Lexus Loses Big In the U.S.A.: Outpaced by Two of its German Rivals

Mercedes-Benz will most probably sell 254,100 cars and SUVs in the States topping BMW’s estimated deliveries of 250,400 units. Lexus is projected to drop to third place with 192,900 sales.

Though it has sunk a lot of money into the LFA supercar and CT 200h hybrid batch, Lexus’ supposed mainstay models – the IS, GS and LS ranges of sedans – have all been stagnating. Its rivals meanwhile have been ramping up U.S. production, developing new or refreshing older models and sinking hundreds of millions in improving its stateside manufacturing facilities.

Though Lexus has long held a strategic position in the U.S. market, its sales outside North America have been lacking. As was the case with Volvo and safety, reliability is now pretty much a given and excellence in customer service has become integral to the vast majority of the world’s luxury automakers. With Lexus’ current woes, the result is, as you’d expect.

The battle lines have been drawn, and three titans are ready to fight for the number one spot in 2012. Unfortunately, it looks as if Lexus will not be one of them.

2011 Lexus CT200h Race Car to Debut at the Nurburgring

This weekend Lexus CT200h Hybrid will appear in the endurance race at the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit. CT200h will race in Adenauer ADACRundstrecken-Trophy. approximately 200 cars will be his opponent.

2011 Lexus CT200h Hybrid Racer Car added the Gazoo Racing CT features the Japanese automaker’s Lexus Hybrid Drive, but has a larger capacity 2.4-liter petrol engine instead of the factory 1.8-liter unit for better performance. At start-up and during braking, the car uses only the electric motor, consuming no fuel and therefore producing zero emissions. The internal combustion engine takes over at higher speeds, with the electric motor providing extra power under acceleration and at racing speeds.

The Gazoo Racing CT only requires less fuel and emits less CO2 and NOx gases than any equivalent petrol or diesel race car it will compete with. The car will be driven by three experienced pilots. they are Kumi Sato, Masahiko Kageyama and Minoru Takaki.