Lexus GS Special Offer

Lexus and Lexus Financial Services (LFS) are please to announce a Lexus GS Loyalty Lease Extension program along with $1,000 Purchase Certificated effective October 17, 2011 through May 31, 2012.

If you are a current Lexus GS customer and your lease is expiring before February 2012 when Lexus will launch the all-new 2013 Lexus GS, you can now extend your lease and receive a $1,000.00 purchase certificate towards the lease or finance of a new 2013 MY GS through LFS.

Lexus or LFS will contact customers that are eligible for the offer via mail, phone or billing statement.

If you have not received the notification from Lexus or if you missed placed, Lexus of Reno can also call the CSC Dealer Connection to validate customer eligibility and Certificate Numbers.

Lexus GS Loyalty Certificate

Lexus of Reno is the Elite Lexus Dealer in Reno NV serving Carson City, Roseville and Sacramento. We offer a large selection of New and Pre-Owned Lexus vehicles, along with Auto Service, OEM Parts and Accessories and Body Shop. Fell free to contact us by phone at 775-826-5050 or visit our website www.lexusofreno.com

• LS 460 RWD Adds to Sport Package with Navigation and Exclusive Two-Tone Interior Trim
• ES 350 Luxury Augmented by Unique Saddle Leather Interior and High-Gloss 17-Inch Wheels
• CT 200h Further Reinforces Fun To Drive Hybrid Image By Offering F Sport Performance Components and Visual Cues

Car Reviews and Safety Ratings

Reviews help us decide whether a product is worth buying. Magazines, blogs, like this one for example, are great places for people to find information about a vehicle and leave a comment or review of their own.

Why Do We Like Reading Reviews

When shopping on Amazon, I always check out what people have to say because if it’s a bad review then I might consider a different brand. Maybe the manufacturer isn’t addressing a problem, a safety concern, etc, people are pretty good about sharing that kind of stuff.

Telling Friends Your Looking At New Cars

If I’m looking to make a big purchase, say a Lexus, then I want to talk to someone I know who owns a Lexus. If nobody I know has one, I expand a bit to the Lexus forums, or sometimes I’ll even ask a Lexus owner in a parking lot if they have a car I want.

If I’m not sold on a particular brand yet, I will look for indications that a manufacturer is heading in a direction I like. Lexus is heading towards performance, which I like. Perhaps you’re looking for a brand more focused on electric cars.

I’m also very interested in making my life easier with technology, sort of a conundrum, but so be it, I love gadgets.

Some people can spend 6 months researching and gathering information about a vehicle. To me that’s absurd.

Waiting For Next Years Models

I’d suggest getting some info about when the next years models are expected to arrive at the dealership, typically in the last month or two of the year you’ll start seeing them arrive at local dealerships.

Now you have a dilemma:

• Buy the current model year at a discounted price because dealers want them sold
• Buy next years model because, .. it’s next years model

I chose the former, which I would normally never do, but I did so because I wanted it right then and there…. and because I would save a few grand.

So we were expecting our first child and my wife and I decided it was time to get something safe and reliable. Ok, it was her decision. I like working on cars, so gimme something that needs a little TLC and off to the garage I go.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I took my wife to a few dealerships one weekend, that had the year make and model of car we were looking for. We didn’t look for sales, or rebates, or offers, that stuff was secondary. Plus, if need be I could jump on my mobile and see what prices we should pay anyway if we found something.

She was big on safety, I was big on getting something with a little pep. I can’t stand driving a car that can’t get out of its own way.

We test drove a few and decided on a car, but nobody had the color combo we liked. I liked the silver with black leather interior, and it seemed all we could find was white with beige, etc.

So that was the end of that, for the time being.

Go Find A New Car – Then Let It Find You

I am a big believer in how we attract the things we want. So after we drove the cars, we both knew what we wanted, it was just a matter of time until what we wanted would find us.

Sure enough, the dealer about 2 miles from my house had one sitting in the showroom. Last years model, good price, and the final request I had for sales person who gladly obliged was: “I want this one, and I’ll buy it right now if I can be out of here in 45 mins”

Done.

