Lexus exceeds LS600h sales target by three hundred percent

Luxurious submitted on 12/04/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 6:54 PM
from: www.autoblog.com

[137] user comments | category: Misc News

Tags: Lexus, LS600hl, hybrid

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Lexus exceeds LS600h sales target by three hundred percent

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.

[Source: AutoblogGreen] Read Article

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CLK63BlackSeries - 12/4/2007 7:36:41 PMView My AgentSpace

+7 Boost

I wonder how many S600s are sold each year...

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enthusiastx11 - 12/4/2007 11:27:17 PM

-2 Boost

better to compare to the S550 since that gets the same acceleration as the LS600 and costs the same.

enthusiastx11 - 12/6/2007 1:03:53 PM

+5 Boost

bleek:

you make such profound points. it's hard to argue with you.

you're probably right, rolls and bentley might as well shut down their factories now. who would want one of those when there's a car like the LS600 in the world.

gosh, you're so smart it's intimidating.

enthusiastx11 - 12/7/2007 1:52:48 PM

+1 Boost

absolutley not.

lexus is selling tons of cars in the US. and they will continue to do so. they make big, luxurious, quiet cars. and lots of people want those. of course, those people tend to be over 60 and care most about reliability.

but back to the point....even lexus makes cars that make no sense. the LS600 is slower than the LS460, gets the same overall mileage and costs $33,000 more. so what the hell is the point?

BMW4me4ever - 12/4/2007 7:38:49 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

who cares about the article? flame on ... It is just a LS600.

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EL34 - 12/4/2007 7:52:02 PM

-10 Boost

I entered a raffle to win a Lexus LS600.

If I win I'll let everyone know :)

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Auto_expert - 12/5/2007 1:27:15 AM

-9 Boost

Why? Are you putting it up for auction? LOL.

I would to get a REAL car!

SixxFive - 12/4/2007 7:54:08 PM

+2 Boost

Toyota must be laughing all the way to the bank at its customer ignorance in thinking that the LS600h really is a 'green' car when in fact, as illustrated by the press, it is the complete opposite.

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r15mohd - 12/6/2007 9:57:17 AM

+1 Boost

it is a green car...ULEV2

that constitutes it as a green car, all while achieveing BETTER mpg than the v12 variants.

go figure!

enthusiastx11 - 12/7/2007 1:56:36 PM

+1 Boost

"BETTER mpg than the v12 variants."

but this would only matter if it produced V12 performance. it doesn't. it barely matches the LS460 and the S550 V8 models.

but if you insist on your line of thinking... i have a V6 for you that performs like a V6 and gets better mileage than a V8. interested?

S4cabriofoxone - 12/4/2007 8:13:57 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Those are 1,650 unsuspecting buyers...

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lexusis350 - 12/4/2007 8:38:18 PM

+1 Boost

What's that supposed to mean?

S4cabriofoxone - 12/5/2007 5:57:00 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

That they didn't know how unimpressive the fuel economy would be when they ordered it.

lexusis350 - 12/5/2007 11:30:31 PM

0 Boost

Well, if they can afford the car, they can afford the gas.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/6/2007 12:33:28 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

That's a lame excuse. If they can afford the car, they can afford another car that makes more sense.

lexusis350 - 12/6/2007 10:19:08 PM

+2 Boost

Yeah, well apparently there are people out there who want it. That's what counts.

audispy - 12/4/2007 8:27:32 PM

+1 Boost

Why are so many people buying this car when they know the fuel economy isn't that good?

Because they have a gas guzzler V8 400+hp but they can still claim to care for the enviroment.

I mean if I dind't really care about the enviroment I would buy this over a prius and I would still be able to say I care.

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gsh23 - 12/4/2007 8:31:49 PM

+3 Boost

i think for one reason (probably the same reason for the 450h and 400h) which is from 0-25 the car is dead silent. apparently theres a lot of free money out there...

