new Mercedes 1.8-l Supercharged 4-cylinder with TwinPulse, because those are some of the finest, most refined 4-cylinders I have ever experienced. Heck, even the Peugeot 206cc I drove last summer in Europe had a wonderful 4-cylinder engine under the hood.

Honda in my book makes much better 4-cylinders than Toyota. In fact I sampled the current Camry in 4-cylinder form and I was not impressed with the refinement. The car wasn't slow but the refinement was terrible. It felt like a 4-cylinder engine from the '80s. I am not kidding. Toyota 4-cylinder engines are durable, but refienement wise they've been nothing to brag about. And I should know, because I've also owned quite a few Toyota's in the '80s and early '90s.

And who cares if Lotus picked the Toyota 1.8-l engine? Should I give a damn that Tatra in India uses Mercedes-Benz engines? Or Ssangyong? The Toyota 1.8-l engine was picked primarily because it was one of the few 4-cylinder engines that could fit in the Lotus Elise engine bay. Look it up.

"bottom line STILL remains: there are poseurs/cheapskate BADGE WHORES who like to bask in the "prestige" of certain brands but get the SMALLEST/CHEAPEST RUNNING engine offered in that "prestige brand." i wonder how many of these folk get passed by on the Autobahn by "mere" toyotas!? LOL!"

First of all, it is my understanding that Toyota doesn't even have any powerful engines in Europe (no V6's). The majority of their sales come from the Aygo, Yaris, Auris and possibly the Corolla with a few Avensis and a handful of SUV's or pickups. None of these cars, except the SUV's, come with a 6-cylinder engine. Next, a base 318i or an E class with a 4-

1995e34 - 2/25/2008 3:08:13 PM

+8 Boost

will this be another of their world renowned "performance hybrids"?

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1970toyotamarc - 2/25/2008 3:17:19 PM

-6 Boost

Of course the haters are coming out. What joy does this give you to be so negative. Dont even click on the link if you know it is going to incense you so much. Save your heart.

I'll be first in line at Lexus of Marin when this bad boy comes out. This is exactly what I want trade my Prius for.

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LexusKindaGuy12 - 2/25/2008 4:12:05 PM

-7 Boost

ill be second. ive been trying to find a high end hybrid for a while. dont want to go with the prius or camry because well...they are toyotas, but i dont want to burn a hole in my wallet with the GS or LS. hopefully this will be around 45K loaded

1995e34 - 2/25/2008 5:19:35 PM

+9 Boost

i'll be third. right after i have surgery to become a eunuch.

1970toyotamarc - 2/25/2008 3:18:11 PM

-6 Boost

Oh, and carbon copy? clone? Stir the flames, 009.

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autopro - 2/25/2008 3:36:36 PMView My AgentSpace

-6 Boost

This car will be a stand alone model,and from my understanding it will be geared more towards efficency.It will be much larger than a prius.
The bmw's and mercedes the sell in europe are so cheap their like toyota's.Four cylinders,cloth interiors,roll up windows,etc.Their not the luxury packed cars they sell in the U.S.

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ErichHartmann - 2/25/2008 4:40:29 PM

+7 Boost

The European luxury market is different from the North American one. Buyer expectations are completely different and illogical to Americans, who believe a luxury car must have leather and a powerful, yet inefficient engine.

BMW and Mercedes' do not sell cars in Europe priced in Toyota territory. They don't. No Toyota sold in Europe is compared to a BMW or Mercedes product.

Now tell me what is wrong with cloth seats or interiors? The Japanese use cloth seats in some of their most popular premium sedans sold only in the JDM market, namely the Toyota Crown, Toyota Century, Nissan President etc. Elsewhere in the world, people buy luxury cars with cloth seats and 4-cylinder engines.

Only the ignorant American, like yourself, complains about something they don't understand..

Willis - 2/25/2008 4:45:19 PM

+1 Boost

Well said, EH.

Member Autopro is a known forum idiot, I wouldn't take everything he says too seriously.

answer - 2/25/2008 5:27:27 PMView My AgentSpace

-3 Boost

Everyone has a different idea of luxury.

One region's idea of it is no better than the other.

Rupert - 2/25/2008 5:38:22 PMView My AgentSpace

+8 Boost

And you don't get roll up windows in any Audi, BMW or Mercedes...hubcaps occasionally (ie on the 1, A3 and A class), but they all have good quality interiors, and the traditional values of their makers.

Willis - 2/25/2008 6:28:14 PM

+7 Boost

You know, I once read that some Europeans consider the overstuffed luxury cars (in terms of gadgets) we have here in the US to be "overkill".

