We have all been to a state fair or some other venue at which visitors can participate in a contest to guess the weight of a pig, gigantic pumpkin, or some other object in order to win a prize. It is said that during the latter part of the 18th century in England, this tradition may have been conducted for the first time by a gentleman who asked people guess the weight of an ox. Interestingly enough, out of several hundred guesses no single individual was able to accurately deduce the weight of the animal. In fact, those who guessed could not do better than getting within 10 percent of the actual number.
When an average of all of the guesses was taken, however, the collective "estimate" of the weight was nearly dead-on.
Discoveries like this one have spawned an interesting social theory, called "Collective Intelligence." In essence, it states that people are more intelligent cooperatively than they are as individuals. Many behaviorists and sociologists have devoted considerable attention to the subject, and are today looking for ways in which to tap into this higher power. Personally, I think this theorem might help prove why nearly 10,000 people have signed up to purchase a $45,000 Lexus RX400h, without ever having gone for a test drive.
A couple of factors go into explaining this blatant disregard for car-buying rules. For starters, the preceding version, the Lexus RX300, and later RX330 are the best-selling models in the luxury SUV segment. Right from the get-go in March of 1998, this "crossover" SUV was a sales success. The original car more than tripled Toyota’s predictions, and has been the most popular Lexus ever since. So I guess it's no wonder that the Hybrid version, with an estimated fuel efficiency of more than 27 mpg at 270 horsepower, would do well even before it's let out of the gate.
Additionally, the automotive product lifecycle has, for once, lined up with current energy prices (or perhaps it's that the manufacturers have learned to adapt quicker to industry demand). The gas shortage seen in the late 70s was followed by a slew of "gas sippers" from all manufacturers, but by the time the cars were introduced fuel had become affordable again. Over the past year and a half rising fuel costs have all but stopped SUV sales dead in their tracks, and we now have a hybrid craze on our hands. When you combine these factors with Lexus' track record, you've got an automotive grand slam.
Where I come from, we are taught earlier on never to trust people who wear bow ties or call pizza "pie." One thing I can trust, however, is that the more powerful, updated, and stylish Lexus RX400h is going to be the right car at the right time for a lot of people when it hits showrooms in March.
For information on the 2006 Lexus RX400h, please click here.
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