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 12/4/2007 8:40:49 PM

+5 Boost

That and plus in the UK there are quite a few incentives for owning a Hybrid.

Monk - 12/4/2007 10:41:54 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

erm, yeah. It's dead silent when it RUNS ON BATTERIES only ---> WHICH IS NEVER except for like 5 mph

StickShiftCamry - 12/4/2007 11:01:29 PM

+4 Boost

No silent upto 25mph, when the battery is full.

lexusis350 - 12/4/2007 8:39:06 PM

+6 Boost

I'm not surprised that the LSh is more successful that thought. I've always thought it was a good car, despite the criticism it gets on AutoSpies.

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BigShow50 - 12/4/2007 8:49:30 PM

+6 Boost

That is exactly it...forget the fuel economy, as it's the same reason why a person buys a MB S65 over the regular S Class....why they buy BMW M5 over the 545..etc...just a status symbol to some, more meaningful to others...but in the long run ladies, this is just the begining for Lexus, as we all know they are a very covservative brand, they take their time in executing what they see fit at the moment. Why put all the cards at the table now? Can Lexus make a much more fuel efficient hybrid? Of coarse...but who else can compete at the moment?...And right now?... How many auto brand corps does it take to even make a 2 mode hybrid? And then say we have one too!!!...(finally)...Lexus has to wait for another 2 years before rivals can call themselves the official hybrid/diesel/hydrogen/E85/Fuel Cell competitor and so on. By then Lexus will have something just as good if not possibly better. Come on guys, I too love the euro marks...but more and more with your 2 cents response, you make the euro brand less appealing and more repetative at the same time talking about what we already know....remember Lexus is not trying to be like the Euro brands...they are just doing a good job re-inventing "The Wheel"...problem here is the nay sayers can't admit it...c'mon ladies Lexus has been in the game for only 19 years compared to others who have been doin' this for 100 years. If you think about the rate of speed both calculated risk and success made by Leuxs, it does not get any worse, just gets better....LMAO!!!

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M53R - 12/5/2007 3:55:46 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

"That is exactly it...forget the fuel economy, as it's the same reason why a person buys a MB S65 over the regular S Class....why they buy BMW M5 over the 545..etc...just a status symbol to some, more meaningful to others"

The S65 has a V12 that produce 604hp, while the regular S550 produces 388hp. The M5 has a V10, 500hp, superior handling to the regular 5er. Try harder, this is not an excuse to buy a car that is overpriced, and offers less from the regular model. Its only there to satisy the treehuggers.

ZZZZ - 12/5/2007 4:38:45 AM

+5 Boost

so what then, IS AN EXCUSE to buy an overpriced car?

it don't matter WHAT you think. or what kind of "excuse" you think is "justifiable" or not. people who have $100+k to drop on a car when a $60k car will work just as well DON'T NEED no excuses for doing WHATEVER they want to do!

ZZZZ - 12/5/2007 5:07:35 AM

+7 Boost

"....remember Lexus is not trying to be like the Euro brands...they are just doing a good job re-inventing "The Wheel"...problem here is the nay sayers can't admit it...c'mon ladies Lexus has been in the game for only 19 years compared to others who have been doin' this for 100 years. If you think about the rate of speed both calculated risk and success made by Leuxs, it does not get any worse, just gets better....LMAO!!!"

precisely!

it is SO FUNNY how all the critics try to lambast lexus for not performing as THEY expect/think it SHOULD. but lexus seems to know their potential customers FAR BETTER than the critics. so they hit home runs, DESPITE all the supposed "faults."

face it folks! lexus is from the land that INVENTED judo/karate/aikido. all your criticisms are just hitting EMPTY AIR. meanwhile, lexus strikes accurately and perfectly at the desires of their intended CUSTOMERS. (and likely don't really give a shit about scribe critics and/or folks who think luxury cars' prime customers are all would be boyracers! LOL!)

they'll not only continue to succeed, they'll start stealing more and more sales away from the euro brands, just as they have from detroit.

remember this, when end of the year sales figures come out.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 12/5/2007 8:46:18 AM

+7 Boost

If BMW or MB or AUDI claimed to produce a Flagship Model that will be better than its regular model and provide an advantage over the regular model {Be it in Performance or Efficiency or Luxury Options} and then fails to deliver those advantages on the Launched Vehicles ALL PROPER CAR ENTHUSIASTS WOULD CRY FOUL.

