Ahhh, The Smell of Burning Rubber and Genuine Leather

One-Day Lexus Performance Driving School Speeds Into Wisconsin's Road America Race Course; Attendees to Test Skills on Real Race Track

TORRANCE, Calif., June 16 -- Ladies and gentlemen, start your Lexus! The luxury automaker is offering consumers the opportunity to push its high performance vehicles to the limit-with no stop signs, no lights, and no traffic -- and no chance of getting a speeding ticket.

Lexus announced today it will take the Lexus Performance Driving School to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. On Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9., 120 participants from across the country will get to test their driving acumen at Road America's challenging four-mile, 14-turn road course and ride at speeds of up to 120 mph. The one-day driving school combines 'behind-the-steering-wheel' experience and classroom training to teach basic race driving techniques and safe driving skills. Throughout the two daylong sessions, professional driving instructors guide participants through a variety of driving exercises in the Lexus I-S, GS and LS sedans. Also on hand are members of the Team Lexus professional Grand American series race team.

The Lexus Performance Driving School recently completed successful sold-out sessions in California and Texas, where participants from 12 states -- including Arkansas, Iowa, North Carolina and Maryland -- honed their driving skills.

"We're excited to bring our Lexus Performance Driving School to Road America," said Mike Wells, Lexus vice president of marketing. "We're finding the performance driving school is gaining popularity among drivers across the country who are interested in polishing their performance driving skills. Whether they're novices or enthusiasts, everyone learns a new skill and has the opportunity to test it on one of America's most challenging speedways."

Among the driving exercises that Lexus Performance Driving School attendees will complete at Road America are drills intended to concentrate on car control and handling, as well as braking and cornering. Participants will focus on car control in adverse conditions during the 'Skid Pad' exercise, and will gauge a car's handling on a simulated winding road on the 'Slalom Course.' The braking and cornering drills will demonstrate the importance of having the suspension, brakes and tires working together.

At the end of the day, participants will test their newfound knowledge by taking individual 'hot laps' around the race track. The 'hot laps' are designed to bring together all the skills taught during the Lexus Performance Driving School. They will also have the unique opportunity to ride in an actual Team Lexus race car and take a 'hot lap' with one of the Team Lexus drivers.

At the conclusion of each session of the Lexus Performance Driving School, every participant will receive a certificate of completion authenticated by the chief driving instructor, along with a photo of themselves with the official Team Lexus race car.

Class size in the Lexus Performance Driving School is limited to 60 participants, and the cost per participant is $395.

For more information about the Lexus Performance Driving School, visit the school's website at www.lexusdrivingschool.com.

About Lexus

Lexus has become synonymous with luxury since its introduction in 1989. By offering some of the finest quality luxury vehicles and providing benchmark customer service, Lexus has become the top-selling luxury nameplate in the United States for three years in a row. Lexus and its 200 dealers have repeatedly achieved the highest honors for both the products they sell and the customer service they provide as rated by the independent research firm of J.D. Power and Associates.