I was out the door, and my wife was surprised on Christmas eve with a brand new car in the driveway, minus the bow.

And when it comes time to buy another one, this dealer will certainly be my at the top of my list for handling the sale just like they said they would!

Lexus is known for incorporating high quality materials, and craftsmanship, in their manufacturing process. They call this process – The Pursuit of Perfection.

This pursuit is evident in the people at the Lexus dealer, and the passion they forge into the product on a daily basis. It’s more than just about cars, it’s about the whole experience.

Lexus drivers are those who like to enjoy the highest quality service wherever they go. It’s like the difference between staying at a 2 star hotel and a 5 star hotel.

Even if you aren’t currently a Lexus owner, you can still get an idea of what the experience is like from visiting dedicated websites for Lexus Drivers to ensure that all of what you’d expect in owning a luxury vehicle should be about.

Some even become Lexus evangelists, telling the world of the remarkable Lexus owner treatment, and sharing what its like to own a Lexus.

When the expectations are this high, it requires a serious passion from all the employees to deliver this experience on a consistent basis at whatever cost.

The Lexus service department is not intended to be something owners will dread, in fact many Lexus dealers have built hair salons, restaurants and other amenities into the Lexus dealership experience.

These lavish Lexus dealerships have the look and feel of vacation resorts as owners should be able to take advantage of these extra benefits of being a Lexus owner.

The CT 200h represents the next major milestone for Lexus, as the fifth full hybrid model brought to market, and the first in the Premium Compact Automobile segment. The all-new CT 200h is designed to appeal to a wide range of consumers.

This brand new model introduces Lexus quality and sophistication and advanced technologies to a whole new automobile segment: Premium Compact Cars.

Everything about the new Lexus CT was designed and packaged to appeal to the next generation of Lexus owners.

Whit a new edgy look, the new Lexus CT 200h projects style and sophistication. The Drive Mode Future offers a choice of vehicle personalities, different modes for different moods. The Sport Tuned Suspension makes the new CT 200h fun to drive. The Luxury and Safety futures deliver the refinement and peace of mind consumers aspect of a Lexus. The new power-train design delivers the outstanding fuel economy and ultra low emissions the public has come to aspect from Hybrid Vehicles.

In the end, the CT 200h, demonstrates once again Lexus engineers ability to set new standards in the Luxury market.

Its edgy, yet comfortable, fun to drive, yet incredibly fuel efficient, compact, yet versatile, and luxurious, yet a mile stone in ecology conscious design.

2010 Results: Toyota #1 in Retail Sales, Lexus #1 in Luxury Market, Scion
Youngest Brand

Toyota and Lexus Remain On Top

Toyota has managed to retain their lead in the industry, and Lexus doesn’t allow other luxury brands to capture their 10 year long market domination despite a new image and despite the challenges of 2010 Recalls.

BMW and Mercedes-Benz put up a good fight, but couldn’t beat Lexus when it seemed for the first time in a decade the luxury brand could fall off the top as the leader in luxury automobiles.

The consumers stood by their choice and it shows through the volume of cars sold during a tumultuous year. It looks like 2011 will be an exciting year with the new electric powered Toyota RAV4 and Lexus CT 200h – the sporty and luxurious sport compact.

While Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) today reported annual sales of 1,763,595
vehicles that were flat compared to CY 2009 on a daily selling rate basis,
Toyota retained the retail sales crown, Lexus remained the luxury sales
leader and Scion was the youngest brand in the industry, with a median age
of 29.

“”New Years is typically a time for reflection and anticipation and that’s
never been more true for us at Toyota Motor Sales,” said Don Esmond, senior
vice president of Automotive Operations, during a conference call with
journalists. “We’re coming off what was arguably the most challenging time
in our 53-year history. And I know I’ve never headed into a new year with
as much excitement and anticipation as we are headed into 2011.”

“Now I know the common perception is that Toyota has been reeling this year
as a result of those recalls,” he added. “But, in fact, the final results
include some remarkable accomplishments any company would love to report.”

