IN a recent stunning rebound, Lexus recaptured the top spot among luxury brands worldwide, according to the prestigious business news outfit, Bloomberg News.
I can’t help but highlight this anew in lieu of the unveiling only very recently of the Lexus LFA at the Lexus Manila Showroom at The Fort in Global City Taguig.
As I’ve written here two weeks back, the LFA (Lexus Fuso Apex), the ultimate Lexus super sports car that sounds like a Formula One car and races like a Formula One muscle, was built in 10 years—making it a symbol of perfection in almost every aspect of an automobile.
The Lexus LFA was brought here personally by Tanahashi Haruhiko, the car’s chief engineer, who worked on it for 10 consecutive years. He subjected it to numerous, grilling test-runs over thousands of kilometers and probably consuming thousands of liters of fuel spanning two years almost, before he finally certified it “perfect and fit for driving” among the most discriminating of auto buffs.
When I spoke to Haruhiko during the launch, he sounded poetic about his babe. Listen to him: “The sound of the engine fills the air and the scenery rushes by as the vehicle responds faithfully and instantaneously to the driver’s every command. For a brief moment, the sound fades away, the scenery disappears, and time stands still. This is the moment of sublime joy. This is exactly the kind of vehicle we engineered the LFA to be.”
The monster doesn’t run but races, flying to a speed exceeding 320 kph. Its high-revving engine is capable of 9,000 rpm on a lightweight and highly rigid carbon body.
“The LFA has broken through boundaries to enter an undiscovered paradigm shift,” Haruhiko said.
Said Danny M. Isla, the president of Lexus Manila, during the glittering launch ceremonies: “The LFA showcases what Lexus is capable of. It is a statement that Lexus is more than just the looks. It is more than just the pleasure of its quiet elegance. It is more than just everything that Lexus already is.”
The one that’s on display at the Lexus Manila Showroom is the 161st LFA among only 500 automobiles manufactured and distributed worldwide. It is the only one in Asia that had an official launch, with dignitaries and several big shots from the industry in attendance. The white muscle costs from P37 million to nearly P50 million but, unfortunately to car collectors, it is not for sale.
“It is only for viewing,” said Alfred Ty, the chairman of Lexus Manila, Inc.
Continuing on the Bloomberg News item, the report cited the Consumer Reports “reliability ranking” based in New York City, saying Lexus “beat BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, which fell the most of any vehicle line.”
Bloomberg said, “[Lexus] winning the luxury crown, as well as the top spot among all brands with its youth-oriented Scion line, may help Toyota restore confidence among consumers following two years of falling US sales, recalls, unflattering reviews and production lost because of the March earthquake in Japan.”
It said, “The Toyota brand held at sixth place for a second year, a further sign of resilience after recalling millions of vehicles in 2009 and 2010 amid unintended-acceleration claims.”
This was duly acknowledged by David Champion, a senior director of Consumer Reports’ Automobile Test Center in New York.
Champion said: “Toyota has always made a pretty good car. They have fixed a lot of the problems that they had. The recall situation was totally overblown.”
The complete Bloomberg dispatch:
“Lexus’s key rivals, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, both improved this year, while still finishing in bottom half of the survey among all vehicle types. Mercedes ranked 18th and BMW 19th. Audi ranked 26th, and Jaguar last.
“Chrysler Group, controlled by Fiat SpA since its 2009 bankruptcy, showed improved results. The Chrysler brand moved up from 27th last year to 15th. Jeep is the highest-ranking US domestic brand at 13th.
“Most brands owned by Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. fell in the rankings. The Ford brand fell 10 spots to 20th. GM’s top-selling Chevrolet brand stayed at 17th. Buick was 24th and Cadillac 25th as both fell six places.”
And in closing, let me say that the Lexus Invitational Golf Tournament last week at Sta. Elena proved to be another shining example of how a golf tournament is to be run. From “locker to dinner,” it was first-class all the way.
Nobody scored a hole-in-one, though, as the 104 participants missed winning either the RX 350 or the luxury-hybrid Ct 200h.
Maybe next year, Lexus cars not won with a golf shot are to be won instead via a raffle stub.
To make it more fun, “absence required” during the raffle?
“Noted,” said Sir John Isla.
Petron & Pacquiao
AGAIN, Petron hosted friends and allies to a free viewing of the Pacquiao-Marquez fight at their huge Amphitheater Hall at the Petron Building in Makati on Sunday.
As in their past Pacquiao events, the affair was again treated as a family affair. Moms and dads are seen streaming in almost endlessly, with their kids in tow. Many of them even won raffle prizes, mostly gift checks in Petron fuel—a most welcome treat especially in the wake of a recent rise in gasoline prices.
“This is a family affair, today being Sunday,” said Petron’s Raffy Ledesma.
I could only nod in affirmation.
And speaking of Petron, the country’s leading oil company, it had launched the Petron Doble-Panalo promo from November 1 to January 31, 2012. Petron customers have two chances to win prizes from Petron stations nationwide.
To win, every P1,000 single or accumulated purchase of Petron fuels—Petron Xtra, Petron XCS, Petron Blaze, Petron DieselMax and Petron Turbo Diesel—a customer is entitled to “Pick a Raffle Coupon” with an instant prize from the “bunot box.” Instant giveaways include free one-liter fuel, Petron T-shirt, Petron sticker, San Mig 3-in-1 coffee and Petron 2012 calendar.
The same raffle coupon can be used to participate in the double grand draws on December 20. Prizes at stake include a Toyota Hi-Lux (three), Honda Civic (three), Yamaha Mio Soul motorcycle (three), 47-inch LG LED TV (six); Samsung Galaxy Tab (six), Apple iPad 2 32GB (nine) and Petron E-Fuel Card worth P10,000 each (48).
The second grand draw on February 14, 2012, will stake a Mitsubishi Montero Sport (three), Yamaha Mio Soul motorcycle (three), 47-inch LG LED TV (three), Samsung Galaxy Tab (three), Apple iPad 2 32GB (nine) and Petron E-Fuel Card worth P10,000 each (48).
Indeed, like Pacquiao, Petron has always been the fuel to beat!
Pee stop. She de los Santos has resigned from Honda Cars Philippines Inc., almost a year after Tin Tin Reyes has also left Honda to join her husband in New Zealand…Deepest condolences Dr. Amanda Cruz and the many other loved ones of Rosalie Cruz, our good neighbor who passed away on November 14.
