How Many Miles to the US Open? For Lexus and Tennis Stars: 101,730

Lexus Offers Real-World Hybrid Case Study and Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Drive to the Tournament

TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 7 -- There are many miles logged by players striving to make it to the US Open, but none as exciting as the actual drive to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, NY, on match day. This year, Lexus, the Official Vehicle of the 2006 US Open, shares an inside look at the trip.

Lexus plays an important role at the US Open -- nearly 102,000 miles are driven in 15 days while transporting tennis stars and VIPs to and from the tournament in its fleet of 125 vehicles. "Lexus is an integral part of the players' day, and we're happy to provide them with a luxurious and comfortable ride as they prepare for their match," said Bob Carter, Lexus group vice president and general manager. "Even more important, the US Open offers an opportunity to show that hybrid vehicles really do make a big difference in fuel and emissions savings with no compromise in power, performance or luxury."

Along the way, Lexus has gathered some interesting facts about the road to tennis' most heralded tournament.

  *  Number of vehicles in the US Open Lexus Fleet:  125
  *  Total miles driven:  101,730 (over 15 days of the tournament)
  *  The hybrid effect:  34% of fleet are hybrids, saving an estimated:
                         -  12,460 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions into
                            the environment
                         -  648 gallons of gasoline
  *  Preferred driving music:  Jazz and soft rock.  However, some players
     specifically request silence to prepare for the upcoming match.
  *  Roddick's pick:  Tennis star Andy Roddick prefers music from artists
     Justin Timberlake, Lionel Richie and Dave Matthews.
  *  Most popular pit stop:  Drug store or grocery store
  *  Most valuable items left behind:  -  24-karat Celine tennis bracelet
                                       -  Tiffany & Co. earring
                                       -  Wallet
  *  Most trips in one day:  700 round trips, on Aug. 28
  *  Shortest trip driven during US Open:  1.04 miles -- from La Guardia
     Airport to Marriott La Guardia
  *  Unsolicited reviews:  High profile players, in particular, commented on
     vehicle:
                           -  Interior comfort and smooth ride
                           -  Tinted, but not too tinted, windows
                           -  Hybrid quietness and great pickup speed

In addition to being the Official Vehicle of US Open, Lexus is also the Presenting Sponsor of the US Open Men's Singles Championship. Lexus will host Lexus Day on Sunday, Sept. 10, when the automaker will award the winner of the Men's Singles Championship a 2007 GS 450h hybrid performance sedan. Additionally, all ticketed day session attendees will receive a complimentary Lexus cap.

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 six years in a row. Lexus and its 220 dealers have repeatedly achieved high 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. Lexus is a division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation.

About USTA

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. It owns and operates the US Open, the largest annually attended sporting event in the world and, in 2004, launched the US Open Series, which links 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns the 96 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. A not-for-profit organization with more than 690,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds to promote and develop the growth of tennis, from the grassroots to the professional levels. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.