The prestige debate
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Prestige cannot be just history. BMW almost went bankrupt in 1949. They made their living off the ISetta. The first 5 series was a 520 4 cylinder. It wasn't until recently with the 750 (I think) of the late 1980s they had a V-12.
Benz has a much more prestigous history, pretty much inventing the automobile, racing the silver arrow, the gullwing and world respected for safety innovations. The funny thing is with their recent moves (recent history):
1. Merging or absorbing Chrysler (not prestigous in my book)
2. A and B class cars, owning SMART (which has failed miserably) C-class hatchbacks are not prestigous
3. **** poor quality is not prestigous.
Yet they seemingly overcome all this with the mags. To the informed buyer, is that prestige?
Lexus will always and I mean ALWAYS be considered "under" the GErmans simply b/c its JAPANESE. People do not connate Japan with the finer things in life. They connate innovation and technology. Not luxury.
Benz has a much more prestigous history, pretty much inventing the automobile, racing the silver arrow, the gullwing and world respected for safety innovations. The funny thing is with their recent moves (recent history):
1. Merging or absorbing Chrysler (not prestigous in my book)
2. A and B class cars, owning SMART (which has failed miserably) C-class hatchbacks are not prestigous
3. **** poor quality is not prestigous.
Yet they seemingly overcome all this with the mags. To the informed buyer, is that prestige?
Lexus will always and I mean ALWAYS be considered "under" the GErmans simply b/c its JAPANESE. People do not connate Japan with the finer things in life. They connate innovation and technology. Not luxury.
Guest
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I have observed this response from hundreds of people including you and Enigma888.
The conundrum is that nobody can prove it unless ES is killed.
You and Enigma rightly point out that ES sales are great and besides it allows non-enthusiasts to enjoy Lexus luxury without paying a premium price such as that with GS and LS.
I am of this opinion that ES is repelling away many potential IS lovers.
ES is also cannabilizing some (not all) potential GS lovers.
Besides, Lexus Executives have publicly acknowledged in the past that they want to build a BMW like sporty, athletic image.
That is why the new LS 460/L is dramatically more athletic than LS 430 as can be felt from the media reviews so far. Motor trend has never done a tire burn-out before with an LS. Others like Paul Eisenstein from Car Connection and others from About.com etc have been positively impressed with its athleticism.
ES with its soft-sofa like demeanor, funny body roll and huge overhangs is casting a negative shadow over those dreams.
Therefore, the sales and profits are great, but is that good for the brand?? Especially when all other brands, germans, cadillac and others are becoming more and more sporty every day. Will it attract or repel future Lexus owners. Only future will tell!
The conundrum is that nobody can prove it unless ES is killed.
You and Enigma rightly point out that ES sales are great and besides it allows non-enthusiasts to enjoy Lexus luxury without paying a premium price such as that with GS and LS.
I am of this opinion that ES is repelling away many potential IS lovers.
ES is also cannabilizing some (not all) potential GS lovers.
Besides, Lexus Executives have publicly acknowledged in the past that they want to build a BMW like sporty, athletic image.
That is why the new LS 460/L is dramatically more athletic than LS 430 as can be felt from the media reviews so far. Motor trend has never done a tire burn-out before with an LS. Others like Paul Eisenstein from Car Connection and others from About.com etc have been positively impressed with its athleticism.
ES with its soft-sofa like demeanor, funny body roll and huge overhangs is casting a negative shadow over those dreams.
Therefore, the sales and profits are great, but is that good for the brand?? Especially when all other brands, germans, cadillac and others are becoming more and more sporty every day. Will it attract or repel future Lexus owners. Only future will tell!
IN the case of the ES, no company will let 70,000 units at $33,000-$45,000 go. Lexus has proven to be the only company capable of such a feat. They are after 17% market share with the IS and ES and will hit about 20% since the IS are selling at 40% past projections.
Lexus is about luxury and has proven that. Lexus is having a harder time it can do sport.
IMO, Lexus is trying to do both with different cars, instead of the one way approach of BMW (all sport) or Benz (all luxury). Audi is luxury with AWD.
Can they do it? Not sure. I even started a thread in the past, maybe Toyota should leave luxury to Lexus and start ANOTHER luxury brand, geared much more to sport. Call is SEXUS
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In order
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Tiffany & Co.