Only Bias Blinded Fools would doggedly stick to the German Fanboys hate Lexus Rethoric when we have all said the LS460 is a Damm Good Vehicle but we feel the LS600h did not live up to the MANUFACTURER's CLAIMS, NOT OUR EXPECTATIONS.

It was lexus that claimed "V12 Performance with V8 Efficiency"
What was delivered was a Vehicle with "V8 Performance with V8 Efficiency" which also happens to be slightly worse than what you get form the LS460.

So you could have a Lexus V8 with V8 Performance & Mileage or you could have another Lexus V8 with V8 Performance and mileage but with >300lb more weight and Less trunk space for approx $25,000 premium.

I think i know which one ill choose.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/5/2007 5:59:23 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I95!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!

S4cabriofoxone - 12/5/2007 6:00:30 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

And actually... it's 600lbs heavier. It weighs more than a BMW X5.

nybimmer - 12/4/2007 8:59:23 PM

+3 Boost

Good for Lexus. I live in NYC and I've seen about 6 or 7 already; the headlights are especially cool. I wouldn't but one though but the car is definitely a triumph of marketing over engineering that proves car buyers make emotional rather than practical choices.

A few posts down, 001 listed Audi's US sales for YTD Nov 2007. The A8, which is a really great car (#1 in 2007 JD Power initial quality in a tie with MB's S-Class) only sold 3,475 YTD 11 months Jan-Nov.

I think that for automaker's to really succeed, they have to nail the car as well as the marketing. Kudo's to the Lexus MBA's who sat in their conference room and figured out how to hype both (non-fuel efficient) hybrids like the LS600 and the RX400 and get customers to pony up a premium for cars that don't handle as well (the LS460 brakes are lousy compared to others in the class and the handling is Cadillac-like) as the competition.

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stash84 - 12/5/2007 2:05:10 AM

+5 Boost

the suspension was made specifically to feel "cadillac-like" ..its not a sports car..its a luxury car

Bill - 12/4/2007 9:00:11 PM

+2 Boost

People buy into hype all the time. I'm sure many of these buyers bought the car for status. They want people to see them as wealthy or as "environmentally conscious"...

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MeanVulcan - 12/4/2007 9:06:36 PM

-9 Boost

What a joke!

Next time I build and market a car to sell I'll claim my expectations to be 10 cars sold per year, so when I actually sell 50 cars I can claim a 400% increase over my initial expectations!!!!! WOW

It takes a real moron to be impressed by these numbers and someone stupid to fall for the marketing gimmick to underestimate and then overhype the actual results when you already expected them to be higher.

Longilanbimmer compares this to the number of A8s sold. Nice try. The A8, thoguh a great car, does not sell well and everyone knows that. It's pretty sad that you find it necessary to make a point about this particular car and not an S-Class for example. The fact is 6000 cars WORLDWIDE is hardly something to be proud of.

This article only proves what a failure the LS600h is given its broadly accepted knowledge that even a "lowly" A8 4.2 TDI performs better and runs circles around the Lexus AND is better equipped.

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bluedart - 12/4/2007 11:14:52 PM

+5 Boost

why do you want to run circles around lexus? (not that you are able to) something up your ass?

enthusiastx11 - 12/4/2007 11:30:53 PM

-2 Boost

bingo vulcan.

they set a sales goal, produce 300% the number of cars and then sell them. voila! they meet 300% of their goal.

did anyone else here stop to think that they couldn't "exceed their sales goal" unless they had already BUILT THE CARS?

enthusiastx11 - 12/5/2007 1:54:05 AM

-3 Boost

bleek:

"lexus numero uno"

huh?

if you mean amongst retirees in florida, then absolutely!