In addition to winning the sales titles, Esmond noted that Camry was the
best-selling passenger car in America for the ninth time, and Corolla,
Tacoma and the Lexus RX all repeated as segment sales leaders.

Toyota also was the industry leader in certified used vehicle sales,
setting a new company record of more than 315,000 and a single-year
industry record as well.

Looking ahead, the company is forecasting an industry sales increase of
about one million units to 12.5 million in 2011 and 13.7 in 2012. “And at
Toyota, we expect to outperform the industry,” said Esmond. He cited the
loyalty of Toyota owners to the brand, the return of strong conquest
numbers on trade-ins (55-58 percent), consumer perceptions of quality and
value, and the introduction of several new products.

“And that’s just the start,” he continued, noting that 2011 will bring a
new member of the Prius family, the new Scion iQ, the new Lexus CT 200h
hybrid and the introduction of the Toyota Entune System.

To read the press release posted on the Toyota USA Newsroom, please click
on
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota-reports-december-and-2010-190021.aspx

2010 Toyota and Lexus Phone Conference Call

December 2010 Sales Conference Call – Mike Michels/Don Esmond/Bob Carter/Mark Templin
Mike Michels/Don Esmond/Bob Carter/Mark Templin
December Sales Conference Call
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
———————————————————————————————————

Mike Michels:

Happy New Year everyone. Thank you for joining us to review December and 2010 sales and to take a look at 2011.

Speaking today will be Don Esmond, Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

After Don’s remarks, he’ll be joined to answer your questions by:

• Bob Carter, Toyota Division Group Vice President and General Manager
• And Mark Templin, Lexus Division Group Vice President and General Manager

As every month, our business communications team will be in the office the balance of the day to field any follow-up questions you may have.

Now, I’d like to turn this over to Don Esmond.

Don Esmond:

Thank you, Mike, and Happy New Year everyone.

New Years is typically a time for reflection and anticipation and that’s never been more true for us at Toyota Motor Sales than this past holiday period. We’re coming off what was arguably the most challenging time in our 53-year history. And I know we’ve never headed into a new year with as much excitement and anticipation as we are headed into 2011.

I’m going to take a quick look at December and 2010 sales, then spend a little more time talking about what we see happening in 2011.

In December, Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers sold 177,488 vehicles, down 5.5 percent on a straight volume change basis from an excellent December last year.

With one less selling day in 2010 than 2009, sales were down 2 percent on a DSR basis.

Strong sales between Christmas and New Years pushed the TMS total to the second best month of the year.

Prius led the way for Toyota Division, with sales of more than 15,500 up 38 percent. That’s the best winter month ever for Prius and its best month since Cash for Clunkers back in August 2009, outselling every Ford and GM passenger car in the process.

And Lexus recorded its best month of the year, with sales of 27,560.

December also was a good month for the industry, which posted its third straight month with a SAAR above 12 million and continued improvement in retail sales, good news for everyone.

That will bring the industry total for 2010 a little bit north of the 11.5 million we forecast a year ago. For TMS, total sales last year were virtually flat compared to 2009 at 1,763,595.

Retail sales were up slightly for the year, but were offset by a decline in fleet sales, which fell to less than 8 percent of our total.

And let’s not forget that 2010 was essentially an 11-month year for us, as we stopped sales and production last January on some of our core models to focus all of our company’s efforts on servicing customer vehicles.

Now I know the common perception is that Toyota has been reeling this year as a result of those recalls.

But in fact, the final results include some remarkable accomplishments any company would love to report.

For instance:

When the dust settles later today, we expect Toyota will be the No. 1 retail manufacturer for the second consecutive year.

In a year when fleet sales often hovered around 30 percent or higher and inflated some corporate totals, more people bought our vehicles than any other manufacturer.

The Toyota Division also will remain as the No. 1 retail brand in the industry for the third consecutive year.

Camry will again be the best-selling car in America – for the ninth straight year.

And Corolla, Tacoma and the Lexus RX will all repeat as segment sales leaders.

Lexus will retain its place as the best-selling luxury brand in the U.S., a position it has held for 11 years in a row. Lexus sales for the year are up nearly seven percent.

