Lexus Parallel Parking Ads Generate Buzz

Few posts on KickingTires have inspired such debate as Joe Wiesenfelder’s walkthrough of the new Lexus LS 460’s automated parallel parking system. Our readers weighed in with their thoughts, mostly seeing the technology as either an insult to drivers or a step closer to full car automation.

What was overlooked was the fact that Lexus chose to focus on this one feature out of the many in the new LS 460 during the vehicle’s launch and initial ad blitz. The parking feature is only an option, while standout attributes like an eight-speed transmission and 380-hp V-8 are standard. Maybe Lexus chose that route because even if the LS 460 turns out to be the best-driving, best-handling car ever made, people have seen all those ads before. They’re inundated with commercials of cars driving on picturesque roads with a voiceover telling them how great Car A is versus Car B. Would they care if Car A is a luxury sedan that can hit 60 mph in 5.4 seconds? Maybe.

But Car A parking itself? They’ve never seen that before.

Comments

THAT CAR IS HUGE! IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT. FOR THAT KINDA MONEY WELL OVER 70 GRAND I EXPECT HIGH END TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS SELF-PARKING. THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING NEW TO THE AUTO INDUSTRY. BUT I SAY YOUR LIVING GOOD IF YOU HAVE THIS IN YOUR POSESSION. FEW SUGGEST IT MAY BE AN INSULT TO A DRIVERS' ABILITY TO ACTUALLY DRIVE AND PARK AS TO ONE OWN CONTROL OVER THE WHEEL. IT MIGHT POSSIBLY AID THOSE WITH A VARIETY OF DISABILITIES. ITS AWESOME, I WANT THIS FEATURE!

Finally a car for people with enough money to purchase a high end vehicle, but not enough to pay a chauffer! Giving up steering and breaking control to anything other than a professional driver is a questioning common sense. What happens when this car decides to park itself while going down the road at 70mph? People who don't like to drive shouldn't!

Automated parking is perfect for the old people who drive Lexus cars. I wish Lexus could also automate getting out of the left lane when doing the exact speed limit, and maybe accelerator-assist since many Lexus drivers seem unable to locate the accelerator.

I see a lot of green color fromm ej(post #3). You are just a jealous little guy heh.

I don't understand why people are so bitter and jealous of this new tachnology. "People who don't like to drive shouldn't!" Every single vehicle we drive has some sort of technology that aids us in driving. Ever heard of cruise control or ABS or traction/stability control or night vision or pretty much any cool technology out today? If you can afford to buy this car...good for you. For everyone else, stop hating and go get a better job and maybe you can afford to buy this one day rather than complaining about how everyone else "wastes" their money!

Its like their hybird is a good marketing strategy but in real world its not that good.
like no one talks about MB S-class radar+ technology because they dont know how to market that.

This is A joke!

Im serious, who the hell needs a car to park for them, laziness... and dont get me wrong I watch my chare of tv but I dont care how much money you make! You can park your own damn car. Take that 70 grand and buy a real car... like a porsche.

I Guess A Car With A 380 Hp V8 Manufactured By The Worlds Most Dependable Automaker Wouldnt Classify As A Real Car? That Last Post Is A Prime Example Of Ignorance And Jealousy

I Guess A Car With A 380 Hp V8 Manufactured By The Worlds Most Dependable Automaker Wouldnt Classify As A Real Car? That Last Post Is A Prime Example Of Ignorance And Jealousy

I think I have to agree with Nick on this blog. This is definitely a "real car." But, regardless of how much money you make, automakers are making great cars in every price range. I would argue that most people live beyond their means and really can't afford the car they are driving. But, obviously that's not the case for Nick.

Lexus impresses the public with it's ability to engineer cars to near perfection. This feature isn't for everyone. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have had to parallel park only about 10 times in my 15 years of driving.

Oh, and someone who is in the market for a Porsche Cayman, Boxter, or Cayenne (all that 70K MIGHT buy), is not in the market for a Lexus LS.

I think its great. As we improve automotive technology this is simply another wonderful tool to make our lives easier and reduce mistakes due to human error. I'm sure cruise control was met with the same reception. For all the critics, I'm sure you would appreciate it if this car was parking in front of your prized car with the flawless paint or better yet, have you ever inadvertently hit a curb (or a parked car) while parallel parking... I think we all have or eventually will. Face it, there are just certain things that computers do better than us humans. If you still feel like being challenged, do it manually... Me, I never use cruise control!

Worthless.

How about releasing more Hybrids? They spend the money to make cars that park themselves, and yet they still don't have a version of all their cars with hybrid technology.

Awesome.

I had been looking forward to the new LS for a while, but when I saw the commercial it still blew me away. I think the bold new looks of the LS460 draw attention, but this option does effectively take it to another level. Luxury car owners are so brand loyal that they need something amazing to get their attention. Kudos to the engineers and the marketing department.

Luxury cars are build for people who like to ride, not necessarily drive. Sports and exotics are designed for people who like to drive. A car that can park itself can have both pros and cons. There are plenty of people on the road who can't parallel park and this is an instrument that can save them from the embarrassment of jammed up traffic behind, watching one struggle to get the car into a tight spot. However, the down side to this instrument is that people may come to depend on it and not practice their parking skill. If the feature malfunctions, the driver may be stuck unable to park the car, or if the driver rents a car or purchases another car without this feature, will not be able to park that car properly.

I also must say in the 14 years of driving I have only parallel parked about 10 or so times, mostly because I try to avoid it, I hate doing it, and if there was a car in my price range that could do that for me, I would buy it,drop about $45,000-$50,000 of the price tag and I can buy it. I love to drive but hate to parallel park, I will usually park somewhere else like a parking lot somewhere near the location I am going to.
For those that have a problem with this new car and this option, your just jealous because you cant afford it, hey I am jealous too that I cant afford it, but I am not talking crap about this car. I say kudos to Lexus.

This is my prediction:
Within 5 years this self parking feature will disappear.Much like GMs Quadrasteer,Mazda's 4 wheel steering,Mitsubishi's 4 wheel steering,GMCs sliding Envoy roof,and the Edsel's many electronic gimmicks,these trinkets bring some interest in one's car lines,but usually doesnt translate into sales.
Remember self vacuuming ashtrays?
Under dash self chassis lubers?
Mounted tissue dispensers?
Talking information centers (Knight Rider inspired)?

Gimmicks pure and simple.
None of these things hamper the function of a vehicle when they are lacking them.

Paul,
The one thing that makes me think this will stick around is that backup cameras and the sensors are being used for other applications in many vehicles on the market, making this easier to adopt as well. But I think we're still a ways off from it being commonplace.

It looks to me like Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, et al are trying to outdo each other in technological prowess. It's like an unspoken competition to come up with the neatest new trick. The technology involved in having a car park itself is admittedly very advanced, so now the other companies will try to come up with something even more impressive. Does this kind of thing really help in the real world? Or is it simply so people can tell their friends, "Hey, watch what MY car can do!"

I agree with you 100% Jordan