6,093 people (through October) with $104,000 bought a LS600h

[HoosierRon]

Toyota Prius and Camry sales up, LS600h surpsingly strong, all other hybrids down

Toyota has just released their hybrid vehicle sales results for the year through October and the results are mixed. The Prius continue on a strong growth path with global sales up twenty-six percent although Japanese sales were stagnant. The Camry Hybrid is up forty-seven percent and the new Lexus LS600h is off to a strong start. Lexus dealers have already moved 6,093 examples of the $104,000 hybrid luxury sedan. The other two Lexus hybrids, the RX400h and the GS450h, are both down significantly, as is the Highlander hybrid. Highlander sales are probably due to lack of availability as production of the new 2008 model only recently started. Overall Toyota hybrid sales are up fourteen percent through October.

[rueben44]

That is over 633 million gross on just 6K cars.

[Quickening]

And yet this car is blasted by the reviewers for not being that much of a hybrid (reflected in mediocre mpg) and when it comes to the luxury part it still fails in comparison to the big boys.

Those babies are selling on perception and the badge.

Even though its just a Camry supersized (look at the sheet metal cuts on the cars, very very similar, if not identical in some places, just larger for the Lexus).

[TriShield]

Originally Posted by Quickening

Those babies are selling on perception and the badge.

And technological innovation, whether it's merit is debatable or not.

This single model has outsold every Cadillac V-Series model, and GM's other niche cars.

[Mr. Burns]

Originally Posted by Quickening

And yet this car is blasted by the reviewers for not being that much of a hybrid (reflected in mediocre mpg) and when it comes to the luxury part it still fails in comparison to the big boys.

Those babies are selling on perception and the badge.

Even though its just a Camry supersized (look at the sheet metal cuts on the cars, very very similar, if not identical in some places, just larger for the Lexus).

The LS is an amazing car, and one stunning work of art as well. Go check one out.

[KIDDIESEL79]

Yeah I just saw the December MotorTrend. Those MPG's are nothing at all to brag about. 106k could have bought 4 or 5 hybrids with twice the range if not better. I guess Toyota can slap "hybrid" on anything and know it will sell. Hell even the Tahoe Hybrid, which cost half as much gets better mileage.

[Xenon]

Great, another post/thread that is going to promote nothing except excessive bashing of Toyota products.

[chakis24]

Originally Posted by Xenon

Great, another post/thread that is going to promote nothing except excessive bashing of Toyota products.

as long as its fact based who cares

[rueben44]

Cadillac could turbo their motors and add the hybrid transmission and cut weight by using exotic materials like carbon fiber and aluminum and say....V-Series....faster and better MPG than the base models. I think that would sell!

[chrisbenz]

I think b/c this car can be used in the carpool lane in Claf, is why it is selling so well.

[AMERICA 123]

Originally Posted by Xenon

Great, another post/thread that is going to promote nothing except excessive bashing of Toyota products.

I would be curious as to what constitutes 'excessive' bashing of Toyota products versus your correctly implied 'non excessive' bashing .

As any student of the industry knows , there is the propaganda version of Toyota and then there is the reality under the kimono .

This in turn can be looked at as a case of 'Toyota speak' and 'Toyota do' verses truth , justice , and the American Way - in the finer sense of those words so is it not logical and desirable that those who have not partook of the Koolaid and care about the other would want to help get the real story of Toyota out there ?

And given the truth about that real story of toyota 'speak' and Toyota 'do' and Toyota product how could it not be negative - thats precisely what they (Toyota) spin away from .

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by Mr. Burns

The LS is an amazing car, and one stunning work of art as well. Go check one out.

We have one at work (Competitive Vehicle Fleet), and I am not impressed by it.

Sure it has some nice features, but I still prefer the BMW 7-Series for that kind of money (Which I've also driven).

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by KIDDIESEL79

Yeah I just saw the December MotorTrend. Those MPG's are nothing at all to brag about. 106k could have bought 4 or 5 hybrids with twice the range if not better. I guess Toyota can slap "hybrid" on anything and know it will sell. Hell even the Tahoe Hybrid, which cost half as much gets better mileage.

The Tahoe hybrid is a fantastic vehicle, no doubt. But it's not a reasonable comparison. The LS600h is by far the fastest hybrid its size. The only other hybrid to beat it for performance is the GS450h, and it's much smaller and lighter. Even if the Tahoe hybrid was another 1400 pounds lighter, it couldn't hit 60 mph in 5 seconds.

But I do agree the LS600h is not really that impressive. The LS460 is just a hair slower and only gets 1-2 mpg lower fuel economy. The extra $35,000 you pay for the hybrid does not buy much.

[mkaresh]

One thing people might be forgetting is that the LS 600h is AWD, and the LS 460 is not. This might make a difference in some markets. It also makes even the small MPG boost a bit more meaningful, since you usually lose about one MPG with AWD.

[big swede]

I like the fleetRate add at the bottom of this page.

New 2008 LS600h L low prices and payments $1,599/Month. That's funny.