Hennessy
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ING
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Shell
Nissan
Starbucks
Lexus
Smirnoff
LG
Bulgari
Prada
Armani
Burberry
Nivea
Levi's
Toyota is the 7th Most-Recognized Brand in the World
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06...s/source/7.htm
Now, as you can see being 92 is way behind some of the more established brands. However, amazing for only being around 17 years. This is in the WORLD.
Lexus has a way to go and its not just a higher price that will get them there.
Coca-Cola
Microsoft
IBM
GE
Intel
Nokia
Toyota
Disney
McDonald's
Mercedes-Benz
Citi
Marlboro
Hewlett-Packard
American Express
BMW
Gillette
Louis Vuitton
Cisco
Honda
Samsung
Merrill Lynch
Pepsi
Nescafe
Dell
Sony
Budweiser
HSBC
Oracle
Ford
Nike
UPS
JPMorgan
SAP
Canon
Morgan Stanley
Goldman Sachs
Pfizer
Apple
Kellogg's
Ikea
UBS
Novartis
Siemens
Harley-Davidson
Gucci
eBay
Philips
Accenture
MTV
Nintendo
Gap
L'Oreal
Heinz
Yahoo!
Volkswagen
Xerox
Colgate
Wrigley's
KFC
Chanel
Avon
Nestle
Kleenex
Amazon.com
Pizza Hut
Danone
Caterpillar
Motorola
Kodak
adidas
Rolex
Zara
Audi
Hyundai
BP
Panasonic
Reuters
Kraft
Porsche
Hermes
Tiffany & Co.
Hennessy
Duracell
ING
Cartier
Moet & Chandon
Johnson & Johnson
Shell
Nissan
Starbucks
Lexus
Smirnoff
LG
Bulgari
Prada
Armani
Burberry
Nivea
Levi's
Toyota is the 7th Most-Recognized Brand in the World
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06...s/source/7.htm
Now, as you can see being 92 is way behind some of the more established brands. However, amazing for only being around 17 years. This is in the WORLD.
Lexus has a way to go and its not just a higher price that will get them there.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Luxury Institute Survey: High Net Worth Clients Name Luxury Best Practice Leaders
NEW YORK--June 26, 2006--American Express is the company wealthy consumers rate overwhelmingly the best in Customer Information and Customer Loyalty best practices, according to "Enhancing the Customer Experience of the Wealthy 2006" best business practices survey, from the New York-based Luxury Institute. American Express placed second to Nordstrom in Customer Relationship Management best practices.
In this latest survey from the independent Luxury Institute, 597 High Net Worth consumers were asked to name up to three luxury goods or services firms that they believe represent the best practitioners in Customer Information, Customer Relationship Management, and Customer Loyalty practices. These were unaided responses; consumers nominated their choices.
The top five best practitioners in order of ranking in Customer Information: American Express, Nordstrom, Tiffany, Neiman Marcus and Lexus.
The five best in Customer Relationship Management best practices: Nordstrom, American Express, Lexus, Ritz-Carlton and Tiffany. The top five best practitioners in Customer Loyalty programs: American Express, American Airlines, Hilton, Marriott and Starwood. Most of the loyalty programs that wealthy consumers think are best practitioners are, except for Amex, from non-luxury goods and services categories, which indicates that the luxury industry has some significant work to do, since loyalty is as critical in the luxury industry as in the mainstream.
"Many experts and insiders give awards for "best practices," said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute. "While those are important, we wanted to give America's High Net Worth consumers, people who actually experience these practices and vote with their wallets, the final say as to which practices are really best, and which brands are best practitioners. Luxury marketers need to realize that today's luxury branding world is a great deal more like The People's Choice Awards than the Academy Awards. The wealthy in particular trust in peer brand reviews far above other "expert" sources. Luxury executives should follow the customers' lead."
"Enhancing the Customer Experience of the Wealthy 2006" best practices survey asked wealthy consumers to indicate which exact best practices they believe are most important in three areas: Customer Information, Customer Relationship Management, and Customer Loyalty programs. The survey includes preferred interaction channels for specific activities and Internet usage in the past 12 months. Responders were age 18 and above with minimum income of $150K and minimum net worth of $750K. Median income was $324K; median net worth was $2 million.
About The Luxury Institute
The Luxury Institute is the uniquely independent and objective research institution that is the trusted voice of the high net worth consumer. The Institute provides a portfolio of proprietary quantitative research that guides and educates high net-worth individuals, and the companies that cater to them, on leading edge trends, wealthy consumer ratings and rankings of luxury brands, and best practices. To reach the Luxury Institute, please call 646-792-2669 or go to www.luxuryinstitute.com.
source : theautochannel
Continuing with this type of treatment and awards can help prestige.
