Video: Lexus recreates glass balancing ad with new LS 460

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By Tim Beissmann | March 21st, 2011

Lexus has shown that it is tuned in to its customers and confident in the quality of its products by replying to a YouTube video that questioned the famous glass-balancing ability of the LS model.

Lexus owner Jeff from Arizona, USA, attempted to recreate the Lexus LS 400 video from 1990 with his new Lexus LS 460.

In the old commercial, the LS 400 balances 15 champagne glasses on its bonnet while travelling at 233km/h on a dynamometer.

In his attempt, which was posted online late last month, Jeff placed nine champagne glasses on the bonnet and they toppled over as he revved the engine high in the range.

Jeff’s conclusion:

“I highly doubt whether that commercial was accurate. I think the glasses might have been glued together or something like that.”

Lexus responded over the weekend with a more accurate recreation of the commercial over the weekend, admitting that the key was to level the bonnet and find 15 good glasses.

Lexus’ engineers revved the engine to 5300rpm, proving that the new LS is more refined than the old model from the original commercial, which it later revved to 4000rpm.

Not wanting to come across as smug or smart, Lexus added subtitles to its video:

“We love the fact that one of our owners recreated our original LS 400 commercial.

“Thank you to all our passionate owners.”

It’s pretty much the perfect response from the luxury Japanese manufacturer, and it’s great to see that Lexus is confident in its products and not afraid of a challenge.

mrxandthexfactor

…so all that hard work by Lexus trying to prove how good they are is all lies…?
F1MotoGP

That would be a good test when you buying a new car luxury car. There is more on You Tube 2011 Lexus “The Hard Way” – Engine Scrutiny. Engine tolerance is 1/1000th of millimeter.
Must be the tolerance that is why the champagne glasses stayed on the hood.
Andrew Juma

I guess that is Jeff owned.
supercujo

Lexus 1 – Annoying Twat Jeff 0

Dave S

Is that what Lexus do?
Go around trying to make their customers look silly?
They should be glad people are buying their cars.

Personally, I dont care how smooth the engine is, I am not putting anything on my paint work.

Shak

Jeff, i think Lexus know what they are dong, so hows about you shut up.
Damian

To Jeff:

This is what happens when you buy your champagne glasses from the two dollar shop and skimp on log book services.
Suntory time

Don’t mess with Japanese engineering, Jeff.
Valet Dabess

normal cars probably can’t even do 2 rows
kris

here we go again. Lexus is all class and refinement.
Baddass

I like how he had to add he was in Paradise Valley, Arizona. What a wanker.
carbine

Toyota are great at that – as anyone who has driven a Camry V6/Avalon/Aurion/Lexus ES300 would attest to. Sure it’s a fantastic engineering acheivement, but a totally silent and smooth engine that pretends it’s not there just doesn’t do it for me.
I’m not advocating a lumpy cast iron 5+litre V8 that rattles your teeth and kidneys to bits… just a little bit of soul. An anticipatory sense of mechanical potential at idle, an eagerness to rev and a bellowing, spine-tingling crescendo all the way to the redline.
This is why I love BMW’s naturally aspirated straight sixes, Subaru’s boxer fours and the Alfa-Romeo V6. They’re not smooth, but you wouldn’t call them unrefined. They talk to you, massage you, stroke your ego and egg you on to do illegal things.

Damian

“They talk to you, massage you, stroke your ego and egg you on to do illegal things.”

Let me guess – the pigeons are following you as well?

Zej

Gimme a car with character rather than an internal combustion engine trying to be an electric motor any day.
carbine

Haven’t noticed the pigeons, but they’re obviously hiding in my blind-spots. P-plated Commodores on the other hand….. they’re multiplying I swear…

RoFlmaTiC

They have the ISF and the LFA for that…

Zej

One you can’t buy and the other looks as pretty as a bucket of bashed crabs and only available as an automatic. No thanks.

Damian

Zej, a broken exhaust and cut springs will not add “character” to your Ecotec V6 VS Commodore. Get off your high horse.

Zej

So what if I do have a V6 Commodore with ‘character’ mods? Does that make me any less of a car enthusaist than keyboard junkies who make snide remarks and assumtions about others?

I don’t think Lexus make interesting cars, simple as that. They make very well built and comfortable cars that appeal to people who aren’t actually interested in having to drive the damn thing. Even the models with a hint of pulse (IS200 and IS250) are merely competent luxury cars.