7 Iconic Lexus Commercials
Since the beginning in 1989, Lexus has had some great and memorable commercials, and the trend continues. While Infiniti was selling you on a mysterious and peaceful, zen ambiance, Lexus has always been about precision, luxury, quality, and style. Read on and let’s look at some of the memorable and iconic ads they’ve had over the years.
1. RC350 “Let’s Play”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOZywMwhEIM
In 2015, when the new Lexus RC coupes were just debuting, Lexus ran this ad during the Super Bowl. In a game filled with great ads, the remote control car, in vivid electric blue, pulling all sorts of stunts really stood out. The sound of the actual F-sport car pulling a sick drift toward the ends is like sweet motor music to any Lexus fan’s ears.
2. RC 350 “Captivate”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6q9vVtjW6s
There is no denying that the new Lexus RC is the most striking car to come out of their design studio since the exotic, limited production, LF-A. This commercial makes light of just how captivating the new shape (and color options) is by featuring people being so enthralled with the car they leave smudges on windows trying to get a better look. The final person embarrasses himself at a fancy art exhibition by actually bumping into the window hard enough to not only smudge it with his nose but attract the attention of the car’s owner.
3. IS 350 “No Good Deed”
This ad, featuring a hunky neighbor helping a married woman to stop a leaking faucet, signaled the hot new young Lexus. It is widely known that the average Lexus customer is in their mid-50s, even though they make some excellent, sporty, cars that should appeal to younger buyers. This ad aimed to change the whole brand perception by pushing the envelope with a little bit of sex appeal.
4. GS 300 “Break the Circle”
This ad features a trio of bland traditional luxury sedans stuck following each other around and around in a circle, out in the desert somewhere. Meanwhile, the badass black Lexus GS drives right through them, executes a sick drift, and carves a massive L-shaped set of tire tracks through their perfect circle.
5. ES 300 “Ball Bearing”
Jumping back quite a few years to the beginning of the brand, this ball bearing ad is part of what made Lexus who they are today. A then all new ES 300 is mounted in a jig so it can be tilted and rotated and a ball bearing is rolled around the entire car to demonstrate how perfect all the panel gaps are. Recently they have paid homage to this ad with one of the current AWD Lexus sedans driving over a ball bearing covered hard concrete surface, and another with a bearing rolling along the hood while the driver corners and accelerates.
6. LS 400 “Steel Plate Drum”
Another early example of Lexus building the brand, this one showing the extent they would go to be quieter and more luxurious than the rest. Were they the only company using steel sandwich plates to keep their cars quiet? Probably not. But this ad allowed Lexus to connect itself to high-end orchestral music and concert spaces in people’s minds, thanks to the location and musicians. Even more than 20 years later, riding in a 1990s LS 400 you will notice how quiet it is inside.
7. LS 400 “Champagne Glasses”
This commercial is the one that launched Lexus as a brand. It features all the things you expect from Lexus: Luxury – represented by the champagne glasses, Precision – represented by the utterly vibration free running, Quiet competence – represented by how effortlessly and quietly the car can drive the wheels at 145mph. The stunt done for the commercial was repeated all over the country at local Lexus dealers and it really made an impression which lasts to this day.
For information on maintenance and repairs, check out our do-it-yourself technical articles at https://www.clublexus.com/how-tos/.
