Behind the Wheel Video Gallery
Discussing whether a new, leaner GM will be good for the U.S. economy, with CNBC's Phil LeBeau and the Fast Money crew.
More Videos
- Maximum Bob Goes Full Throttle For GM
- GM's Second Chance
- Are Diesels Better Than Hybrids?
- Residual Values Hold Up Through Bankruptcy
- GM A Step Closer To Exiting Bankruptcy
- Are Gas Prices Still Scaring Car Buyers?
- Ford Passes Toyota For #2 In The U.S.
- Studs, Duds, And The Musical Chairs In Autoland
- Going Fast. Deals And Models Harder To Find
- GM Enters Stretch Run To Exit Bankruptcy
|
CNBC'S MOST SHARED
- Unemployed? Bored? Make Money Playing Beer Pong
- WPP's Sir Martin Sorrell on the Ad Recession
- Social Networking's 'Naked' Truth
- Merrill's McCann Seen as UBS Wealth Frontrunner
- The View From Newark
- Warren Buffett's Top Three Investment Rules for the Average American
- Fast Funds: Hot Ways To Play China
- Why You Should Watch Fund Flows
- Eric Schmidt on Government Scrutiny and Economic Recovery
- Earnings 101: Beyond The Big Names
- Eric Schmidt on Government Scrutiny and Economic Recovery
- Market 360: The Week's Best & Worst
- Geek Squad V. Gizmodo
- Brandt: Google Chrome OS in the Post-PC Age
- Other People Are Weirder Than We Are
- Bank Failures: Is The Nightmare Over? (Video)
- California Here I Go? No.
- Roginsky: No More Mr. Nice Guy
- Commercial Conundrum
- Government Selling Bank Stakes for Too Cheap: Panel
- Buffett's Top 3 Investment Rules for Average Americans
- Market Insider: Earnings Loom in the Week Ahead
- Bulls Get Summertime Blues, But It's Hot Fun for Bears
- As Banks Fail, Strong Institutions Become More Visible
- GM IPO in Second Quarter 2010 at the Earliest: CFO
- Merrill's McCann Seen as UBS Wealth Frontrunner
- It's Not the Wealthy Who Are Leaving California: Study
- Atlantic City Takes Hit as Pennsylvania Casino Opens
RSS FEED
» Help
Text Size 
Apr.16
11:21 AM ET
Monday, 16 Apr 2007
Lexus Flexes its Muscle
Posted By:Phil LeBeau
Topics:Automobile Industry
Sectors:Automobiles and Parts
Companies:Toyota Motor Corporation
 |
2008 Lexus LS600H |
]. According to J.D. Power, the Lexus LS, ES and GS models all moved off of dealer lots in less than 20 days during the month of March. This is the latest sign that the latest designs of the Lexus cars are connecting with buyers. In March, Lexus car sales jumped 31%. Year to date they are up 27%.
Why?
Two things are working at Lexus. First, the company's reputation for quality is convincing buyers these are the cars they want. Quality has long been a hallmark at Lexus, but the Japanese brand's strength is even more of an advantage given many of the other luxury auto brands do not rank as high in quality. Second, Lexus has stepped up its designs to be more stylish and less conservative. One of the knocks against Lexus has been that its cars look very nice, but seldom get the heart racing. That's less of the case with latest designs. Take the LS 460. Sales are up 133% thanks to an exterior that is more progressive and an interior that is more refined. It's a step up in the overall package, complete with some cutting-edge technology, like the parallel parking assistance.
What's next for Lexus?
The company is working towards a performance line of cars, and eventually a sedan that will cross the $100,000 threshold. If Lexus stays as on target as it has in the last two years, the luxury brand's momentum will continue to build.
Questions? Comments?
© 2009 CNBC, Inc. All Rights Reserved
MORE FROM CNBC
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes