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Did BMW really win the luxury car sales race?

As anyone who follows our monthly By The Numbers series already knows, the luxury car sales race in the United States was close all of last year as BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz seesawed up and down for sales supremacy. At the end of the year, it was BMW on top of the standings with 346,023 total sales. Or was it? According to data released by Polk, comparing the actual number of vehicles registered between the three top luxury players in the US paints a slightly different picture. Polk's data suggests that only 335,259 BMWs were registered in 2015, compared to 340,392 Lexus models. Why the disparity? It's all a matter of timing. Actual end consumers buy new cars, in almost all cases, from a franchised dealer. BMW delivered 346,023 vehicles in 2015, but only 335,259 of them were registered by their new owners. Presumably, those 11,000 BMWs did (or will) end up registered in the driveways of consumers, but they hadn't before January 1, 2016. Lexus General Manager Jeff Bracken wrote in an email to Automotive News, "Luxury sales leadership as measured by vehicle registrations is important to Lexus as it represents actual consumers engaging directly with our dealers." Of course, it goes without saying that we'll be paying keen attention to the 2016 luxury car sales race as it unfolds. If it's anything like it was in 2015, it'll come down to the wire, and even then may not be entirely clear. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty BMW Lexus Mercedes-Benz Car Buying Car Dealers Luxury luxury cars

2016 Lexus RX teased ahead of NYC show

The Lexus RX is one of the big players in the luxury crossover field, and the Japanese brand is giving us the first, shadowy look at the upcoming fourth-generation model. It debuts in just a few weeks on April 1 at the 2015 New York Auto Show. Lexus doesn't reveal anything technical about the plush CUV in its teaser, but the model does show off some interesting styling in the accompanying photo. In this shot, the rear pillar appears to incorporate the side window's glass into its shape in an intriguing way. You can also get a good look at the RX's wraparound taillights. Spy shots indicate the frontal design softens some of the ideas from the smaller NX, but the big, spindle grille and squinting headlights remain. The fourth-gen RX also reportedly uses aluminum for some body panels to shed weight. We expect to get the full scoop about it in New York. Related Video: 2016 Lexus RX To Make Its Global Debut Under the Bright Lights of the Big Apple: 2015 NYIAS March 20, 2015 TORRANCE, Calif. – March. 20, 2015 – Lexus will introduce the all-new 2016 RX at the 2015 New York International Auto Show. When the RX model launched 17 years ago, it defined a new luxury segment. Since then, it has dominated mid-size luxury utility vehicle sales. The fourth generation RX will make its global debut at a press conference in the Galleria at Jacob Javits Convention Center on Wednesday, April 1 at 9:10 a.m. EDT. The press conference will also be streamed live at https://new.livestream.com/LexusInternational/NY-2015. ###

Will.I.Am stars in new Lexus NX commercial, designs a version for Paris

Whether you love or hate its chiseled, angular lines and spindle grille, the Lexus NX is a big step for the brand as it jumps into the sea of luxury compact crossovers. We've already checked out the new CUV, and to promote its European launch, along with a different nose, Lexus has teamed up with producer and musician Will.I.Am for a commercial titled Striking Angles.
As the name suggests, the ad imagines a futuristic world where practically everything shares the NX's sharp-angled design aesthetic, including the wildlife. Over a thumping remix of his Dreamin' About the Future, the luxury CUV rolls through the misty city streets for Will.I.Am to check out.
That's not the end of Lexus' promotional efforts for its newest addition, though. The brand is also displaying a one-off NX styled by Will.I.Am during Paris Fashion Week. Read the automaker's entire release about its marketing plan for the CUV, below.