Lexus and The Black Panther - REPRESENTATION.

Marvel's Black Panther movie is set to break records and open minds!

Happy Black History Month! I believe we are in a renaissance period of Black awakening and empowerment. And nothing showcases this more than Marvel’s upcoming “The Black Panther” movie. Too often, African Americans are portrayed in a “negative” light in media... Thus, on the contrary, Black Panther is our moment to shine (even brighter)! 

Already, this movie is on track to be one of the highest grossing Marvel films ever. And with a soundtrack fully produced by Kendrick Lamar and the whole TDE cast (SZA Schoolboy Q, etc.), let’s just say our ears are in for quite a treat as well! But what’s a movie debut without some promotional tie-ins? Lexus and Marvel have teamed up to produce some movie-themed vehicles, with very specific goals in mind.

Driving Demand

On the bottom is the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept.
Is it me, or have Lexus' cars... Evolved?
Supposedly this will be a future flagship model.

There was a time where Lexus was one of the top-selling luxury brands in the United States. It’s a new day however, and consumer tastes have changed. Thus, Lexus is on a quest to attract a younger demographic to the brand to reclaim the top spot. One action involves creating “sportier-looking” products, seen most obviously in their corporate “Spindle Grille” (or “Predator Grille”, if you’re the sarcastic type). The other plan involves product placement, and you can expect to see the new LC500 starting prominently in The Black Panther.

While it’s evident that the U.S. population is aging, Lexus’ strategy doesn’t (and can’t) just hinge on appealing to younger buyers. Minority spending is increasing as well, especially African American spending. Marketing Lexus as “hip” in the right places moving forward is one way to connect with a potential base. And with so many Black millennials surely headed to the movies in a couple of weeks for The Black Panther, placing a special LC500 before the audience is wise exposure. Yet, there’s a risk as well.

Lexus' Black Panther themed LC500 has been making rounds
at auto shows this year.

Side note: It’s worth mentioning that Lexus intended to run a Black Panther/LC500 commercial during this year’s Super Bowl. I must’ve missed it...

Old Base, New Face

While in theory targeting people for better brand awareness is not new or weird, exploitation is. And to me, it just seems that Lexus needs to monitor their motives. They don’t want to come across as though they are merely marketing to minorities when it’s convenient. Such as when a movie debuts... But before now, they appeared unconcerned with their “boring” customer base. Lexus says they want to be a part of more conversations in diverse communities.

Spindle grille or "predator grille"? You be the judge.

On top of this, while trying to appeal to new audiences, there’s a risk of alienating old buyers. This is especially true when it comes to Lexus’ current styling language. Their large open mouth grille simply hasn’t registered quite as well with their tried-and-true buyers... Lexus’ LF-1 concept that was shown at the Detroit Auto Show this year honestly showed that they have no intentions of dialing it back either. Jeff Bracken, general manager and Vice President at Lexus, says he gets calls about the brand’s designs being too “aggressive” for traditional buyers. But yet, it’s a strategic move he says, so don’t expect it to change...

In my own opinion, I feel Toyota and Lexus are going too far out with their grille designs... Let’s just keep it in perspective a little more, please. Then again, they probably shouldn’t care too much what I think, since I’m not really in the market for a Lexus right now anyways...

For The Culture

All in all, I’m so glad there is so much hype around Marvel’s Black Panther movie. I’m glad to see African Americans and Africa portrayed in a strong light (far from the “s-hole” you might have been told it is...). I’m glad to see the auto industry jumping in, acknowledging the influence of minorities. And I’m proud of the progress we’ve made socially, despite various societal setbacks, even recently. Its all about forward progress! 

The Black Panther releases in theatres on February 16th, and the Lexus LC500 is on sale now with a starting price of $92,000. The LC Hybrid starts at $96,510.

I could go on and on, but let’s remain excited and lift each other up as we continue rolling on. Are you ready!? #knowyourhistory

Update: Black Panther has officially made over $1 Billion at the box office! Wakanda forever!

Update 2: Black Panther is now officially the highest grossing superhero film in the United States of ALL TIME! Now THAT'S the power of minority spending.

A Marvel indeed.

Copyright © 2018 Adam's Autos, All Rights Reserved.

The 2018 Chicago Auto Show

Another month, another auto show. This time, it’s the largest one in the nation - The Chicago Auto Show! We’re just coming hot off of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, so what can we expect from “The Windy City”?

