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Lexus Selects Amerigon Climate Control Seat For 2001 Lexus LS 430

6 September 2000

Lexus Selects Amerigon Climate Control Seat(TM) For New 2001 Lexus LS 430

    IRWINDALE, Calif., Sept. 6 Amerigon Incorporated
announced today that Lexus will include Amerigon's proprietary
Climate Control Seat(TM) (CCS(TM)) system as an option for the driver and
front passenger seats of the new 2001 model year Lexus LS 430 premium luxury
sedan, Lexus' new flagship model.  The Lexus LS 430, which will be available
in dealerships beginning October 15, is expected to set even higher standards
in luxury car design, performance, and customer comfort and convenience.
    CCS is the only system on the market today that makes it possible for both
the driver and front seat passenger to individually control the warming or
cooling of their respective seats to meet virtually all climatic conditions
for year-round personal comfort.
    "Driver and passenger comfort is one of the most important features to
Lexus LS 430 buyers, so we are pleased to be working with Amerigon to offer
the first application of this heated/cooled seat technology in a premium
luxury sedan," said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Denny
Clements.
    Amerigon President and CEO Richard A. Weisbart commented, "The
relationship with Lexus and its seat suppliers is an important opportunity for
Amerigon.  Lexus is consistently rated number one for quality and customer
satisfaction and its decision to make CCS available as an option on the LS 430
is another strong endorsement of the concept and our technology."

    Climate Control Seat(TM) (CCS(TM))
    The proprietary Amerigon CCS system, which is integrated into a vehicle
seat, is the first system of its kind.  It significantly enhances individual
driver and passenger comfort in virtually all climatic conditions by providing
cooling and heating to seat occupants, as desired, through an active,
microprocessor-based temperature management system.
    Ambient air is drawn into the system from the cabin of the vehicle and,
based on seat-occupant inputs from individual seat controls, as well as inputs
from temperature sensors built into CCS, the system's advanced design heat
pump heats or cools the air.  The heat pump, which uses no CFCs or other
environmentally sensitive coolants, is built around a highly efficient, solid-
state Thermoelectric Device (TED) that rapidly converts electric current into
the desired thermal effect (hot or cold).  The "conditioned" air is circulated
through the seat surfaces by a specially designed, DC fan mounted into the
structure of each seat, cooling or heating each seat and its occupant to
individually preferred levels of all seasons' comfort.