Lexus Decides After A Quarter Century Of Waiting That Turbocharging Is A Must Have Technology

Toyota Motor Corp.'s fancy division started with the NX 200t compact crossover for 2015; for 2016 Lexus is rapidly expanding turbos to the base trim of its IS, GS and RC car families. The move is largely driven by tightening fuel economy and emissions standards.

But "turbocharged" is also becoming a key luxury buzzword.

"What 'turbo' says to the typical consumer is you're modern," Brian Bolain, Lexus marketing manager, told Automotive News at a press event here for the turbocharged lineup. "People hear 'turbo,' and even for someone who doesn't know or couldn't explain how it works, they know it's something good and they know they want one."

TheSteve - 1/4/2016 12:11:00 PM

-2 Boost

Article: ..."What 'turbo' says to the typical consumer is you're modern," Brian Bolain, Lexus marketing manager...

So Lexus is adopting turbocharging for marketing reasons, and not because it'll result in a better product? What's becoming of this brand?

cidflekken - 1/4/2016 12:39:01 PM

-3 Boost

This tells me a couple of things: Lexus is late to the party and Lexus is now a company that follows.

carsnyc - 1/4/2016 1:05:05 PM

-4 Boost

"now"?

knowitall1985 - 1/4/2016 1:09:33 PM

+6 Boost

Just like everyone followed them on hybrid. The germans stuck with diesel.....

Dexter1 - 1/6/2016 3:11:39 PM

-4 Boost

Since when has Lexus ever lead anything? Except copying other heritage brands?

Dr550 - 1/4/2016 6:34:20 PM

-3 Boost

Nice "L" cover on a Toyota engine.

MDarringer - 1/4/2016 7:35:09 PM

0 Boost

Turbocharging has not been 100% relevant until now.

7msynthetic - 1/5/2016 3:23:01 PM

+5 Boost

Ummm, for all you haters. It's called ROE, ROI and all those wonderful business performance things. Toyota is a business the last time I checked and being #1 for a while just tells ya they are doing alot of the right things.