Last month, Business Week published a story detailing Lexus’ lack of success in Japan when compared to its German competitors. As a respected magazine, it was easy to take their findings at face value, but by using some actual numbers obtained from the Japanese Automotive Dealers Association, the story looks to have been sensationalized slightly.

First off, here’s the figures for Mercedes, BMW, Audi & Lexus for 2007 and the beginning of 2008 (January and February numbers):

Lexus was clearly outsold in 2007, however, Mercedes & BMW both boast a substantial advantage in one primary category: model types. Mercedes sells nineteen different models in Japan, a number that doesn’t take into account the different variations on each model (S450, S550, S600, etc.). BMW has a lot less at nine models, yet this still eclipses Lexus grand selection of four: the LS, GS, SC and IS. Also, it’s worth noting that Lexus doesn’t offer a single SUV in Japan.

But still, there’s no denying that Lexus was outsold by both BMW & Mercedes in 2007, by as much as 12,400, those are the numbers plain and simple.

However, looking at the 2008 numbers, where Lexus is only 8 cars behind Mercedes and close to 1,000 up on BMW, it’s hard to see how the car company isn’t improving in Japan. Time will tell if these numbers continue, but it’s hardly the doom and gloom painted by Business Week.

[Via: Autospies]

Here’s a video to go along with Auto Express’ comparison test of the Lexus IS-F, BMW M3, Mercedes C63 and Audi RS4, though the RS4 is omitted from the footage, due to the fact that it’s been discontinued:

It’s nice to see all three cars as they cut a line across the same track, but the presenter doesn’t address the comparison test at all.

The automotive manufacturing recession was in full swing in March, making for another month of sales drops. Here’s the per model breakdown (please note that GS sales are now being grouped):

Buyers seem quite taken with the LX 570, boosting its number to 156.1% over last year, but every other model (minus the IS) saw a drop.

Lexus isn’t the only one seeing reduced sales, BMW was down 8.7% and Mercedes saw a 3.7% decline.

(Update: Just to be clear, these totals are calculated by how many selling days were in the month, not by the totals. There were only 26 selling days in March 2008 as opposed to 28 selling days in 2007.)

[Source: Lexus]

Auto Express is the latest to pit the Lexus IS-F against the competition, throwing it into a test against the BMW M3, Mercedes C63 and the Audi RS4.

It’s almost a forgone conclusion that the M3 is going to place first, but Auto Express puts in a curveball, calling the Mercedes C63 the best of the test. And how did the IS-F fare?:

On a more fundamental level, the driving position is the least adaptable. The plush seats don’t hug you enough and you sit too high, so headroom is tight, while the chunky windscreen pillars leave you feeling hemmed in. And it’s not that spacious in the back, either.

But it’s pace, not practicality, that’s crucial here – and first impressions suggest the IS F is lacking. It was the quietest at idle inside and out, and its 5.0-litre seems like any other Lexus unit; effortlessly smooth, docile and calm. Don’t be fooled, though, because once the needle sweeps past 3,700rpm the 417bhp V8 takes on a whole new persona – there’s an instant hit of acceleration and the engine note, previously almost silent, becomes purposeful and loud.

Overall, while the Lexus is fast, composed and technically very capable in corners, it doesn’t quite have the handling of the M3, the fierce power, control and charisma of the C63 or the surefootedness of the RS4. Still, for a company with no previous experience in this segment, it’s a great achievement.

The more comparison tests that come in, the more clear it becomes that Lexus is going to be facing an difficult and lengthy uphill battle to establish the IS-F, but it certainly seems that they’re on the right track.

Flickr user senti-mental1 spotted, of all things, a pink Lexus LS 400 in San Jose:

One thing’s for sure, the gold badging has never looked more appropriate.

If you couldn’t tell from the watermarks, Leftlane News commissioned Brenda Priddy to put together a mockup of the previously spied Lexus IS convertible coupe, and the result, well, it leaves a lot to be desired.

There’s far too much SC 430 in the roof slope, which gives it a particularly feminine style. For comparison’s sake, let’s take another look at the spy shot that surfaced last month:

Graininess aside, this is much more aggressively styled, looking almost like an IS-F, with a much higher beltline. There isn’t as much smoothness, though it’s difficult to say just how much of that can be chalked up to camouflage.

As a blend of existing Lexus elements, this illustration hits the mark, but I don’t believe it reflects what the actual IS convertible will look like.

We’ve seen some photos of the Japanese special edition Elegant White Lexus IS, and now here’s a weird little commercial to go along with it:

It wouldn’t be so strange if the cat didn’t seem to have such a bizarre pose, but it is what it is.

(I still can’t stop thinking about the Passionate Black GS limited edition. If it came to North America, it would immediately take #1 spot in the “My Next Car” sweepstakes.)

The Car Enthusiast has posted up a review of the Lexus IS-F, and it’s quite clear it wasn’t what they were expecting at all:

For Lexus, this section is key to the IS F being taken seriously as a performance car for real driving enthusiasts. The competition is not only fierce, but established. Car nuts know what to expect from BMW, Audi and Mercedes in regard to focused performance cars, but until now Lexus will not have featured in their shortlist of sport saloons.

If our first inklings are anything to go by, that will change very quickly.

As more and more cars achieve impressive on-paper figures, it’s how they deliver their performance that sets them apart, and the IS F scores highly with linear and seemingly endless acceleration.

This is an interesting review, as it’s squarely aimed at the true enthusiast, and reads well. One thing that’s mentioned, and I think it’s a very valid point, is that the IS-F and its competitors are really quite even in terms of performance figures, but it’s the way that performance is interpreted that makes all of the difference.

Ranking these cars in any way, unless it’s purely by the quarter-mile and 0-60, means that a person’s own preference and expectation plays the leading role.

It was rumored late last year, but according to the India’s Economic Times, Lexus is planning to bring their cars into the market by 2010, starting with the LS and LX models:

[Toyota] has started the preliminary groundwork in terms of strategy and dedicated dealership network which will be different from the network that sells Toyota’s existing cars like the Innova, Corolla and Camry.

Sources added that TKM will rope in select dealers for the Lexus range under a new marketing strategy. “It is likely to have exclusive dealers for Lexus, concentrated mostly in metros and major cities. Even the existing TKM dealers shortlisted for the Lexus will operate from a separate exclusive entity to maintain its niche brand value.

The luxury car market in India is just emerging, and it only makes sense to bring Lexus in while brand loyalty is still to be established. Really, though, I’m surprised it’s taken so long, and that there’s going to be such a considerable wait period.

Still, it’s better than selling the cars through the local Toyota dealerships.