Porsche , Lexus & BMW in the US

marclees

Active Member
While I think well of the Lexus as a vehicle , how in the world did Lexus displaced BMW in the prestige branding segment ? It seems like Lexus is only second to Porsche there . What's wrong with these wealthy Americans ?


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April 13, 2006 10:00 AM US Eastern Timezone

Luxury Institute Survey: Porsche, Mercedes and Lexus Earn Top Honors as the Most Prestigious Luxury Automobile Brands in 2006!

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 2006--America's wealthy rated Porsche the most prestigious luxury automobile for 2006 in an objective and independent survey just released by the New York-based Luxury Institute. Porsche led the field on brand uniqueness and exclusivity, being the brand most driven by people who are admired and respected, and making customers feel special across the entire experience.

Lexus, which won handily on superior quality, continued to climb in luxury status, displacing BMW, which came in fourth.
Importantly, Lexus was also the brand that most aware wealthy consumers are willing to refer.
"We are gratified that for the second time in a row a majority of discriminating, sophisticated owners has rated Porsche the number one luxury brand," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. "It reaffirms our belief that by remaining true to our sports car values and history the Porsche brand maintains its position as one of the world's most respected and desirable names."

Thirteen luxury automobile brands were rated overall including Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes, Porsche, Saab, and Volvo. Using LBSI, the Luxury Institute surveyed a nationally representative valid and reliable statistical sample of more than 500 households with a minimum of $200,000 in gross annual income and minimum net worth of at least $750,000 (including home equity).

"The auto industry is one of the most well covered in terms of consumer surveys," said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute. "However, luxury automobile executives need to know how their best prospects and customers, who, according to the Federal Reserve control 70% of all the wealth in the United States, rate their brands. Even within the wealth segments there are major differences in ratings. For example, wealthy women rate Porsche much higher on price worthiness than men, pointing to a major marketing opportunity. In addition, the referrals of wealthy non-owners can influence purchase as much as those of owners. For example, in this year's survey, Lexus is by far the most referred brand regardless of which brand wealthy consumers own."

About the Luxury Institute
The Luxury Institute is the uniquely independent and objective research institution that is the objective and independent voice of the wealthy consumer. The Institute provides a portfolio of proprietary publications and research that guide and educate high net- worth individuals and the companies that cater to them on leading edge trends, wealthy consumer rankings and ratings of luxury brands, and best practices. Publications include the monthly Wealth Report, the Luxury Brand Status Index surveys, the Luxury Best Practices surveys and the Luxury Consumer Experience Index surveys. To reach the Luxury institute, please call 646-792-2669 or go to www.luxuryinstitute.com.



http://home.businesswire.com/portal...d=news_view&newsId=20060413005375&newsLang=en
 
Re: Porsche , Lexus & BMW in the US

Not a single bit surprising.. while bimmers kick ass on driveability experience not much can be said on the quality of the finishing in the cabin!
 
Re: Porsche , Lexus & BMW in the US

marclees said:
While I think well of the Lexus as a vehicle , how in the world did Lexus displaced BMW in the prestige branding segment ? It seems like Lexus is only second to Porsche there . What's wrong with these wealthy Americans ?

The question can also be rephrased: What're Singaporeans missing here?

1) In the IT business, American customers are ALMOST brand-tradition agnostic in the high-end segment, concentrating on VALUE instead of IMAGE, yet demanding tons of luxury. It might be safe to assume that some of this rubs off into the automotive sales segment.

2) Lexus hybrid technology is TRENDY in a country so mired in oil politics, and guilt free. A V12 760iL by contrast, is not. Referrals are all for the sake of image, therefore, it is best to recommend a green vehicle brand with the easy reason - get a hybrid.

3) US customers are very picky about bugs in their car. Almost a truth now - Lexus is more reliable and trouble free out of the box. They don't want their car to spend weeks in the workshop.

4) American highways are free of corners, generally. Of course Highway ONE is exempted from this comment.

5) In certain engine capacities and variations, Lexus is actually more expensive than BMW, so this is a lot more of a victory than perceived by Singaporeans where BMWs far outprice the Lexus.

6) The emergence of certain choices like the Infiniti M35 take away customers from BMW.
 
