AUTO SPIES EXCLUSIVE: If I were a competitor to Lexus, these slides would scare the you know what out of me!

Combined sales of the ES and the IS are as high as sales of the BMW 3-series.

Now let's add Camry sales and Toyota/Lexus is really ahead!!!

Every company has its rise and fall, just like any civilization. GM once ruled the roost now is falling. Toyota is set to rule the roost it seems for now. Lexus is still such a small player and was not even taken seriously in its home market til last year or so. They were all still Toyotas there. I think if Lexus will totally separate itself from Toyota in the visual part of it all, then they will become even more successful. Until then, as a global player, they will still be seen as big Toyotas (I am not speaking of the US, but other parts of the world.)

Yes it is true that Lexus has a lot of hybrid models. But AUDIRULES has some great points about costs to consumers and disposal of the batteries. Both are real issues, if you pay so much for a hybrid and it doesn't save you enough in fuel costs, whats the point? And having toxic batteries to dispose of...can we send those back to Japan when we're done with them? I doubt it!

As for the projections...there are merely projections. Let's see what the market actually does.

Maybe in marketing/producing their hybrids to the general public, but technology-wise they aren't. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they have the Prius, RX/Highlander, and now GS hybrids. Ford has a few, Honda has 3, and other manufacturers either have them in the works or overseas. As a few others have mentioned, I don't think hybrids are all that they are cracked up to be. Heck, the Prius was severly overrated from an MPG standpoint and it's hard to justify the asking price. Heck, the Accord hybrid retails for over 30k and it would take about 10 years to cover your gas bill, not to mention if you have to replace the batteries.

As usual, Toyota is marketing the hell out of their hybrids and its having an impact, especially when you have the Hollywoodies and press going gaga, so that they feel like they are "protecting the environment". I bet they still don't make a dime off of them however.

Oh well, Toyota will continue to do well, but I think the only manufacturer's scared are GM and Ford.

Don't leap to conclusions from Toyota's "statistical" projections.

The statement "35% of All customers will consider purchasing a hybrid" means next to nothing. It is simply the number of people who answered some survey question such as "would you ever consider purchasing a hybrid vehicle?".

So you have all the problems inherent to any survey such as who and where did they ask this question. If they asked democrats in California this question, they would no doubt get a hugely different answer than if they asked it to Republicans in Texas.

And almost anyone reaonable would be willing to "consider" most anything; it does not in any way though indicate that they would actually purchase one. And in reality, this number should be troubling to Toyota because it also says that 65% of people are not even willing to consider a hybrid.

As someone famous once said "there are lies, damn lies, and statistics".

Also, Toyota considers the ES and the IS to be in the same market segment??? That is ridiculous. The ES would be more in the segment of the E Class, 5 series, and A6. And if they think they're gonna own 12% of that market with the current ES, they better up the dosage.

Steve, as you pointed out, the ES is a soft supsension, fairly large, four door, near luxury sedan. How is that in the same class as the intentionally sporty, smaller, stiff supensioned, quicker IS that Toyota says is clearly aimed at the 3-series?

Also, not sure there are many car companies that have two entirely different model lines in the same class.

And given that there is more than a $4K price difference already between the E, the 5, and A6 themselves, I do not understand how you think that same amount puts the ES out of their market segment.

And to finish it off, they are clealry marketed to two completely different audiences.

LOL...ahhhh...the constant bickering between German And Japanese car fans. Toyota has been playing it smart for the last decade and puts them in a place to finally make vehicles that do not resemble other makers. Toyota made success emulating Mercedes/BMW autos for Lexus, F150 trucks for Tundra, and bland reliable commuter cars. Now that Toyota is #2 they can start being a break through automaker instead of a copier.

The best thing about this is that the competition will translate into better autos for the consumer. I have owned an Audi S4 (2001) and it was a great car, fun to drive, and minimal issues. Now I drive a new Scion TC as a descent commuter car and not a bad car at all. Of course I did not sell the Audi S4 for the Scion, but I got a 2005 F250 Diesel (Big Lift and tires) that will plow through all of you bickering Lexus, MB, BMW, Porsche drivers =)

Just for those who seem confused about the Automotive world. Toyota can not afford VW group. VW group has the cash to buy and shutdown Toyota and thats pure fact. They outbid BMW for Bentley by hundreds of millions of dollars. Don't sleep my friend. And all this Hybrid talk Audi rules is on point. Go ahead and pay more upfront more to maintain to save a few cents in fule. You really want the next big thing? I let you in a little secret, It's diesel. That why Audi is the first manufacturer in history to run Diesel in a race car which by the way obtained Poll position for Sebring and did it while breaking the tracks record by more than 2 full seconds. History has beeen and is being made by Audi. Toyota just follows. Audi is the only manufacturer in history to have the rules changed in every envent they compete in!

Anybody can project any thing they want. AND therefore is doesn't mean a damm thing.

"VW group has the cash to buy and shutdown Toyota and thats pure fact."

I'd like to see the proof, also. as far as i know, Toyota has been the richest car company since BEFORE they took over Ford for the #2 maker in the world.