Perceived Quality Studies Give Lexus Dealers a Boost

    WATERTOWN, MA, November 18, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Perceived quality may seem intangible, but it has a very real effect on the bottom lines of automakers. With Lexus topping both the luxury category of ALG's Fall 2011 Perceived Quality Study (PQS) and the consulting agency's annual Alternative Powertrain Vehicles PQS, Lexus dealers can rest assured that consumers hold their vehicles in high regard.

ALG's biannual PQS and the Alternative Powertrain Vehicles PQS, which includes hybrid and electric vehicles, are the result of 3,000 to 4,000 surveys of U.S. consumers. Lexus' success in both studies means Americans have a high opinion of both the brand's overall quality and the quality of its hybrid lineup, which includes the sporty new 2012 Lexus CT 200h.

"Lexus' reputation for superior reliability and engineering is ingrained among consumers," said Vincent Liuzzi, general manager of Greater Boston Lexus dealer Lexus of Watertown. "What's really impressive though is that Lexus wasn't in last year's alternative powertrain survey, but vaulted to the top for 2011, showing its reach into the market for non-traditional vehicles."

Lexus was rated higher than its two main competitors, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, in the luxury portion of the ALG PQS, scoring an 82.4 out of a possible 100. Mercedes and BMW scored 79.8 and 78.4 points respectively. Lexus was also ranked first in ALG's 2011 Spring PQS released earlier this year. The luxury automaker's score in the second annual alternative powertrain survey was an even more impressive 89.8, beating second-place Mercedes-Benz, while BMW was relegated to a tie for third with Porsche with a score of 86.7.

The Lexus hybrid lineup runs the gamut and includes everything from sporty cars to sedans and an SUV. The latest hybrid to join the lineup is the CT 200h luxury hatchback, which went on sale in March, giving Lexus five hybrids. As the most fuel-efficient luxury car on the market thanks to its combined 42-mpg rating, the CT 200h has earned a lot of attention with its aggressive styling and affordable price tag.

Hybrids make up roughly 15 percent of Lexus' sales in America, a number the automaker hopes to expand according to a report from The Detroit News. Nearly 85 percent of Lexus sales in Europe and Japan are hybrids.

"Lexus' hybrid lineup has already advanced well beyond what the competition offers," Liuzzi noted. "No other luxury brand offers the range of hybrids that Lexus does, which means we can offer consumers more choices when it comes to saving fuel without sacrificing performance."

Lexus will bring an all-new 2013 Lexus GS 450h hybrid to dealerships in 2012. A refreshed version of the Lexus GS hybrid on sale now, the next-generation GS 450h produces 338 horsepower and sports aggressive styling that serves as a preview of things to come from Lexus designers.

About Lexus of Watertown:
Lexus of Watertown is New England's #1 volume Lexus dealer and a recipient of multiple Elite of Lexus awards given annually to dealerships that showcase overall excellence. They have a huge selection of new and certified pre-owned Lexus models, in addition to an exemplary service department that keeps customers coming back. Easily accessible from MetroWest, the North Shore and the South Shore, Lexus of Watertown is just minutes off the Mass Pike between Route 128 and Route 93. For more information, visit them online at www.lexusofwatertown.com, call them at 888-227-9560, become their fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LexusWatertown, or stop by their showroom at 330 Arsenal Street in Watertown, MA.

# # #