Hopes High? Or Left Dry?

From top left: 2019 Ranger, Toyota TRD Pro models, VW Arteon,
and the new Ford Expedition. Honestly, Arteon sounds like a Pokemon
name to me, even though the car is cool. I wouldn't mind an Expedition either.

Well, not a ton else new will be new in Chicago... If you’re a fan of trucks and SUVs, rejoice! You’ll be seeing A LOT of those (again) throughout the Chicago Auto Show. If you recall, the 2019 Ford Ranger, Ram 1500, and Chevy Silverado debuted in Detroit. Toyota has rolled out some more aggressive editions of its TRD Pro 4Runner, Tundra, and Tacoma models in Chicago. Some autonomous driving tech as well will likely appear in places.

VW is showcasing the Artron, the CC’s replacement. It has a liftback design, similar to the new 2018 Buick Regal and Kia Stinger sedans. Ford showed off a refreshed Transit Connect coming for 2019 with updated tech, a new diesel engine and a 8-speed transmission. And Nissan is showing off the 370Zki, which based on their teaser video, may as well be a full-fledged snowmobile... Check the link for that. Honestly, an all-new 370Z or Frontier truck would be FAR more interesting.

Nissan 370Zki link: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/channels/2018-Chicago/videos/video-nissan-370ki-teaser

Beyond that, it’s pretty ho hum for MAJOR reveals. Personally, I wouldn’t mind checking out a new Ford Expedition. I like it’s styling and interior design, especially it’s rear passenger space and new cargo shelf system.

So here’s to more trucks and crossovers! Do share your own excitement and curiosity about upcoming cars as well.

Copyright © 2018 Adam's Autos, All Rights Reserved.

Rare Rides! - Take 2

In this installment of rare rides, we have four rides that are unique in their own ways and capture various moments in automotive history. You just don’t see them often. Let’s dive in shall we?

1. 2011-2016 MV-1

Manufactured by Vehicle Production Group, the MV-1 was designed to be a wheelchair accessible specialty vehicle. It featured two available Ford-supplied engines, a 3.7 V6 and 4.6 V8, and was also used as a taxi cab. I rode in a taxi cab version in Chicago (pictured), I found its powertrain responsive. Not sure if it was a V6 or V8. One also passed me on the local roads back at home.

2. 2011-2014 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

This was spotted in a parking garage after attending the 2018 Detroit NAIAS. While this one was dirty and appeared to have winter tires and rims on it (likely to protect the factory set from road salt), it doesn’t reduce the overall exclusivity of this car! The CTS Wagon is already uncommon, and spotting a V-Series is like seeing a unicorn jumping a rainbow! The 2nd-generation CTS-V came with a 6.2-liter V8 making 556 HP. 0-60 took 3.9 seconds for the automatic transmission, 4.1 for the manual. Dream car anyone?

3. 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue

While not a super “rare” car in a traditional sense, what struck me about this ‘01 Olds was just how IMPECCABLY CLEAN it was. I only found one scratch on the body (bottom right picture)! When was the last time you saw an Oldsmobile THIS CLEAN!? Perhaps back in 2001! This vehicle was on sale at Suburban Cadillac in Plymouth, Michigan (not sure if it’s still there) and had Oldsmobile’s 3.5-liter “Shortstar” V6 good for 215 HP. The 2nd-generation Oldsmobile Aurora also used this engine. Prior to using this powertrain, the Intrigue used GM’s famed 3.8-liter V6. This particular Intrigue was on sale for $5,000 - not sure of the mileage on it. The Intrigue was produced from 1998-2002, and was the first car to die during the 2000s Oldsmobile phaseout. Admittedly, I've always had a soft spot for Oldsmobile in my heart. Its long been my favorite GM brand...

4. 2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen TDI

Again, this wouldn’t necessarily be on here as a “rare” car I imagine if it weren’t for the VW “Dieselgate” scandal. Someone obviously didn’t feel compelled to turn their TDI in for a refund, or either got it fixed and kept it. I wasn’t able to get a picture of the one I actually saw, (I was driving, SAFETY FIRST) but it was blue just like this one here. Given the popularity of compact crossovers in America right now, seeing one of these wagons, let alone in diesel form, is interesting to say the least. The Golf Sportwagen was equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine.

Have you seen any nice or rare rides lately? Post your findings.

Copyright © 2018 Adam's Autos, All Rights Reserved.