Success For Lexus
This autumn, three new additions will join the highly successful Lexus range in a year that has seen phenomenal growth. Lexus continues to be the fastest growing prestige brand with sales from January to mid-August of 3343 for 1999 and 5181 for the same period this year – an increase of a remarkable 55 per cent.
The new models, showing at the Birmingham International Motor Show, include a new medium executive GS430 saloon, a new luxury flagship LS430, and the RX300 sport utility vehicle meaning Lexus will enter the growing ‘Premium 4×4’ sector for the first time in the UK. The RX300 is not only the best selling Lexus in America but also the best selling Compact SUV in that market with sales of over 45,000 cars this year.
The success of Lexus is not purely sales driven, recently proven when the IS200 stole the What Car? security award for the second consecutive year – remaining the only car ever to claim full marks out of the 85 nominees.
What Car? described the IS200 as performing magnificently in their security test, particularly as Japanese marques traditionally score poorly because security is not an issue in their home market.
Lexus is a prime example where a Japanese manufacturer meets expectations considering that 70% of new cars in the UK actually fail to meet the guidelines set by the Home Office.
Keeping one step ahead of the competition the IS200 has once again proved that maximum protection is a realistic expectation for British car buyers. The Lexus beat the BMW 323i saloon by five points at the top of the table and was also commended for providing extra kit, including etched windows.
Adding another accolade is Auto Express which voted the IS200 class-leader for the family sector in its recently published safety test. The top weekly motoring magazine assessed the safety features and braking performance of the UK’s 50 top-selling cars in a variety of conditions at the Transport Research Laboratory.
Auto Express declared deceleration of the IS200 as fantastic commenting that it stops quicker than a Porsche. Testers viewed the car as an accomplished all rounder and were impressed by the car’s performance in both wet and dry conditions. They also commended Lexus for its rigorous testing programme, which involved the analysis of 50 prototype crash tests before the IS200 went on sale last year.
ENDS