And Scion will continue to be the youngest brand in the industry with an median age of 29, as it gets a great year-end boost from the introduction of the new tC.

Toyota also will be the industry leader in certified used vehicle sales. Toyota certified used sales will top 315,000 for the year, setting not only a new company record, but a single year industry record as well.

It would be a mistake to overlook the used car market. We consider Toyota Certified Used as an entry level vehicle into the Toyota family and TCU sales are an excellent indicator of the strength of the brand and future new car sales.

Used Toyotas also held their value remarkably well in 2010. The Toyota price index for residuals is currently at an all-time high based on AuctionNet data, one of the largest databases of real-time auction data in the industry.

Looking ahead to 2011 we expect the U.S. economy to continue to expand, but at a slower rate than we’d all like to see. Unemployment and a weak housing market will remain challenges and continue to have an impact on consumer confidence.

But we expect gradual improvements in the labor market that will help the economy pick up steam in the second and third quarter.

As it did in 2010, we believe the industry will add another million units in sales this year, for a total of about 12.5 million vehicles.

I know we’re probably on the low end of many forecasts. But we also see industry growth gathering momentum throughout the year and carrying into 2012, when we should see sales of more than 13.7 million.

There are plenty of good reasons for this optimism.

First is the surging Gen Y population. Those 70 – 75 million consumers are now fully in the marketplace and the oldest are entering the parenting stage of life.

Scrappage rates have been outnumbering new vehicle registrations the past two year…And the average car on the road is now more than 10 years old, the highest its been in 13 years.

Buyers will find used cars in short supply and with higher prices. The number of 1-5 year-old used vehicles continues to drop and will hit its lowest level in 27 years in 2013, as a result of slow new car sales

And perhaps most important of all for concerned consumers, new cars are a better buy now than they’ve been at almost any time in the past quarter century, according to the latest auto affordability index.

All this adds up to a year of continued growth for the industry in 2011.

And at Toyota, we expect to outperform the industry.

Again there are good reasons for this optimism.

By most indicators, the Toyota brand is in full recovery mode from the recalls we dealt with in the first part of 2010.

Throughout the past year the loyalty of Toyota owners never wavered, as fully 60 percent of those who bought another vehicle, purchased another Toyota.

And while the number of those trading in other makes dropped early in the year, by the end of 2010 those numbers had returned to the 55-58 percent totals of past years.

Third party sources also continue to point to Toyota’s recovery. ALG noted Toyota has made a remarkable increase in consumer perceived quality and had jumped from sixth to second place among mainstream brands.

And just last month Kelley Blue Book reported Toyota has regained its spot as the most considered brand among new cars buyers.

Most of all we’re excited about the new vehicles that will be introduced in 2011 as TMS launches 10 new or updated products this year.

It’s no secret that in addition to everything else that happened last year, it was a light year for new products for us. The new products that were introduced, such as the Sienna, 4Runner, Avalon and tC, were extremely well-received, with double digit growth. But for the most part, those are relatively low volume models.

That all begins to change next week in Detroit, where we’ll introduce the first new member of the Prius family of cars.

With gas prices at two year highs – and possibly headed much higher according to some analysts – the timing may be perfect for another member of the Prius family when it goes on sale later this year.

And that’s just the start. The introduction of the new Prius will be followed by the new Scion iQ which will reach dealers later this year and is designed to meet the needs of a growing generation of urban drivers.

And in March the new Lexus CT 200h hybrid will hit dealerships, providing a fun-to-drive experience with the luxury industry’s best combined fuel economy of 42 miles per gallon.

Finally, during the next couple of days at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, we’ll be introducing the new Toyota Entune System, providing a superior level of in-car technologies that we’ll begin rolling out this year.

With the latest in customer requested destination, entertainment and safety services, Entune is designed to minimize distractions and add more value to our vehicles.

So I hope you can see why we’re excited about 2011. With continued growth in the economy and the industry, boosted by a surge in new products, we’re confident of a significant increase in sales overall, and especially for Toyota.