Maybe some Europeans members can enlighten us. Rupert?

autopro - 2/25/2008 6:31:04 PMView My AgentSpace

-7 Boost

THEY EVEN USE MERCEDES FOR TAXI CABS,ALL I SAID IS THE SELL ALOT OF STRIPPED DOWN CARS IN EUROPE,THAT CAN'T BE COMPARED TO U.S. LUXURY CARS,AND THEIR LESS EXPENSIVE.YOU GUYS ARE THE IDIOTS!!!!!!!!

Rupert - 2/25/2008 6:49:41 PMView My AgentSpace

+8 Boost

Autopro - LEARN SOME GRAMMAR

I think many luxury cars are "overkill", and Americans do get a obscene amount of kit for their money. An example - here in Europe, keyless go is optional on every single Mercedes - it isn't standard, ever. Many Europeans just don't see the point (Neither do I). Things like leather are also often optional - even on the E clas size cars it is an option right up to the E550. Many fancy electronics take a longer time to catch on - for me, rear video cameras are pretty advanced and special. I think we tend to concentrate on the more "useful" tech ie Active cruise control - clever idea, but Lane Keep Assist - silly idea. Another point - the Self-Park in the LS is optional, and there has been little fuss over it and the VW system. People here don't like the idea of letting the car take over the driving.
American cars are also known for having a lot of standard kit for little money, but generally being of low quality.
The general thing is that gadgets do not a luxury car make.

Willis - 2/25/2008 7:33:55 PM

+4 Boost

The usage of Mercedes' as taxi cabs actually enhanced their reputation, Autopro. Want to know why? Because the people who drove / rode [in] them were impressed with the way the car held up after all those years.

I was in Portugal a few years ago and I rode in a 1960s Mercedes diesel taxi with over 1 million km's on the tachometer. I even snapped a picture of it and the cab driver was very enthusiastic about his car. Although my ride in the car was only about 10 minutes long, I too became enthusiastic about the car and even admired it. A few hours later I was in another taxi, an early W124 E class and yet again I was impressed.

So maybe you should see things from a different perspective. You are trying to put Mercedes down since some of their cars are used as taxis, but the reality is that most people actually perceive this as some kind of honor that most taxi fleets PREFER a Mercedes product. Has been ever since the 1950s when places like Hong Kong even had Mercedes cars doing taxi jobs. And let's not forget that Mercedes' essentially made a car for taxi duty in the 1930s: the 260D.

Willis - 2/25/2008 7:34:21 PM

+6 Boost

Nicely explained, Rupert.

ICON - 2/25/2008 9:54:09 PM

+6 Boost

Autopro- I know it may be a little thing to you, but it might help 'a little' with your reputation of being a total dolt if you could figure out the meaning and appropriate use of
1.There
vs
2.Their
vs
3. They're

Good Luck with that.

1970toyotamarc - 2/26/2008 12:05:31 PM

-4 Boost

Willis, would those be the overstuffed luxury cars like BMWs with Internet access? Which will be sold in Germany beofre they hit the US. Yeah it's us crazy Americans demanding the gadgets from Germany, while you Europeans remain so practical.

I-Drive anyone......

Rupert - 2/26/2008 5:26:13 PMView My AgentSpace

+6 Boost

I add that I think internet in cars is just the stupidest idea ever. You can't access it, you can't look at it...what are you supposed to do...live in your car? Sit in your garage on the internet? Never mind the fact that phones have internet nowadays, so people don't need cars with internet.
And overstuffed cars - cars sold in the US generally have more electronics in them, whatever their origins.

Willis - 2/27/2008 5:08:14 AM

+5 Boost

"Willis, would those be the overstuffed luxury cars like BMWs with Internet access?"

It is my understanding that this will be OPTIONAL, not standard. Those who want it can get it. I don't need it.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/27/2008 9:55:47 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Rupet, I agree, but...

"An example - here in Europe, keyless go is optional on every single Mercedes - it isn't standard, ever. Many Europeans just don't see the point (Neither do I)."

It's the same way here. I don't think a single Merc is standard with keyless go, and although it's nice, it's not worth whatever Mercedes charges for it.

Also:

"Things like leather are also often optional - even on the E clas size cars it is an option right up to the E550."

That's almost true here, too. Pleather is standard on the E350 and E320 Bluetec.

Otherwise, yes, carry on.

xlr8 - 2/25/2008 4:02:58 PM

+7 Boost

lexus= DOH!

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autopro - 2/25/2008 4:17:46 PMView My AgentSpace

-6 Boost

WTF does that mean?

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1995e34 - 2/25/2008 5:20:36 PM

+5 Boost

if it's rwd, i'll only make fun of it a little bit.

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Rupert - 2/25/2008 5:38:49 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

A small RWD hybrid sounds quite fun actually.

