Well, that's kind of to be expected from Lexus-Toyota. They did their experiment with the early Rav4 and since then have entrenched into building hybrids, albeit excellent ones. They are showing every indication of that entrenchment with their minimal Rav4 redo and lack of any other EV developments. While it's currently good for their bottom line, they may continue this entrenchment in much the same way GM continued big, simple muscle cars till it was essentially too late.
Peri -----Original Message----- From: EV [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of brucedp5 via EV Sent: 16 May, 2014 1:39 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [EVDL] EVLN: Lexus' Anti-Plugin hev Ad, then an unacceptable apology http://cleantechnica.com/2014/05/13/lexus-hybrid-ad-video/ Lexus Hybrid Ad Takes Ignorant Swipe At Plug-in Cars, But May Be Effective (VIDEO) [video http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NeUPFM6XsIE Lexus Hybrid Ad Blasts Plug-in Cars Jo Borras. May 10, 2014 A new ad from Lexus claims plug-in hybrids and electric cars "actually hold you back", and claim hybrids are "the proven way forward". image http://i2.wp.com/c1gas2org.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2014/05/lexus-video -criticizing-electric-car-may-2014_100466179_l.jpg Lexus Hybrid Ads Target Plug-in Cars ] A new video from Lexus seems to take a shot at plug-in cars, claiming the technology "can actually hold you back," and running a photo of an EV parking spot with the words "Reserved for Someone With Four Hours to Kill." It's a ridiculously conceived, ignorant ad that plays to the lowest common denominator-types who don't fully "get" electric cars while it downplays the literal billions of dollars that Lexus' parent company, Toyota, has spent developing EVs, PHEVs, and hybrids. That's the narrative coming out of most green-car circles, anyway . but, what if this is actually a terrific, dead-nuts accurate ad that will drive traffic away from Lexus' prime competitors into a Lexus hybrid? We have to ask that "What if?" question, of course, because it's not a hypothetical question at all. This is an ad, after all, that upsets the green heads. This is an ad, after all, that plays up to America's ignorance in re: electric and plug-in cars. This is an ad, after all, targeted at older people who don't really trust electronics - be they in their cars or in their computers. This is an ad, after all, that hopes to sell Lexus' hybrid cars to Cadillac ELR buyers. That's right, gang. Lexus, as ever, is gunning for that aging baby-boomer market that Cadillac went after with its "Poolside" ad, which featured exactly the type of 55+ d-bag 'MURICAN who wouldn't dream of buying a Prius or Tesla or Volt getting into an ELR. The thing is, that Poolside ad really did seem to speak to the generation that thought "Yuppie" was a positive term (exact quote from my dad: "Who wouldn't want to be young and upwardly-mobile?"), but it wasn't enough. Not enough in the sense that the Cadillac ad didn't convince the silver foxes who are out trolling for Golden Girls to actually buy a plug-in car . but it was enough to get them thinking about plug ins. Enter: Lexus. Lexus, who is reminding them that they don't need to spend a laughable $76,000 on a cramped, 2 door, electric Cadillac when they can spend that money on a Lexus hybrid. You know, something like the 338 HP, 2014 Lexus GS 450h, which has plenty of room, won't stand out too much (baby-boomers hate that), has 4 doors, and has that all-important Lexus badge on its masculinely-styled snout. The Cadillac? Old people drive Cadillacs, and - as they approach retirement - the one thing baby-boomers don't want to feel is old. Expect Lexus to sell a metric s***ton of hybrids off the back of this ad - and expect a full review of the 2014 Lexus GS 450h hybrid in the coming weeks, since a black-on-black GS just happened to find its way into my garage a few days ago ... [C cleantechnica.com] ... http://gas2.org/2014/05/10/new-lexus-hybrid-ad-claims-plug-in-cars-hold-you- back/ Pitch-perfect Lexus Hybrid Ad Claims Plug-in Cars Hold You Back May 10th, 2014 http://green.autoblog.com/2014/05/12/lexus-apologizes-for-anti-ev-ad-plug-in -america/ Lexus apologizes for anti-EV ad, Plug In America calls it 'outdated' May 12, 2014 For all EVLN posts use: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlSe rvlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=evln&sort=date http://insideevs.com/bmw-i3-rex-priced-69900-australia-bev-from-63990/ BMW i3 Now Available in Australia http://www.hngn.com/articles/30501/20140505/boston-professor-becomes-first-o wner-of-bmw-i3-in-the-u-s.htm Boston Professor Becomes First Owner of BMW i3 in the U.S. ... http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2014/5/5/First-US-BMW-i3-Delivered-Gets-81-Mile- EPA-Range-7720125/ First US BMW i3 Delivered; Gets 81-Mile EPA Range http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1092014_mother-daughter-team-installs-ba ttery-packs-in-chevy-volt-electric-cars http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2014/05/04/phoenix-electric- vehicle-chargers-remain/8709287/ Electric-vehicle chargers will remain in Phoenix area + EVLN: MG Dynamo EV a Leaf EV fighter aimed @European market {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Lexus-Anti -Plugin-hev-Ad-then-an-unacceptable-apology-tp4669538.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
