The 2011 Lexus Ct 200h is Lexus’ fifth hybrid vehicle.  From a hybrid vehicle we expect great fuel economy, some times we get a little more, things like “engaging handling… driver-friendly cabin … superb ergonomics” and many standard futures.

Edmunds says:

“Best fuel economy in its segment; attractive price; engaging handling for a hybrid; driver-friendly cabin with superb ergonomics.”

Today Lexus of Reno would like to share with you one of the few most common used standard future the 2011 Lexus CT 200h has to offer.

“SmartAccess Locking & Unlocking with touch sensors on exterior front-door handles” – In less than 2 minutes you will know how to use this standard future available on the 2011 Lexus CT 200h. We use this wonderful future every time we drive our Lexus CT or any other 2011 or newer Lexus Model.

The company known for producing luxury cars with sleek styling, superb performance, and world-class luxury (at seriously competitive prices) is about to up the ante yet again.  Although affiliated with Toyota (they are the high-end brand produced by Toyota Motor Corporation), they seem to have avoided the stigma attached to the recent recalls and they are forging ahead with plans to upgrade future models.  While the Toyota brand struggles to regain lost footing by promising dependability and top-of-the-line safety features (the recalls have probably made Toyota cars the safest on the road these days), Lexus can focus on added value for consumers who already trust the brand name to deliver the best that the industry has to offer.  And to that end, they look to offer some very interesting options that are slated to please customers on a global level.

The major problem for Lexus (if you could even classify it as a problem) is that in their short lifetime (the brand just hit the 20-year mark) they have been able to expand beyond their wildest dreams.  When Toyota launched their high-end division in the U.S., they may not have expected Lexus vehicles to garner such acclaim or popularity.  And it wasn’t long before they were offering their automobiles in markets across the globe.  That’s a check in the win-column, right?  The only potential pitfall is that drivers in different countries have a diverse array of wants and needs when it comes to locomotion.

An American commuter, for example, will prefer a ride that is safe and luxurious (since they could be sitting in a car for hours each day).  A European city-dweller, on the other hand, probably requires a compact vehicle with excellent handling capabilities (for parking in tight spots and zipping through traffic, respectively).  In other parts of the world, fuel efficiency or cabin capacity may be at the top of the list.  The point is, it can be difficult to produce a cohesive line of cars when the markets are so very disparate.

However, it appears Lexus has a plan to deliver superior vehicles while still meeting the needs of their many patrons.  And it mainly amounts to options.  Not only are they planning at least two new cars to add to their lineup (a coupe and an SUV are reportedly in the works), they will also increase their range of sports packages (as well as the models they’re available for) by presenting a variety of chassis and suspension options for better performance and handling.  In addition, they have decided that a focus on progressive technology is the way of the future.  This will come in the form of an expanded line of hybrid vehicles to meet the needs of socially conscious consumers while helping to solidify the brand’s dedication to be environmentally responsible.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Lexus without the sophisticated style and luxurious appointments, so the company has also promised more expressive exteriors and a range of onboard technology, although there is no word yet as to what that might entail.  Let’s all keep our fingers crossed for standard heads up display (HUD) and OnStar (featuring Google’s new talk-to-text additions for voice-operated texting and Facebook updates while driving).

Sarah Danielson writes for Cheap Car Insurance where you can compare rates and the find the best deals on auto insurance.

Dealer Review On Lexus Blog – Review Of Lexus Experience

These days dealers have to work as hard as ever to win over potential buyers. Recently, a group of mystery buyers were dispatched to test dealership experiences and among them was Lexus. Today, on the Lexus Blog we will cover the results of this study.

Dealers Are Visited – Lexus Blog Reviews Results

A lot can be learned when doing these dealership surveys, they generally give a fairly accurate representation of actual experiences. These surveys uncover a number of things from how dealers are treating customers to whether they had enough useful information to provide the shoppers.

Dealership Brochures – Are Dealers Running Low On Brochures And Losing The Sale?

One fairly consistent problem was the lack of brochures and other media material that shoppers could take with them and study at home. This information will be helpful in determining which car suits the customer best and will also serve as a reminder to check back in with the dealer soon.

Mystery Shopper | Overall Reviews Were Tallied

Data was collected by 3,658 mystery shoppers, which included questions such as, who’s going to be the primary driver of this vehicle, and whether or not they offered the customer the opportunity to test drive the vehicle. The study provided some good insight into ways dealerships can enhance the experience, but one might suggest a comparative study with the same questions and just a slight twist.