NEW YORK--June 26, 2006--American Express is the company wealthy consumers rate overwhelmingly the best in Customer Information and Customer Loyalty best practices, according to "Enhancing the Customer Experience of the Wealthy 2006" best business practices survey, from the New York-based Luxury Institute. American Express placed second to Nordstrom in Customer Relationship Management best practices.
In this latest survey from the independent Luxury Institute, 597 High Net Worth consumers were asked to name up to three luxury goods or services firms that they believe represent the best practitioners in Customer Information, Customer Relationship Management, and Customer Loyalty practices. These were unaided responses; consumers nominated their choices.
The top five best practitioners in order of ranking in Customer Information: American Express, Nordstrom, Tiffany, Neiman Marcus and Lexus.
The five best in Customer Relationship Management best practices: Nordstrom, American Express, Lexus, Ritz-Carlton and Tiffany. The top five best practitioners in Customer Loyalty programs: American Express, American Airlines, Hilton, Marriott and Starwood. Most of the loyalty programs that wealthy consumers think are best practitioners are, except for Amex, from non-luxury goods and services categories, which indicates that the luxury industry has some significant work to do, since loyalty is as critical in the luxury industry as in the mainstream.
"Many experts and insiders give awards for "best practices," said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute. "While those are important, we wanted to give America's High Net Worth consumers, people who actually experience these practices and vote with their wallets, the final say as to which practices are really best, and which brands are best practitioners. Luxury marketers need to realize that today's luxury branding world is a great deal more like The People's Choice Awards than the Academy Awards. The wealthy in particular trust in peer brand reviews far above other "expert" sources. Luxury executives should follow the customers' lead."
"Enhancing the Customer Experience of the Wealthy 2006" best practices survey asked wealthy consumers to indicate which exact best practices they believe are most important in three areas: Customer Information, Customer Relationship Management, and Customer Loyalty programs. The survey includes preferred interaction channels for specific activities and Internet usage in the past 12 months. Responders were age 18 and above with minimum income of $150K and minimum net worth of $750K. Median income was $324K; median net worth was $2 million.
About The Luxury Institute
The Luxury Institute is the uniquely independent and objective research institution that is the trusted voice of the high net worth consumer. The Institute provides a portfolio of proprietary quantitative research that guides and educates high net-worth individuals, and the companies that cater to them, on leading edge trends, wealthy consumer ratings and rankings of luxury brands, and best practices. To reach the Luxury Institute, please call 646-792-2669 or go to www.luxuryinstitute.com.
source : theautochannel
Continuing with this type of treatment and awards can help prestige.
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Sorry, I meant Prestige and Cut-rate are Antonyms not Synonyms
Thanks for your timely message. I have been dealing with this prestige issue for nearly 2 years in various forums under various pseudonyms and even met top lexus dealers during New York Auto Show to discuss this.
To make a long story short lack of prestige is directly related to pricing. Should I slow it down.
Prestige has nothing to do with 0-60. If that was true, porsche turbo would be more prestigious than ferrari 599 GTB and more expensive. Corvette would be more prestigious than Aston Martin. Porsche carrera would be more prestigious than Aston Martin AMV8 vantage and so on.
Prestige has nothing to do with Cylinders: If that was true. Phaeton V12 would be more prestigious than BMW 750 with V8. Chrysler 300C with hemi V8 would be more prestigious than E-class. BMW M5 V-10 would be more prestigious than Bentley Arnage V8.
Buicks are very quiet machines. Even Camry is very very quiet. Same with slaloms and tech gizmos. Even a loaded camry today has enough gizmos and is fast and quiet. And they sell half a million of those every year.
Does that ring a bell?
The cardinal fact is simply this: Prestige is objective. It is perhaps the most objective attribute. And it is directly related to three factors, price, volumes, and a compelling product. A compelling product will have more innovation, more luxury, more reliability, more beauty and more dynamism than its competitors. And if it is priced equal to or higher than competitors, it will win. And LS 460 is compelling.
If priced lower, it may win volumes, but its brand and its future will hurt.
Lexus is making compelling products. Not all, but at least some of them, and its pricing is cut-rate. That creates a negative emotion for a luxury buyer.