ZZZZ - 12/5/2007 5:26:23 AM

-2 Boost

"This article only proves what a failure the LS600h is given its broadly accepted knowledge that even a "lowly" A8 4.2 TDI performs better and runs circles around the Lexus AND is better equipped."

this statement only proves meanvulcan is incapable of reading with comprehension. how does the article "prove" the ls600 is a failure, when it points out the sales are over 300% of initial expectations?

who really CARES what a lowly ugly and stinky audi diesel does? certainly NOT the 6000+ folks who bought the ls600!

S4cabriofoxone - 12/6/2007 5:14:56 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

"who really CARES what a lowly ugly and stinky audi diesel does? certainly NOT the 6000+ folks who bought the ls600!"

Wow, you are such an idiot.

huu76 - 12/4/2007 9:07:03 PM

+4 Boost

LS600hL 20mpg, S600 13mpg.
LS600hL SULEV, E320 Bluetec Tier2Bin5.

Yes, the LS6000hL is no Prius (but nothing is), it's still cleaner and greener than most anything the Germans can come up with (most of which are only 1/2 its size).
It wouldn't surprsie me if the LS600hL was even cleaner than BMW's Hydrogen 7 considering 2/3s of its range is from a V12 gasoline engine.

German fans just don't get it, Toyota/Lexus allows you to have the best of both worlds.

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enthusiastx11 - 12/4/2007 11:31:53 PM

-1 Boost

'best of both worlds'

which worlds would those be?

M35MT - 12/5/2007 8:43:31 AMView My AgentSpace

+6 Boost

huu, right on the money. People forget about emissions, and the fact that it nearly doubles the fuel economy of the 'competition'.

Wake up. 99% of the people who buy these cars BUY THE BADGE. They dont care what the car does, they care about what they can BRAG ABOUT!

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 12/5/2007 9:06:12 AM

+5 Boost

Huu76

I know you are not that retarded

You should be comparing the LS600h to the S550 not the S600
LS600h 388bhp //0-60 6.1 s as tested// 20mpg city & 22mpg highway
S550 382bhp //0-60 6.1 s as tested// 16mpg city & 24mpg highway

I think this is a more sensible comparison,

You should always search for actuall Review Figures as opposed to Manufacturer Claims as this will let you know which manufacturers tend to be a bit Decorative with the truth about their vehicle stats.

henbmw - 12/5/2007 11:04:53 AM

+6 Boost

Heres some food for thought:

Audi A8 TDi
272hp
479ft/lb

29.4 MPG

"it's still cleaner and greener than most anything the Germans can come up with"

The diesel A8 has been around for years...

S4cabriofoxone - 12/5/2007 6:03:20 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

"LS600hL 20mpg, S600 13mpg."

LS600hL 0-60 in 6 seconds, S600 0-60 in 4 seconds.

LS600hL standard with NOTHING (you have to buy a $7,000 package to get rear climate control), S600 standard with EVERYTHING.

LS460 0-60 in 5.5 seconds, standard with only a bit less than LS600hL, DRIVES BETTER, gets BETTER MILEAGE on the highway.

0to60 - 12/4/2007 9:13:57 PM

+7 Boost

Great Job Lexus!

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enthusiastx11 - 12/4/2007 11:33:06 PM

-3 Boost

nice PR and marketing job lexus!
there's a sucker born every minute.

Talli - 12/4/2007 9:40:53 PM

-2 Boost

hahaha MeanVulcan, that was the lamest comment on the board. wow!!
cant you see it sold 6000 units from july to october. nice car by the way.