This year at the 2010 SEMA Auto Show, Lexus is unveiling a half dozen customize hybrids that are expected to garner a lot of attention. The line up includes a CT 200h F Sport Concept that has been based upon the recently launched 2011 CT 200h. For those of you that want to catch a glimpse of this modern marvel, the LFA hybrid will be on display during the SEME Auto Show in Las Vegas.

Not only does the CT 200h F Sport Concept have an F Sport adjustable suspension and shocks, but it also features an F Sport Big Brake kit as well as an impressive set of eighteen inch allow F Sport wheels with Pirelli P Zero Nero wheels.

With the help of 0-60 magazine, Lexus crated a GS 450h with Tein USA Super Racing coil-over’s as well as a GReddy Performance custom exhaust system. This model continues to impress with its Brembo brakes, five-piece body kit from Custom Carbon and to top it all off a Rays Engineering mold-formed forged racing wheels.

The second customized version of the HS 250h will be presented at the VIP Auto Salon. This particular model will feature a Wald aerodynamic appearance package along with a Huper Optik ceramic-based window film and window visors coming to you all the way from Japan. The interior will also be custom made. VIP went the extra mile by creating the 600h L in PPG’s Hue of “Macadamia” paint, Brembo high-performance front brakes, custom air suspension, and 21-inch Wald Majora machined black polish wheels. As if that weren’t enough, the car will also include a Performance Tube Systems axle back system.

Fox Marketing’s car was based on the LS 600h, which features Satin Black and Glacier Green for exterior paint to compliment the black Lexus logo. Add-ons brought to you by Artisan Spirit include the front bumper and fenders, the rear bumper, side skirts, dual foglamps, light bar, rear deck, and roof wing. Maybe the most impressive aspect of this car will be a set of Rotiform concave BLQ wheels that have a 20-inch candy copper finish.

EST spokesperson Paul Tolson will being offering a “VIP styled” RX 450h with a wide-body conversion kit and an impressive 21-inch Leon Hardiritt Vertu wheels. For car lovers across the nation, this year’s 2010 SEMA Auto Show is expected to impress consumers with the wide variety of Lexus’s soon available on the market.

Sarah Danielson writes for RAC Breakdown Cover Reviews offering the best in breakdown cover and car insurance guides.

Toyota Sales Are Strong

Toyota – Lexus – Scion are seeing some fairly strong numbers for the previous month of August. The percentage of people who are purchasing an new Toyota, new Lexus or new Scion are creating much excitement at the local dealerships where all the latest models are on display.

See for Yourself Why Toyota Partnered With Tesla

You can visit a local Toyota or Lexus dealer to see what the excitement is about and learn more about why so many people are buying a Toyota, Lexus or Scion. The 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid and the 2011 Lexus CT 200h are great examples of what you should be going to look at, both are amazing technology, quality and design.

The demand for electric vehicle technology is off the charts, people want it and that’s what makes Toyota the one to beat in terms of electric cars and new technology.

The company is actively working on electric vehicle technology in partnership with Tesla so this could be the reason why interest in Toyota is rising.

August Sales Results

Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers sold more than 148,000 vehicles
Toyota was the No. 1 retail automotive brand again
Camry was the best-selling passenger car again
Loyalty purchase rates remain at pre-January levels
Competitive trade-ins increased to 57% of total trade-ins, back to
2009 levels
We’re extending Toyota Auto Care, our two-year free maintenance
program on new vehicles, through September

Toyota Expects To Double Scion Sales

Toyota is doing well as the results for August 2010 certainly indicate. The new Scion tC is expected to double in sales and will bring excitement amongst Scion owners.

This is a signal that Toyota is making good progress in delivering on their promise to customers to ensure that quality and safety is part of the Toyota experience.

The Toyota Auto Care program is extremely beneficial for those who enjoy the ownership and stress free maintenance program that covers virtually everything for the first two years.

Toyota Care – Prepaid Maintenance

Owning a new Toyota comes with the peace of mind that a new car should. For two years you can forget about anything related to repair and service as it is covered.

For complete information on the program, visit the ToyotaOwners.com website for Prepaid Maintenance program details:
http://toyotaowners.com/parts-service/service-center/prepaid_maintenance.html

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