Referrals | And Impact On Sales

The twist would be that these shoppers were actually friends or acquaintances of somebody that had purchased from this dealership and had been referred. The hypothesis being: dealerships would see tremendous gains in sales if they were to receive a referral from a previous customer.

This act alone would add a completely different level of trust and confidence both from the buyer side and from the seller side because frankly who wants to spend time trying to sell some a car to someone that can not afford it. Equally, who wants to spend their hard-earned money with someone who doesn’t think they have it or is uncomfortable and getting past that little debacle.

Key takeaways are:

1.  Have enough brochures and literature

2.  Treat everyone equally and fairly – GIve them space but don’t ignore them

3.  Listen to the customer and don’t try and be overly convincing.

The Lexus CT200h Coming To US | Lexus Blog
New Lexus IS 250 Models Are Ready For You To Drive – Lexus Blog
2011 Lexus RX 350 FWD AWD | Lexus Blog
Lexus IS 350 AWD Is Finally Here! 305 Horsepower and All Wheel | Lexus Blog

If you’ve been fortunate enough to own a Lexus then it’s probably not going to be difficult to explain the level of detail that the manufacturer maintains in the product.

One of these types of examples would be in looking inside a vehicle to see if anything really stands out. With the new accents being integrated into the new Lexus interiors, the style of a quality and precision manufacture is revealed.

From the fine leather and stitching to the connectivity of its mobile audio system, Lexus can really stand out in terms of quality.

These metallic type accents or inserts that select Lexus vehicles will offer, are nicely integrated and serve a purpose as well. If you look to the areas where they’ve been added, you might notice a section that is susceptible to wear.

Lexus owners are truly able to appreciate their vehicles from both a design and engineering aspect.

A decade of sales figures show Lexus as the best selling luxury brand in the United States and the most recent numbers show the same with Lexus outselling Mercedes-Benz for the first quarter of 2010.

Styling and attention to detail keep the brand on top. Keeping customers informed is also important to Lexus engineers. With that in mind, all models that offer the subscription based Lexus Enform with Safety Connect: the HS 250h, the IS C and the IS F, the LX 570, the RX 350 and RX 450h SUVs will also offer the free service, Lexus Insider.

The all-new industry leading Lexus Insider grants owner’s access to customer tailored Podcasts.

Lexus Insider™, an optional service, provides owners with useful information and entertainment, helping enhance the Lexus driving experience. Drivers can listen to audio articles ranging from product tips and technology how-tos to information about special events and owner benefits.

For owners that want to receive the audio broadcasts this can be achieved by pressing a button, however, the customer can also opt out of the program. According to Lexus representatives, the Podcasts, normally three to four minutes in length, offer the customer “vehicle technology with tips on their specific model of Lexus vehicle and its capabilities; updates on Lexus-exclusive regional events; and selections from Lexus magazine lifestyle articles”. The “Lexus” magazine articles can include: audio fiction, music samples, and travel/tour guide information, i.e., “Insider” tips relating to dining and entertainment venues and the addresses of the venues for easy navigation.

The Lexus owner does not have to listen to the audio cast the minute it arrives, but can select “Ignore’ and the article will be saved to an “articles saved list”. Lexus research granted information on what news and destination information Lexus customers most need. That information granted the impetus for the topics offered in auto casts. The luxury brand expects to initially send customers 1 to 4 auto casts a month with customers at liberty to configure the settings for when to receive the audio casts.

Lexus, a step ahead of the competition, shows why as engineers strive to grant customers every technological advance available.

Lexus Enform offers Destination Assist, eDestination, Safety Connect and Lexus Insider.

Destination Assist – Push-button Access to the 24/7 Lexus Response Center

Press the talk button on the steering wheel, wait for the beep:

See the step-by-step process.

Then say “Destination”:

Then the following menu will display a list of options which will be read to you. Say “Call Destination Assist”:

An agent will come on the line to assist you with your destination.

Agent: “Where would you like to go today?”

Driver: I’m going to “Business Name” in “city” and “state”

Agent: “Your destination will be sent to your vehicle, when it appears you’ll select “Go To” and you’ll be directed to your destination”

That’s all there is to it!

If you don’t select “Go To” or “enter” the destination will be saved for you in the computer.