Here's what I predicted for the new Lexus IS-series last September...
Agent001 submitted on 09/29/2005 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 11:51 PM
No matter what the pundits say (That it is still not as good as a 3-series), AutoSpies.com predicts that within twelve months of its release, the competitors will be wondering what hit them...
It's better looking than the new 3-series or C-Class, fit/finish is outstanding and its performance is excellent.
The unit forecast is over 40k for the first year.
That's more than three times what they sold last year.
And anyone in the car business knows that if you're an executive and you forecast units, you'd BETTER make the number, or you're HISTORY.
All auto execs are famous for being ultra conservative when they forecast (it's called protecting your rear!)so this kind of swagger is unheard of, unless you're POSITIVE you have a winner.
Common sense tells me that if they make the forecast (and we predict they will), then those extra sales gotta come from somewhere.
And that somewhere is from BMW and Mercedes dealerships.
Get ready to see some bloodshed...
And here's what has happened even after all the pundits said I would be wrong...
The new Lexus IS-series is not only on target to meet the initial forecast of 40k units, it's poised to EXCEED it by 40%!!!!
So far this year they have sold 37,347 units.
Based on an average of 4,668 units per month so far, they are poised to sell 56,020 units by the end of the year which would be an increase of 40% over the original forecast!!!