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QQauto - 12/4/2007 9:58:48 PM

+6 Boost

BMW fans are always talking about the emotional involvement that their have. They quote the feel and the thrill of driving the machine.
Lexus is just doing what is natural. One of the most important trends all over the world is environmental awareness. Toyota, and by extension, Lexus, has been much more intelligent that most carmakers recognizing this not just for the las Frankfurt autoshow. Yes, the LS600H may be an emotional purchase. The emotion that it evokes is just what the customers were awaiting from the indulgence of having a large luxury car.

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QQauto - 12/4/2007 9:58:49 PM

+4 Boost

enthusiastx11 - 12/4/2007 11:26:22 PM

-8 Boost

the buyers are fools who are kidding themselves that driving a 5,000+ pound car that's gets 14.9mpg is doing an ounce of good for the world.

this will come back to bite them in the ass.

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enthusiastx11 - 12/5/2007 1:56:15 AM

-4 Boost

it does NOT drive like a V12 in any way.

the V8 S550 even beats it in passing power--not just zero to sixty.

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enthusiastx11 - 12/5/2007 1:58:25 AM

-4 Boost

i mean seriously...

you don't strap a small electric motor to a V8 and suddenly say it's as good as V12. the claim seemed ridiculous. and it has been proven so in car & driver, motor trend, the new york times, and many other independent reviews.

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M53R - 12/5/2007 3:59:58 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

If im not mistaken , a tahoe hybrid achieves better mileage!

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farabira1 - 12/5/2007 3:29:53 AM

+8 Boost

Wow, bloggers who hate the LS600H are now trying to dust over the achivement of this big sale for the car by just saying things like "who cares, it is still a LS600H". Well the thing is the same folks have said it numerous times in all other autospies article about LS600, that they expect it to be a sale disaster because it has below average MPG and all. But i would like to remind them the LS600 is a niche car, and it was supposed to sell only 2000 worldwide, but now look at the response. There is no better way to shove those comments down their throat than by showing this result.

Lexus haters may be showing apathy to this result, but their senses must be struck joltly but this unexpected outcome. Kudos to Lexus, for a brilliant idea and the boldness to put it into production in the form of LS600H, even though they knew that a Merc V12 or BMW V10 would trounce LS600 in performance, the idea of making a greener high performance car made with many recycleable components would atleast show the way for future luxury cars. And guess Merc and BMW criticize the LS600h for lacking in power, but even they are almost on the brink of making greener cars that are way less powerful but more expensive then the regular models in the line up (for example BMW 7 Hydrogen, and Merc S 400 Hybrid, both are way less powerful than the regular performance 7 series and S class models, but will probably end up with much higher price because of the new hybrid and hydrogen engine technology), so why do they blame LS600H to be not high performance enough for it's price, when they are trying to do the same thing, BMW and MErc now look a bit like hypocrites. And by the way, the greenness of a car depends not on MPG but also on what is the carbon dioxide emission of the car, because use of efficient engines lowers the carbondioxide emission, which is the gas responsible for environmental pollution. And guess what LS600 H is a super ultra low emission vehicle (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) is a conventionally powered or gas-electric hybrid vehicle designed to produce minimal air pollution at their point of use, typically less than 10% of that of an equivalent ordinary vehicle - wikipedia). So absolutely it is way greener than LS 460 and any stock 7 series or S class, and that is the point of this car. Get it!

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enthusiastx11 - 12/5/2007 11:40:13 AM

+3 Boost

"But i would like to remind them the LS600 is a niche car, and it was supposed to sell only 2000 worldwide"

you are mistaken. lexus has always said that 2000 was their sales goal for the US.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/5/2007 6:07:57 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

"Wow, bloggers who hate the LS600H are now trying to dust over the achivement of this big sale for the car by just saying things like "who cares, it is still a LS600H". Well the thing is the same folks have said it numerous times in all other autospies article about LS600, that they expect it to be a sale disaster because it has below average MPG and all."

You have to realize that EVERY LS600hL SOLD in the numbers above was pre-ordered before the car's specs were released. Either that, or the people who bought them didn't check to compare their new "green" Lexus to its more efficient, less expensive gas-powered cousin next to it in the showroom.

