Lexus adverts 'gave false impression'

23 May 2007

Advertising watchdog criticises ads for RX400h
'Zero guilt' wording over emissions misleading
Lexus warned about future advertisements

Lexus has been criticised for its advertising of the LX400h

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Lexus has been criticised for advertisements for its RX400h 4x4 hybrid, following complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

While the Lexus has some of the lowest carbon dioxide outputs among off-roaders, 10 people complained to the ASA that magazine advertisements for it were misleading.

The ASA said that the phrases 'low emissions' and 'zero guilt' in the headline of the advertisement gave a false impression that the car did little or no harm to the environment, and that it had low emissions in comparison with cars of all types.

While the ASA agreed with Lexus that the RX400h has some of the lowest emissions in the 4x4 sector, and the lowest compared with its direct competitors, it warned Lexus that it should not imply that carbon dioxide output was low with all cars where this was not the case.

It also said that Lexus should not imply in the future that a car causes little or no harm to the environment.