The rich think differently. High-end pricing attracts them. Value and cut-rate repels them. Prestige and value are antonyms, not synonyms.
Whenever you offer antonyms in the same package there will be massive damage. And Lexus is slowly damaging its brand. A time will come when this mind-set will become so deep that even if Lexus wants to become prestigious, it will fail.
Lexus has to move up-market with LS 460/L, since the product is compelling.
Thanks for your timely message. I have been dealing with this prestige issue for nearly 2 years in various forums under various pseudonyms and even met top lexus dealers during New York Auto Show to discuss this.
To make a long story short lack of prestige is directly related to pricing. Should I slow it down.
Prestige has nothing to do with 0-60. If that was true, porsche turbo would be more prestigious than ferrari 599 GTB and more expensive. Corvette would be more prestigious than Aston Martin. Porsche carrera would be more prestigious than Aston Martin AMV8 vantage and so on.
Prestige has nothing to do with Cylinders: If that was true. Phaeton V12 would be more prestigious than BMW 750 with V8. Chrysler 300C with hemi V8 would be more prestigious than E-class. BMW M5 V-10 would be more prestigious than Bentley Arnage V8.
Buicks are very quiet machines. Even Camry is very very quiet. Same with slaloms and tech gizmos. Even a loaded camry today has enough gizmos and is fast and quiet. And they sell half a million of those every year.
Does that ring a bell?
The cardinal fact is simply this: Prestige is objective. It is perhaps the most objective attribute. And it is directly related to three factors, price, volumes, and a compelling product. A compelling product will have more innovation, more luxury, more reliability, more beauty and more dynamism than its competitors. And if it is priced equal to or higher than competitors, it will win. And LS 460 is compelling.
If priced lower, it may win volumes, but its brand and its future will hurt.
Lexus is making compelling products. Not all, but at least some of them, and its pricing is cut-rate. That creates a negative emotion for a luxury buyer.
The rich think differently. High-end pricing attracts them. Value and cut-rate repels them. Prestige and value are antonyms, not synonyms.
Whenever you offer antonyms in the same package there will be massive damage. And Lexus is slowly damaging its brand. A time will come when this mind-set will become so deep that even if Lexus wants to become prestigious, it will fail.
Lexus has to move up-market with LS 460/L, since the product is compelling.
Great point.
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Posts: n/a
Hood ornament is a symbol. We cannot go against human nature. It will always be important.
"Buy itself prestige" is a hazard. No one has been able to do it in human history. Prestige can only be obtained by making a compelling product and positioning it appropriately.
It is the positioning where Lexus is going wrong. That is why they are confusing everybody in Europe and Lexus has not been successful there.
IS is the leg (volumes)
GS is the trunk (anchor)
LS is the head (crown jewel)
All three must be healthy to succeed in europe. leg is healthy, head is now healthy. But trunk is not compelling. GS does not look sexy.
Europe is home to luxury. Lexus should learn from Europe. Nobody in europe mixes value with luxury. Those who have, suffered a lot.
"Buy itself prestige" is a hazard. No one has been able to do it in human history. Prestige can only be obtained by making a compelling product and positioning it appropriately.
It is the positioning where Lexus is going wrong. That is why they are confusing everybody in Europe and Lexus has not been successful there.
IS is the leg (volumes)
GS is the trunk (anchor)
LS is the head (crown jewel)
All three must be healthy to succeed in europe. leg is healthy, head is now healthy. But trunk is not compelling. GS does not look sexy.
Europe is home to luxury. Lexus should learn from Europe. Nobody in europe mixes value with luxury. Those who have, suffered a lot.
Now in Europe its about prestige but more so about engine choices. Diesals. Small 4 cylinders. Lexus has NEVER offered a 4 cylinder. They just now have a diesal for Europe. They sell diesal S/XJ/7/A8s in Europe.
Lexus will try to sell hybrids and hopefully more diesals. Also they don't have a true dealer network.
Finally, Lexus is just not sporty enough for Europe.
And guess what, they don't sell the ES there! Never have. As a matter of fact the IS debuted in Europe in 1997 as the IS 200.
As for the GS not looking sexy, that is subjective. It actually has gotten rave reviews for the styling and 2 very important people have reviewd its styling in magazines. NONE of the competiton or any luxury car can say the same feat. Says a LOT about the styling of the GS!
