rominl

iTrader: (4)

wow, scary pictures and that looks like blk opal?

h2o_247

i think it is a Toyota Century. I misplaced the pic into my post. I can remove it if requested.

regards,

h2o_247

encore888

Ah thx for the ID. It's ok to have that pic, the Century has been mentioned in this thread. I definitely wonder about the executive fleet of Century sedans out there...future Lexus owners?

Speaking of which, I found this blog post which summarized the state of exec flagship owners from heads of state...

http://karakullake.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html

He mentions "One surprise so far is the fact that not a single leader has chosen a Lexus LS as his/her car of choice. Maybe I'll uncover one later." Also mentioned--Iceland with a "#1' Cadillac!

Any Google account owner willing to post a message to give him updated info?

zzzzdoc

Nah. Can't be. We all know there's only one of those in the world.

encore888

Yeah, it must be a special color for the Prince.

Just wondering, I don't suppose we've seen many custom-painted LS rides? The OEM paint finish...would be a waste to cover it up I guess...but who knows maybe some exec might try for a change...

Gojirra99

http://www.ridacars.com/new-19-49.html
.

encore888

Wow, the windows can lower (unlike some other armored cars) but look at the thickness of those frames!!!

rominl

iTrader: (4)

yeah that's what i noticed. that's THICK

encore888

The Italian news program Studio Aperto ran this clip of the Villa San Martino in Arcore, with a meeting of Italian PMs and state officials, and an LS 600h arrival...an addition to a transportation fleet which is known to use Maserati Quattroportes as well. I'm guessing there is a siren attached to the top of the official LSh?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL_UnVDrx-0

Add to the list of LS 600h dignitaries, some of which are discussed here,
along with other celeb LS 600h owners (e.g., John Legend was filmed in his LS 600h, Demi Moore photographed in her husband's, etc.):

encore888

Reactivating this thread as the LS 600h has seen more official acquisitions in 2009! Here is the latest royal Scandinavian owner:

For the Queen of Denmark, HM Margrethe II:





Shown here being chauffeured on a visit from Fredensborg Palace to Sanctuary.

Article: http://lokalavisen.dk/article/200904...613741631/1052
Translated: http://translate.google.com/translat...3741631%2F1052
Slideshow: http://www.ppe-agency.com/preview.ph...009%20Rungsted

For the President of Lombardy, Italy: Roberto Formigoni:



Article: http://www.repubblica.it/2008/02/mot...formigoni.html
Mentioned briefly here: http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2...80429054.shtml
LS 600h in official use with Italian PM: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...s-ls-600h.html

The other Scandinavian monarch, as mentioned earlier, is the King of Norway, Harald V:



Article: http://www.aftenposten.no/english/lo...cle2238762.ece
Earlier thread about the acquisition: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...ls-600h-l.html
Slideshow:http://www.adressa.no/forbruker/bil/article1065344.ece

For a recent celeb example, there is also this: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/5050656-post117.html

astrotoy

Just got back from a month in Hong Kong. Not just chief executive Tsang has a 600hL exec. From just driving around, the most common LS in Hong Kong appears to be the 600hL. Of course, most of the owners have chauffers - so most look like they are also exec class 600's. Hong Kong seems to be the place for luxury cars. With low income taxes and no capital gains or taxes on interest and dividends, there are a lot of very wealthy people. THe government is smart in charging an excise tax on new cars of about 100%. We checked out an LS460L (which is a relatively recent addition in Hong Kong - before they only had the 460) at the Lexus dealer and the one on the showroom floor was an exec class. The price was just about $180,000 USD. Hong Kong is famous for being the most capitalistic society in the world, remaining so, even with its return to China a decade or so ago. There is a very large disparity in wages. Middle class families usually have live-in servants - mostly Filipino or Indonesian. My father-in-law who is 92 and lives in a tiny 500 sq foot apartment, has two of them ($8000/year salary each for a six day week, morning to night) in addition to a chauffer - about $15K/yr salary again for 6 days a week. Only the fairly wealthy have their own cars and public transportation is excellent and cheap. Even taxis are cheap. On the Hong Kong Island side, where things are very close together, a typical cab ride is about $3 or less. So you see lots of Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes. I saw several Ferraris, a good number of Bentleys and Rolls, and even a few Maybach's, which run about $700K in Hong Kong. There are very few "cheap" cars, though I did see some Camry's and even a few Corollas. I don't think there were any US cars to be seen. Hong Kong like England and Japan is right hand drive.

Gojirra99

Although that's what they indicated in the Lexus Hong Kong website too, I have personally seen LS460L's in Hong Kong way back when I was there in 2007, these pictures of a Ls460L Exec.Package were taken in November 2007 :

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...ml#post3165005

it's your thread too, remember ? & you indicated in post#1 that you saw a couple LS460L's then too ...

rominl

iTrader: (4)

hk is easily one of the highest concentration place for nice cars. seeing ferrari and lambo there is like nothing

astrotoy

Thanks for reminding me of my earlier post. At my age, I forget things that I remember. I'll probably be back to HK again next year and may post again about seeing a 460L exec class.

Anessa

http://rida-group.de/weapon-emplacemant.html

Too bad they can't do some weapons emplacements.