Lexus Kicks Off New Year with Record Sales; Car Sales Up 56.7 Percent

    TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 1 Following a record year in 2000,
Lexus posted best-ever January sales of 15,623, up 13.3 percent from the same
period last year.
    Record sales were led by strong passenger car sales with 8,955 units sold,
up 56.7 percent from 2000.  The new IS 300 compact sport sedan posted sales of
1,475, while the all-new redesigned LS 430 had sales of 3,027, an increase of
311.1 percent from last year.  Both GS models had strong months with GS 300
sales of 1,438 and GS 430 sales of 406, up 13.5 and 29.7 percent,
respectively.  ES 300 posted sales of 2,603.
    Sport utility vehicle (SUV) sales remained strong but were down slightly
with RX 300 sales of 5,798 and LX 470 sales of 870 units.
    "Lexus' record sales are thanks to some great new passenger cars and the
continued popularity of SUVs," said Denny Clements, Lexus group vice president
and general manager.  "In a very competitive market, we're pleased to start
the new year off with such strong sales."
    Lexus also enjoyed excellent pre-owned sales with 4,001 units sold, an
increase of 9.4 percent from last year.