Sales be damned... the LS600hL is not a justifiable purchase, emotionally or rationally. On the other hand, with the Germans you can have rational (diesels) or emotional (twelve- and eight-cylinder models).

LE34 - 12/5/2007 4:16:14 AMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

I was in this car and drove it during about 2 hours way between St.Gallen and Stuttgart(suisse-germany) and generaly i don't drive smoothly and love the speed. It's not the first car that i drive. My conclusion? What is writen in Auto magazines is far to be true. And i was wonder why all of those negative things! Because when i've driven my self the LS600h it was a real pleasure to drive. No wonder that the sold more than excpected. They will sell even much more.

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I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 12/5/2007 9:12:34 AM

+2 Boost

Now go drive the LS460 for the same distance & time and then try to justify the price difference over the LS 460

LE34 - 12/5/2007 12:11:22 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I will do that for sure. And i'll do this also with MB S550 and 600.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/5/2007 6:05:20 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

And you will find that the LS460 is better than the LS600hL.

And that the S600 is better than the S550.

LE34 - 12/6/2007 4:19:31 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

I'll say my word after trying myself the 2MB and also the LS460. Have you already treid all 4 cars?

Jag_xfr - 12/5/2007 9:27:14 AM

-6 Boost

Boring looking car, interior feels very Toyota...

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henbmw - 12/5/2007 10:56:00 AM

-2 Boost

300% more idiots trying to be 'green'

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LE34 - 12/5/2007 12:14:33 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

Good to know that AUDI, BMW and MB are trying to have their hybrid for latest 2010. And Porsche will have it for 2009 as they say here in europe. So who is idiot?

henbmw - 12/5/2007 7:54:06 PM

+3 Boost

Oh yeah, having a hybrid makes Lexus 'green.' Too bad it gets less than half the mpg of the Prius. Some other stellar 'green' performers from Lexus:

Lexus GX470: 15mpg
Lexus RX350: 19mpg
Lexus LX470: 13mpg(!)
Lexus SC430: 19mpg

and it goes on. Just wait until diesels are approved in the US as they have been in Europe for years. Then you will see a real reason to call a car 'green.'

BigShow50 - 12/5/2007 11:21:58 AM

+2 Boost

LMAO!!!...I'm lovin' this love hate relationship of Leuxs. And I'm sure Lexus japan is lovin' the responses said all around the world. Bottom line is, that you say hybrid is useless, but the rivals do it too. You german fanboys say that MB has created a more efficient hybrid for the S-Class with better power output and much better milage(a flagship model with a V6 not a V8 as you can clearly see that is how far they can truly go in engineering by mating a hybrid to a diesel motor...a diesel motor I think is just over shadowing the lack of hybrid engineering by claiming power and efficiency. And this is with a mutliple company merger on hybrid tech?!?!?...wow that's all they can come with?) And by the way it won't be release for at least another 2 years...let alone they have to prove relaiblity in the real world. As for Lexus all the cards are not on the table as of yet, while they fiddle their thumbs and wait for the rival's debut, Lexus is determined they will send them back to the drawing board. BTW, I am currently at Mercedes dealership getting my 2007 S-Class diagnosed/repaired due to some computer glitch issues for the 3rd time...should have taken my LS460 to work let alone could have taken my 93 LS400 instead...I love my MBs' too german fan-ladies, but let's be realistic here they are not the only luxury wheels in the world we can all enjoy...LMAO!!!

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answer - 12/5/2007 11:28:57 AMView My AgentSpace

+7 Boost

Hmm.

I wonder which outcome would make the German-only geeks here truly happy. The LS hybrid being a sales success, or a sales failure.

It is quite hard to tell sometimes because good review/bad review, positive story/negative story, every Lexus topic posted here gets the same "Lexus sucks" treatment from all of the usual suspects.