Robert Cumberford article
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=coates
Del Coates article
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=coates
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,695
Likes: 2
From: CA
Thx for your links, ISICKLEX! Very insightful as to how Lexus fares in the prestige world and how it can improve. The way I see it--they are going up!
Calibration though is the issue--how fast do they want to/can go?
Calibration though is the issue--how fast do they want to/can go?
Driver
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Is it Merit or is it Media?? Where lies the truth??
Prestige cannot be just history. BMW almost went bankrupt in 1949. They made their living off the ISetta. The first 5 series was a 520 4 cylinder. It wasn't until recently with the 750 (I think) of the late 1980s they had a V-12.
Benz has a much more prestigous history, pretty much inventing the automobile, racing the silver arrow, the gullwing and world respected for safety innovations. The funny thing is with their recent moves (recent history):
1. Merging or absorbing Chrysler (not prestigous in my book)
2. A and B class cars, owning SMART (which has failed miserably) C-class hatchbacks are not prestigous
3. **** poor quality is not prestigous.
Yet they seemingly overcome all this with the mags. To the informed buyer, is that prestige?
Lexus will always and I mean ALWAYS be considered "under" the GErmans simply b/c its JAPANESE. People do not connate Japan with the finer things in life. They connate innovation and technology. Not luxury.
Benz has a much more prestigous history, pretty much inventing the automobile, racing the silver arrow, the gullwing and world respected for safety innovations. The funny thing is with their recent moves (recent history):
1. Merging or absorbing Chrysler (not prestigous in my book)
2. A and B class cars, owning SMART (which has failed miserably) C-class hatchbacks are not prestigous
3. **** poor quality is not prestigous.
Yet they seemingly overcome all this with the mags. To the informed buyer, is that prestige?
Lexus will always and I mean ALWAYS be considered "under" the GErmans simply b/c its JAPANESE. People do not connate Japan with the finer things in life. They connate innovation and technology. Not luxury.
You arrived at some very sound conclusions. Media and mags have been very friendly to germans and not so friendly to Japanese. There can be various reasons for that but the essence of it is that Lexus should forget about depending upon media and mags, they will always find something or the other to complain about, "lack of soul" and other things.
Also I am not sure how people are comfortable with the fact that Japanese will always stay under the germans. Whether japanese or germans, americans or english, merit should be given preference over perceived image. An year ago I read a review of Acura RL in a popular canadian magazine and the author basically admitted point blank that Japanese will succeed only if their products are much better and at the same time cheaper than the germans.
If I find the link I will post it.
This means the germans are enjoying the image bolstered by magazines and media. I am not sure what is the arrangement between germans and the mags but I suspect that a little investment of a few lunches and trips to europe is reaping rich rewards in more than 100 billion dollars of extra customer money in vehicle sales and parts every year.
In other words its not merit, its media.
Last edited by Stevekil; Sep 5, 2006 at 10:28 AM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,639
Likes: 2
From: California
Lexus is about luxury and has proven that. Lexus is having a harder time it can do sport.
IMO, Lexus is trying to do both with different cars, instead of the one way approach of BMW (all sport) or Benz (all luxury). Audi is luxury with AWD.
Can they do it? Not sure. I even started a thread in the past, maybe Toyota should leave luxury to Lexus and start ANOTHER luxury brand, geared much more to sport. Call is SEXUS
IMO, Lexus is trying to do both with different cars, instead of the one way approach of BMW (all sport) or Benz (all luxury). Audi is luxury with AWD.
Can they do it? Not sure. I even started a thread in the past, maybe Toyota should leave luxury to Lexus and start ANOTHER luxury brand, geared much more to sport. Call is SEXUS
The release of the upcoming LS600H is a step in the right direction for Lexus. The big questions is whether Lexus can be successful in the ultra luxury/sport segment, since they have never offered a $100k car before.
Driver
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Future belongs to sporty, but what about whales??
One thing though, Lexus executives have stated yes, they do see opportunites but they also acknowledge they are doing something right, looking at sales. Thus it was stated at a press release that they will expand and try their best to attract new customers while keeping the current Lexus faithful happy.
IN the case of the ES, no company will let 70,000 units at $33,000-$45,000 go. Lexus has proven to be the only company capable of such a feat. They are after 17% market share with the IS and ES and will hit about 20% since the IS are selling at 40% past projections.
Lexus is about luxury and has proven that. Lexus is having a harder time it can do sport.
IMO, Lexus is trying to do both with different cars, instead of the one way approach of BMW (all sport) or Benz (all luxury). Audi is luxury with AWD.
