RE: Lexus GS: PH Ad Break
RE: Lexus GS: PH Ad Break
Monday 7th April 2014

Lexus GS: PH Ad Break

And you thought boasting about horsepower and kit was a thing of the past...



Sometimes subtlety just doesn't cut it. There's a fine line between understated assurance and modesty to the point of going unnoticed. Lexus has decided the best way to avoid the latter is simply to create a fabulously self-aggrandising commercial. Which is a nice change.

There's a new GS on sale in America and the same rivals line up against it there as here: Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series and Audi A6. Often with ads like this discretion is the name of the game but not with Lexus. Oh no. Apparently buyers have been 'hypnotized' [sic] into accepting the deficiencies of the main rivals. The four-cylinder engine in a 528i, the front-wheel drive in an A6 and the paucity of equipment in an E-Class. All weaknesses that the six-cylinder, RWD GS addresses.

The boldness is commendable but America isn't where Lexus needs to make its presence felt. Wonder how long before we see something similar on ITV?

See the advert here and the making of video here.


Author
Discussion

Ellieb10

Original Poster:

63 posts

182 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
When you awake, you will buy a mid size exec whose arse looks like its melted. 5 4 3 2 1, you're back in the room!

Harji

2,224 posts

190 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
I like it!

Fittster

20,120 posts

242 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
But does it have a German prestige badge?

rare6499

856 posts

168 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
I like the GS but don't lexus keep insisting on using cvt boxes? Kind of ruins it.

mrfunex

549 posts

203 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
rare6499 said:
I like the GS but don't lexus keep insisting on using cvt boxes? Kind of ruins it.
Absolutely not.

It's a different driving style to the vast majority, but in the bigger Lexuses with CVTs, unless you're 'on it', they're pretty much silent inside. The driving style isn't for everyone, but it wafts about like few other vehicles can. They're very impressive machines and gather pace very linearly.

On a side note, regarding the smaller CT cars, the engine was a bit thrashy when pressing on, and felt a bit unrefined.

underphil

1,352 posts

239 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
I did find that ad amusing when I saw it a few days back,

but no where near as amusing as the Jaguar XF ad that has been airing recently in the US which takes a real dig at the German brands

lionrampant

577 posts

219 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
underphil said:
I did find that ad amusing when I saw it a few days back,

but no where near as amusing as the Jaguar XF ad that has been airing recently in the US which takes a real dig at the German brands
Is that the chicken advert?

Anyways, no we won't see anything like that Lexus ad on ITV because it would fall foul of the ASA rules about making cars look boring.

underphil

1,352 posts

239 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
lionrampant said:
Is that the chicken advert?

Anyways, no we won't see anything like that Lexus ad on ITV because it would fall foul of the ASA rules about making cars look boring.
It's the one where the white jag corners the grey german saloons in an underground car park and roars at them

Fastdruid

9,364 posts

181 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
underphil said:
lionrampant said:
Is that the chicken advert?

Anyways, no we won't see anything like that Lexus ad on ITV because it would fall foul of the ASA rules about making cars look boring.
It's the one where the white jag corners the grey german saloons in an underground car park and roars at them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsoLkcCHcOU

aarondbs

883 posts

175 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
Fastdruid said:
The lexus ad made me chuckle but not half as mich as the Jaguar one. I do like these new comedic, competitive car ads in this sector. And maybe, just maybe the dilution of BMW and Mercedes (and Audi to some extent though they dont have as far to fall) from makers of relatively exclusive cars with RWD, higher prices and soem level of exclusivity to what Ford and Vauxhall used to be; makers of all cars to all people will be their eventual downfall.

BMW and Mercedes the new Ford. Jaguar the new BMW and Mercedes.


MadmanO/T People

910 posts

234 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
Pretty hypocritical of Lexus to bash the front-drive Audi when Lexus itself flogs a front-drive ES350 (a tarted-up Toyota Camry) and a base-model front drive RX350 to unsuspecting American consumers. And don't even get me stared on the four cylinder hybrid, front drive CT200h that is bought by precisely nobody.

He who lives in glass houses, etc.

Clivey

5,682 posts

233 months

Friday 11th April 2014
quotequote all
MadmanO/T People said:
Pretty hypocritical of Lexus to bash the front-drive Audi when Lexus itself flogs a front-drive ES350 (a tarted-up Toyota Camry) and a base-model front drive RX350 to unsuspecting American consumers. And don't even get me stared on the four cylinder hybrid, front drive CT200h that is bought by precisely nobody.

He who lives in glass houses, etc.
It is hypocritical...but it's still one of the best adverts I've seen for a long time and perfectly aimed at the Germans! I would never buy a FWD A6, a 4-pot 5-Series or an E-class without leather.