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DaHarder - 12/7/2007 2:10:54 PM

+1 Boost

The A.W.E.E.M.

Autospies WannaBe European Enthusiast Majority

As I have so appropriately named them.

henbmw - 12/7/2007 6:11:54 PM

+1 Boost

Lexus doesn't sucks, just the LS600h

enthusiastx11 - 12/5/2007 11:45:02 AM

+2 Boost

motor trend summed it up well...

"In the end, the Lexus strikes us as ideal for CEOs who've made their fortunes plundering the earth's resources and want to appear to be making amends. It said little to us beyond "Forgive me; I'm not quite the guzzler I appear to be." Its smugness irked us almost as much as its undeserved 600 badge. We'd all sooner drive the tire-smoking LS 460L for $33K less, so it finishes fourth."

this car is about nothing more than PERCEPTION. and sadly, substance doesn't matter all that much in today's world.

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enthusiastx11 - 12/5/2007 12:00:10 PM

0 Boost

another well written explanation of this car...

"The LS600hL’s real payoff is, of course, psychological. For one thing, car-haters won’t have to listen to the faint purring of a vulgar internal combustion engine– or at least not as often. For another, owners can say they drive a hybrid. But none of this will stop the globe from warming.

In the final analysis, the only point of the LS600hL is to assuage the guilt of shallow, label-conscious snobs. That’s an expensive cure for a senseless affliction. In that sense, the ‘h’ in the model’s name might as well stand for hypocrite."

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/reviews/lexus-ls400hl-review/

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dumpsty - 12/5/2007 1:11:19 PM

0 Boost

It's not really a "snob" issue. Honestly, if I had that level of income, I'd really be interested in buying the LS600hL. I appreciate the luxury and the ability to save some money on gas through these various technologies. I like gadgets and all the little electronics cars have in them these days.

Believe it or not, wealthy (and the rich) do like to save money when they can. Look at some gracious celebrities...they love to receive free products from businesses trying to advertise to the celeb and to the fans of that celebrity. But the point is: it's free, they can keep their money and have new products.

OK, the LS600hL is fast and powerful, but not every owner cares about 0-60 track times. Most won't even drive the car faster than 80mph on the highway and won't ever be in a rush to get anywhere. The car will be relegated to rush hour stop-and-go traffic (where the hybrid works best) and mall parking lots with valet. They'll have their their gas tank filled every 2-3 weeks like those who drive $25k Camrys and Accords and enjoy the luxury of driving a Lexus.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/6/2007 5:39:47 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

"I appreciate the luxury and the ability to save some money on gas through these various technologies."

It would take almost 4,000 years to recoup the price difference between the LS600hL and LS460 due to its fuel economy "advantage."

dumpsty - 12/5/2007 12:56:38 PM

+1 Boost

Thumbs up!!! Kudos Lexus.

Lexus is clearly focused on recognizing what their intended customers want.

It does not matter to Lexus execs that the guy who can only afford a $30k (or even a $50k) vehicle doesn't like the $100k LS600hL. He can't buy it.

When the customers that can afford a $50k hybrid luxury car or SUV want one, Toyota/Lexus will have one available. Toyota put the money into the research for a system that works and is the easiest to execute in a number of their products. Their Hybrid Synergy Drive is paid for (unlike the 2-Mode Trans.) from plenty of Prius, Camry, RX-hybrid sales. GM and Chrys should really consider 2-mode hybrids for their small and mid-sized vehicles now...at least to keep up with Toyota. How many people appreciate the Escape/Mariner hybrids?

reply to this comment

Rupert - 12/5/2007 5:43:41 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

Actually the Prius is a loss maker, it is subsidised by other hybrid sales.

ZZZZ - 12/6/2007 7:35:08 PM

+1 Boost

WRONG! the prius started as a loss leader, but has been profitable for quite awhile now.

JWalkerLegrande - 12/5/2007 2:02:59 PM

+2 Boost