Re: Porsche , Lexus & BMW in the US

In last night's 'fifth gear', a UK survey of 2000 people on which they consider the most prestige compact exec brand yielded these results: 1. Jag X-type, 2. merc c klasse, 3 BMW 3er, 4 Lexus IS 200, 5 Audi A 4 and 6 VW Passat. Some qualifyers: only 1% voted for VW and a little more for Audi, Lexus almost tied with BMW, huge jump to Merc and I guess no. 1 is no surprise. What's clear is the Lexus is slowly but surely climbing up this tree!

I tested the A4 1.8T (upgraded to 190ps) last weekend. Good drive indeed, but for all the talk about the great VAG interiors, for me the lexus IS seems much better built. and more luxurious.
 
Re: Porsche , Lexus & BMW in the US

opvaulet said:
In last night's 'fifth gear', a UK survey of 2000 people on which they consider the most prestige compact exec brand yielded these results: 1. Jag X-type, 2. merc c klasse, 3 BMW 3er, 4 Lexus IS 200, 5 Audi A 4 and 6 VW Passat. Some qualifyers: only 1% voted for VW and a little more for Audi, Lexus almost tied with BMW, huge jump to Merc and I guess no. 1 is no surprise. What's clear is the Lexus is slowly but surely climbing up this tree!

I tested the A4 1.8T (upgraded to 190ps) last weekend. Good drive indeed, but for all the talk about the great VAG interiors, for me the lexus IS seems much better built. and more luxurious.
The VAG interior. When I first sampled it in the optimal form in the previous A4, I was like ..... super impressed.

I think VAG interiors still surpass Lexus interiors in design, though not in practicality. The super bright LCD screen of the GS and IS, with the touch screen function, is the most practical implementation of automotive simplification i've ever seen.

Why in the world don't more people use touchscreen? Including Mercedes, even their upcoming 2007 C-Class is not using touchscreen, just using joystick. WHY????

The touchscreen don't even have fingerprints at all, even if my nose oil sometimes on my finger.
 
Re: Porsche , Lexus & BMW in the US

opvaulet said:
In last night's 'fifth gear', a UK survey of 2000 people on which they consider the most prestige compact exec brand yielded these results: 1. Jag X-type, 2. merc c klasse, 3 BMW 3er, 4 Lexus IS 200, 5 Audi A 4 and 6 VW Passat. Some qualifyers: only 1% voted for VW and a little more for Audi, Lexus almost tied with BMW, huge jump to Merc and I guess no. 1 is no surprise. What's clear is the Lexus is slowly but surely climbing up this tree!

I tested the A4 1.8T (upgraded to 190ps) last weekend. Good drive indeed, but for all the talk about the great VAG interiors, for me the lexus IS seems much better built. and more luxurious.


man..that was an old episode..haha..
but then u gotta realise, its a UK show and the JAG won.... kinda like BM vids where NSXs finishes first so many times.... etc etc.. :p
 
Re: Porsche , Lexus & BMW in the US

If you think this is bad, what happened to Mercs??? Bimmers are drivers' cars but not much fun sitting in as a passenger - too giddy!
 
Re: Porsche , Lexus & BMW in the US

Mockngbrd said:
man..that was an old episode..haha..
but then u gotta realise, its a UK show and the JAG won.... kinda like BM vids where NSXs finishes first so many times.... etc etc.. :p
there is a new fifth gear season which started last week!
 
Re: Porsche , Lexus & BMW in the US

opvaulet said:
I tested the A4 1.8T (upgraded to 190ps) last weekend. Good drive indeed, but for all the talk about the great VAG interiors, for me the lexus IS seems much better built. and more luxurious.

What I can't stand about the Audi:

- Multitronic CVT (standard for most of their models - bloody noisy at high RPMs).
Certain models have the DSG option (e.g. A3 Fastback 2.0T FSI), but generally the exception than the norm. It appears that Audi (at least Premium Automobiles in SG) have phased out the Tiptronic automatics almost totally.

- Its bright red LED console / dashboard display. IMHO, it passe 80's.

But I sure like its high quality interior and rock solid body works / chassis.
Too bad too that its FWD.
Quattro models are fantastic, but need to be coupled with a large powerful engine to really enjoy driving it. At least with VW's 3.2 V6 to be good.
 
Re: Porsche , Lexus & BMW in the US

i agree wit colrc.... bimmers r performance
 
Re: Porsche , Lexus & BMW in the US

gadaffi said:
i agree wit colrc.... bimmers r performance

And what does that make Porsche to be?
Performance superlative ..... yet attaining Number 1 in prestige branding.
 
Re: Porsche , Lexus & BMW in the US

thanks axl, i am d/l the second episode
 

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