1995e34 - 2/26/2008 12:04:33 AM

+6 Boost

"Because bmw, mercedes, audi don't make cheap tiny cars with cloth interiors and tiny lawnmower engines in europe" is hardly a reason to make fun of a lexus prius.

what i was saying was that i would lambaste them if they just rebadged a prius. if you want a more luxurious prius, give it some leather, and slap a mini R2-D2 on the dash for when you need directions.

i think the camry is a fine car, but the ES is a joke.

i would view this in the same manner.

1995e34 - 2/26/2008 10:15:16 AM

+6 Boost

xyzz, the ES blows away the competition...like toyota avalons?

and i don't think rwd is god's gift to cars, just that fwd is a plague. i drive rwd 365 days/year in new england...with all season tires.

obama, i think the camry is a fine car for people who aren't into cars. you know, the buick crowd.

1995e34 - 2/26/2008 3:11:59 PM

+7 Boost

you could argue that people that bought cadillacs in the 60's were indeed not into cars, but land going boats. so yes.

and what does racing fanaticism have to do with anything? you mention it twice.

lastly, your comment: "Put that in your little skull whenever you feel like making the boneheaded..." seems rather hostile.

the real obama would never be so spiteful and hostile.

perhaps you should rebadge and be known as GoCheney08

1995e34 - 2/27/2008 1:58:48 AM

+8 Boost

by that measure, mcdonalds makes the best burgers. they've sold billions of them right?

S4cabriofoxone - 2/28/2008 8:08:51 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

"it only happens to outsell all its direct competitors."

It only has one direct competitor, the Acura TL, and in that case, you're right... but you'd be surprised at how well the TL sells.

BMW sells twice as many 3 Series models as Lexus sells of its ES, and BMW sells a very small amount less 3er's every month than IS/ES combined.

ErichHartmann - 2/26/2008 11:34:45 AM

+5 Boost

Hybrids are not "hits" in Europe. Diesels are.

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ErichHartmann - 2/26/2008 2:04:46 PM

+7 Boost

The UK? I think you mean LONDON, a place where wealth is concentrated and a city where they have the congestion charge from which hybrids are exempt. Last time I checked, London didn't represent the whole of the UK.

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Rupert - 2/26/2008 5:32:33 PMView My AgentSpace

+10 Boost

Hybrids are a hit in London - but nowhere else. I travel around Britain and I only ever see Priuses, GS450hs etc in London, where I live, so I think I know a fair bit about it.

A point: In my road there are 4 Lexus RX's - 3 of which are hybrids, because they are C charge free. The hybrids outsell the regulars despite being more money, because there are tax advantages. I actually think I have the highest concentration of Lexus in my road in Britain - in other roads of equal wealth there are barely any.

Hybrids aren't "Hits" in Europe, or the UK. They sell far less than diesel models - more people buy 5 series diesels than they do Priuses.

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enthusiastx11 - 2/27/2008 12:10:02 PM

+1 Boost

"A Lexus with the mileage of a Prius? HUGE HIT."

i think you mean a prius, rebadged as a lexus, that gets the mileage of a prius.

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farabira1 - 2/25/2008 10:39:21 PM

+1 Boost

I doubt it, because Lexus stopped this rebadging tactic a while ago.

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enthusiastx11 - 2/27/2008 7:27:09 PM

+1 Boost

stopped the rebadging?

RX? LX? ES?

1BadMan - 2/25/2008 11:03:22 PM

-6 Boost

I agree with Whelan. He makes a lot of sense. But this is not news. With people having a warm fuzzy feeling of a "Lexus". And then there is news of the Prius being used as a platform for a "Lexus"! Because if they build it, wouldn't it be a Prius in different drag with a "Lexus" badge?

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Homer008 - 2/25/2008 11:35:51 PM

-6 Boost

Lexus rebadging strategy is one of the best news I heard in all recent years! It'll be another humongous hit as usual.

Another homerun for the Lexus!

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huu76 - 2/26/2008 12:49:11 AM

-7 Boost

I hope Lexus doesn't stoop so low as to introduce a bargain basement priced car like the Germans have. That's why they have Toyota, to compete against the 1, B and A3.

Better solution would be to make an ES hybrid. Same size as an E320 but cleaner, faster, better mileage and since its using the Camry's powertrain, they can still charge $15,000 less than what the Germans want for some out of date diesel with a built-in urinal.

Lexus = pretenders need not apply. If you can't afford one, buy a BMW.

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Willis - 2/26/2008 7:29:10 AM

+6 Boost

I see Huu76 is still as stupid and clueless as ever...

Some things never change, I guess.

ErichHartmann - 2/26/2008 11:37:33 AM

+4 Boost