Can they do it? Not sure. I even started a thread in the past, maybe Toyota should leave luxury to Lexus and start ANOTHER luxury brand, geared much more to sport. Call is SEXUS
IN the case of the ES, no company will let 70,000 units at $33,000-$45,000 go. Lexus has proven to be the only company capable of such a feat. They are after 17% market share with the IS and ES and will hit about 20% since the IS are selling at 40% past projections.
Lexus is about luxury and has proven that. Lexus is having a harder time it can do sport.
IMO, Lexus is trying to do both with different cars, instead of the one way approach of BMW (all sport) or Benz (all luxury). Audi is luxury with AWD.
Can they do it? Not sure. I even started a thread in the past, maybe Toyota should leave luxury to Lexus and start ANOTHER luxury brand, geared much more to sport. Call is SEXUS
Thats a funny name. I think Audi is like BMW (all sport), but with emphasis on Diesel and AWD. I am not sure how Lexus can continue to make cars like ES and move towards sporty image. Its like asking an elephant to run like a cheetah. Impossible. May be in next 4-5 years lexus will face a crises and learn from it. We don't know yet! But until then may be they will be happy making ES.
The future belongs to Sporty, thats for sure. Benz has rapidly moved towards sporty, same with Audi. Others too. Anyhow, I am done with ES talk. I will focus on LS and GS from here on.
Driver
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Is Sex Missing from GS??
Now in Europe its about prestige but more so about engine choices. Diesals. Small 4 cylinders. Lexus has NEVER offered a 4 cylinder. They just now have a diesal for Europe. They sell diesal S/XJ/7/A8s in Europe.
Lexus will try to sell hybrids and hopefully more diesals. Also they don't have a true dealer network.
Finally, Lexus is just not sporty enough for Europe.
And guess what, they don't sell the ES there! Never have. As a matter of fact the IS debuted in Europe in 1997 as the IS 200.
As for the GS not looking sexy, that is subjective. It actually has gotten rave reviews for the styling and 2 very important people have reviewd its styling in magazines. NONE of the competiton or any luxury car can say the same feat. Says a LOT about the styling of the GS!
Robert Cumberford article
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=coates
Del Coates article
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=coates
Lexus will try to sell hybrids and hopefully more diesals. Also they don't have a true dealer network.
Finally, Lexus is just not sporty enough for Europe.
And guess what, they don't sell the ES there! Never have. As a matter of fact the IS debuted in Europe in 1997 as the IS 200.
As for the GS not looking sexy, that is subjective. It actually has gotten rave reviews for the styling and 2 very important people have reviewd its styling in magazines. NONE of the competiton or any luxury car can say the same feat. Says a LOT about the styling of the GS!
Robert Cumberford article
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=coates
Del Coates article
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=coates
Driver
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: NJ
More horses, track-ready suspension
I think BMW's M line and MB's AMG line are huge factors that add to the "prestige" of the respective brands. The fact that BMW and MB can offer (and customers want) these limited, high-priced, high performance vehicles is a true testament to these companies.
The release of the upcoming LS600H is a step in the right direction for Lexus. The big questions is whether Lexus can be successful in the ultra luxury/sport segment, since they have never offered a $100k car before.
The release of the upcoming LS600H is a step in the right direction for Lexus. The big questions is whether Lexus can be successful in the ultra luxury/sport segment, since they have never offered a $100k car before.
More horses and track-ready suspension.
Last edited by Stevekil; Sep 5, 2006 at 10:49 AM.
Driver
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: NJ
In order
Coca-Cola
Microsoft
IBM
GE
Intel
Nokia
Toyota
Disney
McDonald's
Mercedes-Benz
Citi
Marlboro
Hewlett-Packard
American Express
BMW
Gillette
Louis Vuitton
Cisco
Honda
Samsung
Merrill Lynch
Pepsi
Nescafe
Google
Dell
Sony
Budweiser
HSBC
Oracle
Ford
Nike
UPS
JPMorgan
SAP
Canon
Morgan Stanley
Goldman Sachs
Pfizer
Apple
Kellogg's
Ikea
UBS
Novartis
Siemens
Harley-Davidson
Gucci
eBay
Philips
Accenture
MTV
Nintendo
Gap
L'Oreal
Heinz
Yahoo!
