Toyota's Open Road blog has posted a short audio interview of Lexus General Manager Mark Templin & Toyota President Jim Lentz discussing the company's low sales in June and what it means for the car maker:

Here's an interesting excerpt from GM Templin on Lexus moving forward:

The good news is that we retained our position as the #1 selling luxury brand, so we feel like we're doing a pretty good job in a really tough market of doing the best we can do to take care of customers and make profits. We're also excited about the next couple of months, because all of a sudden, we're going to enhance our incentive programs a little bit, and we'll begin our summer sales event on July 25th, which always gives us a big boost during the month of August. And, I think we'll make it through some tough times in the luxury industry, and we're doing it in a way that's going to support the growth of Lexus in 2009 and beyond."

The #1 position in the US luxury car market is obviously a very important distinction, and one that Lexus is going to fight tooth and nail to maintain. As noted this weekend, Lexus currently has a 5,198 unit advantage over second-place BMW, so it's still anyone's guess just how 2008 is going to play out.

The Lexus Canada website is just full of surprises -- first we had the web game that led to a secret video, and now TPP reader Jarrett mentions that there's also an IS-F ringtone available for download. Here's a preview, though I recommend turning your speakers down:

Granted, it's pretty intense, and only spent about three minutes as my default ringtone, but it would be great for freaking out your passengers while driving.

The IS-F ringtone is available here.

There's been a lot of interest in just what song is playing in the recent Lexus Pebble Beach commercial, so I decided to look into it.

First off, here's the song in question:

As for the answer, the company responsible for the music is Robot Repair, specifically composer Kael Alden, who is also a member of the band Faded Paper Figures.

Now, according to a Faded Paper Figures blog post, there is a possibility that an extended version of the song will be released on iTunes, but there's nothing definite at this point. I'll be following this and will post if anything comes up.

(If you're interested in a short MP3 version of this song, some enterprising soul constructed a non-voiceover version and uploaded it here.)

If you've been bemoaning the lack of official iPod options in your Lexus, there's some good news: An iPod Integration Kit, approved by Apple, will be available for all current Lexus and Toyota models in early 2008.

Retailing for $300, the kit allows you to use your factory stereo (and any steering wheel controls) to navigate and control your iPod. The music player connects to the system from inside of the glovebox, where it should be safe from bumps and bruises. Purportedly easy to install, the Integration kit will also charge your iPod should the batteries get low.

At first, I wasn't too crazy about the idea of the iPod stashed away in the glovebox, but it does make sense. I find navigating through playlists and artists while driving an understandably stressful event, and it would very handy to be able to just use the stereo controls. Too bad it only works for current models.

[Source: Gizmag]

Twelve LS 460's will be filling in for a symphony orchestra this August for two very special performances in Britain:

The twelve vehicles will be arranged onstage to emulate a typical orchestral layout of individual instruments, with strings, brass, woodwind, basses and percussion being performed by each section. In essence each LS 460 will be carefully positioned with their doors open so that the full effect and quality of the Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound audio system can be fully appreciated by the audience.

That was certainly enough to capture my attention, cars as musical instruments? Why not?

Commissioned by Lexus, the LS 460's will perform two pieces written by Chesney Hawkes, Chris Nicolaides and Alaister King. The shows will take place August 18-19 at Castle Howard and August 25-16 at Pops in the Park in South London.

[Via: Dexigner]

The last of Lexus' ads to feature musicians grooving to their favorite tunes has Diana Krall contemplating Oscar Peterson's Night Train:

Something about this ad rubs me the wrong way, it has a more contrived feel than the others. I think it's that tiny laugh at the end...

The others, in case you missed them, featured John Legend and Diana Krall's husband, Elvis Costello.