SYDNEY CITY LEXUS
INSIGHT
WELCOME: ‘BACK TO OUR FUTURE’ From John Roca, Dealer Principal On behalf of our entire team at Sydney City Lexus, welcome back to our loyal customers and guests. It was a happy day when the Covid veil lifted and we were able to greet our guests, like old friends, at our dealership. Some came because they wanted to see their new cars; others because they were concerned to keep up their service schedules, especially since they’d soon be travelling. And others came just to say hello. It’s been an incredible consequence of Covid lockdown that so many of us have simply missed the social experience. In the first week of reopening our coffee machine could hardly keep up with demand. We’ve been diligent in complying with NSW Health Regulations. Double vaccination is necessary, as is registration and social distancing. As those regulations ease or change, we’ll mirror them. In the meantime, we’ve been creative in finding ways to keep our guests satisfied. LEXUS CLICK, CALL, COLLECT. We pioneered our own version of the Covidphenomenon called click and collect. Some people found the new way of doing business, even with everyday consumer items, a bit challenging. I know I did.
With our showroom doors closed, contactless car buying was a necessity during Covid lockdowns. The questions were: how do we make it work? What would it look like? When it came to Lexus, we set out to make our version easy to understand, effortless to use, and ultimately a unique experience. We separated our protocol into three categories – Click, Call and Collect. CLICK: We used our www.sydneycitylexus.com.au portal, so our guests could explore our range. CALL: By email, SMS, phone or live chat on our website - we helped find our guest’s exact car and agreed to terms. COLLECT: Once we’d settled the transaction, we’d send the new car in our exclusive Lexus way, or alternately we arranged a dedicated area setup for contactless handovers. And once the new Lexus had been delivered, one of our experts would call for a one-on-one walk through. It worked really well, and honestly, if a guest wants to engage with us like this in the future, we’re happy to do so. But the Lexus purchase experience is such a personal one that we think face to face, in the comfort of our showroom environment, or with a sales representative on the road, is still the preferred method for everyone.
THE ALL NEW NX GENERATION January 2022 is now confirmed as the launch date for the next generation of our most in-demand Lexus model in Australia – the NX luxury medium SUV. It’s creating great excitement. Lexus has compiled an impressive armory of emotive styling and imaginative technological advancements for this superb new model – wrapped in a striking new package. The all-new NX represents Next Generation Lexus with a revolutionary approach to design and engineering. And, understandably, it’s the hybridelectric version, the NX 350h, which has created most interest already amongst our guests. The progressive hybrid version of the NextGen NX achieves the seemingly impossible – a 20 per cent increase in power coupled with a 12 per cent improvement in fuel consumption. The 179kW lithium-ion NX350h combined with a 2.5-litre petrol engine is the most powerful four-cylinder Lexus hybrid we’ve ever offered. To say it provides exhilarating performance is an understatement. There’s also a new evolutionary 2.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 205kW of power and a spectacular 430Nm of torque, providing class leading performance.
SYDNEY CITY LEXUS | INSIGHT | 2
It’s the attention to exquisite detail which continues to surprise and delight us. The cockpit is built to an exclusive new concept called Tazuna, providing owners with a unique experience. Tazuna, naturally, is a Japanese word inspired by a rider controlling the reins of a horse, ensuring that commands are placed within intuitive reach. Each time we launch a new Lexus it seems there’s a new feature. How many people do you know who’ve inadvertently opened their doors into the path of a bicycle, or feared doing so? The new NX debuts e-latch, an electrically activated door handle that can detect cyclists or vehicles passing close by, issue a warning and if required keep the door closed to avoid a collision. There are three superb new models – the NX 250, the NX 350h & NX 350. The NX 350 and the NX 350h are available in Luxury, F Sport and Sports Luxury grades. All are equipped with an amazing raft of interior features, many activated by natural speech recognition within the cockpit. All you have to say is “Hey Lexus”, and a world of digital control options opens to you.