Volkswagen
Xerox
Colgate
Wrigley's
KFC
Chanel
Avon
Nestle
Kleenex
Amazon.com
Pizza Hut
Danone
Caterpillar
Motorola
Kodak
adidas
Rolex
Zara
Audi
Hyundai
BP
Panasonic
Reuters
Kraft
Porsche
Hermes
Tiffany & Co.
Hennessy
Duracell
ING
Cartier
Moet & Chandon
Johnson & Johnson
Shell
Nissan
Starbucks
Lexus
Smirnoff
LG
Bulgari
Prada
Armani
Burberry
Nivea
Levi's
Toyota is the 7th Most-Recognized Brand in the World
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http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06...s/source/7.htm
Now, as you can see being 92 is way behind some of the more established brands. However, amazing for only being around 17 years. This is in the WORLD.
Lexus has a way to go and its not just a higher price that will get them there.
Coca-Cola
Microsoft
IBM
GE
Intel
Nokia
Toyota
Disney
McDonald's
Mercedes-Benz
Citi
Marlboro
Hewlett-Packard
American Express
BMW
Gillette
Louis Vuitton
Cisco
Honda
Samsung
Merrill Lynch
Pepsi
Nescafe
Dell
Sony
Budweiser
HSBC
Oracle
Ford
Nike
UPS
JPMorgan
SAP
Canon
Morgan Stanley
Goldman Sachs
Pfizer
Apple
Kellogg's
Ikea
UBS
Novartis
Siemens
Harley-Davidson
Gucci
eBay
Philips
Accenture
MTV
Nintendo
Gap
L'Oreal
Heinz
Yahoo!
Volkswagen
Xerox
Colgate
Wrigley's
KFC
Chanel
Avon
Nestle
Kleenex
Amazon.com
Pizza Hut
Danone
Caterpillar
Motorola
Kodak
adidas
Rolex
Zara
Audi
Hyundai
BP
Panasonic
Reuters
Kraft
Porsche
Hermes
Tiffany & Co.
Hennessy
Duracell
ING
Cartier
Moet & Chandon
Johnson & Johnson
Shell
Nissan
Starbucks
Lexus
Smirnoff
LG
Bulgari
Prada
Armani
Burberry
Nivea
Levi's
Toyota is the 7th Most-Recognized Brand in the World
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06...s/source/7.htm
Now, as you can see being 92 is way behind some of the more established brands. However, amazing for only being around 17 years. This is in the WORLD.
Lexus has a way to go and its not just a higher price that will get them there.
Few Surprising things: Porsche and Lexus are lower than Hyundai! very strange. And Ferrari is such a big brand. Ferrari is most searched auto brand on google. Why is it missing??
Guest
Posts: n/a
You arrived at some very sound conclusions. Media and mags have been very friendly to germans and not so friendly to Japanese. There can be various reasons for that but the essence of it is that Lexus should forget about depending upon media and mags, they will always find something or the other to complain about, "lack of soul" and other things.
Also I am not sure how people are comfortable with the fact that Japanese will always stay under the germans. Whether japanese or germans, americans or english, merit should be given preference over perceived image. An year ago I read a review of Acura RL in a popular canadian magazine and the author basically admitted point blank that Japanese will succeed only if their products are much better and at the same time cheaper than the germans.
If I find the link I will post it.
This means the germans are enjoying the image bolstered by magazines and media. I am not sure what is the arrangement between germans and the mags but I suspect that a little investment of a few lunches and trips to europe is reaping rich rewards in more than 100 billion dollars of extra customer money in vehicle sales and parts every year.
In other words its not merit, its media.
Also I am not sure how people are comfortable with the fact that Japanese will always stay under the germans. Whether japanese or germans, americans or english, merit should be given preference over perceived image. An year ago I read a review of Acura RL in a popular canadian magazine and the author basically admitted point blank that Japanese will succeed only if their products are much better and at the same time cheaper than the germans.
If I find the link I will post it.
This means the germans are enjoying the image bolstered by magazines and media. I am not sure what is the arrangement between germans and the mags but I suspect that a little investment of a few lunches and trips to europe is reaping rich rewards in more than 100 billion dollars of extra customer money in vehicle sales and parts every year.
In other words its not merit, its media.
That is why I try so hard to read every article about cars from different sources, America and Europe mostly. It really gives you a feel for the car from different people.
In the past 6 months, I have made it a point to read on competing automakers and their past. Some big surprises!! The media only boasts the good history, never the failures (of the Germans)!