Lexus boldly imitating/adopting Ferrari's marketing strategy now?
- Thread starter Empty Pockets
- Start date
Neilda
GT Owner
The main problem is that it's always going to be a Lexus.
Phrases unlikely to be ever heard:
1. Hey! Nice Lexus
2. Wow, you have a Lexus
3. Got a spare seat for lil' ol' me in your Lexus big boy?
Same applies to Saab.
:lol
Phrases unlikely to be ever heard:
1. Hey! Nice Lexus
2. Wow, you have a Lexus
3. Got a spare seat for lil' ol' me in your Lexus big boy?
Same applies to Saab.
:lol
Gulf GT
GT Owner
Yep, remember the NSX... Uh, nice Acura... Japanese have a problem making cars with "souls". They don't seem to get it.
I will 2nd Nielda's comments and add a few of my own.
First, Lexus can bite me if they're going to dictate whether or not I can buy their (GodawfulUgly) car.
Second, I hope they choke on 499 of the 500 they intend to sell.
Third, for all the supposed performance the car offers, has Lexus seen what the new (and equally ugly) Panamera can do? The Turbo has performance #s from R&T this month that rival our beloved GT (I know, never give any credence to R&T's results), all for $150 Large.
Like it or not, by the time Lexus brings their superbaby to our market, it may be either economically or perfomance wise superfluous, and I hope it's both.
First, Lexus can bite me if they're going to dictate whether or not I can buy their (GodawfulUgly) car.
Second, I hope they choke on 499 of the 500 they intend to sell.
Third, for all the supposed performance the car offers, has Lexus seen what the new (and equally ugly) Panamera can do? The Turbo has performance #s from R&T this month that rival our beloved GT (I know, never give any credence to R&T's results), all for $150 Large.
Like it or not, by the time Lexus brings their superbaby to our market, it may be either economically or perfomance wise superfluous, and I hope it's both.
That thing definitely makes an unholy racket, and the interior is quite cool, but it's the wrong time to be putting up the velvet rope for $400k supercars. Especially ones that look more like an $80k GT-R than a $500k LP670-SV. Ferrari has trouble moving all their machinery these days, and appealing to snobs who want a prancing horse badge that don't know shit about cars is part and parcel to the brand image (disclaimer: I am in no way insinuating all or most or any specific percentage of Ferrari owners are like this). I think Lexus attempting to get into that racket will certainly work in Japan, but will likely draw chuckles elsewhere.
BlackICE
GT Owner
Mullet
FORD GT OWNER
I see this car as a marketing tool. They won't sell alot of them and will probably lose money on them. Numerous other companies are/do the same.
Think of the "free" advertising this creates.
Think of the "free" advertising this creates.
LFA stands for Loser
Not all those projected 500 units of the Lexus LFA are destined for the USA. I know the quality will be nice but why is it a front (ok, front-mid) engine? It really looks ugly to me. As ugly as the GTR but massively more expensive. It also ended up way heavier than planned with just ok HP for a "supercar."
Ed
Not all those projected 500 units of the Lexus LFA are destined for the USA. I know the quality will be nice but why is it a front (ok, front-mid) engine? It really looks ugly to me. As ugly as the GTR but massively more expensive. It also ended up way heavier than planned with just ok HP for a "supercar."
Ed
My own take on the mkting "strategy" itself (and I KNOW you all care) is that Lexus is being terribly presumptuous in thinking it has somehow achieved the ICON brand image/badge status required to play these 'we-will-tell-YOU-if-you-qualify-to-buy-our-"supercar" games simply because the company has placed a $350K (or so) sticker on one of it's cars. It's as though Lexus figures that sticker, in and of itself, somehow LEGITIMIZES the car's "supercar" status on the spot and, therefore, also justifies the company's adoption of Ferrari's ego focused marketing game. Well, uh, NO...and, NO.
As to the car itself; if it's going to sport a $350K pricetag (give or take) - it ought to at least LOOK like that sticker belongs on the window. I cannot imagine someone paying that kind of money for a car with the LOOKS of an $80K-$90K offering...which, IMO, is what the LFA reflects. (EG: what IS the deal with that "breaking wave" appendage next to the rear qtr windows?) On top of that, said sticker price is generally expected to provide buyers with a mid-engine 2-seater...which the LFA isn't.
All things considered, it's difficult to invision any "discriminating"(?) supercar owner/buyer buying into this whole program (literally or figuratively). Buuuuuuuut, what do I know...
BlackICE
GT Owner
I am in total agreement with you EP, with the exception of the car has to be mid engined. Ferrari sells the 599 is proof of that.
Understood...which is why I stated, "...said sticker price is GENERALLY EXPECTED to provide buyers with a mid-engine 2-seater."
According to the article, those folks are exactly the type of owner Lexus specifically wishes to avoid. It was mentioned that Lexus wants to sell these cars to people who will actually drive them so that the car will be, 'seen at the "proper" restaurants and hotels', etc.
(And to save 'ICE the trouble: yes, that DOES mean Lexus won't be contacting Pockets.:bored)
S592R
GT Owner
- Dec 3, 2006
- 2,800
but no matter what .... its still a Lexus. they build great cars, that nobody really regards as being anything special other than being a well built car.
IMHO Lexus needs to go race a bunch more, build a following. THEN release a supercar.
Its not all that un-attractive. But for 400k, I can think of a few other cars I would purchase over just the one Lexus.
IMHO Lexus needs to go race a bunch more, build a following. THEN release a supercar.
Its not all that un-attractive. But for 400k, I can think of a few other cars I would purchase over just the one Lexus.
H
HHGT
Guest
Will the new Lexus Stupid car .... oops, Supercar have issues with the Gas Pedal sticking to the floormats?
ObeyMyFast!
GT Owner's son
^ If it did, it would be a good way of getting out of speeding tickets.
"No, Officer, I swear, my gas pedal was stuck!"
"No, Officer, I swear, my gas pedal was stuck!"
Ditto. They don't create cars with true visionary and performance pushing capabilities, they let others do it and then they re-create the concept in their own image. Granted, they do a great job of what their strategy entails, but their cars are always an answer to something already conceived and placed on the market.