ANTICIPATION IS OVER At Sydney City Lexus we’re charged up in anticipation of the exclusive arrival of the first Lexus luxury battery electric vehicle (BEV) in the world – the UX 300e. The fully electric version of our extremely popular SUV is due this month and it brings to 10 the number of vehicles in the superb UX range – from the petrol UX 200, through the hybrid-electric UX 250h and now the all-electric UX 300e.
and sample the unique experience of this incredible step into the future of motoring. Stated range is 360km and UX300e is easily charged at home or wherever you may happen to park. We’ve installed charging stations at Sydney City Lexus as well, to best meet the expectations of our customers.
The UX 300e is the most powerful and dynamic of the range. Its revolutionary electric motor delivers 150kW of power and an exhilarating 300Nm of instant torque.
Lexus’ Takumi craftspeople have outdone themselves to make this UX version something evolutionary. Interior ornamentation has been inspired by a Japanese grained paper called Washi, which gives it the textured look you see on the doors of many upmarket Japanese homes.
Because of its configuration, with its lithium-ion battery package placed under the floor, its centre of gravity is so low that its handling is comparable to a sports coupe.
There are Next Generation colour palettes, new interior lighting and even the transmission shift lever combines genuine leather with satin chrome plating, a first for UX.
We’ve been overwhelmed with enquiries from the early adopters amongst our guests to see
UX300e is the first of a Lexus electric revolution. It’s worth seeing, and for a fortunate few, owning. SYDNEY CITY LEXUS | INSIGHT | 3
INTRODUCING OUR OFF-ROAD FLAGSHIP The next generation Lexus LX flagship SUV is coming, and Sydney City Lexus is holding more advance orders than for any of the earlier versions of the exhilarating, luxury off-roader. We expect to make our first deliveries in late March 2022. The progressive LX is based on a completely new chassis which contributes to 100kg lighter overall weight while being 20 per cent more rigid to provide leading performance. No doubt, the LX is going to make a statement on the road. It carries an evolution of Lexus’ exclusive spindle grille – providing a three-dimensional impression with seven sets of floating horizontal bars, part of the unique experience of ownership. Innovative features include intuitive dual display screens on the dashboard and the security of fingerprint authentication for the push-button ignition. High-output engines are coupled to a new 10-speed automatic transmission and enhanced driver aid technologies for exceptional off-road capability. The advanced technologies in the LX instill confidence and the drivetrain’s superior off-road capability enables guests to travel just about anywhere – and return home safely. Model grades are still to be finalised but Sydney City Lexus can confirm an F Sport variant will be included in the new lineup.
SYDNEY CITY LEXUS | INSIGHT | 4
EXPERIENCE LUXURY CONTROL At Sydney City Lexus we’ve noticed a fundamental shift in the way our guests purchase their cars. Increasingly more guests are choosing to activate an initiative called Lexus Ownership Solutions. It provides them with access to current low interest rates, and also a guarantee of value of their car at the end of their ownership period. “There was a time when many buyers would pay cash for their new vehicle,” Enzo Alessi, General Manager of Sydney City Lexus said. “But more are now finding it advantageous to access low interest rates and invest their own capital elsewhere, perhaps at a higher rate of return.”
Use of the exclusive Lexus Ownership Solutions opportunity has grown. “Guests are able to nominate their ownership period between one and four years – and take advantage of a minimum agreed value of their car at the end of the term,” Mr. Alessi said. “You don’t have that benefit by paying cash or using conventional finance products.” “Guests can choose to replace, retain or return their Lexus, depending on which is the best financial opportunity at the end of the contract.” Mr. Alessi sees the concept as revolutionary, and it’s been reinforced by current financial uncertainty. “It puts the guest in control, far more so than with conventional payment protocols,” he said.
CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED MARKET BUILDS TRUST Along with Lexus Ownership Solutions, the exclusive Lexus Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles program is demonstrably strengthening the bond of trust between Sydney City Lexus and our guests. The Certified Pre-Owned program is ironclad in its guarantee of the provenance of the Lexus vehicle on offer – everything from our 120-point safety-check, through to our comprehensive investigation of the vehicle’s history. During lockdown our guests were able to rely on the certainty of our research and were able
to purchase with confidence. Many availed themselves of that opportunity, relying on us for contactless purchase. Of course, the program extends well beyond Covid. The pandemic simply reinforced the responsibility of governance we hold over the good name of Lexus and its value within the automotive industry. Buyers of Certified Pre-Owned Lexus vehicles are assured of the same inclusion in our customer care programs as those of new vehicles and we are proud to welcome them to our ‘family’. SYDNEY CITY LEXUS | INSIGHT | 5
ACCOUNTANTS CHARTER THEIR COURSE TO SYDNEY CITY LEXUS On the subject of Ownership Solutions, Sydney City Lexus is proud to announce its new corporate partner, Chartered Accounts Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ). The peak body represents the interests of just on 130,000 chartered accountants and its head office is based right here in Sydney. CA ANZ is a powerful group and we’re delighted to welcome it to take advantage of a wide range of preferential corporate opportunities, not the least of which is our competitive total cost of ownership.
It’s partnerships like this that will help our economy grow, and we’re pleased to be a part of the initiative.
NEIL PERRY ADVANCES THE SYDNEY CITY LEXUS PHILOSOPHY At Sydney City Lexus we call our customers guests and treat you as if you were a guest in our own home. Now one of our valued ambassadors, super-chef Neil Perry has taken the same philosophy to a new level in fine dining. His new $5 million Double Bay restaurant, Margaret, is named after his mother, and his wife Sam and daughters Josephine, Macy and soon even 15-year-old Indy are all involved in the venture. Eldest daughter Josephine is front of house, running the floor. Neil’s ‘back to the future’ concept replicates his very first restaurant, the Blue Water Grill at Bondi – family friendly, with casual takeaway as well as for fine dining. We have Takumi craftspeople to build our Lexus. Neil’s philosophy is identical: “great produce cooked with great craft”. Expect to see a lot of Lexus vehicles parked outside 30-36 Bay Street.
SYDNEY CITY LEXUS | INSIGHT | 6
JAMES WINS THE MELBOURNE CUP Only three months ago Sydney City Lexus welcomed a power couple of Australian horse racing, jockeys James McDonald and Katelyn Mallyon, to our brand ambassador program. And on November 2, James won the Lexus Melbourne Cup, on the beautiful mare Verry Elleegant.
We are delighted for both James and Katelyn, for James’ first Lexus Melbourne Cup victory, as well as the way they both so perfectly represented themselves, and as our ambassadors, in the post-race presentations. Congratulations James, and his entire team.
TAKE LUXURY WITH YOU TO NEW ZEALAND The travel bubble is starting to expand, and Sydney City Lexus’ Encore Platinum members are eager to get away to New Zealand, helped by our Lexus On Demand program. The program, introduced in Australia in 2020, has now been expanded to Auckland and Queenstown. Our Encore Platinum members can book a loan Lexus for four trips, each over eight days, throughout their three-year membership period. It’s an amazing opportunity to take holidays or business trips in true luxury Lexus style. Our Encore Platinum guests are able to apply to book a Lexus RX SUV in Queenstown – just right for a skiing trip or Milford Sound exploration, and a Lexus ES 300 out of Auckland.
You just need to make application on the Lexus app. Encore Platinum is offered to owners of Lexus LC, LS, LX, RC F and Crafted Edition UX, NX and RX. SYDNEY CITY LEXUS | INSIGHT | 7
GET IN TOUCH SYDNEY CITY LEXUS ENQUIRIES 02 8303 1900 SYDNEY CITY LEXUS SERVICE CENTRE 02 8303 1933 sales@sydneycitylexus.com.au 824 Bourke Street WATERLOO NSW, 2017