Lexus: 5.5 Billion Green Miles Served

In the five years since drivers first slid behind the wheel of a Lexus hybrid, the fuel-efficient luxury vehicles have racked up more than 5.5 billion miles on roads around the world. Lexus determined the miles driven, equivalent to almost 30 round trips to the sun, by multiplying the total number of Lexus hybrids sold by an average of 17,000 miles driven annually.

Since the introduction of hybrids like the Lexus RX 400h, Lexus has led luxury automakers in promoting hybrid engines. There are currently four Lexus hybrid models available, including the HS, GS and LS sedans and the RX SUV. A fifth, the CT 200h sportback, will be arriving in 2011. By contrast, Mercedes and BMW are debuting their hybrid offerings this year, with fewer models to choose from and, in some cases, much higher price tags.

"Lexus pioneered the concept of the luxury hybrid. Now the German automakers are realizing they need to be in this space," said Vincent Liuzzi, general manager of Greater Boston Lexus dealer Lexus of Watertown. "I think the Germans believed that hybrid engines would never catch on, but, even five years ago when gas prices were much lower, Lexus still believed that their customers would buy eco-friendly luxury cars. With more than half a million Lexus hybrids sold, we've proven them wrong."

Industry watchers have questioned the relevance of hybrid engines in the luxury car market, which has traditionally been dominated by high-performance sedans. In June, Lexus sold 1,933 Lexus hybrids in the United States, with the RX 450h and HS 250 leading the charge, proving that high-end consumers value fuel economy as well as performance.

Consumers willing to pay the higher cost of hybrids may be attracted to the experience Lexus has with hybrid engines, as well as the forward-thinking technology and luxurious touches that Lexus offers as standard equipment. The 2010 Lexus GS 450h includes standard features that are costly options on other cars, such as an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power moon roof and heated front seats.

"Luxury car owners, just like everyone else, are concerned about the price of gas and the quality of the air we breathe," Liuzzi said. "Most people can buy a luxury car because they've watched every penny. Lexus hybrids help them keep those pennies from winding up in a gas station cash register."

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