UK Magazine AutoCar claims to have the inside scoop on the oft-mentioned Lexus hybrid debuting at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show:

The new model is known internally as SAI but will be renamed before it goes on sale and will be based on the next generation Prius, also being shown for the first time in Detroit. The Lexus though will be a plusher, more comfort orientated model with unique and sleeker styling.

According to company sources it will bear some similarities to Toyota’s Concept X shown at the Geneva motor show last March. Most commentators wrongly believed this heralded the design of the next Prius but our sources indicated that it was really designed to showcase themes for the junior Lexus hybrid.

The SAI is likely to get a more powerful version of the Prius’ hybrid powertrain, which will be mated to either a 2.0 or 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. At launch it will probably have a nickel-hydride battery, but be upgraded to lithium-ion technology by the end of 2010.

I'm not sure I see the logic in Toyota to mixing concepts with Lexus, especially when it concerns the Prius. Really, that's what I find so confusing with the idea of a Lexus "Prius" -- the hybrid is practically a brand all on its own, why risk diluting it?

Lexus may be on the verge of releasing a Prius-sized sedan using an identical powertrain, but I have strong doubts there will be any more than a slight resemblance between the two cars.

As it turns out, the Hybrid Living Suites were just a prelude to a more extended partnership between Lexus and Fairmont Hotels:

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Lexus, two global brands synonymous with luxury and style, today announced a formal partnership that will provide Fairmont President's Club members with an even greater level of personalized service during their stay. The principal and most visible component of the new marketing alliance will be the use of Lexus hybrid vehicles as hotel courtesy cars at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in the United States.

A thoughtful benefit reserved exclusively for members of Fairmont's guest loyalty program, the new fleet of Lexus hybrid vehicles, which provide greater fuel mileage with lower smog-forming emissions, will be available to conveniently transport guests around the destination while making less of an impact on the environment.

Seems to be a good deal, considering membership to Fairmont's President Club is free.

[Source: MarketWatch]

This commercial featuring perpetual Lexus voice actor James Sloyan in the passenger seat of an IS-F as Scott Pruett takes a lap around the track is just about perfect:

This is a definite payoff for using the same voice actor since the very first commercials.

(Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what James is saying right there at the end?)

The Lexus-sponsored Alicia Keys tour wrapped up last night in New York, and Advertising Age has an article describing the company's presence at the concerts:

In exchange for the paid sponsorship, Lexus installed lounges at each concert, exclusive VIP areas heavy with appetizers and a bar, and randomly selected a section of the auditorium to get Lexus-branded chair pads and "concierge service," including free popcorn and soda. Lexus also gave free parking and VIP passes to any attendee arriving in one of its cars.

Concert-goers who spent time in the Lexus lounge could register for a seat upgrade by providing some personal information. Organizers chose a handful of the folks with the worst seats in the house and gave them spots in the front row.

Webisodes with concert footage will become available June 30 on LuxuryAwaits.com, a website highlighting the marketer's alliance with the singer.

It's an interesting angle, this preferential treatment, and Lexus has used it in a number of different applications, from the owner lounges at car shows to parking at baseball games. On one hand, it's a good way to connect with their current customers, but I wonder how non-Lexus owners would feel about the exclusivity?

The 2008 US Open is being played this week, and Lexus is one of the event's four sponsors. As expected, there's some fairly extensive Lexus advertising being put together, including a funny short film featuring Annika Sorenstam, Charles Howell III, Raymond Floyd and Chi Chi Rodriguez in a car race to the Open (image below leads to video):

Between this video and last year's US Tennis Open advert, these sports sponsorships sure seem to bring out the lighter side of Lexus marketing.

(Also, on a related note, I read this interesting article about the USGA's new corporate sponsorships and how it breaks down. Indepth and informative, if you're interested in such things.)

Motor Trend spent some time in the Lexus Hybrid Living Suite, a suite created at the San Francisco Fairmont hotel to showcase Lexus' commitment to environmental responsibility:

The San Francisco Fairmont is located on top of the Nob Hill area, the highest point in the entire city. As one might imagine, such a location makes for fantastic views -- in fact, the Lexus Suite provides a stunning look at many of San Francisco's chief points of interest, including Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Organic is a chief theme in the suite, with material for the bed mattress, sheets, towels, and robes all grown without pesticides. Much of the furniture in the suite, from the night stands, to the bed, dining table, and bathroom fixtures, was sourced from antique stores -- as opposed to buying new items -- and refinished, essentially recycling them for use in the suite.

Primarily I'm linking to the story because of the photo gallery, which shows the suite from a number of different angles, but it's also important to note that this might be the first time Motor Trend's passed on the chance to put down the hybrid sedan.